Penn State. Kick some Badger ass today.

Guy's all the back and forth.. regarding each play, each coaching call,each missed ref call etc... ... yes it makes for good fodder.. but what I saw was a statement that PA football is stronger then ever.. for years I have heard that TX football is the best, or OH or FL....last night NP and Prep proved that is all BS... two nationally ranked teams slugging it out in a State semi-final.. it doesn't get much better then that.. (ok.. maybe if your team was the winner it does)..

You have Prep's non-league schedule beating national powers and earning them a #13 ranking nationally ... NP playing Prep to for all intentional purposes to a 3 point game... legitimizing they were also deserving of a national ranking..

We got to see one of the greatest running backs to come out of the area..putting him up against.. swift, Blair Thomas,Kevin jones (Ohara and nfl)...maybe include Josh Adams in the mix...

Now add to the equation Wood and Tep going to state finals (yes I have complained in the past about these teams.. and am mentioning this because I know someone will remind me)..and you have some of the best football in the country being played in our back yards... I could care less how the kids got to their respective HS... they are all playing Big time football in our back yard..

Who knows what will happen between Prep vs PCC... but if the game is half as good as the one last night.. football fans will be in for a treat...

So enjoy the ride..complain if you like.. but admit PA football is stronger then ever..

NP turned over the ball 4 times and gave up KO for TD and was still in the game at the end
NP would be a better match up with PCC

Routs West Allegheny 42-10. Few saw this coming and nowhere near the team I saw earlier in the season.

that is one hell of a team. If not for Swift, the Knights would be representing the East in Hershey. The Prep needs to clean-up the penalties if they have any hoping of bringing the title back to the right side of the State.

Great game and good luck to the players and coaches in Hershey !!!

Final score predictions for this one just for fun! Closest to score or nails it buys for everyone. I'm going 31-30 NP.

I just received an email from Kenny Geiser. He's one of the D-12 honchos. He told me to let you guys know that you're on the VIP list to park behind the scoreboard today.

Kenny reads the board and likes your work

I believe they have mercy ruled every team they have played this year.. Has that ever been done before?

I figured Wilson would get blown out, but I thought PCC would wear them down, my goodness PCC has serious speed. 28-0 in the 1st.

PCC best team in the state at this point?

SJP 35 -25 NP FINAL

Coach Rhule has done a tremendous job up on North Broad.

Tep 24 vs BECA 13 FINAL

Wood 37-0 over Academy Park FINAL

xxxxxxxxxxx

........to chew on. Remember back when the dems on the board were laughing their way through life at all the problems that the Tea Party was causing for a crumbling republican party. Well join in the fun boys because the Jeannie is out of the bottle!!!

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/201...ook-seize-democratic-party-initiative-n686531

Any games being streamed?

The Semis would look like this

AAAA
Pittsburgh CC vs Wilson
St. Joes Prep vs North Penn
Harrisburg would be out

AAA
Wood vs Becchi
Erie Cathedral Prep vs Berks Catholic
West Allegheny, and Imhotep would be out

Nothing is going to change in the near future. This is what the PIAA wanted with the inclusion of D12. Let's be honest, Academy Park has no chance next week, none.

http://highschoolsports.lehighvalle...y-archbishop-wood-all-stars-in-piaa-quarters/

Any prime spots pregame ie parking lot area or establishments?

Ok, here’s the usual, some stats, thoughts, archival notes of interest with apologies for typos rushing to get it out. Looks like there are a number of great games so it should be fun.

1 St. Joseph’s Prep D12-6A, 12-0
The Hawks are looking good in the postseason beating Parkland last week 38-17. D’Andre Swift had one for the record books rushing for a career high 322 yards on 19 carries. Talk about statements; quarterback Marquez McCray made a powerful one completing 12 of 16 passes for 144 yards and two touchdown tosses. Using a term that is often overused, they’ve become a balanced team, leaving opponents in a quandary defensively while striving for their 3rd title in 4 years with wins over Central Catholic 35-10 in 2013 and Pine Richland in 2014, 49-41. Offensively, this is their most productive offense at 38ppg since 2002’s outstanding team that went 13-0 with the same stat. That was one of the first if not the first to gain nation recognition with the USA-Today ranking them at #15, four slots below Parkland’s 14-1 team that beat Woodland Hills in the AAAA-Final 34-12. Defensively, they’re at 16ppg, their best since 2012’s 10-1 team allowed 10. Hey, 10-1 but quite a team beating Cocoa, North Penn, Archbishop Wood, LaSalle and who knows who til losing to LaSalle in the Red Final 28-27. Another balanced attack is up this week in North Penn who will test them.
2 Pittsburgh Central Catholic D7-6A, 13-1
The Vikings are going for a repeat and making it look easy so far routing everybody including Williamsport last week 62-21. The feeling here was they may have been a little star stuck but they earned it, beating State College the week before. So here’s Catholic doing what they always do, pursuing another PIAA “Big School” title having won gold in 1988, 2004, 2007 and last year, while getting silver in 2003 and 2013. Wow! Like D’Andre Swift of St. Joe’s, running back JJ Younger (5-8, 160) had a great outing, rushing for 214 yards against Williamsport. As much as Coach Terry Totten has been criticized for not having a passing attack, he’[s got one this year with Troy Fisher (6-4, 205, jr) throwing for 1624 yards at a 59% clip. Here’s something else to chew on; the Vikings won-loss since their last losing season in 1999 (3-7) is 190-30.
3 North Penn D1-6A, 14-0
North Penn looks like a serious challenge to St. Joseph’s being on a quest of their own searching for their first PIAA title since 2003’s 15-0 juggernaut that pounded Pittsburgh Central Catholic 37-10. More recently, they lost in 2011 to Central Dauphin 14-7. This year’s edition is taking no prisoners with a 42ppg average on offense and a defense allowing 15. The offense is led by record breaking Reece Udinski with 331 completions on 205 throws for 3817 yards and 37 touchdown passes. Running back Nick Dillon gets most of the carries with receivers Ricky Johns (55/1220!), Justis Henley (47/835) and Jake Hubler (38/796) terrorizing secondaries. The DL is light but quick with the team strength at linebacker with the likes of Ricky Johns, Owen Thomas and Dan Drop. Topping all this off, they have the resume making all those stats even more impressive with wins against Downingtown East, LaSalle, Spring Ford, Garnet Valley and Coatesville. Nice! If they’re not dominated by the sheer force and power of St. Joe’s O-Line, it’s a game. Even if they are, it could be a shootout.
4 Archbishop Wood D12-5A, 9-2
Some fast history; Wood won AAA state titles in 2011, 2013 and 2014, with runner-up silver medals in 2008 and 2012. And here they are again after blowing out District-11’s Whitehall 56-13 last week. It’s easy taking these blowouts for granted but good remembering Whitehall was a decent team, with wins against Liberty and Freedom. Dumb me, I thought last year’s team was “the” team, but you have to like this group’s momentum, running off 9 straight after opening with losses to St. Joseph’s Prep and Bergen Catholic and whatever that was in Huber Heights-OH against Wayne (11-1). Anyway, the opponent this week is Academy Park who hasn’t played near the quality level of Wood’s schedule that included those above plus LaSalle. This one could get out of hand.
5 Imhotep Charter School D12-4A, 12-0
ICS is going for a repeat after disposing of Cathedral Prep 40-3 in last year’s final and beating North Pocono last week. That’s where we saw a balanced attack of two rushing scores and two passing touchdowns plus two gifts from North Pocono, a 65-yd fumble return and a 73-yd punt return for 6 making it look easy (32-7 at half) in their 38-7 win against the Trojans. They may have played a woeful schedule in Pub competition but had an eye catching win against Malvern Prep 48-7 and a 36-6 rout of Cardinal O’Hara in the postseason. I guess you’ve arrived when you’re beating teams that were considered good teams before you beat them….and it causes little attention when you do. The pedigree ratchets up a level this week taking on talented but inconsistent Bethlehem Catholic. Home losses to Emmaus and Freedom get your attention but their size will allow them to bang with the Panthers while the defense at 20ppg average will likely have them playing catchup real early, looking at the backs of a lot of jerseys.
6 Wilson D3-6A, 12-1
How about Wilson winning their 3rd consecutive District-3 title with last week’s 28-14 win at Hershey Park Stadium over Cumberland Valley. They haven’t won gold yet but did win the silver back in 1989 losing to Upper St Clair 12-7, the first team in the WPIAL to win 15 games. Coach Doug Dahms is 129-19 from 2006 through last week’s 28-14 win over Cumberland Valley, making him one of Pennsylvania’s most successful coaches. This group ‘tho talented is young in spots, particularly the backfield with quarterback Connor Uhrig (6-0, 180, jr, 1768yds, 63%) and the bruiser Ignacion Reynoso (6-0, 210, jr) with 1635 rush yards. TE Leo Quigley (6-3, 220, sr) is a favorite target along with 5 others in an offense that really spreads it out. At 37ppg offense and 16 on D, this isn’t a statistical all star edition but they are fast and absolutely well coached, rarely defeating themselves as per Coach Dahms’ record above. That teams like Wilson, Beaver Falls and a few others haven’t won gold tells you how difficult that is. Like North Penn, it’s a game if they’re not beaten-up on the lines by Central’s superior size. Don’t put anything past the Bulldogs who are always difficult to beat.
7 West Allegheny D7-5A, 13-0
Here’s another historic power with a AAA state title in 2001 coming on the heels of state runner up teams in 1999 and 2000, all of them against Strath Haven who was on a 4 year run themselves with consecutive state titles in 1999 and 2000 followed by second place medals in 2001 and 2002. They’re back in the hunt this year with another power offense at 36ppg and a D that flat out gets after you, allowing 11ppg. Veteran quarterback Nick Ross (6-1, 190, sr) has a 66% completion rate for 2186 yards. Underrated running back Kenny White (6-0, 185, jr) has 1064 yards and 5 receivers, all sophomores or juniors, have over 100 receptions for 1678 yards. They have great strength at DL and LB with good history against quality opponents beating USC, Woodland Hills and McKeesport. They beat Meadville’s option last week 47-20 suggesting they’ll match Harrisburg’s speed. The Cougars can get up and run and they have outstanding DEs but West A is a load, with the diversity on offense to score on just about anyone.
8 Harrisburg D3-5A, 10-3
The Cougars are back with one of the better editions since the George Chaump years (2003-2010, 62-29 W/L) where they fielded good stuff on Market Street in downtown Harrisburg that were as good as any. 2007’s team lost a heartbreaker to Pittsburgh Central Catholic 14-6 after dominating, holding Central to 79 total yards and 5 first downs. Back in the day before William Penn and Harris High merged (1971) to form Harrisburg High, John Harris High was lead by….guess who?....Coach Chaump, from 1962 to 1967 where he compiled a 58-4 record with nationally ranked teams. He left there to put Marshall on the map after a stint with Woody Hayes at Ohio State then Navy before returning to the area to coach Central Dauphin for 6 years, arriving in 1997. Here he led the Rams to a 57-14 slate before returning to Harrisburg High in 2003. Where was I? This year’s team is rolling at 37ppg and a D to match the mentioned 2007 team (12-2) that allowed 13ppg. That’s excellent numbers against the likes of Bishop McDevitt, Central Dauphin and Cumberland Valley and playoff teams Exeter, Governor Mifflin and Manheim Central last week, 48-20.

17 Steel Valley D7-2A, 13-0
Neshannock was supposed to offer some resistance but like all the others this year, were no match for the dominant Ironmen, losing 49-14, giving them their 4th WPIAL title; 82, 88, 89. At 54ppg, they have awesome speed with a defense to match. Coming from the competitive WPIAL, their D yield is just as impressive if not moreso than the offense, allowing 8ppg. Try this on for size, all their opponents were mercy rules.

18 Academy Park D1-5A, 13-1
The Knights have become one of the dominant AAA teams in the district, now 5A, particularly in Delaware County where they’ve won 54 of 64 games the last 5 years. Their offense is modest for a playoff team at 31ppg with a D that’s impressive at 10ppg with the caveat, it came against pedestrian offenses primarily of the Del Val League. But there is nothing pedestrian about Archbishop Wood where the Knights will need to bring it big time, slow it way down and get a few turnovers and defensive scores to be in this one.

19 Wilmington D10-2A, 12-1
Everyone remembers the Greyhounds (15-1) who broke many hearts in 2008 with a double overtime 35-34 win in the AA final against West Catholic (14-2). Wilmington also won silver back in 1988 losing to Bethlehem Catholic in the final 26-11 and are rolling again, living up to their mascot name averaging 44ppg and allowing 9. Impressive stuff but they are running into a team that might be special against Steel Valley’s super quick defense and explosive offense.

20 Notre Dame D11-3A, 12-2
Got off to a 7-0 start before back-to-back losses to Pen Argyl and Saucon Valley slowed down the crusade. But they finished strong with 5 straight wins to get to Hershey to play Middletown. They have a lot of people who can make plays starting with sophomore quarterback Cole DeFranco whose thrown for 2898 yards at a 68% clip and run for 642 yards. 5 receivers have over 25 receptions, 4 with +400 yards with Mitch Daniels leading the rushers with 1045 yards. Still a very young team that will be making noise in the Colonial for some time. Tough one this week against Blue raiders incessant ground attack but the Crusaders have weapons. Because this is only their 2nd winning season in over 20 years, they are not used to the big stage and could struggle early.

21 Berks Catholic D3-4A, 12-1
Berks Catholic has turned into a D3 power recently resulting from the merger of Reading Central Catholic and Reading Holy name a few years ago. But a glance at their schedule and stats says they are not ready for a team of Cathedral Prep’s caliber or the Eastern teams, Imhotep and Bethlehem Catholic. Still, the Saints are on a run, winning their last 8 since losing to Exeter (a “tell”) 35-20 so who knows, maybe they do come marching in!

22 Ligonier Valley D6-2A, 14-0
Here’s another strong team out of District -6 where they play good football, teams like State College, Tyrone, Altoona and Bishop Guilfoyle also from Altoona, Bishop McCort from Johnstown, Martinsburg Central, Bellwood Antis and others. This year’s group is highly veteran, coming off a 9-3 season with almost all the skill back from last year and the entire defense. The latter has allowed 50 points all season. They’ve had no tests until Conemaugh Twp (10-2) who they routed 56-0, and had no trouble with Cambria Hgts and Westmont Hilltop, winning by a combined 72-0. Then came impressive wins against Bishop McCort (10-3) 35-7 in the district final and Dunmore (D2, 13-1) last week in the quarterfinal 39-13. The Crushers are a D6 staple and Dunmore is Dunmore, suggesting the Rams can hang with Southern Columbia with their duel threat quarterback (Collin Smith 6-1, 205, 2858P, 896R) and 5 receiver with over 15 catches, two with 1085 yards and 748 yards! A little on the light side but they’re super fast.

23 Farrell D10-1A, 10-3
Farrell is dead center between Pittsburgh and Erie on the Ohio line 10 miles Northeast of Youngstown, OH and is similar to Steelton being an old steel town, hence the name “Steelers”. Last year’s squad won silver losing to Bishop Guilfoyle in the Single-A final 35-0 with a 14-2 team. They’re back again with another group of wide bodies on the O-line (6-2 225, 6-4 310, 5-11 305, 6-3 250, 63, 225) but not the number of game breakers they usually have. And they’ll run into another buzz saw this year trying to keep up with Clairton’s Bears who will probably beat them as bad as Guilfoyle did last year. The Steelers are tough, winning gold in 95 and 96 and silver in 90 and last year but Clairton is from another planet.

24 Steelton Highspire D3-1A, 6-7
How about these Rollers getting thumped by their powerful neighbor Middletown 42-7 in the regular season final then defeating postseason comp Halifax, Muncy and Williams Valley before this week’s game against Bishop Guilfoyle. They haven’t won a state title in a while going back to 2007 and 2008 when they won back-to-back titles and they won’t win one this year with Bishop Guilfoyle in their way. This is still quite an accomplishment for the community who love their Rollers.

9 Cathedral Prep D10-4A, 12-0
The Erie guys are looking good again this year after coming close last year advancing to the AAA final where they lost to Imhotep. The Ramblers are one of the more storied programs in the state with a 5 year won-loss of 65-4 and 4A gold in 2000, preceded by two silver medal seasons in 1991 and 1999. Their opponent in all those games was Central Bucks West in epic battles! Since then they’ve dropped to AAA where they won gold again in 2012 beating Archbishop Wood 24-14 before last year’s loss to ICS. Their only win of note was a good one against New York state power Canisius (9-2) out of Buffalo. Next year is really the year for these guys with a team stocked with juniors and sophomores. But, there’s nothing shabby about last week’s 30-13 win against perennial power Thomas Jefferson. Young as they are, they are still a notch or two above Berks Catholic.

10 Bethlehem Catholic D11-4A, 11-3
Won state titles in 2 classifications; as a AA in 1988 and a AAA in 1990. But let’s face it, the program has not been the same since legendary coach Bob Stem retired after heading the program from 1983 through 2001, compiling a 173-53-1 record. Counting his years at Phillipsburg he won 285 games with only 2 losing seasons to become the winningest coach in the Lehigh Valley and one of Pennsylvania’s very finest. Having said that things are improving with 4 straight winning seasons giving them a 40-12 record through last week’s 42-12 pounding of Johnstown. Nice. Although last year’s team was “the” team at 9-2, scoring 40ppg and allowing 12, this year’s isn’t bad.

11 Middletown D3-4A, 13-0
Nice balance here with quarterback Chase Snavely throwing for 1784 yards and the tandem backfield of Jaelen Thompson and Brady Fox running for 1374 and1278 yards respectively. The Blue Raiders haven’t been relevant recently but have good history. That entire swath of geography from Middletown which butts up against Highspire that does the same with Steelton and finally Harrisburg along Steelton was all steel mill territory making for some tough hombres that interestingly still have that quality and attitude. They are then old school hard-nosed football with a pounding ground attack generating 42ppg with Thompson and Fox accompanied by solid defense allowing 11ppg. Quarterback Snavely takes them up a notch making them a difficult out.

12 Southern Columbia D4-2A, 14-0
Southern Columbia had an unprecedented run of PIAA finals appearances, unprecedented in almost every state with 9 consecutive appearances from 1998 through 2006 at the Single-A classification. Prior to that they had a 3 year run from 1994 through 1996. Eat your heat out Central Bucks West. Further, they won titles in 2011 and 2015 making them the defending AA champ gunning for more hardware to add to their substantial trophy case. Here’s what the trophy case looks like; state titles in 1994 then 2002 through 2006 and 2015 with silver trophies in 1995, 1996, 1998 through 2001 and again in 2011. Phew!

13 Beaver Falls D7-3A, 12-1
Beaver Falls avenged their only loss of the season beating Aliquippa last week 35-22. Of course this is Joe Namath’s home town where he guided them to a AA-WPIAL championship and 9-0 record in 1960. Throwing for over 1500 yards back then got everyone’s attention including Alabama’s Bear Bryant where he attended college in 1962. The game with Martinsburg Central this week should be a good one with both bringing veteran teams. Central isn’t small but the Tigers are huge, as in 6A huge which could give them the edge around the 3rd or 4th quarter. Their won-loss the last 10 years may surprise at 95-22 until considering they’ve been in the shadow of Aliquippa for years.

14 Bishop Guilfoyle D6-1A, 13-0
Would you believe Bishop Guilfoyle is going for a 3-peat, defeating Clairton two years ago 19-18 and Farrell last year 35-0! That makes the Marauders 45-0 since 2014. No wonder Altoona High’s football fortunes tanked recently (simplifying) with these guys around. Thing of it is, this year’s stats surpass their title team stats, averaging 43ppg and allowing 7. Barring a major upset, they will roll the Rollers this week, ending their magical playoff run then face the winner of the Clairton-Farrell game, likely the Bears of Clairton for a rematch of the 2014 thriller.

15 Clairton D7-1A, 13-0
The Bears won their 13th Wpial title last week and their 9th in the last 11 years by defeating a good Jeannette team 26-6 while holding them to 58 yards rushing. Statistically, Clairton is one of the best defenses in the state, allowing 86 total points. They are led by one of the top DBs in the country in Lamont Wade (5-9, 190, sr) who has offers from everyone. Through last week’s game with Jeannette, he’s at 2004 rushing yards this year, taking his career rushing stats to 6715 yards. Operating as a QB/RB/DB, he is PA’s scholastic version of Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers. With an offense averaging 49ppg and a defense yielding ppg, they will probably defeat Farrell to move on and play the winner of the Bishop Guilfoyle-Steelton Highspire game. The Bears are a phenomenal 152-9 since their last losing season in 2005.

16 Martinsburg Central D6-3A, 12-1
Central is making another run with a powerful team hoping to follow up on last year’s 30-21 semifinal loss to Aliquippa at Hempfield High by defeating this year’s Wpial rep Beaver Falls who beat Aliquippa last week 35-22. Central gets here after beating Karns City 36-21. They are a veteran team on both side of the line coming off a 13-2 season. Their only loss of the season was to Clearfield (10-2) early in the season putting them on a 10 game winning streak here. The offense is large at 36ppg with a shutdown defense allowing 8ppg. The Scarlet Dragons and Beaver Falls could be one of the better games this weekend.

Should be a great game Saturday night. Please keep recruiting out of this thread. Let's talk about the game.