St. Joseph’s Prep 2020 vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic 2004
Tale of the Tape (SJP listed first)
FBS Recruits 8 vs. 5
FCS Recruits 8 vs. 8
Division II/III Players 2 vs. 2
Two Way Starters: 0 vs. 6
Points Per Game: 47.8 vs. 34.6
Points Allowed Per Game: 15.1 vs. 9.4
USA Today National Ranking: #3 vs. #6
Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s Lineup
QB: Shane Murray (Sr. 6’1 190; Pitt): 1,485 yards, 20 TDs/476 yards, 3 TDs
RB: Eugene Jarvis (Sr. 5’5 160; Kent State): 266 carries, 2,196 yards, 38 TDs
RB: Nino San Doval (Sr. 5’9 215 – Franklin & Marshall - wrestling)
WR: Charlie Totten (Sr. 6’3 185; Georgetown)
WR: Lamar Mason (So. 6’0 175; Slippery Rock)
TE: John Pelusi (Sr. 6’4 240; Pitt): 15 catches, 254 yards, 2 TDs
LT: Pat Illig (Jr. 6’4 295; Wofford)
LG: Pat Bryne (Sr. 6’1 230; Wooster College)
C: Jon Herman (Sr. 6’2 280; Delaware)
RG: Mack Loughrey (Jr. 6’0 225; Columbia)
RT: Graham Rihn (Sr. 6’3 235; Cornell)
Defense
DE: Graham Rihn (Sr. 6’3 235; Cornell): 74 tackles, 10 TFL, 4 sacks
DE: John Pelusi (Sr. 6’4 240; Pitt): 72 tackles, 3 sacks
DT: Stefan Wisniewski (So. 6’3 235; Penn State)
DT: Pat Byrne (Sr. 6’1 230; Wooster College): 68 tackles, 5 sacks
LB: Nate Williams (Jr. 6’2 215; Northwestern): 149 tackles
LB: Bobby Helt (Sr. 6’0 225; Georgetown): 108 tackles
LB: Julius Hopson (Sr. 5’10 185; Bucknell)
DB: Lamar Mason (So. 6’0 175; Slippery Rock)
DB: Tony Colaizzi (Sr. 5’10 180; Duquense)
DB: Dion Germany (Sr. 6’0 190)
DB: Shane Murray (Sr. 6’1 190; Pitt): 5 INTs
Why Pittsburgh Central Catholic ’04 Has a Chance: If any defense could begin to slow down this SJP roster, it’s the 2004 Vikings. Rihn, Pelusi, Byrne, Williams, Hopson, Colaizzi, and Murray all earned All State honors from one of the major publications (AP, PA Football News, Big 33) and as you can see above, 10 of the 11 starters played college football with eight of those being at the FCS or FBS level. There aren’t any complete blue-chippers on that side of the ball (Wisniewski was only a sophomore on this team, he was probably a year away from being a true national superstar), but it’s a lot of very very good football players who were legitimate good college guys. While they didn’t play a team as talented as SJP, they did meet Bishop McDevitt in the semifinals who had a Rivals100 quarterback, a wide receiver who played in the NFL, an offensive line that averaged 290 and had tackles going to Michigan and Syracuse, and of course, LeSean McCoy in the backfield. The result was a 44-3 win by Pittsburgh Central Catholic and McCoy being held to 39 yards on 26 carries (after he rushed for 1,715 yards in the previous 5 games). They also held five-star Justin King under 100 yards for the only time in his career and similarly bottled up Sean Lee. And of course, famously in state finals Neshaminy had -11 yards and hadn’t crossed midfield when Pittsburgh Central Catholic took their starters out in the third quarter.
Offensively, it’s an offensive line that can hang with Prep. Illig was an FCS All American and played for the Detroit Lions, Herman was an All State pick this year on offense, while Byrne and Rihn were defensive picks, those are good, big athletes. And of course, running behind them is Eugene Jarvis, one of the most underrated running backs of this century. The 5’5 dynamo had back to back 38 touchdown seasons at PCC, then finished 5th in the country in rushing at Ken State. They’re one of the few teams that isn’t going to be out talented at the point of attack, and have a tailback who can get his own yards and run away from people when he has a crease.
Why SJP ’20 Is Still the Favorite: Does PCC ’04 have enough firepower to keep pace? Murray was an All WPIAL pick at quarterback, but he was next level as a defender, not as a passer. The weapons on the perimeter are perfectly good for a state champ – Charlie Totten earned some All State recognition, while Lamar Mason would end up an All State player as a senior, but neither is going to scare Keenan Nelson on the edge. So the question is, can a totally run first team score enough to keep pace with the best high school offense I’ve seen in Pennsylvania? If the game turns into a track meet, are they just going to hand it off to Jarvis? And I think it would have to be a track meet because while the front seven for PCC is incredible, the secondary is merely good. I’m not sure that’s enough to match up with the McCord to Harrison, Cooper, and Hagans monstrosity that SJP can throw at them. Shane Murray was an All State safety and a starting outside linebacker at Pitt, but he’s more of an in the box, stop the run safety versus a coverage ace. Tony Colaizzi and Mason are the corners and while both are good – Colaizzi was an All State pick – you’re not putting them on an island with the Prep guys.
My Verdict: I’ve been on a soap box for a long time that Pittsburgh Central Catholic 2004 is the best big school state champ of the state playoff era. But in the end, they don’t have the same kind of blue chippers that St. Joseph’s Prep 2020 can throw out there. Murray, Williams, Pelusi, Illig, Jarvis, Wisniewski (as a sophomore here, mind you), are all “best player in the state” type talents who had recruiting stars and were good college players. But SJP’s studs are “best player in the country” type talents, with a reserve of “best player in the state” filling other roles. I think this would be a good high school football game. But I don’t think PCC ’04 could score enough points.