I find it interesting that Laurel is not in these rankings. Laurel was a contender in the tough AA with the likes of Aliquippa, and Beaver Falls. They are also the only team to beat Clairton in the past 47 games. Don't under estimate the Spartans - we will see a lot from them in the "Big Seven"!

With all due respect,  In the Big 9, it's Sto-Rox and Rochester & then we'll see. Maybe OLSH & Laurel....who knows.  But the argument that the Black Hills shouldn't be talked about over the Big 9...and the Big 9 will be just as good?  ....wow......  with what Clairton, Brentwood, & Bishop Canevin have coming back, combined with adding "consistent" playoff teams in Monessen (often a higher team), Fort Cherry, Chartiers-Houston, California, & Serra..........come on now?  Of course everyone's looking at the black hills.  The Big 9 doesn't stack up even if Laurel was great this year. Look at the other teams on both sides from top to bottom.  The teams I mentioned from the Hills are in the playoffs year in year out.  I don't think the same can be said for that conference once you get below those top 2. Now as far as Laurel...they may very well have a good team this year.  I hope they do.  But to make them comparable based on beating Clairton in 09? I'll respond by saying they beat Clairton 15-8 to start that season (3 years ago). But then lost to them 33-0 at the end of the season. Add to that, the year before that they lost 41-0 to Clairton.  If anything, that means they caught Clairton on a very rare "off" day and otherwise were in the same boat as the rest of the teams in single A (was no match for Clairton). And I won't even speak on the Beth Center win because they weren't even the best team in their conference that year. They weren't until the last 2 years.The Steelers won the Superbowl 3 years ago in 09.........so what does that mean for 2012?                It means the Steelers won the Superbowl 3 years ago in 09.