Scholastic Notebook – 09/27/2013

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Friday, September 27, 2013 | 3:44 PM


It doesn’t matter if there is security or a police presence at Ringgold football games. The key for fourth-year coach Matt Humbert is he always has had the Law on his side.

Humbert has enjoyed success in his four years as Ringgold’s coach, and one of the keys is there has been a Law under center. Quad Law played quarterback for the Rams in Humbert’s first two years when the Rams were a combined 17-4. Now, Law’s younger, Nico, is the Rams’ QB.

They are turning Ringgold into a Law school.

After going only 4-6 last season, Ringgold is 3-1 this year heading into a big game tonight at West Mifflin. Nico Law has been a driving force, turning out to be one of the best-dual threat quarterbacks in the WPIAL.

Law heads into tonight’s game ninth in passing yardage in the entire WPIAL with 681 yards in four games. He has completed 38 of 76 with nine touchdown passes.

Law also is 28th in the WPIAL in rushing with 469 yards on 49 carries, a 9.6 average. Law is the only WPIAL player in the top 30 in both rushing and passing.

Nico is different than his brother, Quad, who now is excelling as a receiver at Gannon University. Nico is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior who is in his second season as a starter. Quad was only 5-7, 165 pounds. Nico also is a better thrower than Quad. As a senior, Quad attempted only 55 passes and completed 26 for 581 yards.

Nico has improved greatly since his sophomore year. He already has more yards this season than he did all of last season. In 2012, he completed only 37 of 75 for 588 yards and rushed for 453 yards on 67 attempts.

For the Record

Lenny Williams is getting closer to the WPIAL career passing yardage record.

Williams, a senior at Sto-Rox, has thrown for 6,738 yards (388 of 687) heading into tonight’s game. That means he needs only 424 yards to reach the record of 7,162, set by South Fayette’s Christian Brumbaugh a few years ago.

If Williams continues to play well and Sto-Rox advances through the playoffs, Williams seemingly has a decent chance to end up as one of only seven quarterbacks in Pennsylvania history to throw for 8,000 career yards. The state record is 10,948 yards. That is pretty much out of reach.

Williams also has 83 career touchdown passes, which is only five away from Brumbaugh’s WPIAL record of 88.

Westinghouse to WPIAL for Football?

Westinghouse High School in the Pittsburgh City League wants to join the WPIAL for football.

Pittsburgh Public Schools voted, 7-2, on Wednesday to grant Westinghouse release from the City Leauge (District 7) for football. The school wants to join the WPIAL and play schools closer to its size. Westinghouse has averaged only 23 players the past three years and has struggled to compete against bigger schools in the City League.

But Westinghouse’s desire to join the WPIAL doesn’t mean it will definitely happen. The WPIAL has yet to be approached by the City League about Westinghouse’s desire. Also the WPIAL doesn’t have to let Westinghouse in.

Westinghouse would join the WPIAL in 2014.

Brashear Pulls Out

Brashear boys soccer coach Abby Phillips pulled her team off the field in the first half and forfeited a match against Canon-McMillan Tuesday night. Phillips pulled her team just 14 minutes, 27 seconds into the match and with Canon-McMillan leading, 4-0.

Phillips claimed the game officials were the main reason for her action.

But Phillips likely will face disciplinary action for the forfeit. The WPIAL will request information from all parties involved and will likely have a hearing with Phillips.

Golf Championships

The WPIAL girls golf Class AAA and AA championships will be Monday at Hillcrest Country Club in Lower Burrell. Gillian Alexander of Jefferson-Morgan is back to defend her title she won as a sophomore. Alexander won the title last year at 3 Lakes with a score of 78. Central Valley’s Macky Fouse was second at 80 and she is back for her senior year.

The player to beat in the Class AAA competition could be Lauren Waller of Canon-McMillan. She finished second last year and defending champ Janista Numpho-Frank of Hempfield has graduated. Waller has spent the fall beating the boys. Canon-McMillan doesn’t have a girls team so Waller plays on the boys team. She plays at 80-85 percent of the distance of the boys tees. But Waller has been the medalist in a few matches.

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