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Penn Trafford will definitely be a contender. The return some nice size up front as well as QB and great WR. The were 11-0 last year before running into PCC in the semi-finals. They basically couldn't stop PCC's offense, which was mainly Petrician running zone read. They scored ok, but I think in the long run to play with PCC, you have to spread them out.
The other team to watch is NA. They will be hug this year up front, and that probably means they will run the ball well - over and over and over. They lose pretty much all their skill but have a transfer RB (from PCC of all places) coming back that is small but lightening quick. They will be very solid on D as usual.
Finally, Bethel Park is a dark horse. Played alot of young kids last year and they have a 4 year starter back at QB. Their numbers were way down tho - something like 40 kids at the end of the year, so not sure how that is going to go for them if they get any injuries.
I don't know much about Penn Hills - they did lose some kids - but folks out here always say they find a way to lose. (Sorta like last year).
But, if I had to pick one of these three as the next best team, it would be NA.
Interesting picks for surprise teams for all the reason s you mentioned. We'll see if Mustangs have turned corner; that would be fun and finally give McKeesport some comp for a change....not counting PT's recent success.
And nothing Coach K does at PR will surprise me as I see him as the West's version of Matt Ortega at Coatesville. In my view he's the real deal!
Bethel does have a pile coming back so we'll see if they can make a run like a few years ago. My nephew was dating a girl at Pitt who went there keeping me posted on Black Hawks. Quite a run!
I agree on Coach K and think PR will be in the discussions going forward. Have you seen their football complex? Couple $ million and pretty darn impressive. Everything I am hearing says that in 2-3 years they will stacked with a very nice group coming up through the ranks.
Im from the east,and couldn't agree more with your comments regarding the west talking football instead of other things . So ,with that said , I would like folks thoughts about the best of AAA . I believe the east will be dominated by Imhotep this year if they don't go offsides too much. Said in jest ,but has some truth to it. Who will challenge them ?No, I've never been to PR's facilities but know the program is special in all ways. Thanks for the detail of your info. From D3 living in D1 now.
Got to say to you guys....it's good coming on a board where you actually talk about football "teams"...what they have, lost, expectations....instead of privates "recruiting"; if it happens, the unfairness if it does and so on. Damned...deal with it!. Guys actually talking about football teams. Yikes!
I told guys on the Eastern side that we don't bitch about that stuff in other districts meaning D-3 and D7, but wow could we ever in Harrisburg with McDevitt dominating or a few years back when Trinity in Camp Hill-Shiremanstown was doing it (losing guy to McD now!), even Delone Catholic in McSherrystown drawing guys from as far away as Gettysburg and surrounding areas. Berks Catholic is building big time too, coming to dominate the D3-AA landscape with Wyomissing.
Stalker,that was a great summary,thanks and I hope you are right about Wood over Imhotep. One of these years Imhotep will get it right and when they do ,look out.Here’s a fast rundown on many of the AAA West teams excluding D1, 11, 12 and 2. Maybe someone else will jump on those. This is just a quick hit overview .
Lilromeo….Imhotep has the talent but consistent history of folding in the big game, losing in 2013 to SoFay 41-0 and Wyomissing the preceding year 35-13. Saw some things in those games to have you scratch your head. No faith in them....at all! A decent Wood team will again handle them. Like a lot of teams around the state, they're reloading but a rebuilt-loaded Wood team is real good stuff!
District 3;
Mid Penn: Same for McDevitt in 3 who always has a lot of talent. You expect a drop-off there like Wood and never really know how the new starters will do. McDevitt's conference mate Red Land graduated a good team at 9-4 that couldn't keep up with them last year, so things look questionable there. Another conference rival Susquehanna Township had recently been a perennial power until the last two seasons (6-6, 3-7) that followed a 5 year 38-19 run. They have bodies back and I wouldn’t expect them to be down long. Another Mid-Penn team, 9-3 Milton Hershey returns a pile of players but haven’t been able to break into the upper tier anymore than Northern, Greencastle-Antrim, Hershey or Ship have.
York-Adams: teams like Gettysburg (8-3), recently moved over from the Mid Penn haven’t cut it either losing to West York 49-27 and Milton Hershey 27-14 although West York (10-2) is always a team to keep your eye on. They do have the players and tradition, losing with a 13-1 team to McDevitt (14-1, 18th-USA Today) in 2012’s quarterfinals 21-10. Bulldogs are one of the top Triple-A’s in the district. Nice soph back last year at +700ry.
LL-2: is interesting with Cocalico (10-4) bringing back their QB along with Solanco (6-5) and Lampeter Strasburg (8-3) although LS's QB has sadly been diagnosed with cancer. Solanco is new to the dance so we’ll see how they handle it. I don’t think they’re ready for prime time per losses to Henderson 35-0, Man Cent 34-3, Red Land 40-14. Garden Spot 7-4 loses the QB but returns much of the rest. Man Central has a good back and some D people returning but the major coaching change.
Berks FB: Has traditional AAA powers Conrad Weiser (7-5), Boone (8-5) and Muhlenberg (2-8). When Weiser is on they beat Susquehanna Twp, when not, they lose to Red Land. Return the QB, more than a few sizeable lineman and enough to the D so if they can get that plow horse to run behind the line with a vet QB to threaten, they could make some noise. Lost to Quad-A playoff teams Reading 20-13 and Exeter Twp 24-23 but plastered by the real stuff in Governor Mifflin 49-14. Boone hasn’t been the same since Coach Bodolus resigned after the 2011 season. Muhlenberg’s Muhls haven’t had much kick lately either, struggling the last five with only two winning seasons following a decade plus of good football where they amassed five nine win seasons and a ten win season. But the Mulies are exciting, often giving up as many as they allow!
District 4;
Heartland I: Selinsgrove (9-4) should be improved with QB Logan Leiby back and RB Juvon Batts. Losses were to Berwick (9-3), Jersey Shore (11-1), Southern (11-1) and Somerset (14-2) but this was still not your typical bad-ass, knock down Seal team. Jersey Shore had a wicked D (7ppg) last year and looked like they’d go somewhere but lost to Seals in first round (rematch) 6-2 at home! Return two solid backs, FB Bryce Charles, 6-0, 235, 402ry and Levi Lorson 1856ry.
District 5;
Somerset (14-2) is going to be loaded again with their primary players back, QB Dylan Barnes (+1500py, +700ry) and RB Jake Heiple (1595ry). Heck of a run last year exposing Bethlehem Catholic 30-0 with a quick-physical line combined with a balanced O before getting handled by Archbishop Wood 63-20 in the semifinal.
District 7; It looks like Central Valley (15-1, state runner up) will field another strong group while West Allegheny (11-2) deals with huge grad-talent losses. TJ (11-1) returns QB and most of D that got run over in their only loss last year to West A 41-0. And Franklin Regional (7-4) have a lot of people back with half the D joining multi-threat QB Santino Birty making it look like a Wpial repeat repping the West unless McDevitt replaces a lot of offensive firepower.
District 10;
Cathedral (11-1) has some reloading to do but like McDevitt and Wood, they usually reload with good stuff.