INSIDE

WPIAL CLASS AAAA: It will be a clash of unbeatens when Dorian Bell, pictured, and Gateway take on Bethel Park for the championship Saturday at Heinz Field.

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Joe Hamilton already is eligible for social security and already has retired as a teacher. But Hamilton, 66, just can't see himself retiring as Blackhawk's Football coach.

"I like golf, but I wouldn't want to do that every day of the week," Hamilton said. "I like to hunt, too, but couldn't see myself doing that every day. The thing I enjoy most is coaching Football."

So, Hamilton keeps coaching ... and keeps winning. In terms of WPIAL championship appearances, Hamilton has gone past one for the thumb, and one for the other thumb. He's on one for the toes.

Blackhawk will play Thomas Jefferson in the Class AAA final tomorrow at Heinz Field. It will be Hamilton's 11th championship appearance, believed to be the most in WPIAL history.

This is Hamilton's 10th title game at Blackhawk. He also coached New Brighton to the 1969 WPIAL final game. The only other person in WPIAL history to coach in 10 championship games is believed to be Upper St. Clair's Jim Render.

Render and Hamilton are the only two WPIAL coaches to win more than 300 games. Hamilton, in his 33rd season at Blackhawk and 43rd overall, has a 4-6 record in title games.

"It's hard just to get there and it's so hard to win," said Hamilton. "You need those complete teams to win it all."

Census figures show Beaver County's population has shrunk 16 percent since 1970.

Drive north along the Ohio River and the main reason for the county's demise is quite evident. Once vibrant steel mills are no longer in operation.

But one part of Beaver County is still thriving. Drive to the North Shore tomorrow, and it will be evident on the lawn inside Heinz Field.

High school Football is as good as ever in Beaver County, and the WPIAL championships are heavily populated with Beaver County teams.

Four of the eight teams that will play in the title games tomorrow at Heinz are from that county. They are Blackhawk, Aliquippa, Beaver Falls and Monaca. That's pretty impressive when you consider there are only 14 high schools in Beaver County and none play in the WPIAL's largest classification (Class AAAA).

This is the first time four Beaver County schools have played in the championships since 1991.

But the title games this year aren't evidence of a resurgence in Beaver County Football. They are simply more examples of how a 434-square mile area (Beaver County) keeps producing winning teams -- and standout players -- at a high rate.

Consider the evidence:

* The WPIAL started using four classifications in 1980. Since then, Allegheny County schools have won 33 championships in the three smallest classes (A, AA and AAA). Beaver County is only two behind with 31. And Allegheny County has 32 high schools in A, AA and AAA, while Beaver County has 14. Also, Westmoreland County has 13 high schools and has won nine WPIAL titles since 1980.

The Falls

Joe Namath led Beaver Falls to the 1960 WPIAL title and Todd Thomas and the Tigers will face Aliquippa in the Class AA final Saturday.

County crown

Beaver County's success in high school Football is evidenced in this county-by-county breakdown of WPIAL champions in Class AAA, AA and A since 1980. Class AAAA is not reflected in the chart because Beaver County does not have a team in the largest classification. Also, Mercer County schools have six championships since 1980, but that is not reflected in the chart because the titles were won by Wilmington and Farrell. Neither team is in the WPIAL now.

County......Teams......Titles

Allegheny......32......33

Beaver......14......31

Westmoreland......13......9

Washington......16......4

Lawrence......7......1

Sam Cercone/Skyler Schultz

Monaca

Corey Brown

Gateway

Terry Patrick

Aliquippa

Jake Kemerer

Hempfield

Dylan Trombetta is one of the top hockey players in the PIHL, and now his little brother, Nolan, is pitching in to the Rams' offense. Dylan, a senior, is the team's leading scorer while Nolan, a freshman, isn't far behind. They've helped the Rams to an undefeated 5-0 record.

Sam Cercone is Monaca's Football coach and Skyler Schultz is the team's second-leading rusher. They also are brothers-in-law. Cercone, 34, is married to Schultz's sister, Lindsay. Monaca plays in the WPIAL Class A championship tomorrow at Heinz Field.

Just call him touchdown Brown. A senior receiver and Ohio State recruit, Brown has caught a school-record 15 touchdown passes this season for undefeated Gateway (12-0).

Oh, brother. Patrick is the half-brother of New York Jets defensive back Darrelle Revis. Patrick is making a name for himself. He's the second-leading rusher for Aliquippa.

He decided to sign Sooner than later. Kemerer, a senior and a defending PIAA champion wrestler, signed with the Oklahoma Sooners during the NCAA signing period last week. Kemerer is ranked the No. 16 wrestler in the country by Intermat.

Trombetta brothersPine-Richland