Pittsburgh central catholic
- Thread starter House1978
- Start date
Ok, nice to be recognized..
Hard to gauge them however. Last I saw of them, 2 yrs. ago, #1 in the State, top 25 "nationally", un-beaten, allegedly un-beatable. Then they played the 3-loss PCL champion for the title. The 2nd half was telling and dominating..
PCC has a rich football history, no disrespect intended. These "national" rankings have always been amusing to me. Even for a school like Don Bosco(NJ) who may schedule ~3 OOC/out of state "powers" in a year, it's still difficult to compare intersectional teams. If you play NO top 25 intersectional games, IMO its impossible to compare.
I believe they are deserving of thier national attention. They are arguably the best team in the state and loaded with athletes. I can't remember another ppc team with this much d1 talent. Their biggest question mark will be at qb and their passing game but they'll have a shut down defense this season.
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House,
Welcome aboard, nice to get perspective from those west of State College.
I hope they have a nice season, as I said, their tradition is rich. 2 yrs. ago they were arguably the best team in state, ranked #1 most of year, loaded with D1 talent and a 4-star all-American QB at the helm.
I'm not saying hand them the rings. Like you pointed out they can easily get knocked off like the 2013 team. You can make an argument for central dauphin, woodland hills, penntraford, parkland, Easton, and of course st. Joes prep but if I was a betting man I'm putting my money on pcc.
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I felt the 2013 version of PCC would have been every bit as strong as any of the PCL teams from what I saw of them on the field at Hershey even though they were dominated in the second half. I really felt PCC was completely out coached that day.
They were a hard hitting group who would have given any team during the season in SEPA a run for their money.
They were a hard hitting group who would have given any team during the season in SEPA a run for their money.
north jerseys Don Boscoe is playing Bishop Gorman and Paramus Catholic and Bergan Catholic are both playing IMG this year. Those North Jersey teams are very competitive against national powers for those who care around here.
north jerseys Don Boscoe is playing Bishop Gorman and Paramus Catholic and Bergan Catholic are both playing IMG this year. Those North Jersey teams are very competitive against national powers for those who care around here.
Agree totally regarding coaching and the half-time adjustments made.
Constantino was a 4-star pro-style QB who averaged only ~6-7 pass attempts/game that season if my memory serves me. As Prep started to dominate in 2nd half, PCC seemed confused in attempting to open up their passing game. The passing schemes and route running looked premature to me. IMO..
SJP schedule not to shabby either starting with Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, LA followed by that Don Bosco Prep to start the season.
Beyond the LS game which is an obvious choice, there are two games this year at home (PW) to note for those interested.
9/19 - St Ignatious (OH)
10/10 - St Joe's Regional (NJ) (which plays Bergen, Paramus, St Peter's and Bosco) and is also playing IMG
Beyond the LS game which is an obvious choice, there are two games this year at home (PW) to note for those interested.
9/19 - St Ignatious (OH)
10/10 - St Joe's Regional (NJ) (which plays Bergen, Paramus, St Peter's and Bosco) and is also playing IMG
You guys are comparing apples and oranges. The 2004 and 2007 were also loaded with talent, preseason number 1, and nationally ranked. They went on to win the state championship but like the 2013 team they are completely different teams. It's unfair to compare them to this year's squad.
House,
We're not comparing the teams, different personnel agreed.
We're highlighting the perception/hype and the reality of the '13 season and the reality which became the 4A title game.
I sure hope the prep is more competitive this year vs. both Boscoe and st. Joe Regional. I definitely plan on attending both the Ignatius and st. Joe Regional games at PW HS.Prior to the game there is a great beef and beer place about a mile east at Joshua rd.and Germantown pike. Cant wait.
House,
Your input requested.... Woodland Hills have had some teams in last ~7-8 yrs. loaded with D1 talent, much more than the teams that eventually represented the west and/or the eventual 4A champ, yet they don't get there. What gives?
Is it the old adage "no I's in team", coaching, bad luck..... your opinion?
I remember they lost the '02(?) final to Parkland with those Austin Scott ridiculous career rushing numbers.
If Central Catholic meshes (Qb) then we'll see but we all know a lot of teams that came into the season loaded with D1 talent didn't get there....like Woody and Gateway with extreme talent over the years.
With so many solid teams in the Wpial,, the usual suspects of which there seem many, along with a few lesser, off the beaten path types like Bethel, Lebo, maybe PHills, and with D3 having proven teams like Wilson and Central Dauphin, I wouldn't wager it all on Catholic, not with the team Coach McNamee has at CD.
Lower Dauphin, Cedar Cliff, Manheim Township, Hempfield-Landisville have veteran well quarterbacked teams, Central York, Red Lion, etc, etc as well this year so they're no guarantees CD or Wilson gets out of there alive. There is a second tier of teams that come back veteran with a Qb making them a real hazard, upsetting, affecting seeds, etc.
Almost everyone has a Qb coming back this year (D-1, 3, 7,11) except two of the favorites, Central Catholic and SJP.
With so many solid teams in the Wpial,, the usual suspects of which there seem many, along with a few lesser, off the beaten path types like Bethel, Lebo, maybe PHills, and with D3 having proven teams like Wilson and Central Dauphin, I wouldn't wager it all on Catholic, not with the team Coach McNamee has at CD.
Lower Dauphin, Cedar Cliff, Manheim Township, Hempfield-Landisville have veteran well quarterbacked teams, Central York, Red Lion, etc, etc as well this year so they're no guarantees CD or Wilson gets out of there alive. There is a second tier of teams that come back veteran with a Qb making them a real hazard, upsetting, affecting seeds, etc.
Almost everyone has a Qb coming back this year (D-1, 3, 7,11) except two of the favorites, Central Catholic and SJP.
I agree stalker, I'm excited for Western PA football this year. Possible wpial aaaa championship between pcc and woody high. Possible Western finals between pcc and central dauphin and how fun would it be if woody high and sjp met in the state championship. Players like miles sanders and deandre swift come along once in a decade so can u imagine them on the same field going head to head. I'm so excited for the possible match ups this season and can't wait for Friday night football to kick off.
I believe this year will be Imhoteps year to win the top prize in AAA. I understand they have 9-10 D-1 players on this years roster ,and have added several top notch coaches to their staff which will certainly infuse more discipline to limit penalties and turnovers which have held them back in the last few years. They averaged 310 on the OL last year and are bigger and more athletic this year. Not sure about their QB situation ,but return 2 division 1 RBs . I for one ,will be shocked if anyone beats this group this year. I know the West will challenge with either Thomas Jefferson, McDevitt ,west Allegheny or another qualified opponent ,but will not be able to stay with the Tep .
Preseason picks: aaaa central catholic vs St. Joes prep with pcc winning.
AAA imhotep vs central valley with imhotep winning
Aa south Fayette vs Montoursville with south Fayette taking gold
A Clairton vs Bishop guilfoyle with Clairton avenging last years loss
AAA imhotep vs central valley with imhotep winning
Aa south Fayette vs Montoursville with south Fayette taking gold
A Clairton vs Bishop guilfoyle with Clairton avenging last years loss
Stalker I think the difference between central and gateway and woody high is central is a program that has proven itself. Gateway and woody high have zero state championships where I believe pcc is 3-2 in state championship games.
House,what about the coaching differential between these schools. Could the PCC winning have anything to do with better coaching?? I really don't have a clue on this ,but maybe you have some thoughts. The known here is that all three have very good athletes year after year.
Romeo,
I think you're right.
Gateway and WH had some hugely hyped teams in the last decade or so, individual teams loaded with D1 talent. Yet outside of the '02 title loss(WH), they don't get to Hershey.
Cosentino was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury in the second half. When that happened they were done.
PCC has good coaching but their head coach is stubbornly committed to power football. Only runs a variation of 6 running plays. They are a fundamentally sound football team with great special teams. The word is that this year they plan to open it up. Their Head coach Terry Totten has been heavily criticized by Central Alumni. I Was told by their President ( a LaSalle graduate) in so many words that if they don't make it to Hershey this year, he will resign. He didn't say win in Hershey he said get to Hershey. I'm sure he said that in jest but they think this group is special.
From my vantage point, the PCC coaching was their undoing, not who was under center that night. Granted, it must have been difficult to switch their game plan knowing they had two 1,000 yard rushers in their backfield. However, the starting QB was not having success throwing against SJP, either. PCC was not ready to open up the offense that night. Seemed to me like the idea of having to pass to succeed was foreign to them. Seemed like they spent little or no time working on the passing game that week/month/season.
pcc,
Sounds like he's a Gil Brooks clone?
In '13, when PCC made their run, correct me if I'm wrong, Cosentino only averaged ~6-7 pass ATTEMPTS/game. They were blowing people out, passes were at a minimum or perhaps it was the stubbornness as you've mentioned. I do recall Cosentino getting dinged in that 2nd half, still think weather conditions permitting, need to be offensively more diverse to take home Hershey gold.... unless you've had the type of lines that Wood has shown in 3A last few years.
If PCC has all the D1 talent that has been mentioned, including lineman, perhaps this year it won't make a difference??
FF,
I agree.. as I mentioned before, the PCC passing schemes and route running looked awkward at best that night. pcc64 probably hit on it, the stubbornness not to develop the passing game reared itself in that 2nd half.
Lilromeo its definitely not the coaching staff. George Novak is one of the winningest coaches in wpial and gateways old coach Terry Smith who left a couple years back for an assistant job at temple and now is an assistant at pennstate.
House,
Is he winning because he has a solid coaching staff, principles and discipline well in place coupled with a continually strong recruiting attraction being an open boundary school? That's good enough for most student-athletes/parents now a days. pcc's notion of stubbornness with present scheme does at least open the question of adaptability and the ability to make half-time adjustments if dictated.
I'm not a Prep fan, but Gabe's 2nd half adjustments in my mind won that title along with the players having the "practiced" ability to execute it.
You're wrong, they get there but haven't won the big game. They played in the state championship games in 96, 01, and 02.
