Here are the PRs for this week’s games with some research and a few thoughts. I keep giving this a shot with mixed results, but realize applying math to flesh and bone is a reach. Brought this up to date with previous week’s games at the top.
East AAAA D1 semis and D12 finals
North Penn Neshaminy North Penn 19.93 W
Upper Dublin Pennsbury Upper Dublin 26.53 W
Wyo Val Parkland Wyo Val 2.62 L
LaSalle Gratz LaSalle 9.23 W
State AAAA Quarterfinals
Cumberland Valley Central Dauphin CV .94 W
Pitt CC State College Pitt CC 21.69 W
Parkland LaSalle Parkland 14.09 W
Upper Dublin North Penn Upper Dublin 30.80 W
State AAAA, AAA, AA, A semifinals
State AAAA semifinals
Upper Dublin 14-0 Parkland 13-1 Upper Dublin 12.34
Pitt Central Catholic 13-1 Cumberland Valley 12-2 Pitt CC 6.50
State AAA semifinals
Imhotep Saucon Valley Imhotep 8.56
13-0 14-0
Saucon Valley looks outmanned here but they are veteran, unlikely to beat themselves and experienced enough to take advantage of any miscues. The closest teams they’ve playedresembling Imhotep are Lehighton 56-20 (a reach) and Bethlehem Catholic 14-6. The team is one-dimensional, getting 83% of yardage on the ground but have a duel threat QB in Zach Thachter (6-0, 180, sr), completing 60 of 94 for 1152 yards with 1122 rush yards. 5-10, 190 pound senior Evan Culver has 2866 yards on 274 carries for 45 Tds. LB Christian Carvis (6-0, 190, sr) and DL Cody Zrinski (6-4, 300, jr) spearhead the D with 124 and 77 tackles respectively. This is their first district title since ’04 with only recent success at 3 winning seasons the last 7 years. But they are essentially home at BASD Stadium in Bethlehem after defeating a decent but unspectacular Selinsgrove team 35-7 last week. They average 44ppg, allow 14. ICS comes in off a 46-16 win against Academy Park after beating two time defending AAA state champ Archbishop Wood. Unlike Saucon Valley, they are a playoff veteran, winning silver in 2013 and in the playoffs the 4th time on 5 years. They are explosive, scoring 45ppg allowing 7, with an all-star cast of (I believe) 10 D1 players. The most underrated part of the team might be QB Nasir Boykin (6-1, 185, jr), completing 63% for 1970 yards with 23 Tds. RB Mike Water (5-10, 195, sr) has 1472 yards for 35 Tds with receivers Nasir Lewis, Aamir Brown and TE Naseir Upshur (6-4, 235, sr, FSU) each over 500 yards (502, 532 and 574 respectively-68 receptions). The line averages 6-4, 312 lbs. (RB Tyliek Raynor is out with a broken ankle) DE Shaka Toney (6-4, 225, sr, PSU) is the big gun on defense with fellow DE Andre Mintze (6-4, 235, sr) and DBs Mike Crawford and Isheem Young. Their size, speed and experience suggests a blowout. But the same was said when 2012’s team was beat by Wyomissing in the semifinal, 35-13. Then there was the following year against South Fayette in the final (!) so we’ll see. Panthers vs Panthers!
Bishop McDevitt Cathedral Prep McDevitt 1.94
13-1 13-1
Harrisburg’s private school bad-ass is back after disposing of fellow Harrisburg conference foe Susquehanna Twp 33-19, the only team to beat them this year. They are once again the best team in District-3, beating Lower Dauphin, Cedar Cliff and AAAA semifinalist Cumberland Valley 41-14. Cathedral’s only loss was their opener in Florida against Wakulla 13-1, 31-14 (ECP allowed 342ry) who is in the 5A final this weekend against Orlando-Bishop Moore, 13-1. Notable wins for the Ranblers include Canisius-NY, Conneaut in D-10 action and Thomas Jefferson (11-3) last week, 28-21. TJ beat Central Valley, Franklin Regional and West Allegheny to reach the Wpial final. But McDevitt is immensely talented (retuned 8-O, 7-D) with the best receiver corps in the state in Kobay White-1210, Bryce Hall-910 and Kyree Calli-759 and one of the more unheralded new QBs on the scene in Tayvon Bowers (6-2, 205, jr) who passed for 3328 yards. McDevitt pulls QBs out of the hat every other year. Check out Matt Johnson at Bowling Green. This is the fourth meeting between McD and ECP since 2010. After winning silver in 10, 11, 13 (Gold in ’95 as an AA) maybe McDevitt finally gets there.
State AA semifinals
Aliquippa Martinsburg Central Aliquippa .83
14-0 13-1T
The Quips beat the only team to defeat them the last two year when they ended South Fayette’s bid for a third consecutive title beating the previously undefeated Lions 44-38 in the WPIAL final. Aliquippa came into the season just as loaded (average 44ppg) as South Fayette, with 1000 yard rushers, 4-5 D1 players and a veteran defense (allow 17ppg) with at least 9 return starters. Last week’s 27-17 win against Karns City marked the second straight week they beat a undefeated team.
Martinsburg is almost a carbon copy of last year’s 8-3 team with nearly everyone back, 9 on offense, 11 on defense and it shows, with the offense averaging 40ppg and the defense 11. But they haven’t been tested with only a 41-14 win against Tyrone that while 9-3, wasn’t vintage Tyrone football. And they lost to Clearfield (9-2), 19-8. Many D-5/6/9/ teams were rebuilding. This is one of Central’s better teams but Aliquippa is Aliquippa making it looks like a long day for the Scarlet Dragons.
Southern Columbia West Catholic Southern 11.39
14-0 10-4
The premier Double-A program in the state is at it again, smothering everyone including the top teams on their schedule beating Selinsgrove, Montoursville, Hughesville, Berks Catholic and others by an average score of 43-20; 47-19ppg average regular season. The D-yield is a result of a wild game in the D4 final against Montoursville, a 56-50 win, beating the team that eliminated their injury riddled team last year that seemed destined for Hershey. They average 47ppg with a strong QB in Nick Becker (6-2, 200, sr, 62%, 1573, 19/9). 3 backs are at or near 1000 yards rushing, Hunter Thomas (5-10, 185, jr) 1423, Blake Marks (5-11, 175, sr) 936, Jared Torres (5-11, 230, sr) 931. Everyone is back from last year (17 starters) with Coach Jim Roth, one of Pennsylvania’s legends at 379-62 in his 31st year at SCA. They had an unmatched run from 1998 through 2006 winning Silver in 98, 99, 00 and 01, before striking gold in 2002, 03, 04, 05 and 06! In 2011 they got another silver medal. Eat your heart out CB West. West Catholic began the season 1-3, with losses to North Penn, Haverford School and Archbishop Wood. (Strong core of 7-O and 7-D with QB Josh Evans transferring in) Thereon, including the opener they’ve gone 10-1 with an easy run through districts and the quarterfinal last week beating a typically stubborn District-2 Dunmore (12-2) 28-10. Buckle up for this one as Southern is a lot more than the Bucks, good enough to pound and slow things, hoping to negate West Catholic’s speed.
State A semifinals
Old Forge Bishop Guilfoyle Guilfoyle 28.85
13-1 14-0
Remember Old Forge (outside Scranton) two years ago, who put up a fierce battle against North Catholic (16-0, Cardinal Wuerl) in the final losing 15-14 on overtime? Well, they’re back, representing D2 who has a habit of cranking out good stuff at the small school classifications. Once again they come in with a big, physical attack scoring 40ppg, allowing 14. They don’t look as accomplished as the 2013 team (14-2) with a few tell-tale struggles against Lakeland (7-4) 27-24 and the blow-out loss to Lake Lehman (AA, 10-2) 42-13. But they looked good last week routing Bishop McDevitt 51-7.
Defending champ Bishop Guilfoyle is doing what they did last year, pummeling all comers with a monster OL and D1 talent at running back, Evan Chadbourne (5-10, 190, jr, 2010ry) and Aaron Yasulitis (5-10, 210, sr). They’ve evidently replaced losses but did return a corps of 6 to the offenses and 5 to the defense. About that size, the OL includes 6-2 278, 6-1 320, 6-3 310 and 6-2 255.
Berlin Brothersvalley Farrell Farrell 17.58
12-0 13-1
Berlin, PA, that bastion of high school football prowess in District-5 will again leave the valley heading to the big city for a game at Penn Hills High to see what they can do against powerful Farrell out of District 10. Brothervalley High does actually have a thing going for some years now under Coach Doug Paul who has a 53-9 record the last five years. While they’ve evidently fielded fundamentally sound teams, they’ve lacked speed, usually falling to Clairton-like team. But they reversed that this year. Last year saw them come close by many standards hanging with Clairton before losing 44-24. This year’s team got everyone’s attention last week if not before averaging 51ppg and allowing 7 (!) by defeating Clairton’s Bears 35-22. Clairton miscues combined with upgraded speed at the skill positions paved the way.
Farrell is a Clairton clone with 8 back on both sides. They got the monkey off their back that was West Middlesex (8-4) this year after five straight losses, trouncing them 42-0. And they beat previous undefeated Sharpsville (12-1) 26-20 who gave them their only loss and Kane (12-1) in the quarterfinal 27-6 so they come in veteran and brimming with confidence.
East AAAA D1 semis and D12 finals
North Penn Neshaminy North Penn 19.93 W
Upper Dublin Pennsbury Upper Dublin 26.53 W
Wyo Val Parkland Wyo Val 2.62 L
LaSalle Gratz LaSalle 9.23 W
State AAAA Quarterfinals
Cumberland Valley Central Dauphin CV .94 W
Pitt CC State College Pitt CC 21.69 W
Parkland LaSalle Parkland 14.09 W
Upper Dublin North Penn Upper Dublin 30.80 W
State AAAA, AAA, AA, A semifinals
State AAAA semifinals
Upper Dublin 14-0 Parkland 13-1 Upper Dublin 12.34
Pitt Central Catholic 13-1 Cumberland Valley 12-2 Pitt CC 6.50
State AAA semifinals
Imhotep Saucon Valley Imhotep 8.56
13-0 14-0
Saucon Valley looks outmanned here but they are veteran, unlikely to beat themselves and experienced enough to take advantage of any miscues. The closest teams they’ve playedresembling Imhotep are Lehighton 56-20 (a reach) and Bethlehem Catholic 14-6. The team is one-dimensional, getting 83% of yardage on the ground but have a duel threat QB in Zach Thachter (6-0, 180, sr), completing 60 of 94 for 1152 yards with 1122 rush yards. 5-10, 190 pound senior Evan Culver has 2866 yards on 274 carries for 45 Tds. LB Christian Carvis (6-0, 190, sr) and DL Cody Zrinski (6-4, 300, jr) spearhead the D with 124 and 77 tackles respectively. This is their first district title since ’04 with only recent success at 3 winning seasons the last 7 years. But they are essentially home at BASD Stadium in Bethlehem after defeating a decent but unspectacular Selinsgrove team 35-7 last week. They average 44ppg, allow 14. ICS comes in off a 46-16 win against Academy Park after beating two time defending AAA state champ Archbishop Wood. Unlike Saucon Valley, they are a playoff veteran, winning silver in 2013 and in the playoffs the 4th time on 5 years. They are explosive, scoring 45ppg allowing 7, with an all-star cast of (I believe) 10 D1 players. The most underrated part of the team might be QB Nasir Boykin (6-1, 185, jr), completing 63% for 1970 yards with 23 Tds. RB Mike Water (5-10, 195, sr) has 1472 yards for 35 Tds with receivers Nasir Lewis, Aamir Brown and TE Naseir Upshur (6-4, 235, sr, FSU) each over 500 yards (502, 532 and 574 respectively-68 receptions). The line averages 6-4, 312 lbs. (RB Tyliek Raynor is out with a broken ankle) DE Shaka Toney (6-4, 225, sr, PSU) is the big gun on defense with fellow DE Andre Mintze (6-4, 235, sr) and DBs Mike Crawford and Isheem Young. Their size, speed and experience suggests a blowout. But the same was said when 2012’s team was beat by Wyomissing in the semifinal, 35-13. Then there was the following year against South Fayette in the final (!) so we’ll see. Panthers vs Panthers!
Bishop McDevitt Cathedral Prep McDevitt 1.94
13-1 13-1
Harrisburg’s private school bad-ass is back after disposing of fellow Harrisburg conference foe Susquehanna Twp 33-19, the only team to beat them this year. They are once again the best team in District-3, beating Lower Dauphin, Cedar Cliff and AAAA semifinalist Cumberland Valley 41-14. Cathedral’s only loss was their opener in Florida against Wakulla 13-1, 31-14 (ECP allowed 342ry) who is in the 5A final this weekend against Orlando-Bishop Moore, 13-1. Notable wins for the Ranblers include Canisius-NY, Conneaut in D-10 action and Thomas Jefferson (11-3) last week, 28-21. TJ beat Central Valley, Franklin Regional and West Allegheny to reach the Wpial final. But McDevitt is immensely talented (retuned 8-O, 7-D) with the best receiver corps in the state in Kobay White-1210, Bryce Hall-910 and Kyree Calli-759 and one of the more unheralded new QBs on the scene in Tayvon Bowers (6-2, 205, jr) who passed for 3328 yards. McDevitt pulls QBs out of the hat every other year. Check out Matt Johnson at Bowling Green. This is the fourth meeting between McD and ECP since 2010. After winning silver in 10, 11, 13 (Gold in ’95 as an AA) maybe McDevitt finally gets there.
State AA semifinals
Aliquippa Martinsburg Central Aliquippa .83
14-0 13-1T
The Quips beat the only team to defeat them the last two year when they ended South Fayette’s bid for a third consecutive title beating the previously undefeated Lions 44-38 in the WPIAL final. Aliquippa came into the season just as loaded (average 44ppg) as South Fayette, with 1000 yard rushers, 4-5 D1 players and a veteran defense (allow 17ppg) with at least 9 return starters. Last week’s 27-17 win against Karns City marked the second straight week they beat a undefeated team.
Martinsburg is almost a carbon copy of last year’s 8-3 team with nearly everyone back, 9 on offense, 11 on defense and it shows, with the offense averaging 40ppg and the defense 11. But they haven’t been tested with only a 41-14 win against Tyrone that while 9-3, wasn’t vintage Tyrone football. And they lost to Clearfield (9-2), 19-8. Many D-5/6/9/ teams were rebuilding. This is one of Central’s better teams but Aliquippa is Aliquippa making it looks like a long day for the Scarlet Dragons.
Southern Columbia West Catholic Southern 11.39
14-0 10-4
The premier Double-A program in the state is at it again, smothering everyone including the top teams on their schedule beating Selinsgrove, Montoursville, Hughesville, Berks Catholic and others by an average score of 43-20; 47-19ppg average regular season. The D-yield is a result of a wild game in the D4 final against Montoursville, a 56-50 win, beating the team that eliminated their injury riddled team last year that seemed destined for Hershey. They average 47ppg with a strong QB in Nick Becker (6-2, 200, sr, 62%, 1573, 19/9). 3 backs are at or near 1000 yards rushing, Hunter Thomas (5-10, 185, jr) 1423, Blake Marks (5-11, 175, sr) 936, Jared Torres (5-11, 230, sr) 931. Everyone is back from last year (17 starters) with Coach Jim Roth, one of Pennsylvania’s legends at 379-62 in his 31st year at SCA. They had an unmatched run from 1998 through 2006 winning Silver in 98, 99, 00 and 01, before striking gold in 2002, 03, 04, 05 and 06! In 2011 they got another silver medal. Eat your heart out CB West. West Catholic began the season 1-3, with losses to North Penn, Haverford School and Archbishop Wood. (Strong core of 7-O and 7-D with QB Josh Evans transferring in) Thereon, including the opener they’ve gone 10-1 with an easy run through districts and the quarterfinal last week beating a typically stubborn District-2 Dunmore (12-2) 28-10. Buckle up for this one as Southern is a lot more than the Bucks, good enough to pound and slow things, hoping to negate West Catholic’s speed.
State A semifinals
Old Forge Bishop Guilfoyle Guilfoyle 28.85
13-1 14-0
Remember Old Forge (outside Scranton) two years ago, who put up a fierce battle against North Catholic (16-0, Cardinal Wuerl) in the final losing 15-14 on overtime? Well, they’re back, representing D2 who has a habit of cranking out good stuff at the small school classifications. Once again they come in with a big, physical attack scoring 40ppg, allowing 14. They don’t look as accomplished as the 2013 team (14-2) with a few tell-tale struggles against Lakeland (7-4) 27-24 and the blow-out loss to Lake Lehman (AA, 10-2) 42-13. But they looked good last week routing Bishop McDevitt 51-7.
Defending champ Bishop Guilfoyle is doing what they did last year, pummeling all comers with a monster OL and D1 talent at running back, Evan Chadbourne (5-10, 190, jr, 2010ry) and Aaron Yasulitis (5-10, 210, sr). They’ve evidently replaced losses but did return a corps of 6 to the offenses and 5 to the defense. About that size, the OL includes 6-2 278, 6-1 320, 6-3 310 and 6-2 255.
Berlin Brothersvalley Farrell Farrell 17.58
12-0 13-1
Berlin, PA, that bastion of high school football prowess in District-5 will again leave the valley heading to the big city for a game at Penn Hills High to see what they can do against powerful Farrell out of District 10. Brothervalley High does actually have a thing going for some years now under Coach Doug Paul who has a 53-9 record the last five years. While they’ve evidently fielded fundamentally sound teams, they’ve lacked speed, usually falling to Clairton-like team. But they reversed that this year. Last year saw them come close by many standards hanging with Clairton before losing 44-24. This year’s team got everyone’s attention last week if not before averaging 51ppg and allowing 7 (!) by defeating Clairton’s Bears 35-22. Clairton miscues combined with upgraded speed at the skill positions paved the way.
Farrell is a Clairton clone with 8 back on both sides. They got the monkey off their back that was West Middlesex (8-4) this year after five straight losses, trouncing them 42-0. And they beat previous undefeated Sharpsville (12-1) 26-20 who gave them their only loss and Kane (12-1) in the quarterfinal 27-6 so they come in veteran and brimming with confidence.