Power Ratings 6A Semifinals
Coatesville 14-0 vs Harrisburg 12-1….15.40 Coatesville
Coatesville set a school record defeating North Penn 42-13 for their 14th win of the season and second consecutive District-1 title. This one was tight for a while with the Red Raiders up 14-6 at the half. Things were looking good for North Penn until a 28-7 second half blitz featuring a kickoff return and a dominating defense that sacked Knight’s Qb Solomon Robinson 7 times sealed the deal. Aaron Young rushed for 180 yards on 17 carries for 3 scores (57, 53, 4yds), helping Coatesville to a 337 to 264 total yardage advantage, 318 coming on the ground. Shamar Edwards had 120 rushing for North Penn (13-1) who when all is said and done, had a heck of a year, performing beyond expectations. This was not their most talented team. They fell off from last year’s season ending average of 41ppg which followed 2016’s 40ppg to 29 a game this year. But the D was vastly improved to 18ppg from 27, helping them reach another double digit winning season. For the second straight year, Coatesville’s numbers are at stratospheric levels, scoring 46ppg, up from last year’s 41 a game. Like North Penn, their defense is significantly improved over last year’s 17ppg to 11ppg. A rematch with Harrisburg is next. The Cougars reeled off 12 straight since the opening week loss to Coatesville 37-6, defeating quality opponents like State College, Central Dauphin, Cedar Cliff and Wilson. Their offense scores 39 a game with a defense allowing 10, their best defense since the George Chaump years, 2003-2010. Coatesville and Harrisburg met in the opener at Severance Field in Harrisburg where the Red Raiders owned the airways, with Ricky Ortega throwing for 271 yards to Dapree Bryant (5/152) and Dymere Miller (3/122). Harrisburg’s rush defense that has been solid all year allowed 121 yards. The Cougars rushed for 148 yards but could only muster 32 passing in Kane Everson’s first game under center after transferring in from neighboring Central Dauphin East. He’s grown up since then, throwing for 2423 yards while rushing for 768, making him something of a Ricky Ortega clone. Harrisburg has the most dangerous quarterback and balanced attack Coatesville has seen since their last practice against their offense. He can make something out of nothing. Running back Jahmir Plant (5-9 190, jr), has emerged to become a force at running back along with Dana Purdy 5-7 160 who can scat. The receivers are average but the O-Line really picked up Central Dauphin’s blitzes well in the district final. CD has a strong D-Front. Defensively, they are strong up front with Saquon Carter-Barton 6-2 230 and Jeff Chisolm-Wilkerson 5-11 260 inside, with Dionte Nichols 6-2 230 and Brian Yates 6-0 210 at DE. The secondary is average and a team weakness here. The LBs are a team strength, especially Andre White 6-3 215 (Texas A&M), along with Elijah Scott 6-2 210, Jai Burney 5-9 190 and Harold O’Neal 6-0 185 who can all fly. This is not the same Harrisburg team Coatesville played 13 weeks ago. They shouldn’t win but they just might make Coatesville play a 4-quarter football game. Maybe!
St. Joseph’s Prep 11-0 vs Pine Richland 11-2….10.22 St. Joseph’s Prep
St. Joseph’s Prep had no trouble with the District-11 champ Freedom (12-2), holding the mercy ruled Patriots to 204 yards of offense and their skilled quarterback Jared Jenkins to 5 of 10 for 48 yards. St. Joe’s Qb Kyle McCord completed 9 of 14 passes for 159 yards and three scores to lead a well-balanced attack that rushed for 141 yards and passed for 159 in an easy 42-14 win. While it was a school record for Freedom winning 12 games, their best since going 10-3 in 2008, it was also the fifth time in six years St. Joe’s eliminated the District-11 champion. Their offense was efficient and productive, scoring 42 points on 300 total yards of offense. Meaning they only had to go 7.14 yards to get a single point. Freedom, who gained 204 yards of offense while scoring 14 points had to go 14.57 yards to get a point. Actually it’s been an easy ride for the Hawks since opening with St. Peter’s Prep-NJ (7-4) and Our Lady of Good Counsel-Md (6-4). Jersey mimics PA with two dominant teams in St. Joseph Regional (10-2) and Bergen Catholic (10-2) who just faced off in the Non-Public Group Four (North Jersey Super-Red) with SJR winning 13-0. It’s a different story in OLGC’s Washington Catholic-Capital League with DeMatha (8-3), St. John’s (9-1), OLGC (6-4) and Gonzaga (9-3) all beating each other up in a highly competitive league (WCAC) although Gonzaga just upset their bitter rival St. John’s and DeMatha in the postseason. So, how will Pine Richland fare against St. Joe’s? If they can duplicate their performance last week where they routed a solid 12-2 State College team 56-33, they’ll compete. Before we forget, Pine Richland is the defending 6A champ that did a heck of a rebuild after graduating the team that defeated St. Joe’s last year 41-21. Against State, they rushed for 464 yards on 38 carries, forcing SC turnovers on their first two possessions, while PR scored on their first 5 possessions. Luke Meckler rushed for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns while Anthony Cerminara added 148 yards and 3 touchdowns on 10 carries. Sophomore quarterback Cole Spencer had 2 touchdown passes while rushing for 110 yards and a score on 18 carries. Its common knowledge in District-3 the Mid Penn Commonwealth is snake bit in the playoffs at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona, almost always coming out with a loss. For SC, this was their 10th quarterfinals appearance where they’ve gone 2-8 since 2005. Snake bit or not, they got handled at the Mansion. Season totals show Spencer completed 112 of 183 passes (61%) for 1342 yards with a 13/3 ratio while rushing for 687 yards on 164 attempts. Though they are a downhill team featuring Luke Meckler with 1253 yards, they have a solid receiver corps, headed by Eli Jochem with 34 catches for 309 yards, Luke Miller with 325 yards on 23 catches and Shane Cafardi with 22 receptions for 282 yards. They have numerous weapons and appear on a par with St. Joe’s most difficult opponents, definitely St. Peter’s Prep, played at the top of the season. OLGC and the Washington Catholic League? For Pine and St. Joe’s, this is the third time they’ve met, all finals appearances, with SJP winning in 2014, 49-41 and PR winning last year. This looks like a competitive game where you could write a book on the matchups with the only question in terms of Pine Richland’s ability to compete being their collapse four weeks ago at North Allegheny where they came up empty, losing 27-7. And it has to be significant that Kyle McCord is farther along than Cole Spencer. He’s shown a knack of rising to the occasion with strong games, his best games, coming against the more difficult teams on their schedule. He is 66% on the year for 2299 yards and 30 touchdowns. Against Good Counsel, LaSalle, Wood, Ryan and Freedom, he’s 79 of 109, 72% for 1264 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Power Ratings 5A Semifinals
Archbishop Wood 9-3 vs Penn Hills 14-0….3.07 Penn Hills
Archbishop Wood scored on their first play when Tom Santiago ran 40 yards for the score to kick start the offense to a 31-0 halftime lead where they out-distanced the Golden Tigers 232 to 5 in total yards….in the first half! Santiago finished with 113 on 8 carries with Chris Blackstone adding 90 as the team rushed for 271 yards to defeat a game but outmanned Hollidaysburg 38-7, holding them to 147 total yards. Jack Colyar completed 5 of 8 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. The win, their fifth straight, put them in the semifinal against undefeated Penn Hills. The Indians rallied from a 10 point deficit late in the first half, scoring on a Hollis Mathis to Dante Cephus pass for a touchdown moments before the break. That was the lift needed to win their fifth WPIAL title by defeating West Allegheny (10-3) 28-18. Qb Mathis completed 9 of 17 passes for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns. Dante Cephus was his primary, catching 3 for 146 yards and 2 scores. Terry “Tank” Smith (5-9, 210, LB) rushed for 81 yards. Penn Hills defense was fierce, sacking West A’s Qb Kam Kruze 5 times and getting 3 turnovers. He threw for 220 yards but the run defense was there, holding them to 101 yards. Penn Hills rushed for 144 yards. Hollis (6-1, 190, sr) will be Wood’s main concern as will a bevy of Penn Hills receivers. Tank Smith is their battering ram at running back with 1427 yards. Hollis is a pro style drop back passer, completing 61% of his passes for 2365 yards and rushing for 605 yards. He is surrounded with playmakers, scoring 39ppg. The receiver corps is numerous, led by Daequan Hardy with 651 yards on 29 receptions, Dante Cephus with 23 catches for 520 yards and Anthony Grimes with 409 yards on 31 catches. The most underrated aspect of the team is their defense allowing 10ppg and only 56 the last 8 games. It’s a veteran team that returned 7 to both sides of the ball with few concerns coming into the season, apart from a couple holes on the line. Evidently that was not an issue, opening at Ohio’s Division-IV power Steubenville (10-2), winning 21-14. Steubenville is one of the small school programs in the state, winning the Div-IV title last year at 15-0 and advancing to the finals the previous two year. Their 5 year won-loss is 62-9. The team that most recently gave Wood a game was Archbishop Ryan, losing 24-17. They have a quarterback in Jahlil Sanders who shares Hollis Mathis’s traits as a dual threat. While Wood defeated Archbishop Ryan (8-4) 24-17, Gratz (5-7) 57-6 and Hollidaysburg (9-5) 38-7 in the postseason, Penn Hills was defeating McKeesport (9-3) 34-7, Peters Township (10-3) 22-14 and West Allegheny (10-3) 28-18. Wood is gunning for their third straight state title and sixth overall, winning runner up Silver Medals in 2008 and 2012.
Upper Dublin 12-1 vs Manheim Central 13-0….22.92 Manheim Central
Here’s some interesting District-3 trivia about Upper Dublin’s Coach Bret Stover. He starred for Millersville University (borders Lancaster) for two years at quarterback, guiding them to the Division II playoffs where they lost to North Dakota State 36-26 who went on to win the title. About their game last week with the score knotted at 28 a piece late in the 3rd quarter, Upper Dublin went on a 9-play 82 yard scoring drive to grab a hard fought 35-28 win against West Chester’s Bayard Rustin (10-3). Quarterback Mike Slivka (6-1, 195, jr) did much of the damage, throwing for 232 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 38 more for two more scores. One man wrecking crew! How about big Mike, having a strong year with a Td-Pick ratio of 17 to 4, throwing for 1484 yards at a 63% clip. Not bad for a first year starter. As always the Cardinals play solid defense, allowing 13ppg. It’s a light swift group that could have issues with Manheim Central’s size but they are quick. Running back Lucas Roselli is a weapon, rushing for 724 yards and catching 27 passes for 430 yards. Mason Novak (5-10, 20, sr) does the heavy work at 564 yards. Three receivers are at 966 total yards in receptions, Selvin Haynes, Dylan Zlotnikoff and Roselli. They score 39ppg. There is no team on the schedule that comes close to approximating their next opponent in the PIAA semifinal from District-3, undefeated Manheim Central, one of the best teams in the state. The Barons roll in after securing their 18th District-3 title, defeating Cocalico. 18th! Quarterback Evan Simon who has become a weapon this year completed 12 of 18 for 374 yards and 5 touchdown passes. Colby Wagner was the prime recipient, catching 5 for 218 yards. With Wagner snagging 23 passes for 753 yards, Will River at 25 for 532, Isaac Perron with 24 receptions for 369 and Ben Wagner at 16 for 344 yards, they are one potent passing attack. Simon has 2319 yards passing for the year with a 26/5 Td-Pick ratio plus 531 yards rushing. Their all-time leading rusher Tyler Flick had 115 yards on 19 carries (1650 for the year) as the Manheim machine rolled out 561 yards of offense to overwhelm Cocalico 48-14. Upper Dublin will have to play their best game of the year to stay on the field with these guys.
Coatesville 14-0 vs Harrisburg 12-1….15.40 Coatesville
Coatesville set a school record defeating North Penn 42-13 for their 14th win of the season and second consecutive District-1 title. This one was tight for a while with the Red Raiders up 14-6 at the half. Things were looking good for North Penn until a 28-7 second half blitz featuring a kickoff return and a dominating defense that sacked Knight’s Qb Solomon Robinson 7 times sealed the deal. Aaron Young rushed for 180 yards on 17 carries for 3 scores (57, 53, 4yds), helping Coatesville to a 337 to 264 total yardage advantage, 318 coming on the ground. Shamar Edwards had 120 rushing for North Penn (13-1) who when all is said and done, had a heck of a year, performing beyond expectations. This was not their most talented team. They fell off from last year’s season ending average of 41ppg which followed 2016’s 40ppg to 29 a game this year. But the D was vastly improved to 18ppg from 27, helping them reach another double digit winning season. For the second straight year, Coatesville’s numbers are at stratospheric levels, scoring 46ppg, up from last year’s 41 a game. Like North Penn, their defense is significantly improved over last year’s 17ppg to 11ppg. A rematch with Harrisburg is next. The Cougars reeled off 12 straight since the opening week loss to Coatesville 37-6, defeating quality opponents like State College, Central Dauphin, Cedar Cliff and Wilson. Their offense scores 39 a game with a defense allowing 10, their best defense since the George Chaump years, 2003-2010. Coatesville and Harrisburg met in the opener at Severance Field in Harrisburg where the Red Raiders owned the airways, with Ricky Ortega throwing for 271 yards to Dapree Bryant (5/152) and Dymere Miller (3/122). Harrisburg’s rush defense that has been solid all year allowed 121 yards. The Cougars rushed for 148 yards but could only muster 32 passing in Kane Everson’s first game under center after transferring in from neighboring Central Dauphin East. He’s grown up since then, throwing for 2423 yards while rushing for 768, making him something of a Ricky Ortega clone. Harrisburg has the most dangerous quarterback and balanced attack Coatesville has seen since their last practice against their offense. He can make something out of nothing. Running back Jahmir Plant (5-9 190, jr), has emerged to become a force at running back along with Dana Purdy 5-7 160 who can scat. The receivers are average but the O-Line really picked up Central Dauphin’s blitzes well in the district final. CD has a strong D-Front. Defensively, they are strong up front with Saquon Carter-Barton 6-2 230 and Jeff Chisolm-Wilkerson 5-11 260 inside, with Dionte Nichols 6-2 230 and Brian Yates 6-0 210 at DE. The secondary is average and a team weakness here. The LBs are a team strength, especially Andre White 6-3 215 (Texas A&M), along with Elijah Scott 6-2 210, Jai Burney 5-9 190 and Harold O’Neal 6-0 185 who can all fly. This is not the same Harrisburg team Coatesville played 13 weeks ago. They shouldn’t win but they just might make Coatesville play a 4-quarter football game. Maybe!
St. Joseph’s Prep 11-0 vs Pine Richland 11-2….10.22 St. Joseph’s Prep
St. Joseph’s Prep had no trouble with the District-11 champ Freedom (12-2), holding the mercy ruled Patriots to 204 yards of offense and their skilled quarterback Jared Jenkins to 5 of 10 for 48 yards. St. Joe’s Qb Kyle McCord completed 9 of 14 passes for 159 yards and three scores to lead a well-balanced attack that rushed for 141 yards and passed for 159 in an easy 42-14 win. While it was a school record for Freedom winning 12 games, their best since going 10-3 in 2008, it was also the fifth time in six years St. Joe’s eliminated the District-11 champion. Their offense was efficient and productive, scoring 42 points on 300 total yards of offense. Meaning they only had to go 7.14 yards to get a single point. Freedom, who gained 204 yards of offense while scoring 14 points had to go 14.57 yards to get a point. Actually it’s been an easy ride for the Hawks since opening with St. Peter’s Prep-NJ (7-4) and Our Lady of Good Counsel-Md (6-4). Jersey mimics PA with two dominant teams in St. Joseph Regional (10-2) and Bergen Catholic (10-2) who just faced off in the Non-Public Group Four (North Jersey Super-Red) with SJR winning 13-0. It’s a different story in OLGC’s Washington Catholic-Capital League with DeMatha (8-3), St. John’s (9-1), OLGC (6-4) and Gonzaga (9-3) all beating each other up in a highly competitive league (WCAC) although Gonzaga just upset their bitter rival St. John’s and DeMatha in the postseason. So, how will Pine Richland fare against St. Joe’s? If they can duplicate their performance last week where they routed a solid 12-2 State College team 56-33, they’ll compete. Before we forget, Pine Richland is the defending 6A champ that did a heck of a rebuild after graduating the team that defeated St. Joe’s last year 41-21. Against State, they rushed for 464 yards on 38 carries, forcing SC turnovers on their first two possessions, while PR scored on their first 5 possessions. Luke Meckler rushed for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns while Anthony Cerminara added 148 yards and 3 touchdowns on 10 carries. Sophomore quarterback Cole Spencer had 2 touchdown passes while rushing for 110 yards and a score on 18 carries. Its common knowledge in District-3 the Mid Penn Commonwealth is snake bit in the playoffs at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona, almost always coming out with a loss. For SC, this was their 10th quarterfinals appearance where they’ve gone 2-8 since 2005. Snake bit or not, they got handled at the Mansion. Season totals show Spencer completed 112 of 183 passes (61%) for 1342 yards with a 13/3 ratio while rushing for 687 yards on 164 attempts. Though they are a downhill team featuring Luke Meckler with 1253 yards, they have a solid receiver corps, headed by Eli Jochem with 34 catches for 309 yards, Luke Miller with 325 yards on 23 catches and Shane Cafardi with 22 receptions for 282 yards. They have numerous weapons and appear on a par with St. Joe’s most difficult opponents, definitely St. Peter’s Prep, played at the top of the season. OLGC and the Washington Catholic League? For Pine and St. Joe’s, this is the third time they’ve met, all finals appearances, with SJP winning in 2014, 49-41 and PR winning last year. This looks like a competitive game where you could write a book on the matchups with the only question in terms of Pine Richland’s ability to compete being their collapse four weeks ago at North Allegheny where they came up empty, losing 27-7. And it has to be significant that Kyle McCord is farther along than Cole Spencer. He’s shown a knack of rising to the occasion with strong games, his best games, coming against the more difficult teams on their schedule. He is 66% on the year for 2299 yards and 30 touchdowns. Against Good Counsel, LaSalle, Wood, Ryan and Freedom, he’s 79 of 109, 72% for 1264 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Power Ratings 5A Semifinals
Archbishop Wood 9-3 vs Penn Hills 14-0….3.07 Penn Hills
Archbishop Wood scored on their first play when Tom Santiago ran 40 yards for the score to kick start the offense to a 31-0 halftime lead where they out-distanced the Golden Tigers 232 to 5 in total yards….in the first half! Santiago finished with 113 on 8 carries with Chris Blackstone adding 90 as the team rushed for 271 yards to defeat a game but outmanned Hollidaysburg 38-7, holding them to 147 total yards. Jack Colyar completed 5 of 8 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. The win, their fifth straight, put them in the semifinal against undefeated Penn Hills. The Indians rallied from a 10 point deficit late in the first half, scoring on a Hollis Mathis to Dante Cephus pass for a touchdown moments before the break. That was the lift needed to win their fifth WPIAL title by defeating West Allegheny (10-3) 28-18. Qb Mathis completed 9 of 17 passes for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns. Dante Cephus was his primary, catching 3 for 146 yards and 2 scores. Terry “Tank” Smith (5-9, 210, LB) rushed for 81 yards. Penn Hills defense was fierce, sacking West A’s Qb Kam Kruze 5 times and getting 3 turnovers. He threw for 220 yards but the run defense was there, holding them to 101 yards. Penn Hills rushed for 144 yards. Hollis (6-1, 190, sr) will be Wood’s main concern as will a bevy of Penn Hills receivers. Tank Smith is their battering ram at running back with 1427 yards. Hollis is a pro style drop back passer, completing 61% of his passes for 2365 yards and rushing for 605 yards. He is surrounded with playmakers, scoring 39ppg. The receiver corps is numerous, led by Daequan Hardy with 651 yards on 29 receptions, Dante Cephus with 23 catches for 520 yards and Anthony Grimes with 409 yards on 31 catches. The most underrated aspect of the team is their defense allowing 10ppg and only 56 the last 8 games. It’s a veteran team that returned 7 to both sides of the ball with few concerns coming into the season, apart from a couple holes on the line. Evidently that was not an issue, opening at Ohio’s Division-IV power Steubenville (10-2), winning 21-14. Steubenville is one of the small school programs in the state, winning the Div-IV title last year at 15-0 and advancing to the finals the previous two year. Their 5 year won-loss is 62-9. The team that most recently gave Wood a game was Archbishop Ryan, losing 24-17. They have a quarterback in Jahlil Sanders who shares Hollis Mathis’s traits as a dual threat. While Wood defeated Archbishop Ryan (8-4) 24-17, Gratz (5-7) 57-6 and Hollidaysburg (9-5) 38-7 in the postseason, Penn Hills was defeating McKeesport (9-3) 34-7, Peters Township (10-3) 22-14 and West Allegheny (10-3) 28-18. Wood is gunning for their third straight state title and sixth overall, winning runner up Silver Medals in 2008 and 2012.
Upper Dublin 12-1 vs Manheim Central 13-0….22.92 Manheim Central
Here’s some interesting District-3 trivia about Upper Dublin’s Coach Bret Stover. He starred for Millersville University (borders Lancaster) for two years at quarterback, guiding them to the Division II playoffs where they lost to North Dakota State 36-26 who went on to win the title. About their game last week with the score knotted at 28 a piece late in the 3rd quarter, Upper Dublin went on a 9-play 82 yard scoring drive to grab a hard fought 35-28 win against West Chester’s Bayard Rustin (10-3). Quarterback Mike Slivka (6-1, 195, jr) did much of the damage, throwing for 232 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 38 more for two more scores. One man wrecking crew! How about big Mike, having a strong year with a Td-Pick ratio of 17 to 4, throwing for 1484 yards at a 63% clip. Not bad for a first year starter. As always the Cardinals play solid defense, allowing 13ppg. It’s a light swift group that could have issues with Manheim Central’s size but they are quick. Running back Lucas Roselli is a weapon, rushing for 724 yards and catching 27 passes for 430 yards. Mason Novak (5-10, 20, sr) does the heavy work at 564 yards. Three receivers are at 966 total yards in receptions, Selvin Haynes, Dylan Zlotnikoff and Roselli. They score 39ppg. There is no team on the schedule that comes close to approximating their next opponent in the PIAA semifinal from District-3, undefeated Manheim Central, one of the best teams in the state. The Barons roll in after securing their 18th District-3 title, defeating Cocalico. 18th! Quarterback Evan Simon who has become a weapon this year completed 12 of 18 for 374 yards and 5 touchdown passes. Colby Wagner was the prime recipient, catching 5 for 218 yards. With Wagner snagging 23 passes for 753 yards, Will River at 25 for 532, Isaac Perron with 24 receptions for 369 and Ben Wagner at 16 for 344 yards, they are one potent passing attack. Simon has 2319 yards passing for the year with a 26/5 Td-Pick ratio plus 531 yards rushing. Their all-time leading rusher Tyler Flick had 115 yards on 19 carries (1650 for the year) as the Manheim machine rolled out 561 yards of offense to overwhelm Cocalico 48-14. Upper Dublin will have to play their best game of the year to stay on the field with these guys.
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