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My takeaway from 2024 PIAA state championships

northalleghenytiger
1. Much more entertaining games this year than last. 3 classics and 3 duds. Better than nothing.

2. Private school domination this year. I won’t get into how I feel because I’ve already made my position clear. It’s terrible

3. This might have been the worst wpial performance at the state level ever. Two finalists. Zero winners. Just awful this year. We peaked in 2021 with 5 finalists and 4 winners

4. This was they year to beat St. joes. Unfortunately, this Central team wasn’t as good as ‘17 pine or ‘21 Lebo. I thought SJP QB was really questionable, but ultimately He’s just a sophomore. He will improve and they will be harder to beat. They will win the next two with Harrison WR dominating.
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Q&A with Cheltenham defensive tackle Elijah Burnley

P
How did/is everything going football wise as of late?
“The season went well. The team has been working hard doing off season workouts, they have been very committed on and off the field.”

What do you feel your team can continue to improve on going forward?
“Strength and conditioning. Continue to work hard, as our Head Coach says ‘it’s hard to be great!’”

Have you been pleased with your performances?
“Yes.”

How do you feel about the play of your team?
“Overall, our team is very resilient. We are a team that works hard and we have a great Head Coach and staff that are very supportive.”

What are your sporting goals going forward as of now?
“Continuing to work during this off season. I am in training almost 7 days a week, my training consists of lifting, speed, footwork, and Pilates.”

Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“I absolutely do, and I will play at the collegiate level. I currently have two D1 offers from Akron and Kent State. As far as a specific college, I have my top 5 that I am confident that I would be a great fit.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“Syracuse, Cornell, WVU, Akron, Kent, Penn State, Coastal Carolina, and UConn.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“Syracuse.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“Yes.”

Do you have plans for game day trips?
“I do have plans for game day trips, I am looking forward to it.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“Yes, Oregon.”
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private vs public schools

0
In the last 20 - 25 years, private schools in PA have upgraded their football programs. At the same time public schools in the PIAA and, specifically District One, have watered down their programs. Private schools are aggressively selling their programs. Not just the PCL but the Interac league, Mid-Atlantic Prep league and PA Independent Athletic Association.

I spoke to an AD at a private school 20 years ago who told me they start selling their kids to colleges at the end of 10th grade. Public school ADs do nothing, they are overpaid, have assistants who do the scheduling, and then the AD collects the paycheck.

There was a time when District One schools took on all comers. At one time, C.B. East played Lasalle & Holycross of NJ and beat them both. C.B. West played PCL schools, mid-state schools , Lehigh Valley schools, etc. Downingtown played Malvern Prep, Salisiumiun, Ryan (when they were good). Today District One is satisfied with having a 16-team playoff and the winner qualifies for the state semifinal and the winner could not beat 10 teams in the PCL, Interac or Mid Atlantic prep league. Downingtown East was a semifinalist this year in District One and got beat by Toms River North 30 to 2.

There are about 500 schools playing football in the PIAA, but the PIAA is ruled by the 450 bottom feeders.

Here is the solution: let players transfer between schools especially districts with more than 1 high school. Bethlehem, Central Bucks, Council Rock, Downingtown. Better teams and competition between public schools.

Even in HS today sports is about money. Coaches are underpaid, head coach should be paid between $25-$30,000 and first assistant $10-$15,000. ADs are overpaid. If they cannot get kids into FBS, FCS schools they should be replaced.

50-60 years ago, when a football coach was hired, he got a job in the school, and they fixed him up with a local bank for a mortgage and new home.

Until public schools decide to sell, any kid with any talent should consider private school.
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6A All State Team

R
Player of the Year: Charlie Foulke, SJP
Coach of the Year: Calvin Everett, Harrisburg

Weird choices, right? Foulke is probably going to be great, but was he the best player in the state, or just the quarterback for the best team? Sacca (my vote) or Smith feels like the better choice, but I guess we don’t consider non-QBs?

And I will die on the hill that Matt Senneca needed to be coach of the year. From 3-8 (6-16 the last two years) to 11-2 is an incredible coaching job. I’m sure Calvin Everett did great things, but this one feels like a no brainer.

Onto the team.

Quarterbacks
Gavin Sidwar, LaSalle
Charlie Foulke, SJP
Peyton Falzone, Nazareth
Eddie Corkery, State College
Jy’Aire Walls, Pittsburgh CC

Seems like the right group? Three underclassmen in Sidwar, Foulke, and Falzone so lots of firepower comes back.

Running Backs
Khyann Billups, SJP
Aaron Beete, Freedom
TJ Lawrence, Parkland
Declan Clancy, Manheim Township

Solid, if not star studded group. Beete and Clancy both went over 1,700 yards on the year, Lawrence was far and away the best player on the D11 champs (though I think he’s a better linebacker) and Billups was impressively dominant with an increased role after the Isaiah West injury.

Wide Receivers
Ty Salazer, State College
Elias Coke, Harrisburg
Joey O’Brien, LaSalle
Santana Young, CD East

Salazar had a 1,000 yard season and has already broken the Centre County career receiving record. Young also broke the 1,000 yard barrier on the season. Coke is a big time recruit who had 980 yards and ten touchdowns. O’Brien is the best receiver in the state. My only surprise here was neither of the SJP receivers (Hardy or Harrison) who feel like they were the offensive separator against other playoff teams.

Tight End
Michael Glover, Wilson West Lawn

Big sophomore is a looming huge recruit, made 50 catches as a 10th grader.

Offensive Line
Jack Yatchenko, North Allegheny
Khalil Stewart, SJP
Luke Milito, State College
Spencer McClintock, Manheim Township
Owen Marks, Manheim Township
Matt Gaul, State College

Kind of a weird group here? Manheim Township landing 1/3 of the all state offensive line feels like an overshot, though I’m sure both kids are good. From up here, surprised at no Tanner Wheeler from Freedom, Richmond bound offensive/defensive tackle who was the best offensive lineman in D11.

Offensive Athletes
Tyson Scott, George Washington
Madyx Gruber, Wilson West Lawn

Went with two dual-threat quarterbacks, and Gruber is also an excellent safety.

Defensive Line
Messiah Mickens, Harrisburg
Robert Edwards, Emmaus
Joseph Sondah, Imhotep Charter
Lincoln Hoke, North Allegheny

Mickens as a defensive end, rather than running back, is a fun choice. Edwards was a shoe-in, he dominated. Sondah another huge defensive tackle. Hoke also a shoe-in. Statewide, telling that Zahir Mathis from Imhotep didn’t make it. As an Easton guy, slightly disappointed for Kurtis Crossman and Algee Macon that neither got a sniff at defensive end. Both will be back next year.

Linebackers
Anthony Sacca, SJP
Cameron Smith, SJP
Bradley Gompers, PCC
Michael Gaul, State College
Jayden Ransom, Williamsport
Nate Szydlik, Council Rock South

The top here is the most star studded group, from Sacca down to Gaul. A kid from CRS over Ryan Clemens feels like a war crime. Jayden Ransom’s 20 sacks are quite impressive. From D11, Justin Peluso (Freedom) felt like a shoe-in before he tore his ACL in week 5. Reilly Bechtel (Emmaus) and Mehki Grant (Easton) also would have been viable candidates from up here.

Defensive Backs
Xxavier Thomas, PCC
Quincy Brannon, Harrisburg
Donovan Rodriguez, Manheim Township
Tommy Miller, Downingtown West

I don’t feel like I have a handle on DBs to form a solid opinion.

Defensive Athletes
Will Day, Easton
Michael Scott, Dallastown
Hakeem Cooper, Abraham Lincoln

So thrilled for Will Day. He was the engine of the Easton turnaround, and putting a kid with 1,100 yards rushing, 20 touchdowns, plus 80 tackles and a handful of interceptions for an 11-2 team feels like a no brainer, but I was worried he’d get overlooked because he didn’t have just one thing he excelled at. Particularly after losing his whole junior season to a broken foot, very happy for the kid.
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Q&A with Upper Moreland running back Justin Valentin

P
How did/is everything going football wise as of late?
“Everything is going well, just making sure I’m doing my job, my part on the team being in the weight room and staying healthy.”

What do you feel your team can continue to improve on going forward?
“As a team we definitely can improve on more communication. Without communication there isn’t a football game to win.”

Have you been pleased with your performances?
“I’m never pleased or settled with my performance. I push myself to strive for victory and to be the best.”

How do you feel about the play of your team?
“For this upcoming season I have a great feeling about this one.”

What are your sporting goals going forward as of now?
“My goal going forward is to be the leader for my team. I need my team to trust me on that field. I need to lead by example, take accountability, help players, and to support them when they need me.”

Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“I strongly believe I will be playing football in college.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“No colleges are looking at me right now. Everything's meant to be. You can’t rush the future or there will never be a present.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“N/A.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“N/A.”

Do you have plans for game day trips?
“N/A.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“My dream college was always Penn State University.”
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Q&A with California linebacker Landon Abercrombie

P
How did/is everything going football wise as of late?
“Everything went well this season, my team finished 8-4 on the season. There were some hiccups at the beginning, but we managed to gather ourselves and finally be a team towards the end, which was great.”

What do you feel your team can continue to improve on going forward?
“I think my team can really improve on actually being a team, being brothers out on the field and having that connection knowing that I got the back of every guy surrounding me and they have mine.”

Have you been pleased with your performances?
“I’ve been pleased with my performances from these past two years, I could never settle for what I did in any of those years. I need to do more each year and continue to improve each and every day.”

How do you feel about the play of your team?
“I think we play hard-nosed football. Our defense has been consistently good every year and I intend to keep it that way. Our offense puts up good points every year and I hope to help out by being more of a contributor on that side of the ball as well.”

What are your sporting goals going forward as of now?
“I’m just trying to get an offer. I’ve been doing everything in my power to set myself apart from your average high school football player. I have great determination and I’ll never give up just like I’ll never give up on my dream of playing in college football.”

Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“Yes I’d absolutely love to play in college, especially football. It’s always been my dream.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“None, sadly.”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“I don’t have any offers, looking to get one though.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“I haven’t made any college trips yet either.”

Do you have plans for game day trips?
“Don’t have any plans to make visits, haven’t got any [invitations] yet.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“My favorite college has always been Penn State.”
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Q&A with Imhotep Charter defensive tackle Joseph Sondah

P
How did/is everything going football wise as of late? It’s going quite well.
“Although we didn’t get the outcome we were hoping for, it makes us that much hungrier. Just have to get back to the drawing board.”

What do you feel your team can continue to improve on going forward?
“I believe if we continue to have the desire and mindset to succeed, in addition to proper preparation the sky's the limit.”

Have you been pleased with your performances?
“I feel as though there’s always room for improvements, no matter how small it may be, that can take my game to the next level. From the classroom to the field. Have to make everything count.”

How do you feel about the play of your team?
“I’m surrounded by very talented and hungry players. Each aspect of this team from players to coaches, I love how we give it our all every game.”

What are your sporting goals going forward as of now?
“My goal has always been the same, so I do my part each and every day to put my team in my best position to go 1-0 each week.”

Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
“That’s definitely a goal of mine to continue to play football at the next level.”

What colleges have been recruiting you?
“As of right now, Delaware, Toledo, Buffalo, and Kent State (offered).”

What school is recruiting you the hardest?
“They all are.”

Have you made any college trips yet?
“Not yet, currently working on scheduling a few.”

Do you have plans for game day trips?
“That I am also working on with my coaches.”

Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“LSU.”
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