Hershey in their sights

Written by: Joe Stokes on Tuesday, December 4th, 2012. Follow Joe Stokes on Twitter.

The 2012 high school football season will be over next week and we are down to the final sixteen teams that have survived injuries, close calls and doubts to get to this moment. One more victory and they will be visiting Hershey Park Stadium for Pennsylvania’s High School version of the Super Bowl times four. Only four teams will be called champions, an honor that each school will cherish for all time.

There were no major surprises last week as the sweet sixteen survivors kept their dreams alive for one more week.

Week fourteen predictions hit a rare 5-0 bingo for this prognosticator. Archbishop Wood, Coatesville, LaSalle, Dunmore and Erie Cathedral Prep all won as predicted.

The last six years the prognostication record stands at 312-125 while going 45-20 for the 2012 season.

This fifth week of the playoff season offers another great set of games for fans across the state to check out. Let’s get right on with the predictions

The Eastern final at AAAA level offers a true battle of the heavy weights. The District 12 champion LaSalle Explorers will face District One title holder the Coatesville Red Raiders. The Red Raiders have scored an incredible 202 points in the last four playoff games, while yielding 98 to their opponents. QB Emmit Hunt directs this talented and speedy group. However this week Coatesville faces a LaSalle defense that does not get overwhelmed. Last week the Explorers held the potent Parkland running attack to just 173 yards and one late TD in a 28-7 win. LaSalle can score as well with QB Chris Kane putting up 188 passing yards and two TD’s against a stingy Parkland defense. If you believe a good defense usually beats a good offense, LaSalle is the pick.

LaSalle  34  Coatesville  28

In the western finals at the AAAA level Wilson-West Lawn was able to avenge an early season loss by defeating Harrisburg in a 39-14.  However they just don’t match up well with this week’s opponent North Allegheny. WPIAL champion will win the trip to Chocolate Town

North Allegheny  31  Wilson West Lawn  20

The AAA eastern final features a battle of two Vikings. The Archbishop Wood Vikings were all on deck last week in a 35-7 win over the Interboro Bucs. Running back Andrew Guckin was as advertised by rushing for 128 yards and four TD’s last Friday night. The other Vikings from Allentown Central Catholic pounded out a 41-13 win over Selinsgrove. Running back Colin McDermott was even more impressive with 379 yards and five touchdowns. Wood is the defending state champion and will get a shot at a repeat with a tight win.

Archbishop Wood  35  Allentown Central Catholic  34

The eastern AA final will be quite a struggle. Imhotep Charter from District Twelve has been led by an impressive running attack all season. David Williams rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns  last week with a 54-7 win over Pen Argyl. The game with Wyomissing Area will not be easy. Running back Mason Smith and Alex Anzalone will be double trouble for the Imhotep defense. Team speed favors Imhotep.

Imhotep Charter  41  Wyomissing Area  28

The single A east has the Dunmore Bucks traveling west to face Bellwood-Antis. This is another game that will be fought on the ground. Dunmore offers the dual threat of Austin Seamon and Daiqwon Buckley. Bellwood-Antis counters with running backs Casey Gray, Haden DeGennaro, and Seth Worthing. Tough call goes in favor of the Buck defense to hold serve in this contest.

Dunmore 27  Bellwood-Antis  19

Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball

---

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Δ

8 Responses to “Hershey in their sights”

1. billy splain says:
   December 6th, 2012 at 11:46 am

   Hayden Degennaro is out for the year with broken leg

2. Joe Stokes says:
   December 6th, 2012 at 9:58 am

   Thanks badguy for catching my mistake. Looks like a great game

3. RaiderMom says:
   December 5th, 2012 at 7:55 pm

   Thank you fellows for that positive feedback. Our boys are a team of “We’s”…they may not have a perfect record but together they play PERFECT!!

4. badguy says:
   December 5th, 2012 at 2:57 pm

   Bellwood-Antis’s running threats are Casey Gray, Haden DeGennaro, and Seth Worthing. The names listed in the Single A write up are from Delone Catholic.

5. Joe Stokes says:
   December 5th, 2012 at 9:16 am

   Uncle Kev & Kevin Thanks for the insight. Many around the state believe the Coatesville defense is suspect. Was not aware of the JV team getting in, but it makes good sense once a team builds up a big lead.

   This should be one great game.

6. KEVIN says:
   December 5th, 2012 at 8:51 am

   Uncle Kev, Could not have stated this better!!!
   I 100% agree

7. jim says:
   December 5th, 2012 at 8:16 am

   WHy all the fuss over Imhotep, Charter sschool who has done an amazing job cherry picking kids to play on their sports teams. Charter schools were solely devised to help kids get a better education. Now they mimic what the PCL does. PIAA wake up now.

8. Uncle Kev says:
   December 5th, 2012 at 7:39 am

   Coatesville vs. LaSalle game might be a rude awakening for the whole state. Their two losses came from complications not worth talking about at this point. But the young boys from the Ville are fairly healthy, ready, and unified. The reason why they finally have gotten to this place versus all the talented years of the past, is #1, their strength upfront. Their stats are literally deceiving as the coach for whatever the reason does not submit stats to the likes of Maxpreps and does not promote the program beyond the city limits. The defense gave up nearly half of their points off the JV team- who played nearly 6 whole second halves, as the starters were taken out. Now you are seeing a team that plays the majority of the game. Coatesville fans know but the rest of the state really does not understand that this is not a fluke, one dimensional team. At times, downright scary on offense. The Daily Local writer Peter has been saying this since week 6. He asked the question- not that Downingtown East was not respected as a team most likely to win the league and be undefeated in doing so at the time: Does any one in District #1 really want to face Coatesville? They were only 4-2 at that point. West Chester Henderson had a great defense and if their star player had not gotten hurt, they probably would have won the AAA title in District #1. Downingtown East with their prolific offense, scored 6 points against them. Coatesville was winning 28-6 at half time at West Chester Henderson before a lightning strike that prevented the second half. Of course, LaSalle is great and the #2 team in the state ranking of AAAA schools and defensively dominating. But….a rude awakening might be at hand on Friday night.