Bishop Guilfoyle vs Clairton - A Championship

[billmurray]

I thought the 2 point conversion might have been good I was out there saw it live but when I got home late last night after AAAA game the first thing I wanted to see was the Class A 2 point play. Everybody out there was saying Clairton got screwed all weekend and I told them I was at 40 yd line didn't get a clear view after seeing it on TV and looking at slo mo he was in for sure. I attached the compelling picture. Not condoning what Clairton did after the game in any way and really when you outgain a team 470 to 270 in yards you expect to win so I understand frustration. Great weekend congrats to all 8 teams.

take a soda can. set in on a stool just in front of anything wide that reps a goal line..like this: 0[]...now, pretend it's in the middle of a field and walk backwards twenty feet as if you are looking down the goal line from the sidelines with the can JUST to the left of the goal line. now, take 5 steps to the left to rep the 5 yard line. ......ok...look at the can. I'll bet it looks like it's over the line. and you will also observe that the angle is the same as what the photo shows. The ball never crossed, it just looks that way because of the angle of the photo.........optical illusion
....

[animus]

I don't think Clairton got cheated on that play at all. And besides, say our kids did get cheated there, there's 47 other minutes to change that. I always learned that don't worry bout things you can't control (refs) because there are times when you can do something about it. In this case, Clairton stuffs a fake punt and Clairton wins, Clairton stuffs a screen play that goes for 40+, Clairton wins. Hines gets his foot down on that 4th and Goal, Clairton wins.... I just can't look back at that failed two point conversion.

Ultimately I still feel that the difference in this game was special teams and penalties.

[billmurray]

I agree a bit with you Animus, however it wasn't JUST st/penalties. they really were having trouble covering some of the big kids on offense. Gormley was being mugged while running routes, they caught it a couple times. BG was, I think, more "football fast" than I think Clairton was expecting.

[clueless]

back to the game, did anyone else happen to catch the BG radio broadcast? at halftime they were speaking highly of how the BG staff makes great halftime adjustments and such, and the one guy said about how they go into the locker room, talk as a staff, and use the technology available with their i-pads and use the view from high up in the stadium. it was something along those lines....

I would hope that is not the case. I may be wrong and someone please correct me if I am, but I believe under PIAA regulations it is illegal to use films or photos taken during the game during the process of the game.

[marley1]

Used to be illegal but the use of iPads are now legal. Take some pictures of the defense and you can easily see and make adjustments.

[animus]

I agree a bit with you Animus, however it wasn't JUST st/penalties. they really were having trouble covering some of the big kids on offense. Gormley was being mugged while running routes, they caught it a couple times. BG was, I think, more "football fast" than I think Clairton was expecting.

I think both teams struggled with each other, but played bend but don't break defense. Clairton had 400+ yards of total offense and BG had 300+ yards of total defense. The reality in my eyes is that on offense/defense it really was a wash. We can point to Gormley being mugged (which he was), and then point to at least 5 facemasks on Wade carries that wasn't called. So yes, I'm back to talking about JUST special teams/penalties.

[TonyV]

That two point conversion will be argued for years and years. Most I've talked to say he was in so do I but opinions vary. Total Yards were 470 to 270. Lamont Wade had almost as many yards just rushing than BGs whole team. I do agree if you are state champs 1st goal at 9 yd line end of game with time on clock you punch it in but sorry with the total yards difference and penalty yards difference don't tell me Clairton did a bad job of "stopping BG" and that penalties didn't affect outcome. But yes Clairton committed penalites. That's their fault. I was very impressed with both defenses to be honest. And I made that statement to some friends and they said BG defense wasn't that good with all of Clairtons yards it was all Clairton mistakes etc etc and really all that matters is if you let them in the endzone. We can split hairs about Lamont Wades long pass play and Guilfoyle fake punt how they got their yards etc but you can do that every game. I saw both QBs play a lot better in other games. Maybe they were both rattled not sure but once again maybe the defenses were just that good when each of their backs were against the wall. On a sidenote Archbishop Wood was best team I've seen out there all weekend I think they are most complete. South Fayette was best small school hands down not even close.

[casualobserver]

billmurray - the idea that you are describing with the soda can is know as a parallax.

Gentlemen, you can argue the refs, you can argue the calls, you can argue who rushed for how many yards, who had more yards than who, and so on.

In football as in all sports, the only numbers that matters are those associated with the final score.

The final score was Bishop Guilfoyle 19 Clairton 18 BG wins. Period, end of story, talk about the calls for the rest of your life. It will not change.

As for the behavior of Clairton at the end, absolutely despicable. No class, no discipline, hopefully some punishment will be forthcoming for the entire team.

Everyone, have a Merry Christmas!

[animus]

I think the defenses of each team is what really slowed down the passing games. Both QB's were running for their lives when they dropped back to pass.

[billmurray]

Animus, I wasn't arguing about non calls on Gormley...I was using that to show the BG kids were quicker and ran better routes than the clairton D expected. I thought the refs called a real good game, I use binocs when I cover for every play and didn't see any missed facemasks..matter of fact I think BG did get called for 2 I believe.

TONY: As for bend don't break, that's how BG has played all year. They gave teams the middle of the field but not the endzone. The BG/SW game is another example. Bragalone had 350 yards...but they didn't do what they needed. their game.



PARALLAX...yup....Looked over but wasn't...we were talkin to the refs at the Parkside after and they said no way did that ball cross the line. The camera angle is deceiving.