2024 6A State Title PCC vs SJP

[bucksftball]

Not much point in discussing a team with someone who, it seems, didn't bother to watch any of the team's games that were streamed this year.

No one who actually saw either of the SJP-LaSalle games this year and who looked at which players are returning next year would say SJP is a lock. And I don't pretend to know enough about any other 6A teams in the state next year to say none of them could be competitive with SJP.

I think if LCHS can find a running back... this could easily swing their way as they are obviously almost on a par with SJP already.

 

[Stalker]

I needed to watch this again and take a longer look at the PCC roster, to back up what I said pre-game which was that I didn't understand all of the gloom from Western PA guys that this was some sort of a mismatch athletically. PCC o-line averages around 6'4", 285, plus a TE who is 6'5", 250. Multiple D1 guys, NOT fat unathletic kids. PCC has 3 LBs plus their top edge defender who are all D1 guys, a couple so far being P4 players. At least three to four D1 skill players. A vaunted D-line. Yet, the 5'10" 230 pound nose tackle from SJP ate them up. SJP ran right through the LBs who like you point out, were often just plugging themselves into non-existent gaps and ending up out of position to make plays.

A lot of WPIAL guys (and I'm not talking about just the usual twitter personalities) want to call the PCC o-line the best in the state, the LB corps the best in the state, their stud freshman athlete the top freshman in the state, etc... then cry poor that they don't have the athletes to compete with SJP, even in a "down year" for SJP, plus having their two Ohio State commits standing on the sideline injured. WPIAL 6A might have been down this year, but PCC went through that group easily, so it's not like they struggled in a down year. They dominated them in a down year. This game was a goliath vs goliath, and one team looked ready to go and the other didn't.

All of PCC's accolades melted away for me seeing the Harrisburg game where a young junior led team racked up 540 total yards (234R, 306P), 23 to 12 first downs to 243 tot ydg for PCC's vaulted (?) team; PCC stopping them with an endzone pick at the end. I thought it was an easy call SJP winning by 4 Tds as many others also called.
Against SJP, their shorter, quicker, more athletic DL made PCC look fat and slow which they weren't. That's simplistic but you know how it goes Bucks, if you get under the other guy.... more hustle, grit, heart.

 

[northalleghenytiger]

All of PCC's accolades melted away for me seeing the Harrisburg game where a young junior led team racked up 540 total yards (234R, 306P), 23 to 12 first downs to 243 tot ydg for PCC's vaulted (?) team; PCC stopping them with an endzone pick at the end. I thought it was an easy call SJP winning by 4 Tds as many others also called.
Against SJP, their shorter, quicker, more athletic DL made PCC look fat and slow which they weren't. That's simplistic but you know how it goes Bucks, if you get under the other guy.... more hustle, grit, heart.

How much does Harrisburg return? Are they the current favorite to make it out of the west? Just gotta figure out special teams

 

[RCH13co18]

i'm still waiting for my "narrative" to be proven wrong

so who do you think is the favorite? you going to bet money against SJP? no? see you feel the same as me

i don't think they cheat, i know they cheat or at least have advantages others don't

i'm not a fan of any team, i'm a fan of the game and the PCL is ruining it

what did you think of Lamar Stephens saying after Roman won a state title back in 2016 when asked what was the difference between that team and the team the year before that won the state title

"the difference was I wasn't on the team last year"

what did you think of that?

That isn't true this year as mentioned by Tulla.
Prior years maybe so, but this last 2 years no.
Coming into this year I thought Roman would play them better. As you can see by Roman's run the team is much improved. Lasalle also came into the year with a better team. We all know what happened their first meeting with Prep. This upcoming year Prep will be without key guys. This is the year that will be similar to the year when they went down to ML. Roman and Lasalle will bring back more next year, including the PCL player of the year. I don't see them getting through the season without a few bumps.

 

[steelcurtain55.]

Multiple D1 guys, NOT fat unathletic kids.

They definitely aren't a bunch of slobs. They come off the bus as impressive as any group around.

A lot of WPIAL guys (and I'm not talking about just the usual twitter personalities) want to call the PCC o-line the best in the state, the LB corps the best in the state, their stud freshman athlete the top freshman in the state, etc...

I think PCC's OL is very good. I never thought the LB corps was the best. I do think Gompers is a stud. The rest to me are FCS/PSAC at best types.

I think Lehmier and his group has not adjusted to coaching as an underdog. It's a different beast. It's comparable to the MMA fighter who never trains being on bottom because he's usually on top in his fights and then when he runs into a superior or evenly matched fighter, he looks like a fish out of water.

When I saw the way PCC's LB's were fitting vs the inside run, it told me a lot. It reminded me of the NA game from last year.

PCC's weakest position group imo is their DL. I know the Blatt kid gets some attention but I think as a whole, they don't impress.

 

[yeez1001]

I think if LCHS can find a running back... this could easily swing their way as they are obviously almost on a par with SJP already.

just gotta give it to the ones they have

 

[northalleghenytiger]

St. Joes will win the state championship next season. Lasalle gets too nervous in the playoffs

 

[tulla]

St. Joes will win the state championship next season. Lasalle gets too nervous in the playoffs

I don't think LaSalle was particularly nervous in the playoff game against SJP this year. The first game was very close--obviously--and just about everyone who saw it thought SJP had the slight edge and should have won it at the end of overtime. The playoff game was almost as close, and one could easily argue that the main difference between the two games is that SJP's QB played a steadier game--something not surprising when a sophomore QB has a few more games under his belt. And historically--especially 2022, 2016, 2015 2012, 2009, 2006-- LaSalle has actually played better against SJP in the playoffs than in the regular season.

I see no reason why LaSalle shouldn't be at least co-favorites with SJP next year.

 

[RobberLucky]

LaSalle opens up at PCC week 0. The game is being played Friday night at Woodland Hills.

 

[Stalker]

How much does Harrisburg return? Are they the current favorite to make it out of the west? Just gotta figure out special teams

Special Teams is the issue almost every year at Harrisburg. But personnel wise, they'll have to enter as a favorite to go far again in States, probably the final with most of their skill returning and eight starters/co-starters on defense. They were a year ahead of themselves in my view this year especially with the ineligibility of QB Shawn Lee who was 2256 passing at 67% (26/5) and 1451 rushing. Awesome stuff. By the way, I believe he'll be at Pitt. That loss sealed their fate or so I thought until discovering junior Jaiyon Lewis who threw for 2050 at 62% (19/9), rushing for 594. They learned of Lee's ineligibility I'm told a week before the LaSalle game. The moral was terrible and it was a blowout. It's a whole other world with Lee in there but hey, LaSalle kicked ass. Last year's team consisted of six juniors, three sophs and one frosh starting or in rotation
They went 11-3, 6-3 against nine winning teams, LaSalle 7-44, McDevitt 35-33ot, State College 7-6, CV 21-24, CD East 56-17; Playoffs Dallastown 42-6, Manheim Township 35-14, Wilson 42-14 before PCC 33-38. I didn't think they'd survive the opening three games of LS, McD, SC. I'll get back with more as can.

 

[bucksftball]

All of PCC's accolades melted away for me seeing the Harrisburg game where a young junior led team racked up 540 total yards (234R, 306P), 23 to 12 first downs to 243 tot ydg for PCC's vaulted (?) team; PCC stopping them with an endzone pick at the end. I thought it was an easy call SJP winning by 4 Tds as many others also called.
Against SJP, their shorter, quicker, more athletic DL made PCC look fat and slow which they weren't. That's simplistic but you know how it goes Bucks, if you get under the other guy.... more hustle, grit, heart.

Absolutely, and that certainly raised eyebrows, especially since so many of their highly touted guys play defense. We've seen plenty of kids whose careers ended at their last HS game, or who went on to play D3 football, who have taken it to and outplayed guys with big offers. Sometimes it's scheme, sometimes it's player development and other times it's exactly what you said... one player seems to want it more.

 

[northalleghenytiger]

One thing I’ve liked from a entertainment perspective is the diversity of western champions. Since 6A started, it’s been

2016: Central Catholic
2017: Pine-Richland
2018: Harrisburg
2019: Central Dauphin
2020: Central York
2021: Mt. Lebanon
2022: Harrisburg X2
2023: North Allegheny
2024: Central Catholic X2

And they’ve all played the same team LOL