High school notebook: The search continues for head coaches
Three local high school football programs are still on the hunt for a head coach.
Charleroi, Waynesburg and Ringgold are conducting searches for their head coaching positions for the upcoming fall season. The most recent opening came when the Cougars told Donnie Militzer they were opening his position.
Militzer, who helped lead Charleroi to its best season in the last 20 years, would have been entering his fifth season.
Charleroi finished 9-2 overall to earn a spot in the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs. The Cougars were upset by Avonworth, 21-12, in the first round.
Militzer was told that he could reapply for the position.
Waynesburg still remains in search of its head coach after forcing Russ Moore out two weeks before the Raiders’ season concluded.
Moore had one of the youngest teams in the WPIAL with only three seniors and four juniors, but the latest WPIAL realign didn’t do Waynesburg any favors.
The Raiders finished 1-8 last season and were placed in a conference with 2017 state champion Quaker Valley and perennial powers Aliquippa, Beaver Falls and Central Valley.
Ringgold was aiming to replace Nick Milchovich, who stepped down immediately following the Rams’ regular-season finale, by early in 2018.
They were expected to name a coach at last week’s school board meeting but it fell through.
WPIAL restructuring playoffs
The PIAA revealed the state football brackets for the 2018-19 seasons earlier this week with some changes to the old format.
WPIAL champions in Class 6A and 4A will join the state playoffs in the state quarterfinals. Winners of Class 5A, 3A, 2A and A automatically go into the semifinal round. The 5A champion now only needs to win one game to reach the finals rather than two.
The next WPIAL board meeting Feb. 19 will likely be used to approve the changes and release the local playoff brackets, a process that couldn’t be finalized until the PIAA brackets were released.
The alteration of the WPIAL brackets could change what championship games will be played at Heinz Field. The Class 2A and A championships have been played at Robert Morris University since the change from four classifications to six in 2016.
Former teammates still to decide
It was only two years ago South Fayette quarterback Drew Saxton was throwing passes to Ryhan Culberson.
The two are still waiting to make a decision about where to play at the next level.
Saxton, a three-year starter at South Fayette, amassed 7,368 yards passing and 94 touchdowns. He’s been considering several Presidents’ Athletic Conference schools.
Culberson, who played at South Fayette before transferring to Fort Cherry prior to his junior year, plans on making a decision following the Rangers’ basketball season.
Also a quarterback, Culberson did most of his damage with his legs, finishing his senior season with 1,564 rushing yards and scoring 21 touchdowns. He also completed 33 of his 64 passes for 643 yards and eight touchdowns.
Culberson is deciding between Morgan State and Pitt.
Canon-Mac’s Smith,
BV’s Haney commit
Canon-McMillan offensive lineman Aaron Smith has committed to Mercyhurst.
In three years on the Big Macs’ offensive line, Smith racked up 30 starts at left tackle and center. He was a two-time all-conference performer at C-M.
Belle Vernon linebacker Dylan Haney has committed to Geneva.
Haney was second on the Leopards’ defense with 34 tackles.
Walker Jr. gets invite
Washington junior wide receiver Dan Walker was invited to the Under Armour All-America Camp Series in Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday, Feb. 18.
Walker Jr. finished his junior season, his first with Washington after transferring from Brookwood High School in Georgia, catching 33 passes for 617 yards and nine touchdowns.
He has received interest from Louisville, UConn and South Carolina.