Where does Pine-Richland stand among the WPIAL’s best?
The other QBs I’d rate as the best since 1980 are Pryor, West Allegheny’s Tyler Palko and Brashear’s Major Harris. I don’t think people realize how good of a player — and quarterback — Palko was in his day. And Harris was the dual-threat QB before the dual-threat QB became fashionable.
But back to how PineRichland’s team compares to some of the best. North Allegheny in 2012, Central Catholic in 2004 and North Hills in 1987 were three others considered the best in the past 30-40 years. Former North Hills coach Jack McCurry is a good source on the best teams around the WPIAL. He coached the 1987 team that was ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today, and coached against the 2012 North Allegheny team.
“I think Pine-Richland is one of the best teams around here,” McCurry said. “To put up the points they did week-in and week-out is impressive at the highest level. I think they improved a great deal defensively from last year, but they still gave up a good amount of points (209). They have to be ranked up there among the best ever, but not the best because if that defense had kept other teams to seven, 10 points or less, then you’d be talking about a different thing.”
Remember, North Hills’ 1987 team had a first-team defense that didn’t allow a point.
“But it was a different era then,” said McCurry. “You could control a game by running the ball and that’s what we did.”
North Allegheny’s 2012 team had a terrific run in the PIAA playoffs, forcing the mercy rule on all three opponents and outscoring teams, 164-44. But when you look at the body of work for the entire season, Pine-Richland’s offense was better, although North Allegheny had a better defense,
Central Catholic’s 2004 team forced the mercy rule on every opponent and held Bishop McDevitt running back LeSean McCoy to 39 yards rushing in a PIAA semifinal.
Current North Allegheny coach Art Walker was the Tigers’ coach in 2012 and Central Catholic’s coach in 2004. And he played Pine-Richland twice this season.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily accurate to say that one team is the best ever, or one is the best offense or defense in Pennsylvania history, because there are so many variables,” Walker said. “Did a team keep guys in games, or did they substitute a lot? I don’t think basing things just off statistics is completely accurate.
“Pine-Richland had an offense that was just solid everywhere and that’s what made them so difficult offensively. I don’t think Jordan Crawford got enough of the credit he deserved. But Phil was the key to everything. … Are they better than 2012 North Allegheny or 2004 Central? I think they’re part of the company you have to talk about.”
One thing is for sure. This Pine-Richland team should be remembered for a long time and what the Rams did makes for some fun debates.
“To say one of these teams is the best ever? The only way you really can figure that out is if they lined up and played,” said Walker.