FH goes for 2...loses 25 to 24

[nrawhjtwnfhfan]

db: "our players wanted to go for two.

OK I get it - you have been coaching one year less than Joepa & 2 more than Moses n the kids make the call, the kids run the program; still a stupid call when they couldn't make an xtra point.

[Xylo]

OK notreallyaman, we get it ... you didn't like the call.

[Manfred]

Two calls that I personally didn't like- FH going for a field goal ( which they made) instead of going for the first down leading 7-6. At that point, FH was matching Wilmington shot for shot. If FH gets the first down, they likely would have scored the TD, putting them up 14-6 at that point. If the rest of the game had played out, as it did, FH wins 28-25. The other was punting instead of going for the first down, trailing by a TD with time running down in the 4th Qtr. As it turned out, Wilmington made the bonehead pass play instead of running the clock down and then possibly punting to FH deep in their own end. But nobody knew the Grayhounds would try to throw at that point, and the FH pass defense that had been burned on that play a couple times earlier, were right where they needed to be for the pickoff. Great move by McCombie! Burkey had come close to a pick a couple of times, but this one was like karma. It worked out to a FH TD, and the rest is history. The FH playoff past proves that they can play with anybody from D9 or 10. They've beaten Northwestern (Erie), Hickory, Brookville, Brockway, and possibly one other I can't recall, all after winning the D6 Championship. If Wilmington was rated # 2 prior to this game, FH is at least # 3. Remember, Wilmington used to be in the WPIAL, and they got tired of getting whupped in their own section, so got the PIAA to allow the move into D 10. Kinda like some schools dropping a class to beat up on weaker competition.

[once a runner]

[

Remember, Wilmington used to be in the WPIAL, and they got tired of getting whupped in their own section, so got the PIAA to allow the move into D 10. Kinda like some schools dropping a class to beat up on weaker competition.

I won't pretend to know why Wilmington switched to D10, but they are one of those schools located in different counties (Lawrence and Mercer). Lawrence county belongs to the WPIAL and Mercer county belongs to D10. It seems like they every right to be in D10. Secondly, they didn't exactly get "whupped" up in the WPIAL. They did win 2 titles in the late 80's with one appearance in the state finals. (I believe they switched districts in the mid or early 90's). Third, they have to get through the WPIAL to get to the state finals. Avoiding tough competition was not going to make them better.

I'm also not going to say that D10 is better than D7 in football, but they are very competitive within that district. They've had a lot more teams play in the state finals in football than D6. One more thing, Wilmington is a very small AA school with an enrollment of 216 (compared to 300 for FH). I don't think it's exactly fair to suggest they opted out of the WPIAL to avoid competition when they clearly have maintained a top program for over 20 years now.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Didn't Wilmington have to play the WPIAL champion last season when they won states?

Wilmington is a farm area out by New Castle. It is a small town and school. It is not some city school with a bunch of D-1 athletes. Wilmington has been doing very well recently. That's a very good program right now.

[youngbuck]

I think this game shows what Bailey's biggest weakness has been as a coach, the kicking game. On the other hand, Salem has put alot of emphasis on this over the years. High school ball is at the point that you need a kicker to win games. If he has a kicker who was automatic then I think he goes for one and plays this on a 10 yd field in OT. But in the back of his mind I would have to think that he has to be thinking about his kicking game.

[raidernation]

youngbuck were you at this game also last night or were you at yough high school

[old timer]

I was at the game and liked the call to go for 2 but didn't like the play. Wilmington was the speed team so why not go to your power and run. The bad coaching decision was by Wilmington passing on 2nd down with 2.45 minutes to play. FH had one time left out they would have got the ball with a minute + on the clock and probably 70 yds to go and no time outs.

[raidernation]

i am not a fh fan but i agree with don baileys call. youngbuck where were you . you can't have it both ways posting here and clairton -ct game

[football-is-life]

i was at this game as well, and going for the win was deffintly the right call. there was about a minute and a half left when they scored and wilmington had all 3 of their timeouts. They drove up and down the field on the rangers and in that case you have to go for the win, because nobody knows if the defense would have held up in that time or in OT. I believe it was the right call, it just didnt work out for them. Great game though