PIAA “AA” State Title Game – West Catholic Preview
Written by: Josh Funk on Wednesday, December 10th, 2008. Follow Josh Funk on Twitter.
Have you heard the rumblings around Hershey lately? By mid-week, it should grow to a small roar. Come Saturday afternoon, there will be a very potent offense barreling into Chocolatetown, ready to explode at any time.
That explosion spoken of belongs to the West Catholic Burrs’ high school football team, whose offense is putting up big numbers week in and week out, and it’s earned them a spot in the “AA” state championship game.
High-flying West Catholic (14-1) will meet District 10 champion Wilmington (14-1) Saturday afternoon at Hersheypark Stadium for the “AA” state title. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
How good is the Burrs offense? How about 3rd-best in state history good? Would that be a favorable description?
West has scored 741 points (49.4 points per game), 14 behind Southern Columbia’s 2006 offensive juggernaut for second place, and 119 points behind state record holder Jeannette’s 860 points a season ago. The Burrs are the highest-scoring Philadelphia Catholic League offense of all-time, and one of just five Catholic/Public League schools to top 457 points in a season.
The blue and white have also topped 50 points nine times and 60 points five times. West has, in seven playoff games, outscored its playoff opposition by a very wide margin, which exceeds 200 points.
Oh by the way, in the first half of football games, WC has buried its opponents by an impressive 491-84 margin. Care to wave the white flag yet?
The individual statistics are equally impressive. West Catholic loves to run the football, averaging 367 of its 454 yards per game on the ground. West has also scored 82 rushing touchdowns – eight shy of Jeannette’s 2007 season rushing touchdown total (90).
Rob Hollomon has run for 1,821 yards on 136 carries (13.3 yards per rush) and scored a Philadelphia record 41 touchdowns. He’s scored 35 of those touchdowns rushing. Another running back, Raymond Maples, has totaled 1,132 yards and 16 scores on 122 carries.
Then, quarterback Curtis Drake (a Penn State commit) rounds out the West Catholic “big three.” Drake has run for 1,527 yards, thrown for 1,292 more, and accounted for 36 total touchdowns. Drake has thrown for over 3,100 yards and run for over 2,200 in his brilliant career, in which he has posted a 33-2 varsity record, with his only losses coming to Roman Catholic in 2007 and LaSalle this year.
Also, here’s a factoid few might have been aware of: Drake’s yards per carry average this season is a new state record.
Drake is averaging 15.42 yards per carry (he’s got 99 carries this year), meaning that he’s shattered a state record which stood for the last 51 years. Lewistown’s Fred Stoicheff averaged 14.52 yards per carry in 1957, carrying the rock 64 times for 929 yards. Stoicheff averaged a staggering 12.85 yards per carry for his career.
Seldom-used receivers Eric Young (16 rec., 542 yards, 9 TD) and Quran Kent (10 rec., 219 yards) are each averaging over 20 yards per reception, and are home-run threats as well.
Is there anything West Catholic, winners of 12 straight games, and 54 of their last 65, can’t do offensively?
Defensively, West Catholic has allowed 187 points, holding seven opponents to seven points or less. And the West Catholic defense has shut down some notable opponents – like tough, hard-nosed Dunmore and flashy Lancaster Catholic.
Football success, though, is nothing new for West Catholic. Prior to joining the PIAA this season, West had won 478 games and 13 PCL championships, including the past two Blue Division titles.
Now, raise those titles to 492 games won, 14 PCL championships, but also add a District 12 “AA” title and a PIAA “AA” Eastern Final to the trophy case.
All that’s missing is a golden football. Will West Catholic get it at the expense of 11-time District champion Wilmington?
Find out Saturday.
NOTES: Wilmington, as a team, has run for 3,795 yards and 53 touchdowns this season – West Catholic’s “big three” has totaled 4,480 rushing yards and 72 touchdowns by themselves.
The trio of 1,000-yard rushers for the Burrs is just the third such trio in the last four years – 2005 Montoursville and 2007 Serra Catholic also accomplished the feat. Neither school won a PIAA title.
West Catholic individual and program statistics are from Ted Silary’s website, tedsilary.com, as well as West Catholic’s team football website.
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December 13th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I go the chance to play against them in the subregional final. we got spanked 56-6 but the burrs are a fast team. I think theyre going to whoop wilmington. They gone to use that speed and run away with the state title. Im rootin for the burrs since i am from philly.
December 13th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I remenber . . .the great old days. . . thank you all
December 13th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I remember. . .the great old days, they are back. . .thank you all
December 12th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
The Show is moving to Hershey.
Go Burrs!!!
December 12th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
will the phila catholic league finally get some respect in the rest of the state? i’d like to see the burrs play that 1-A team Steelton-Highspire. I’d say burrs by 20
December 12th, 2008 at 1:19 am
And the best stat yet… West Catholic has punted 12 times all season.
Enjoy the show!
December 10th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
hey folks the “big three” played one half of football
in 75% of their games this season.add that to those crazy offensive numbers!
December 10th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
catholic just has way too many atheletes but I do see wilmington hanging around for most of the game