The athletes from Duquesne High School who now play at East Allegheny and West Mifflin will not affect sports classifications at either school -- for now or the near future.

The PIAA, which includes the WPIAL, realigns sports classifications every two years, based on enrollment figures for boys and girls in grades 9-11. The next classification realignment will be for 2008-10.

The state closed Duquesne High School this summer, and Duquesne students will attend East Allegheny or West Mifflin. The East Allegheny football team has close to 20 players from Duquesne and West Mifflin close to 10.

"But in the bill that was agreed to by the state, neither East Allegheny nor West Mifflin has to count Duquesne students for the purposes of classification," said Tim O'Malley, executive director of the WPIAL. "So it will have no bearing this season or in the next few years."

But the number of Duquesne students likely would not have affected classifications in any sport at East Allegheny or West Mifflin, with the possible exception of basketball.

In the most recent PIAA enrollment breakdowns for 2006-08, East Allegheny is Class AA in boys' basketball, but only 50 male students away from Class AAA. West Mifflin is Class AAA in boys' basketball, but only 42 male students away from Class AAAA.

In the most recent PIAA enrollment breakdowns, Duquesne had only 85 male students in grades 9-11.

Dukes vs. Clairton

Clairton was probably Duquesne's top athletic rival.

But the Duquesne football players now at East Allegheny will get to face Clairton again because East Allegheny will be part of a three-way scrimmage tomorrow against Clairton and Sto-Rox. The scrimmage will begin at 10 a.m. at Sto-Rox.

Tomorrow is the first day Pennsylvania teams can scrimmage another school. Some of the top scrimmages tomorrow are: Central Catholic at McKeesport (10 a.m.), West Allegheny at Upper St. Clair (10 a.m.), Perry at North Allegheny (9 a.m.), Blackhawk at Aliquippa (9 a.m.) and Seton-LaSalle at Jeannette (10 a.m.).

Ones to watch

Gateway has two heavily recruited seniors in defensive end/fullback Shayne Hale and running back/defensive back Cameron Saddler. But the Gators also have two standout juniors who already have a number of scholarship offers.

Penn State called Gateway coach Terry Smith before practice Tuesday and said it was offering scholarships to receiver-defensive back Corey Brown (6 feet 1, 185 pounds) and linebacker Dorian Bell (6-2, 215). Pitt, Ohio State, Michigan and Alabama already had offered scholarships to both.

"They both have about 12 offers already," Smith said.

Smith believes both Brown and Bell could be ranked among the top 50 players in the country next year.

Tomlin look alike

Ask Gateway's Smith if anyone has told him he looks a lot like Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, and he will tell you he has heard it a number of times recently.

"I'm starting to get it all the time," Smith said.

"I was at Kennywood with my daughter a couple weeks ago, and a lady came up to me and said, 'Good luck this year, coach.' At first, I thought she was talking about Gateway. Then, she followed it up with, 'Welcome to Pittsburgh. We're so glad you're here.'

"That's when I walked away and told my daughter 'She thinks I'm Mike Tomlin.' "

Injury scare

Mount Pleasant got a scare Tuesday when quarterback Bryan Fosbrink was injured in a practice and taken by medical helicopter to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Fosbrink, however, was not seriously injured and was sent home later that day.

Quoting 'em

Jeannette coach Ray Reitz, on his team playing four games on television this season: "The exposure is great for our community and our school, and it gives some of our kids who are Division II and III college prospects a chance to get noticed. For me, I'm 51 years old. My only hope is maybe someone will see me and want to use me as a Hollywood stuntman. I could probably be a stuntman in a bar."