Baldwin Whitehall HS football team set to play as independent

School administrators at Baldwin Whitehall High School say they barely have enough players to field a competitive football team in Group 5A among some of the stronger programs in the South Hills.Superintendent Randy Lutz told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Wednesday that this is why they are temporarily dropping out of the 5A group to play 3A schools as an independent, citing last season as a prime example. “There was some competitiveness, but the kids are exhausted, or the injuries start to catch up to us,” Lutz said. “By the second half, I’m not sure there were many games that were not in the mercy rule in the second half.”Lutz says a typical 5A roster has 50 to 60 players, but Baldwin Whitehall had fewer than 25, forcing many players to play offense, defense, and special teams.Under current conditions, Lutz says the football team is unable to compete with the players they have. “Next year, most of our kids are going to be freshmen or some sophomores, so we would really be putting 14 and 15-year-olds up against 17 and 18-year-olds, the potential for injuries,” he said. Administrators say the plan is to seek out 3A opponents for two years, while building up the numbers to rejoin group 5A.

WHITEHALL, Pa. —

School administrators at Baldwin Whitehall High School say they barely have enough players to field a competitive football team in Group 5A among some of the stronger programs in the South Hills.

Superintendent Randy Lutz told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Wednesday that this is why they are temporarily dropping out of the 5A group to play 3A schools as an independent, citing last season as a prime example.

“There was some competitiveness, but the kids are exhausted, or the injuries start to catch up to us,” Lutz said. “By the second half, I’m not sure there were many games that were not in the mercy rule in the second half.”

Lutz says a typical 5A roster has 50 to 60 players, but Baldwin Whitehall had fewer than 25, forcing many players to play offense, defense, and special teams.

Under current conditions, Lutz says the football team is unable to compete with the players they have.

“Next year, most of our kids are going to be freshmen or some sophomores, so we would really be putting 14 and 15-year-olds up against 17 and 18-year-olds, the potential for injuries,” he said.

Administrators say the plan is to seek out 3A opponents for two years, while building up the numbers to rejoin group 5A.