`dawson's Creek' Has Enough Steam To Melt Most Viewers

3 Field Hockey Stars Named All-americans

Monday, January 19, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





`Super Conference' needs adjustments to serve all teams &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When the Wyoming Valley West swimming team destroys Scranton Prep, there is
no blood in the waterWhen Seton Catholic wrecks West Side Tech in a girls
basketball game, there usually aren't any casualties in the process. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And, when Coughlin's soccer team pummels GAR into submission, the
Grenadiers have only the bad memories to prove it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 However, when the Delaware Valley and Crestwood football teams- two of the
worst programs record-wise this decade- are being asked to bang heads with
four-time defending state champion Berwick, Valley View, the most successful
team in Big 11 history, and Hazleton Area, the biggest school district in the
area, those who devise the plan may have to wash the blood from their hands. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When Crestwood's quarterback suffers a leg injury in a game against Berwick
that requires reconstructive surgery and more than a year of rehabilitation,
it won't be the fault of the Comets' left tackle and right guard who missed
the blocking assignments. It will be the adults who lacked the foresight to
prevent the mismatch. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When a Delaware Valley wide receiver is crushed running a pass pattern
across the middle against Hazleton Area and suffers blurred vision for months
afterward, the Delaware Valley officials should be held accountable for
putting their athletes at such high risk. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Football is unlike any other high school sport and should be treated
accordingly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sure, a serious injury can occur in any game at any time. It is the nature
of the sport. However, creating unnecessary scheduling mismatches only
enhances the chances of injuries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Northeastern Pennsylvania Football Conference begins play in the fall
of 2000. That gives officials from the 40 schools plenty of time to figure out
the best possible format for all teams, not 30 or 35 of them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The concept of one "super" football league is a great idea. Putting the
best District 2 teams against each other on the field every year eliminates
the uneven playing ground that has been around since the inception of the
state playoff system 10 years ago. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 However, this is football, the most violent contact sport available to
teenagers. That thought must be considered when scheduling takes place. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The proposal, approved last Friday by the Wyoming Valley Conference and a
week earlier by the Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association, has a
three-division alignment. Only two of those divisions, however, are formed
according to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association enrollment
figures- Divisions 2 and 3. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Division 1 combined 18 teams with the largest number of boys in grades
nine, 10 and 11. The gap between the largest school and the smallest, though,
is more than 750 boys. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Even a second-string offensive tackle can figure out what's wrong with that
formation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If there are two divisions set up according to PIAA classifications, why
aren't there two more divisions formed with the same thing in mind? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A few schools- Berwick and Riverside among them- have made it clear that
their football programs want to play larger schools. Their agendas include the
PIAA playoffs. However, there are many schools whose goals aren't as grand. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Winning a league championship and beating rivals are at the top of their
priority list. A five-division, eight-team-apiece "super" conference would
allow all teams to accomplish their goals. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Let Berwick play with the seven current Class AAAA schools in Division 1.
Allow Delaware Valley, potentially a Class AAAA team by 2000, to play down a
class with the seven biggest AAA teams in Division 2. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The two smallest AAA teams would be placed in Division 3 with the six
biggest AA clubs. The seven remaining AA teams could team up with Riverside in
Division 4 while the eight A teams left would form Division 5. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Each team plays its seven division opponents. The three remaining dates
would be open and uniform among all divisions. Clubs who want to continue
their rivalry games can do so. Teams that want to schedule teams with larger
enrollments to build points for the playoffs can do so. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And, the divisions are revised every two years according to the PIAA
enrollment figures. If Delaware Valley shows considerable improvement, place
them in the division according to its size. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The WVC is showing compassion for Bishop Hoban by not forcing the Argents
to play Division II powers Dallas and Wyoming Area for the two years leading
up t

`super Conference' Needs Adjustments To Serve All Teams 
When The Wyoming Valley West Swimming Team Destroys Scranton Prep, There Is No 
Blood In The Water.

`super Conference' Needs Adjustments To Serve All Teams When The Wyoming Valley West Swimming Team Destroys Scranton Prep, There Is No Blood In The Water.