Are you ready for some football?
Welcome to the official forum on high school football for the 2018 season.
During the off-season let’s talk about players, recruiting news, teams and everything about high school football.
During the season each week let’s talk about match-ups and how teams did. Let us know what player(s) stood out each week.
881 Responses
@Kevin X
MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Top 5 in PA
1)Roman Catholic 44.4 (wow!…brutal ) includes SJP twice, Malvern Prep, Acrhbishop Wood, Conwell-Egan Catholic, Downingtown East, Archbishop Ryan, LaSalle, Springside Chesnut Hill Academy, Father Judge
2)LaSalle 37.7
3)Archbishop Wood 36
4)Cumberland Valley 35.8 * see below
5)Mt.Lebanon 34.6
SJP came in at 32.7 (8th) just behind PCC at 33.5 (6th) and Seneca Valley (7th) at 32.9
*Cumberland Valley’s Schedule MaxPreps State Rankings (Other rankings may vary slightly)
Teams on the Cumberland Valley schedule:
Coatesville #2 6A
Harrisburg #3 6A
State College #5 6A
Central Dauphin #7 6A
Chambersburg #22 6A
Central York District 3 6A qualifier
Bishop McDevitt #5 4A
Kevin:
Agree with a lot of that. D1 6A: 16 teams make playoffs. Absurd. I think it should be 8 ( used to be), or at best 12 teams with 4 byes.
D1 5A is the same ( 16 teams), in that case, it gets more absurd. There’s where you have a lot more sub .500 teams get in.
Some coaches have stated the a bye week hurts their teams. There’s some validity to that. You lose your roll.
The PPL in D12 is really a shame. Don’t they have enough public schools in Philly that play football?
Ironically, an 0-9 team has won their 1st two playoff games! So………. who the hell knows.
@ Jay
Yes, hard to disagree with you or anyone else stating that a mid playoff bye week is not an advantage and is unfair. A quick look at the brackets, D3 6A is one of 5 situations where this plays out statewide. First round byes on the other hand, I’m all for if it means cutting down on the number of teams in the playoffs, especially these 2-8 and 3-7, etc. teams. Call it a reward for a team that has a great regular season and getting a week break and a subsequent home game to commence their playoff run.
The SJP situation, kind of neutral on that. Believe for the last several years they have only 8 regular season games scheduled. They had 8 again this year, but their opening game against St. Frances was called in the 3rd quarter due to weather conditions (yes, weather). But their regular season schedule is in my option the toughest in the state, by far. Six of their eight games (St. Frances, St. Peter’s Prep, Our Lady of Good Counsel, LaSalle, Wood and Ryan) are not exactly chopped liver. The only other PIAA team that may be in the discussion is LaSalle (Imhotep, North Penn, Malvern Prep, SJP, Wood and Ryan). I think playing high caliber opponents week in week out versus a schedule full of average teams evens things out.
Will the DTW vs NP game be live streamed?
If so, where?
@ Knight Time or anybody else
Any word on White? He is so important. Seemed like a number of NP players got banged up in that game. Hopefully they will all be available Friday. Another hard fought win for the Knights!
How far can Rustin go? They have only lost to Coatesville and East. Also, any predictions on the 6A games? I have no idea concerning NP and DTW — NP ekes out wins and DTW is hard to figure.
Plus they might be playing on the crappy NP field. For C’ville to basically lock down DTE’s running game is a good sign for them against GV, and I’m not sure GV can stop C’ville’s offense. C’ville needs to watch the penalties (still not sure how many are legit — 2 TD’s called back in row last night???).
FINAL Harrisburg 36 Wilson 12
Harrisburg led 30-0 at halftime. Wilson had 53 total yards offense in the first half. Wilson scored its final TD with about 6:30 left after Harrisburg had built a 36-6 lead.
From my previous post: Wilson has given up a lot passing and I’m sure they haven’t seen anyone as dynamic as Everson so Harrisburg should thrive Saturday. I got Harrisburg winning by 3-4 TD’s. Something like 38-14 with Wilson scoring a late TD.
I get prediction right once in a while.
So much for all those who said NP would be knocked out early in the districts. They continue to do what they have done all season. Play tough D and find a way to win. 1st 2 playoff games won without their starting fullback Julian “Thunder” White who is a vital part of NP’s strong running game. Hopefully he will return Friday night against DTW.
I can only speak for myself, but for me the big deal about moving a football game for weather is that it’s misaligned with the values instilled in me by playing the sport.
Football taught me about obstacles, adversity, and perseverance. It follows that I just don’t believe in moving games due to rain, or wind, or snow … or skipping practice due to aches and pains … or transferring after junior year because my team sucks. All of these things are related in that they reflect taking the easy way out.
To me, high school football is as much about getting smoked on a miserable November night, losing with the guys I grew up with, as it is about getting featured on a state ranking on PennLive.
Playing in bad weather represents everything I loved about high school football; moving games reflects the artificiality of what so much of the sport has become. My two cents.
@Jeff H. Central Dauphin definitely has a chance. I think they’ll be about a 14 point underdog. In the first contest they shut out Harrisburg in the first half and were leading 5-0 at the half. Harrisburg finally got rolling in the second half and won 20-5. The defense actually only gave up 2 TD’s to Harrisburg, the third coming on an interception return. Harrisburg’s defense is underrated. They have improved over the season and are very tough. The question will be can CD score enough to beat Harrisburg. A big play or two or a turnover would help. Burkhart had been a beast over the last several games. I think the next one will be a little higher scoring, something like 28-14 Harrisburg.
@All Thanks for the input on the ratings I’m sure I’ll have a few tweaks next week, especially after that Seneca Valley win…IMPRESSIVE!
Well we’re down to the business end of the D1 tournament, and 3 of the 4 teams I expected to see are playing in the semis. I’m unsure of what to expect from DTW because the only two times I saw them play this year were the blowout loss at Coatesville and the 14-13 near loss against Bishop Shanahan. Clearly they’re a good team, or they wouldn’t still be playing. I just can’t see them beating North Penn. Heck of a win last night though. I keep thinking what if Truman didn’t get that penalty for celebrating after going up 22-21, which gave DTW great field position in the final drive… hats off to both teams for an exciting game.
Coatesville is just scary good. I had to watch my neighbors kids because they had an emergency, but we live a mile from the stadium so it was torturous for me to have to watch the game online (great stream though) while listening to the crowd outside. Small crowd but still.
I don’t know enough about Garnet Valley to make an educated guess on next weeks game, but I know they’ll be Coatesvilles toughest challenge yet, and it’s also a revenge match. I know that they run the ball a lot, but to be honest, despite Coatesvilles highly talented offense, I honestly think their defense is even better. If they hadn’t taken out their starters last night, that game would’ve been 50-something to nothing. But I mean DTE absolutely no disrespect. They are a good team, and as I read in the paper today, Coach Matta pointed out that in the last two seasons they are 19-5, with four of those losses coming to Coatesville.
And on another note, I think it’s wildly unfair that the D3 champion gets a bye week before the Eastern Final. And that SJP has played three fewer games than the field. How does the PIAA allow this? Do you guys agree that the bye week is a huge advantage, or am I overreacting because I’m obviously a bit biased?
I went back and re-read recent posts about the playing of some of the games last night. Seems to be about a 50/50 split on those who commented about playing (or not playing). I was one against playing. Maybe I should say not so much against playing, but more of what is the big deal about simply postponing these game 18-24 hrs?? Anyway, maybe more on that later. But maybe D1 (and others who played) did look ahead and see that today the forecast was for very strong winds. I believe wind wreaks much more havoc to a game then plain old rain. Sure its uncomfortable for fans who attend a game, cheerleader, band, officials, stadium workers, etc. but play will go on and affect each team equally. Unless like someone stated before, if lighting or real serious situation, games can soldier on (and take a nice financial hit, but again, maybe more on that later). Wind however, just really messes with the passing and kicking games, and has a much greater negative effect on the game itself. Here’s hoping for calm, cool (not cold), dry weather next Friday night.
Hats off to North Penn for a tough win. Defense on both sides played very well. Key points in game Neshaminys line could not give the QB anytime to throw when needed. North Penn’s McNamara is a player. DW & North Penn should be a tight game.
If I had to guess I would assume Coach Matta from Downingtown East left the majority of the starters in like QB Davis, WR’s Riley/Choi and RB’s Jonassaint/Hamilton in the game in the blowout was because they were all seniors and you would hate to see their high school careers end in that fashion. I personally didn’t have a problem with it, but a large portion of the Coatesville fans took exception to it thinking they were just trying to pad the stats while running against the JV team.
As much talk as the Coatesville offense gets and rightfully so, it’s about time people start taking notice to the defense. They’ve been allowing less than 11 points per game this season and that is with the backups playing large portions of the 2nd half in almost every game this year. Tonight was no different as DTE was lucky if they had 50 yards of total offense in the 1st half before calling off the dogs at halftime.
They will get their biggest test to date next week against a very good Garnet Valley team. As others have said they don’t do anything fancy on offense. You basically know what is coming and hope that you have the gameplan to stop/slow it down. The extended weather outlook looks promising for next Friday, so I expect the stands to be filled at Coatesville
Big surprise in the WPIAL with Seneca Valley taking down previously undefeated and top ranked NA 31-14 on NA’s home field. PR rolled over Mt Lebo 46-16 to set up the final next week at Heinz. Can SV slay the big 3 in the WPIAL 3 weeks in a row after taking out PCC last week. Whoever wins is going to have a battle with State College in the quarterfinals, and SJP will beat the winner the following week pretty comfortably.
@ Buddy – you and I agree to disagree, it is in no way unfair for the fans, prepare accordingly for the weather, that’s why they make raincoats and umbrellas. I can guarantee you the players would prefer to play no matter the conditions. Football was meant to be played in the elements as long as the conditions are not dangerous, that’s part of the charm of the game, period.
@Mike A – how do you like CD’s chances against Harrisburg, assuming they beat Wilson tomorrow as expected
As many of you probably know, the NFL Oakland Raiders stink. Its a shame, as their famous motto “Just win, baby” is pretty much useless, to them anyways. So I propose we give it to a team that is much more deserving, the North Penn Knights!!!
@Chief Yep…not sure why some thought East was going to be any different this time around. Clearly, Coatesville has the superior athletes.
FINAL Central Dauphin 27 Manheim Township 0 It appears CD’s defense is firing on all cylinders (kind of thought they’d get revenge for that early season loss)
FINAL Cedar Cliff 33 Warwick 23 These two teams were pretty even coming in IMO
Coatesville was leading 38-0 at the half — mercy rule 2nd half. Unbelievably the D-town coach played his starters (if not all — most of them) the entire 2nd half against C’ville’s 2nd team (scored 19 points — what does that prove?). I was hoping Ortega brought the 1st team back in to send a message, but I guess he wasn’t as worked up about it as I was.
Looks like a lot of fans dressed up as an empty bleacher tonight in the ‘Ville……….
I’m in Coatesville right now and the rain isn’t heavy at all. Not sure what the forecast calls for, or how saturated the field is already, but currently the conditions are not that bad.
Unfortunately I’m unable to make the game tonight, so thank God for online streaming.
Go Red Raiders, but best of luck to all the teams leaving it all out on the field tonight!!
Rainfall expected in the 7PM-10PM time frame tonight:
Generally places west of Coatesville to Reading to Wilkes-Barre will get .1″ or less. Places to the east from Wilmington, DE north to Allentown and should get about .1-.25″. Areas east of that south of the turnpike and east of 476 and north of the turnpike along and east of the route 611 corridor (i.e. Easton, Doylestown, Stroudsburg, etc.) could get more than .25″, especially farther east near the PA/NJ border and NE of Philly. A few isolated spots far east along the border could receive up to .5″. The good news is that most of MOST of the moderate to heavy rain should be over by 7 PM in the western areas and by halftime or a little later in the eastern areas except the far eastern areas next to the PA/NJ border. The latest high resolution models show the heaviest rain is over for most by 8-9 PM except the extreme eastern region near the border. So expect conditions to improve slightly, at least as far as intensity is concerned, as the evening progresses.
Have fun and take plenty or rain gear, especially if you are in the eastern areas.
Disclaimer: As a retired former DOD meteorologist and National Weather Service employee I am no longer authorized to issue official weather watches, warnings and advisories. This information is intended for specific users. These are my projections, opinions, and analysis and as such should be used by others only for information and planning at your own risk and not used in lieu of currently certified, licensed, and authorized meteorologists or certified and trained weather forecaster technicians from sources such as local media, National Weather Service, Accuweather, The Weather Channel etc.
Bull……………… if you have an option of playing the next day, then do it!
Not to mention the players, it’s unfair to the fans. The stands will be deserted.
Has any D1 games been postponed? Curious.
As a follow-up to my previous comment great teams win in any kind of weather, rain, snow, wind, etc., if they play the games tonight and one of the top teams gets upset so be it, part of the game. Anyone really think GV is going to lose to Quakertown tonight? If anything their offense should have a big advantage in this weather and they may win by a bigger margin than if it was nice, NP/Neshaminy is a toss-up in any kind of weather, and if Coatesville somehow goes down tonight how good were they? I still think GV and Coatesville win big because they are much better than their opponents and being experienced teams and great programs they should be able to handle the weather conditions.
Completely agree with @Jeff H and @ Bleed Red & Black. The elements is where it’s at. Makes the games intriguing. Stoked for tonite!!!!! You know what time it is????