This is indeed a special-order Cook.

Cody Cook, a senior running back at Beaver Falls, reached a milestone Friday night when he surpassed 4,000 career yards rushing in a 35-22 victory against Sto-Rox.

"I say this all the time, but I can say it more. He's a special kid," Beaver Falls coach Ryan Matsook said. "When you work hard, do things right, treat people the way he treats people, then good things are going to happen.

"He's a coach's dream. He works hard, he's always first in practice drills and he plays through an injury. And to boot, he's well-liked in school. If you had to say you'd want your son to be like this person or that person, he certainly fits the bill."

Cook is the 42nd running back in WPIAL history to reach 4,000 yards and has 4,164. Unlike a number of the running backs on the 4,000-yard list, Cook reached the milestone in only three seasons. Others have need four years.

Matsook has known Cook since Cook was in fifth grade. That was 2002 when Matsook got his first teaching job as a fifth-grade teacher in the Beaver Falls district. Matsook didn't become Beaver Falls' coach until four years later.

Matsook once went on a family vacation with Cook to Ocean City, N.J. Cook is a close friend of Beaver Falls teammate Christian Modro, and Modro is a cousin of Matsook's wife, Kelly.

"It was a family vacation and Christian brought along a friend [Cook]," Matsook said. "I've been around these kids in one facet or another for a long time, whether it's football or education. All of these kids are pretty special to me. It's almost like you sit back like a proud father when you watch them have success."

Beaver Falls plays rival Aliquippa in the Class AA semifinals this weekend.

The cousin of Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is being recruited by Pitt and Penn State, among others.

Maika Polamalu is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound running back/linebacker at Pottsgrove High School in Eastern Pennsylvania. He went over 2,000 yards rushing in his career earlier this season and has helped Pottsgrove (Class AAA) to an 11-0 record.

Although Polamalu is only a junior, Penn State offered him a scholarship a few weeks ago. Pitt is one of the other schools showing interest. Polamalu's father, Al, played at Penn State in the 1980s.

The other day, Troy Polamalu was talking about his cousin and how it might be cool if the two could someday play together in the NFL. Then Troy Polamalu added, "I don't know if I could last that long."

As for Maika Polamalu's future, Troy smiled and said, "It wouldn't surprise me if he ended up at USC."

Kyle Smith of Lancaster Catholic is getting close to the state passing yardage record. But another player named Smith might beat him to it.

Kyle Smith threw for 303 yards in Friday's 48-21 victory against York Suburban. That gives him 7,772 career passing yards.

Meanwhile, Tyler Smith of Wilson Area threw for 194 yards in a 44-19 victory against Pottsville Saturday night. He now has 7,752 yards.

The state record for career passing is 8,162 yards, set by Pat Devlin of Downingtown East. Both Smiths are on teams that are still alive in the playoffs, so they both have a shot at the record. Tyler Smith, by the way, is a Maryland recruit. Kyle Smith has not made a college decision, but is not receiving much interest from Division I colleges.

• Gateway's Rob Kalkstein moved past former Steel Valley quarterback Luke Getsy and into third place on the WPIAL's all-time passing list with 6,238 yards. He is 335 yards away from No. 2 Andrew DiDonato of South Fayette (6,573 yards) and 503 yards from No. 1 Adam DiMichele of Sto-Rox (6,741).

• Defending PIAA Class AAAA champion Bethlehem Liberty was ousted from the District 2-4-11 subregional playoffs with a 49-21 loss to East Stroudsburg South.

Two teams from the City League will play in the PIAA playoffs this weekend.

City League champion Schenley will play Punxsutawney in a Class AAA game. Punxsutawney won its first District 9 championship since 1991.

Westinghouse is 3-6, but qualified for the PIAA playoffs as the highest-finishing Class AA team from the City League. Westinghouse will play Bedford (4-6) either Friday or Saturday in a Class AA game.

Mike White's "High School Sports Edition" videos are featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.