Transfer madness shakes up WPIAL, City League

Originally, this was going to be about predictions.

But with all the transfer news still coming in, include Maleik Hemingway's move to Perry from Bishop Canevin, accurately forecasting the City League and WPIAL champs was going to be tough. No way to digest all that information one day before kick-off.

Instead, here are things to think about:

How will Woodland Hills survive coaching change? 

Replacing George Novak, the only coach in school history, isn't going to be easy for the Wolverines. Woodland Hills already had to promote Tim Bostard to acting coach after Novak's replacement, Kevin Murray, was caught up in a non-football scandal.

​Other similar schools have had a mixed bag replacing legendary coaches.

McKeesport coach George Smith compiled a 196-106-3 record from 1982-2009 for the Tigers. After he retired, Jim Ward came in and the program went 19-11 in three seasons. 

​Perhaps looking at McKeesport is the best case scenario for the Wolverines. George Smith coached the Tigers from 1982 to 2009, piling up a 197-106-3 record and two PIAA titles before retiring. His replacement, Jim Ward, went 19-11 in three seasons before Smith returned.

Smith never won another WPIAL title and retired again after 2015. His replacement, Matt Miller, took the Tigers to the WPIAL Class 5A title game last season, losing a heartbreaker in overtime to West Allegheny.

North Hills hasn't been the same since Jack McCurry, who has 381 wins as coach, retired in 2013. McCurry's successor, Pat Carey, has made the playoffs in all four years as coach, but has yet to make the second round. The Indians are 20-21 since McCurry retired.

It will be interesting to see which way Woodland Hills goes.

State football rankings

Only one WPIAL team -- Class 3A Aliquippa -- is ranked No. 1 in its class. The WPIAL went 2-2 in PIAA title games last year, with Steel Valley (2A) and Beaver Falls (3A) taking the top spot.

Transfer madness

Maleik Hemingway's transfer from Bishop Canevin to the City League's Perry is sort of strange. Not because he shouldn't want to play in the community where he lives. Hemingway said he was happy and rolled up 1,579 yards for the Crusaders last season.

Perry having Rod Rutherford as coach and getting Hemingway may be enough to make the Commodores the City League favorite.

Imani Christian, North Allegheny and Pine-Richland also got richer through transfers in the offseason. Aliquippa was one of the rare schools which had a transfer denied.

Imani Christian

Will the Saints live up to their hype? Beating consistent powers Jeannette and Clairton in conference will be tough. Wilkinsburg-based Imani has become a hot spot for transfers the past two seasons. If the Saints are able to get everyone in tune by the beginning of the season, they could be a player in Class 1A. 

Quick predictions for WPIAL champs
6A-Pine-Richland
5A-McKeesport
4A-Thomas Jefferson
3A-Aliquippa
2A-Steel Valley
1A-Jeanette