17 Steel Valley D7-2A, 13-0
Neshannock was supposed to offer some resistance but like all the others this year, were no match for the dominant Ironmen, losing 49-14, giving them their 4th WPIAL title; 82, 88, 89. At 54ppg, they have awesome speed with a defense to match. Coming from the competitive WPIAL, their D yield is just as impressive if not moreso than the offense, allowing 8ppg. Try this on for size, all their opponents were mercy rules.
18 Academy Park D1-5A, 13-1
The Knights have become one of the dominant AAA teams in the district, now 5A, particularly in Delaware County where they’ve won 54 of 64 games the last 5 years. Their offense is modest for a playoff team at 31ppg with a D that’s impressive at 10ppg with the caveat, it came against pedestrian offenses primarily of the Del Val League. But there is nothing pedestrian about Archbishop Wood where the Knights will need to bring it big time, slow it way down and get a few turnovers and defensive scores to be in this one.
19 Wilmington D10-2A, 12-1
Everyone remembers the Greyhounds (15-1) who broke many hearts in 2008 with a double overtime 35-34 win in the AA final against West Catholic (14-2). Wilmington also won silver back in 1988 losing to Bethlehem Catholic in the final 26-11 and are rolling again, living up to their mascot name averaging 44ppg and allowing 9. Impressive stuff but they are running into a team that might be special against Steel Valley’s super quick defense and explosive offense.
20 Notre Dame D11-3A, 12-2
Got off to a 7-0 start before back-to-back losses to Pen Argyl and Saucon Valley slowed down the crusade. But they finished strong with 5 straight wins to get to Hershey to play Middletown. They have a lot of people who can make plays starting with sophomore quarterback Cole DeFranco whose thrown for 2898 yards at a 68% clip and run for 642 yards. 5 receivers have over 25 receptions, 4 with +400 yards with Mitch Daniels leading the rushers with 1045 yards. Still a very young team that will be making noise in the Colonial for some time. Tough one this week against Blue raiders incessant ground attack but the Crusaders have weapons. Because this is only their 2nd winning season in over 20 years, they are not used to the big stage and could struggle early.
21 Berks Catholic D3-4A, 12-1
Berks Catholic has turned into a D3 power recently resulting from the merger of Reading Central Catholic and Reading Holy name a few years ago. But a glance at their schedule and stats says they are not ready for a team of Cathedral Prep’s caliber or the Eastern teams, Imhotep and Bethlehem Catholic. Still, the Saints are on a run, winning their last 8 since losing to Exeter (a “tell”) 35-20 so who knows, maybe they do come marching in!
22 Ligonier Valley D6-2A, 14-0
Here’s another strong team out of District -6 where they play good football, teams like State College, Tyrone, Altoona and Bishop Guilfoyle also from Altoona, Bishop McCort from Johnstown, Martinsburg Central, Bellwood Antis and others. This year’s group is highly veteran, coming off a 9-3 season with almost all the skill back from last year and the entire defense. The latter has allowed 50 points all season. They’ve had no tests until Conemaugh Twp (10-2) who they routed 56-0, and had no trouble with Cambria Hgts and Westmont Hilltop, winning by a combined 72-0. Then came impressive wins against Bishop McCort (10-3) 35-7 in the district final and Dunmore (D2, 13-1) last week in the quarterfinal 39-13. The Crushers are a D6 staple and Dunmore is Dunmore, suggesting the Rams can hang with Southern Columbia with their duel threat quarterback (Collin Smith 6-1, 205, 2858P, 896R) and 5 receiver with over 15 catches, two with 1085 yards and 748 yards! A little on the light side but they’re super fast.
23 Farrell D10-1A, 10-3
Farrell is dead center between Pittsburgh and Erie on the Ohio line 10 miles Northeast of Youngstown, OH and is similar to Steelton being an old steel town, hence the name “Steelers”. Last year’s squad won silver losing to Bishop Guilfoyle in the Single-A final 35-0 with a 14-2 team. They’re back again with another group of wide bodies on the O-line (6-2 225, 6-4 310, 5-11 305, 6-3 250, 63, 225) but not the number of game breakers they usually have. And they’ll run into another buzz saw this year trying to keep up with Clairton’s Bears who will probably beat them as bad as Guilfoyle did last year. The Steelers are tough, winning gold in 95 and 96 and silver in 90 and last year but Clairton is from another planet.
24 Steelton Highspire D3-1A, 6-7
How about these Rollers getting thumped by their powerful neighbor Middletown 42-7 in the regular season final then defeating postseason comp Halifax, Muncy and Williams Valley before this week’s game against Bishop Guilfoyle. They haven’t won a state title in a while going back to 2007 and 2008 when they won back-to-back titles and they won’t win one this year with Bishop Guilfoyle in their way. This is still quite an accomplishment for the community who love their Rollers.
Neshannock was supposed to offer some resistance but like all the others this year, were no match for the dominant Ironmen, losing 49-14, giving them their 4th WPIAL title; 82, 88, 89. At 54ppg, they have awesome speed with a defense to match. Coming from the competitive WPIAL, their D yield is just as impressive if not moreso than the offense, allowing 8ppg. Try this on for size, all their opponents were mercy rules.
18 Academy Park D1-5A, 13-1
The Knights have become one of the dominant AAA teams in the district, now 5A, particularly in Delaware County where they’ve won 54 of 64 games the last 5 years. Their offense is modest for a playoff team at 31ppg with a D that’s impressive at 10ppg with the caveat, it came against pedestrian offenses primarily of the Del Val League. But there is nothing pedestrian about Archbishop Wood where the Knights will need to bring it big time, slow it way down and get a few turnovers and defensive scores to be in this one.
19 Wilmington D10-2A, 12-1
Everyone remembers the Greyhounds (15-1) who broke many hearts in 2008 with a double overtime 35-34 win in the AA final against West Catholic (14-2). Wilmington also won silver back in 1988 losing to Bethlehem Catholic in the final 26-11 and are rolling again, living up to their mascot name averaging 44ppg and allowing 9. Impressive stuff but they are running into a team that might be special against Steel Valley’s super quick defense and explosive offense.
20 Notre Dame D11-3A, 12-2
Got off to a 7-0 start before back-to-back losses to Pen Argyl and Saucon Valley slowed down the crusade. But they finished strong with 5 straight wins to get to Hershey to play Middletown. They have a lot of people who can make plays starting with sophomore quarterback Cole DeFranco whose thrown for 2898 yards at a 68% clip and run for 642 yards. 5 receivers have over 25 receptions, 4 with +400 yards with Mitch Daniels leading the rushers with 1045 yards. Still a very young team that will be making noise in the Colonial for some time. Tough one this week against Blue raiders incessant ground attack but the Crusaders have weapons. Because this is only their 2nd winning season in over 20 years, they are not used to the big stage and could struggle early.
21 Berks Catholic D3-4A, 12-1
Berks Catholic has turned into a D3 power recently resulting from the merger of Reading Central Catholic and Reading Holy name a few years ago. But a glance at their schedule and stats says they are not ready for a team of Cathedral Prep’s caliber or the Eastern teams, Imhotep and Bethlehem Catholic. Still, the Saints are on a run, winning their last 8 since losing to Exeter (a “tell”) 35-20 so who knows, maybe they do come marching in!
22 Ligonier Valley D6-2A, 14-0
Here’s another strong team out of District -6 where they play good football, teams like State College, Tyrone, Altoona and Bishop Guilfoyle also from Altoona, Bishop McCort from Johnstown, Martinsburg Central, Bellwood Antis and others. This year’s group is highly veteran, coming off a 9-3 season with almost all the skill back from last year and the entire defense. The latter has allowed 50 points all season. They’ve had no tests until Conemaugh Twp (10-2) who they routed 56-0, and had no trouble with Cambria Hgts and Westmont Hilltop, winning by a combined 72-0. Then came impressive wins against Bishop McCort (10-3) 35-7 in the district final and Dunmore (D2, 13-1) last week in the quarterfinal 39-13. The Crushers are a D6 staple and Dunmore is Dunmore, suggesting the Rams can hang with Southern Columbia with their duel threat quarterback (Collin Smith 6-1, 205, 2858P, 896R) and 5 receiver with over 15 catches, two with 1085 yards and 748 yards! A little on the light side but they’re super fast.
23 Farrell D10-1A, 10-3
Farrell is dead center between Pittsburgh and Erie on the Ohio line 10 miles Northeast of Youngstown, OH and is similar to Steelton being an old steel town, hence the name “Steelers”. Last year’s squad won silver losing to Bishop Guilfoyle in the Single-A final 35-0 with a 14-2 team. They’re back again with another group of wide bodies on the O-line (6-2 225, 6-4 310, 5-11 305, 6-3 250, 63, 225) but not the number of game breakers they usually have. And they’ll run into another buzz saw this year trying to keep up with Clairton’s Bears who will probably beat them as bad as Guilfoyle did last year. The Steelers are tough, winning gold in 95 and 96 and silver in 90 and last year but Clairton is from another planet.
24 Steelton Highspire D3-1A, 6-7
How about these Rollers getting thumped by their powerful neighbor Middletown 42-7 in the regular season final then defeating postseason comp Halifax, Muncy and Williams Valley before this week’s game against Bishop Guilfoyle. They haven’t won a state title in a while going back to 2007 and 2008 when they won back-to-back titles and they won’t win one this year with Bishop Guilfoyle in their way. This is still quite an accomplishment for the community who love their Rollers.
