best teams that didn't win a state title

[BradlyPitt]

99 Erie Cathedral Prep
2000 CB West
2001 Woodland Hills

I know there are more but these teams stand out to me, if not for a play here or there or an injury or the field being covered in mud it could've been a completely different outcome, i felt like these 3 teams were too good to not win gold and it was sad to see them lose

Woodland Hills had really bad luck, and both Prep and West had a juggernaut standing in their way when they lost to each other

who else stands out? maybe some teams that didn't even make it to Hershey like North Allegheny in 2011 or North Penn in 2016?

 

[RoverNation05]

My mind doesn't wrap around 99 Erie Cathedral Prep and 2000 CB West being in this category because they won titles in their run - silly I know, but I always kind of mentally discount how good those teams were because the ECP group got a title a year later (without Erik Carlson) and CB West was coming off a run of three straight.

Totally agree on 2001 Woodland Hills, and I know its unpopular to say on this board, but the rain storm and the Steve Breaston ankle injury in the first half totally changed the dynamic of that title game. Neshaminy was the rightful winner, but of all the ways that game could have gone, Woodland Hills got the worst combination of variables.

As far as teams that went to finals:
The 1989 Wilson West Lawn team with Kerry Collins didn't give up more than 12 points in a game, including their state finals loss to the Upper St. Clair team with Doug Whaley that USA Today ranked #4 in the country, and obviously had a future 1st round pick at quarterback.

1994 Downingtown had Arlen Harris (Penn State) and Bryn Boggs (Wisconsin) combine for nearly 3,000 yards rushing and played an absolute classic with the Brandon Short McKeesport team in the final.

2002 Woodland Hills was probably a little better on defense than the 2001 group, but didn't have the dynamism of Breaston at quarterback (Ryan Mundy being their best offensive player as a receiver was a weird fit for a team that barely threw the ball).

The 2016 Pittsburgh Central Catholic team has to be up there on talent, despite getting their doors blown off in the finals. Frankly, that 2015 team should be in the discussion for best team on talent, but didn't seem to ever put it all together week to week, despite being state champs.

What I find more interesting is teams that DIDN'T make finals for whatever reason. These are some of the ones that come to mind (listed chronologically).
1988 CB West - #1 team in the state all year, ties CB East on Thanksgiving and is shut out of the playoffs under the four team system.
1991 Easton - the most dominant D11 champ, scored near 40 points a game in an era where that was kind of unheard of. Had a top 10 running back nationally (Juan Gaddy) and a 1,000 yard receiver who played linebacker in the NFL (Mark Libiano). Ran into the '91 CB West team that was #3 in the country.
1996 Penn Hills - #1 team in the country all year, shocked in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs by Plum. Featured Ron Graham, Victor Strader, and DeWayne Thompson all as seniors.
1999 Parkland - #2 team in the state behind '99 CB West. Star was future NFL tight end Tim Massaquoi. Shocked by Easton 7-6 a week after beating them 42-14.
2001 Bethlehem Catholic - with the caveat that their All State quarterback, left tackle, and leading tackler all got kicked off the team in Week 9. Lost a shoot out in PIAA quarters with their backup QB, with their full roster it's the best Bethlehem Catholic team of their '99-'02 run
2002 Bethlehem Catholic - only team to beat the state champs (Parkland with Austin Scott) and lost a classic to them in the D11 finals.
2002 Central Dauphin - averaged 48 points per game, ranked in the top 10 in the country all year and the best of the George Chaump era CD teams. Only team to hold Austin Scott under 200 yards.
2005 Bishop McDevitt - this is probably the answer. Had LeSean McCoy not gotten injured, this team probably walks to a state title with McCoy, Aaron Berry, Jeremy Ricker, and Jason Kanter. As is, lost a classic to eventual champ McKeesport and were ranked #6 in the country by USA Today going into the championship game.
2007 Gateway - lost one of the best WPIAL title games ever in 3 overtimes to eventual state champ Pittsburgh Central Catholic. Featured Cameron Saddler, Shayne Hale, Dorian Bell, and Corey Brown.
2008 Gateway - #3 in the country, dominated the season led by a pair of five stars (Dorian Bell and Corey Brown). Shocked by Bethel Park.
2011 Pittsburgh Central Catholic - spent the entire season at #1 and beat Archbishop Wood in their opener, who gets a lot of love as the best non-highest classification team ever (the one that beat McDevitt 52-0 in the state finals). Lost to Dakota Conwell and Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL semis.

 

[Hausmann1978]

The 1996 Penn hills was the number #1 team in the country and had most thier team back except for their offensive line. They were upset by plum in the playoffs. They also beat woodland hills pretty easily in the regular season which was the western pa representative in Hershey. Another team that comes to mind is 2002 Behca who beat parkland in the regular season but lost 14-11 in the distinct 11 champion. Bethlehem Catholic was the #1 team in the state that year but Austin Scott was the best high school running back I've ever seen. If your not just counting AAAAAA/AAAA the 2017 micah Parsons led Harrisburg team. They were loaded with D1 talent, crushed Imhotep the opening game of the season, was nationally ranked, and got upset by governor Mifflin in the first round of the playoffs. Everyone thought them and wood would be penciled in for a rematch in Hershey. Speaking of governor Mifflin throw this year's team in there. I know the 2012 central dauphin team had a ton of hype with a lot coming back from the 2011 team but never lived up to it. They were the preseason #1 team in the state, nationally ranked, and had most thier star players back but ended the season with 3 loses that year.

 

[RoverNation05]

Another team that comes to mind is 2002 Behca who beat parkland in the regular season but lost 14-11 in the distinct 11 champion. Bethlehem Catholic was the #1 team in the state that year but Austin Scott was the best high school running back I've ever seen.

I’d argue that the 2001 Becahi team was better than the ‘02 version. Same core of guys for both, but 2001 had Adam Bednarik at receiver/safety all year and Mark Borda at quarterback. Borda was All State as a junior when he threw for nearly 3,000 yards. He was posting video game numbers in ‘01 when he got busted for underage drinking and kicked off the team (with two other starters) right before the last week of the regular season. Borda was a three star on Rivals who lost his FBS offers when he got kicked off the team (which makes this kind of a wild read in hindsight), but ended up an All Patriot League guy as an underclassman at Lehigh before a pretty nasty ankle injury prematurely ended his career.

That’s why they moved Bednarik to quarterback and he got the first three starts of his career in the two district games and the state playoff against Cumberland Valley that they lost (he threw a pair of backbreaking picks in the second half that I think you can chalk up to him barely playing QB).

That 2001 team also had Pat Bedics on defense, who played at Penn State/NC State in college, who was probably the best defensive player Bob Stem had at Becahi.

 

[Hausmann1978]

I’d argue that the 2001 Becahi team was better than the ‘02 version. Same core of guys for both, but 2001 had Adam Bednarik at receiver/safety all year and Mark Borda at quarterback. Borda was All State as a junior when he threw for nearly 3,000 yards. He was posting video game numbers in ‘01 when he got busted for underage drinking and kicked off the team (with two other starters) right before the last week of the regular season. Borda was a three star on Rivals who lost his FBS offers when he got kicked off the team (which makes this kind of a wild read in hindsight), but ended up an All Patriot League guy as an underclassman at Lehigh before a pretty nasty ankle injury prematurely ended his career.

That’s why they moved Bednarik to quarterback and he got the first three starts of his career in the two district games and the state playoff against Cumberland Valley that they lost (he threw a pair of backbreaking picks in the second half that I think you can chalk up to him barely playing QB).

That 2001 team also had Pat Bedics on defense, who played at Penn State/NC State in college, who was probably the best defensive player Bob Stem had at Becahi.

Borda was a beast but could never stay out of trouble. Later in life he was charged with a sexual assault. Becha was one of Pennsylvania's best programs in the 90's and early 2000's. Bednarik was no slouch either. Did the 01 team have Sippo too or did he graduate the year before?

 

[RoverNation05]

Borda was a beast but could never stay out of trouble. Later in life he was charged with a sexual assault. Becha was one of Pennsylvania's best programs in the 90's and early 2000's. Bednarik was no slouch either. Did the 01 team have Sippo too or did he graduate the year before?

That’s actually Bednarik who was charged and I think is still in jail? Borda ended up just fine, I think he’s an investment guy now.

As quarterbacks, Bednarik had that huge 2002 year when he spent the offseason and preseason at QB. Borda was probably a better pure thrower, Bednarik was bigger and the better runner and athlete. He actually started at West Virginia before he got hurt and replaced by Pat White, who never let the job go.

Scipio was a senior in 2001, that was the other separating factor. He had something like 1,900 all purpose yards despite missing their first 3 games (their two losses to nationally ranked St. Xavier and Brooklyn Poly Prep). Had he played a full year, he would have been the first person with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. They brought the three receivers back for 2002, but Scipio was their best skill guy in that run by a lot. He wound up kind of a legend too - he went to a junior college in California and set the national JUCO record for return touchdowns and had a bunch of Power 5 programs offering him, then he just sort of disappeared. Last I heard he’s coaching out in Cali. He’s also the best Easton kid not to play football for Easton (he’s Larry Holmes’s nephew for chrissakes!).

The 2002 team had Boomer Rice transfer in from Liberty for his senior year to be their running back, but he was more of a fullback type. Nowhere near the same type of running/receiving threat they had with Scipio in 2001.

 

[BradlyPitt]

My mind doesn't wrap around 99 Erie Cathedral Prep and 2000 CB West being in this category because they won titles in their run - silly I know, but I always kind of mentally discount how good those teams were because the ECP group got a title a year later (without Erik Carlson) and CB West was coming off a run of three straight.

Totally agree on 2001 Woodland Hills, and I know its unpopular to say on this board, but the rain storm and the Steve Breaston ankle injury in the first half totally changed the dynamic of that title game. Neshaminy was the rightful winner, but of all the ways that game could have gone, Woodland Hills got the worst combination of variables.

As far as teams that went to finals:
The 1989 Wilson West Lawn team with Kerry Collins didn't give up more than 12 points in a game, including their state finals loss to the Upper St. Clair team with Doug Whaley that USA Today ranked #4 in the country, and obviously had a future 1st round pick at quarterback.

1994 Downingtown had Arlen Harris (Penn State) and Bryn Boggs (Wisconsin) combine for nearly 3,000 yards rushing and played an absolute classic with the Brandon Short McKeesport team in the final.

2002 Woodland Hills was probably a little better on defense than the 2001 group, but didn't have the dynamism of Breaston at quarterback (Ryan Mundy being their best offensive player as a receiver was a weird fit for a team that barely threw the ball).

The 2016 Pittsburgh Central Catholic team has to be up there on talent, despite getting their doors blown off in the finals. Frankly, that 2015 team should be in the discussion for best team on talent, but didn't seem to ever put it all together week to week, despite being state champs.

What I find more interesting is teams that DIDN'T make finals for whatever reason. These are some of the ones that come to mind (listed chronologically).
1988 CB West - #1 team in the state all year, ties CB East on Thanksgiving and is shut out of the playoffs under the four team system.
1991 Easton - the most dominant D11 champ, scored near 40 points a game in an era where that was kind of unheard of. Had a top 10 running back nationally (Juan Gaddy) and a 1,000 yard receiver who played linebacker in the NFL (Mark Libiano). Ran into the '91 CB West team that was #3 in the country.
1996 Penn Hills - #1 team in the country all year, shocked in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs by Plum. Featured Ron Graham, Victor Strader, and DeWayne Thompson all as seniors.
1999 Parkland - #2 team in the state behind '99 CB West. Star was future NFL tight end Tim Massaquoi. Shocked by Easton 7-6 a week after beating them 42-14.
2001 Bethlehem Catholic - with the caveat that their All State quarterback, left tackle, and leading tackler all got kicked off the team in Week 9. Lost a shoot out in PIAA quarters with their backup QB, with their full roster it's the best Bethlehem Catholic team of their '99-'02 run
2002 Bethlehem Catholic - only team to beat the state champs (Parkland with Austin Scott) and lost a classic to them in the D11 finals.
2002 Central Dauphin - averaged 48 points per game, ranked in the top 10 in the country all year and the best of the George Chaump era CD teams. Only team to hold Austin Scott under 200 yards.
2005 Bishop McDevitt - this is probably the answer. Had LeSean McCoy not gotten injured, this team probably walks to a state title with McCoy, Aaron Berry, Jeremy Ricker, and Jason Kanter. As is, lost a classic to eventual champ McKeesport and were ranked #6 in the country by USA Today going into the championship game.
2007 Gateway - lost one of the best WPIAL title games ever in 3 overtimes to eventual state champ Pittsburgh Central Catholic. Featured Cameron Saddler, Shayne Hale, Dorian Bell, and Corey Brown.
2008 Gateway - #3 in the country, dominated the season led by a pair of five stars (Dorian Bell and Corey Brown). Shocked by Bethel Park.
2011 Pittsburgh Central Catholic - spent the entire season at #1 and beat Archbishop Wood in their opener, who gets a lot of love as the best non-highest classification team ever (the one that beat McDevitt 52-0 in the state finals). Lost to Dakota Conwell and Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL semis.

great post

ECP/West losing I just felt was a bit unfair you could say, yeah they both won titles but in my mind it was just one of those things were sometimes timing can bite you in the butt, I really feel that those teams that lost state title games would beat most of the teams that won state titles

2002 Woodland Hills had running back Chris Morgan, he had a good career at IUP and I think was in camp with the Colts, I saw them play a lot that season and knew they were nowhere near as good as their rankings, they struggled twice against a North Hills team that even coach Jack Mccurry said wasn't even among the most talented teams he had in the past 5 years, that year proved the national rankings are silly

i never saw 2016 North Penn, but I figured they must have been very good simply because they gave St. Joes a tough game and St Joes destroyed that very talented 2016 Central team

05 Mcdevitt has to be up there, no doubt in my mind they win the title with a healthy Mccoy, Mcdevitt is a team that just can't seem to catch a break and win a state title since 2004

07 Gateway is up there too, I thought that matchup with Central was a coin flip before that crazy game was played

08 Gateway has to be the most shocking runner up I witnessed in the WPIAL, everybody including coach Terry Smith wonder to this day how it all went wrong, they scrimmaged Bethel Park that year and destroyed them so maybe they were over confident? Who knows that result was so bizarre, maybe the football gods felt bad for Liberty after the crushing defeat they suffered in 05 and 06

2011 Central was ranked humber 1 but again they were another team that wasn't winning the way you would think the alleged number 1 team in the state should be winning, Dakota Conwell actually didn't play in that semifinal game, the quarterback was a little junior named Pete Coughlin, he shocked the high school football world with his performance that day and ended up playing at W&J

which reminds me I think 2011 Upper St. Clair is a great team that didn't even win a district title but could've won the state if not for injuries or bad luck, they lost to NA in overtime in the WPIAL title game without Conwell, but what people remember is the NA receiver catching the ball 3 yards outside of the end zone... yet the ref ruled it a touchdown, too bad high school football doesn't have a challenge flag or instant replay

 

[Hausmann1978]

great post

ECP/West losing I just felt was a bit unfair you could say, yeah they both won titles but in my mind it was just one of those things were sometimes timing can bite you in the butt, I really feel that those teams that lost state title games would beat most of the teams that won state titles

2002 Woodland Hills had running back Chris Morgan, he had a good career at IUP and I think was in camp with the Colts, I saw them play a lot that season and knew they were nowhere near as good as their rankings, they struggled twice against a North Hills team that even coach Jack Mccurry said wasn't even among the most talented teams he had in the past 5 years, that year proved the national rankings are silly

i never saw 2016 North Penn, but I figured they must have been very good simply because they gave St. Joes a tough game and St Joes destroyed that very talented 2016 Central team

05 Mcdevitt has to be up there, no doubt in my mind they win the title with a healthy Mccoy, Mcdevitt is a team that just can't seem to catch a break and win a state title since 2004

07 Gateway is up there too, I thought that matchup with Central was a coin flip before that crazy game was played

08 Gateway has to be the most shocking runner up I witnessed in the WPIAL, everybody including coach Terry Smith wonder to this day how it all went wrong, they scrimmaged Bethel Park that year and destroyed them so maybe they were over confident? Who knows that result was so bizarre, maybe the football gods felt bad for Liberty after the crushing defeat they suffered in 05 and 06

2011 Central was ranked humber 1 but again they were another team that wasn't winning the way you would think the alleged number 1 team in the state should be winning, Dakota Conwell actually didn't play in that semifinal game, the quarterback was a little junior named Pete Coughlin, he shocked the high school football world with his performance that day and ended up playing at W&J

which reminds me I think 2011 Upper St. Clair is a great team that didn't even win a district title but could've won the state if not for injuries or bad luck, they lost to NA in overtime in the WPIAL title game without Conwell, but what people remember is the NA receiver catching the ball 3 yards outside of the end zone... yet the ref ruled it a touchdown, too bad high school football doesn't have a challenge flag or instant replay

BradlyPitt I couldn't agree more about the 2011 upper st Clair team. Both games with NA were close and I always wandered what would of happened had they won and were the wpial representative. Everyone knows that NA got upseted by central dauphin who went on to win the title. Another team that gets forgotten and I think is thier best team is the 99 woodland hills team. They lead ecp late in the forth when ecp faced a 4th down and converted on a screen to ed hinkel. Prep scored late in the 4th beating woody high by 4. Woody high also had a close hail Mary at the end of the game that was almost caught. That game could of went either way. Both Woody high and Erie prep were loaded with D1 talent and nationally ranked that year. I think the 99 season was the most talented ever for great teams in Pennsylvania.

 

[BradlyPitt]

BradlyPitt I couldn't agree more about the 2011 upper st Clair team. Both games with NA were close and I always wandered what would of happened had they won and were the wpial representative. Everyone knows that NA got upseted by central dauphin who went on to win the title. Another team that gets forgotten and I think is thier best team is the 99 woodland hills team. They lead ecp late in the forth when ecp faced a 4th down and converted on a screen to ed hinkel. Prep scored late in the 4th beating woody high by 4. Woody high also had a close hail Mary at the end of the game that was almost caught. That game could of went either way. Both Woody high and Erie prep were loaded with D1 talent and nationally ranked that year. I think the 99 season was the most talented ever for great teams in Pennsylvania.

that woodland hills/ECP game is on youtube, there's a channel that has almost all the big ECP games from the 90's along with other state title games

yeah they had a great team and could've won a state title in many years, same thing with the 2000 team that was upset by Mt. Lebanon, honestly think both of them would beat this years Mt. Lebanon team, looking at the teams on paper i don't think it's close

 

[D1 Transplant]

I know we're discussing a certain great team not winning a state title in a certain year, but I can't believe Easton has not won a state title. They never even played in one. They've had a lot of good to very good teams, a great tradition, and one of the best programs in the state. Unfortunately, I don't see them competing for one, let alone a district title, any time soon. Something has changed, and it shows. Their two tradition rich programs (football, wrestling), have hit the skids, and they aren't turning things around in the foreseeable future.

 

[Relayer]

I'll put the 1999 Glen Mills team in the category of "best teams to not even qualify for the playoffs.

In terms of District 1 anyway, they had the the best team that no one remembers and could have threatened CBW IMO. The Bulls only lost one game, 31-30 to Ohio power and state champion St Ignatius. They also beat returning state champ Allentown Central Catholic and Beca, who faced CBW in the state semis at Lehigh.

That one point loss to Iggy kept them out of the playoffs. Back then only four teams qualified. Instead Pennridge got the 4th spot and was thrashed by West in the district semis. Too bad because a GM-CBW District One playoff game would have added more intrigue to the already great documentary, "The Last Game".

Ironically, Glen Mills dropped football a few years ago.

 

[RoverNation05]

I know we're discussing a certain great team not winning a state title in a certain year, but I can't believe Easton has not won a state title. They never even played in one. They've had a lot of good to very good teams, a great tradition, and one of the best programs in the state. Unfortunately, I don't see them competing for one, let alone a district title, any time soon. Something has changed, and it shows. Their two tradition rich programs (football, wrestling), have hit the skids, and they aren't turning things around in the foreseeable future.

You and me both. They've had opportunities, but all of the breaks in the right year just haven't been there.
1988: This team was probably better than the Pittsburgh Central Catholic team that won it. Upset in overtime of the D11 title game, also not sure they would have had the power points over Cedar Cliff to get to the four team playoff.
1990: Beat the 3A champs (Bethlehem Catholic) pretty handily, won the D11 title game 49-10, did not have enough power points to overtake Wilson West Lawn to make the four team field.
1991: Lost the state title game in semis to CB West, who won it all. This is the best Easton team of the state playoff era and I'd argue as good as a decent handful of the 4A champs.
1993: Lost 6-3 to the CB West team that lost 15-14 in the state finals. Right there, a couple breaks here and there and I could see this team winning. Other loss was a 3 point loss to the 3A champs (Allentown Central Catholic).
2000: Special shout out to one of the great lost years. 1999 team beat #2 Parkland then lost 21-20 to the Becahi team that played the classic with CB West in the eastern final. For 2000, returned two 1,000 yard rushers in the backfield. One gets hit in the head with a baseball bat in a fight over the summer and the other is arrested for narcotics trafficing right before camp (YaYah McGurn still has the distinction of being the only player Nick Saban has visited Easton High School for, when he came in from Michigan State to offer him a scholarship, then Ya never played another down of football due to his legal problems). Make the D11 finals with their 3rd and 4th string running backs, including a semifinal win over the Austin Scott/Tim Massaquoi Parkland team.
2001: Probably their best chance. Gave up 5 points per game. Incredible run defense, shaky secondary. Only throwing team in the field was Bethlehem Catholic, who lit them up through the air in a way that Cumberland Valley, Neshaminy, and Woodland Hills wouldn't have been able to. Ultimate "styles make fights" year and team.
2003: Second most talented team after the 1991 group. Lost to the 2003 North Penn team that was pretty generational - and two days after Thanksgiving to boot. I'd take this team against a decent number of champs too.
2004: The team with the best chance at making finals. Undefeated to the Eastern Final. Got outplayed by Neshaminy, but were a dropped touchdown in the final ten seconds away from overtime. Would have been throttled by PCC in the final.
2006: Probably the biggest Thanksgiving Day victim. Beat state #1 Parkland in D11 semis, lost to Liberty two days after Thanksgiving, both running on fumes and without all state linebacker who tore his ACL in the Thanksgiving game. Probably a better set up defense to go against Upper St. Clair than Liberty was, not so on offense.
2009: I've written too much about this team and the LaSalle loss.
2010: Had a lead into the fourth quarter against LaSalle, ran out of gas. Didn't have the size or horsepower to beat North Allegheny.
2012: The best team in D11, but Shane Simpson broke his leg in the last week of the regular season. Would have been a better D11 rep than the Parkland team that got blown away by LaSalle (who they beat pretty handily in the regular season with a healthy Simpson).
2014: Still can't believe they lost to Parkland in OT after giving up 65 yards of offense. Parkland came out the next week and pushed SJP to the limit.

Easton isn't the only program like this. I'd throw Wilson West Lawn, Gateway, Woodland Hills, into that bucket too.

But you're right on football, I kind of think Easton football is over for the time being. Without a pretty large scale shift administratively, Easton is going to be a "remember when" program. Wrestling will get another post

 

[HSFB99]

Rov, great post. I probably bring it up too frequently, but don’t you think a change of head coach could get them back heading in the right direction? State title contention? Maybe not, but certainly consistent player in District 11.

 

[RoverNation05]

Their two tradition rich programs (football, wrestling), have hit the skids, and they aren't turning things around in the foreseeable future.

There's a way forward in wrestling. I think Jody Karam is really good. They don't have a lot of talent this year, and have less experience (it's one senior) but there are some tangible improvements, and the pipeline isn't dry.

I know it's a cop out, but how much different would this team be if Brandan Chletsos (#2 in 2A at 132), Cael McIntyre (#8 in 3A at 120), Bryson Vaughn (#10 in 2A at 138) were all in the lineup? Those transfers out aren't on the current staff/situation, and are signs that the feeder program isn't bear, there was just a generation of kids that went somewhere else. Mission #1 for Jody and his staff is to hold onto Easton kids, because they're coming. That's been the biggest issue in the demise. I have problems with how the Jamarr era ended and how parents and administrators treated him, but it's also facts six kids who won state medals transferred out, which virtually no schools can withstand. So the issue facing Jody and company isn't to build back a program from scratch with no talent, it's keeping that talent home.

And there are signs. The Correll kid who is getting spot starts at 189 is the youngest of a group of brothers - the family sent the older ones to Blair (one is on Michigan's roster right now), but are sending the youngest to Easton - that's a good sign as a temperature check for other talented kids. Chris Kelly, the freshman at 106, is probably going to be a D11 finalist and state medalist, and I know had options at both ND and Becahi but stayed home.

Nicholas Salamone is an 8th grader who is currently wrestling for the Junior High program who I did not anticipate to come to Easton, but now looks like he'll stay - he'll be a JH Districts finalist and PJW state medalist most likely and will start right away next year. There's another 8th grader who's bigger (I think he's at 155 or 170) who would have options other places (he might get some varsity football snaps as a freshman too), There is also a crop of 7th graders who are very good. If they all stick together, they'll have some horses.

The other thing I've found interesting is Steve Powell, who is still at Easton as an assistant, is doing a lot of camp/clinic work with Red Hawk wrestling. Now, Red Hawk is run by an Easton grad (Seth Ciasulli), but has always had kind of an antagonistic relationship with Easton (going back to when Seth's dad was running it and the Ciasulli boys were all at Easton). But the reach out to Powell and some other behind the scenes fence mending between that club and Easton does make me wonder if you'll see more Red Hawk kids stay (Salamone above being the first example). There are two brothers who have placed really high at a bunch of national youth stuff who are Easton kids who only train at Red Hawk. I'd bet on them both going to Bethlehem Catholic, but I'm less convinced of that than I was six months ago. If you see both Nick Salamone and Noah Fenner in the Easton lineup next year, that's a sign that the turnaround might be quicker than you think.

Long story short, they're not very good this year - if they send three to states that's about as good as I can see, and Fairchild would need to continue to wrestle out of his mind - but in the next four years I can see a path back to being one of the better teams in D11.

 

[RoverNation05]

Rov, great post. I probably bring it up too frequently, but don’t you think a change of head coach could get them back heading in the right direction? State title contention? Maybe not, but certainly consistent player in District 11.

Maybe? But the further they fall down the hole, the harder it is to dig out. Certainly should be a player in D11, even with the rosters they have. But they’re ‘90s Neshaminy right now and need a Mark Schmidt figure to come in and get them back to the glory years.

 

[HSFB99]

From an outsiders perspective, it strikes me that the numbers and talent are there to consistently win D11 championships. It’s just a matter of getting the right guy in charge. Granted, that’s easier said than done. It doesn’t seem like the admin has any desire to get rid of Braido.

 

[16th&Georgetown]

1999 was was filled with some great teams. You could probably throw these teams in a bag, pick one, and be satisfied.. CB West, Glenn Mills, North Penn, Norristown, Beca, Parkland, ECP. (Norristown was scary good and doesn’t get the credit it deserves. They had NP dead to rights and blew it. They would have given CB West fits the following week)

 

[Fletchster1]

Skins ‘05 squad was stout, but Devlin and the Cougars were able to get it done on a clear night in Langhorne.

 

[Hausmann1978]

1999 was was filled with some great teams. You could probably throw these teams in a bag, pick one, and be satisfied.. CB West, Glenn Mills, North Penn, Norristown, Beca, Parkland, ECP. (Norristown was scary good and doesn’t get the credit it deserves. They had NP dead to rights and blew it. They would have given CB West fits the following week)

You forgot the 99 woodland hills team that was undefeated and national ranked had Erie prep on the ropes. Prep was looking at fourth down and 5 late in the fourth. Prep converted on a screen to Eddie hinkel and prep scored on that drive. Had they not converted we would be talking about Woody high and cb west. 99 had the most talent in pa then any another year. I think 2017 is second.

 

[CAMoleskinner]

Fletchster -

The 2005 'Skins team was right up there with the 2013 Blue & Red team in terms of "woulda, coulda, shoulda"!

If you remember, nobody could run on Neshaminy that year but they had a weak set of DBs/pass defense. The only throwing team that stood between them and a gold ball - in the playoffs (as I saw it) was D-Town East. And Langhorne actually had them 38-28 with six minutes to go and the final was 45-38 (still makes me crazy but what a show Devlin put on in those six minutes).

 

[BradlyPitt]

You forgot the 99 woodland hills team that was undefeated and national ranked had Erie prep on the ropes. Prep was looking at fourth down and 5 late in the fourth. Prep converted on a screen to Eddie hinkel and prep scored on that drive. Had they not converted we would be talking about Woody high and cb west. 99 had the most talent in pa then any another year. I think 2017 is second.

Mike Mishler said woodland Hills was better than CB West

 

[Relayer]

Mike Mishler said woodland Hills was better than CB West

...and Mishler lost to a CB-West team who was down to their 3rd string running back.

 

[Hausmann1978]

...and Mishler lost to a CB-West team who was down to their 3rd string running back.

Mike Mishler said woodland Hills was better than CB West

I agree, I think prep and cb west play 10 times in 99 Id put my money on prep winning most of them. Everyone was big on the 2001 Woody high team I think the 99 is their best squad.

 

[steelcurtain55.]

The one team that didn't make a state final was the Woody High team that lost to State College back when Juan Price was on the team. If I'm not mistaken they were really banged up and several key starters out in that game after beating Gateway in the finals. I think they had 6 or 7 FBS kids on that team. I think they had 9 or 10 D1 kids

Richard Gray - PITT
Ejuan Price - PITT (Rams)
Dom Timbers - Syracuse
KK Mosley - PITT
Jevonte Pitts - PITT
Quinton Jefferson - Maryland (Seahawks)
Mike Lee - Purdue
Lafayette Pitts - PITT (Falcons/Bills)
Julian Turner - New Hampshire
Bruce Atkins - IUP
Shakim Alonzo - Cincy

 

[Hausmann1978]

The one team that didn't make a state final was the Woody High team that lost to State College back when Juan Price was on the team. If I'm not mistaken they were really banged up and several key starters out in that game after beating Gateway in the finals. I think they had 6 or 7 FBS kids on that team. I think they had 9 or 10 D1 kids

Richard Gray - PITT
Ejuan Price - PITT (Rams)
Dom Timbers - Syracuse
KK Mosley - PITT
Jevonte Pitts - PITT
Quinton Jefferson - Maryland (Seahawks)
Mike Lee - Purdue
Lafayette Pitts - PITT (Falcons/Bills)
Julian Turner - New Hampshire
Bruce Atkins - IUP
Shakim Alonzo - Cincy

Woody high is the best football program to not win a state title. That 2015 team was nasty as well. You had Joel shaw and miles Sanders in the backfield. Both D1 running backs. That team was loaded and ranked #1 in the state. They lost to another loaded 2015 Pcc squad that eventually went on to win the title. If we were under today's format of 6 classifications that 2015 team would of been the 5A state champs.

 

[new2pa]

Woody actually has 3A enrollment and has chosen to play up to 5A now.

 

[BradlyPitt]

The one team that didn't make a state final was the Woody High team that lost to State College back when Juan Price was on the team. If I'm not mistaken they were really banged up and several key starters out in that game after beating Gateway in the finals. I think they had 6 or 7 FBS kids on that team. I think they had 9 or 10 D1 kids

Richard Gray - PITT
Ejuan Price - PITT (Rams)
Dom Timbers - Syracuse
KK Mosley - PITT
Jevonte Pitts - PITT
Quinton Jefferson - Maryland (Seahawks)
Mike Lee - Purdue
Lafayette Pitts - PITT (Falcons/Bills)
Julian Turner - New Hampshire
Bruce Atkins - IUP
Shakim Alonzo - Cincy

i thought about this team, i don't know if they are one of the best to not win a state title but i do think if they were healthy they would've won the state that season

 

[BradlyPitt]

Woody high is the best football program to not win a state title. That 2015 team was nasty as well. You had Joel shaw and miles Sanders in the backfield. Both D1 running backs. That team was loaded and ranked #1 in the state. They lost to another loaded 2015 Pcc squad that eventually went on to win the title. If we were under today's format of 6 classifications that 2015 team would of been the 5A state champs.

i think penn trafford would've beaten them, that PT team was the best PT team and they gave Central all they could handle

 

[Hausmann1978]

i think penn trafford would've beaten them, that PT team was the best PT team and they gave Central all they could handle

True penn Trafford is 5A. That would of been a good 5A championship.