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Welcome to the official forum on high school football for the 2025 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.
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Just to touch on the other parts of the new and improved, or should I just say tweaked, success factor/competition formula going forward for the next 2 year cycle, in addition to needing a minimum of 7 success points up from 6, transfers have increased from 3 to 5. Just to note, these transfers are treated differently from the eligibility transfers, so basically means they are more likely to be involved/counted. The PIAA did add an exceptional circumstance clause to a transfer to not being counted as such, the only way I know of of not being counted as an eligible transfer for this rule. The final thing that was added, and I’ll call it the Aliquippa rule, a school can now use health and safety concerns as a point of argument in an appeal if they are slated to be moved up. I’m sure it will all be smooth sailing and no issues whatsoever for any school who plays that card.
Bottom line, I just don’t see many, especially not as many as in the past, of schools being forced to move up a classification going forward. It simply just got harder.
Again, I’m still trying to figure out, or at least nail down, how a school can move back down after they have been moved up by this rule. Different set of rules.
I was under the impression if you don’t have the success points and are under the transfer number you could move back down for the next 2 year cycle. I do know BG was moved up to 2a for 2 years in 22-23 and didn’t do much in the playoffs and went back to 1a and is now playing for their second straight title.
More complicated than that. Lots of moving parts. Based on the info (rules) that I am looking at from 2 years ago, for example, two situations are if you have zero success points in a 2 year cycle after being moved up, you can move back down regardless of the number of transfers. If you have 1 or 2 points, and you’re under the transfer limit (which I guess they’ll be going with 5 now??), you can move down. I don’t know if there are any recent changes to the moving down part like there is for moving up.
Didn’t do much? Well, I mean they did win the D6 title in 22 then lost to SCA in state quarterfinal. In 23 after some key players suffered injuries toward middle and end of season, they made it to first game of D6 playoff, losing to Bald Eagle. I wouldn’t say that’s “not doing much”
What do people think of the experience at Chapman vs Hersheypark? I have not been to CV yet for the championships, but it seems like it would make for a better atmosphere for most games these days with less empty seats than Hershey. Has the stadium been close to being filled for any games yet?
Also, pretty sure I’ve asked this before but are there any records of championship game attendance? Especially from the 90’s/early 00’s. I remember the PCN announcer said during the ’99 MCA vs Tyrone game that’s it looks like a championship record crowd, so I always wonder if that is true. Back then, the 2A and 4A games were lumped into one total ( I think I saw 7k) which seemed way underestimated for those 2 games.
KevinX you are correct on SL, based on preliminary enrollment they would be 5A by 3 students. Regardless though, I would be surprised if they met the transfers.
I am very confident that NW definitely does not have the transfers needed to move up, my oldest son is in the program so I have a good beat on that.
Transfer for public schools here in the Lehigh Valley are not common at all. Most are legitimate but you do deal with some transfers when it comes to Executive, Bethlehem Catholic, Allentown Central Catholic and Notre Dame.
I think its safe to say Avonworth is likely in the same boat with homegrown being a key message in that district along with NW.
@D11 Fan – your assumption about Avonworth is correct very few if any transfers they are on the smaller end of 3a schools by enrollment so they won’t be moving up for the next cycle.
@ Jeff H
“Bob Lombardi is absolutely clueless glad he’s retiring he’s part of the problem and not the solution how tone deaf can you be.” Tone deaf, that was the words/phrase I was looking for originally. Clueless works as well, along with a ton of other descriptions.
To be fair, I like Lombardi, had little issue with most of his tenureship and the PIAA operation overall. They have a tough, almost thankless job. But obviously this issue got stuck in my craw with them and in general big time.
How did the cash payment go for you on Saturday?? Were they receptive at the gate?? Try to get you to pay via QR code and phone first?? Ticket booth or cash table easily accessible?? Non compliance and enforcement is one of the many issues and questions going forward.
I saw a handful of people in line at a ticket booth so I got in line and had no hassle with paying cash and no one tried to persuade me to buy online. The ticket I got was like a 50/50 raffle ticket so that seemed to indicate to me they were scrambling to find tickets to use since the law was passed just a few days before the game.
That’s cool. You were at Altoona, I believe, which I think is an area where they were not fully immersed in selling tix on-line only, so they probably had an easier time of it with any cash sales. Schools in District One that is not the case, just about every one switched to an on-line ticketing only/no cash at the door/gate policy.
Kevin X,, I saw a news report with the with the guy who came up with the bill to allow cash at the gate again and the reporter would go back to Lombardi and pass along the comments from the lawmaker and he would just laugh them off and say how ridiculous this bill is. So I completely expect non compliance or basically forcing people to ask if they can pay in cash,and probably get the eye roll from whoever is selling the tickets. The way he talked about security you would think they were transporting Fort Knox around with the gate receipts.
Any non compliance next year needs to be made public whether on social media or in the regular media or contact your state legislator. Its not a big problem in the wpial as most schools still accept cash but woodland hills made the switch to online only last year and if they are non compliant I will raise hell with the people I know in the administration we’ll see in week 0 when they host the kickoff classic. There are times I will buy online in advance for select games but I have always argued schools should offer both options if they want to there are still a number of schools around here that are cash only particularly the smaller districts.
The security issues are with their own people that have sticky fingers filling their empty pockets with the events cash proceeds.
I have never heard of an incident where a ticket booth was knocked off by an armed band of roving gypsies or a local street gang or the town drunk or junkie.
This basketball season will be interesting with the ticket situation. Notes will be taken.
Here is my preliminary list of schools that achieved the necessary success points (now 7+) during this current 2-year cycle to clear the first hurdle (transfers are the next issue) in possibly being promoted by the PIAA to a higher classification for the next 2 year cycle:
Bishop Guilfoyle
Avonworth
Northwestern Lehigh
Southern Lehigh
Roman Catholic
Bishop McDevitt
Think Southern Lehigh is a moot point as I believe their enrollment figs for the next two years have them bumped up to the 5A classification anyways.
Bishop McDevitt is a potential interesting situation. A 3A school by enrollment possibly getting bumped up to 6A.
I’m still trying to figure out what qualifies a school to be able to move down a classification (or maybe more) if they previously got promoted by the this competition formula at one time.
Moving up Roman and McDevitt makes sense as these 2 would probably meet up again next year in the 5A Title game. McDevitt is always loaded with talent and would fight it out with Harrisburg for the D3 6A crown next year if they were moved up. Roman would battle with St Joe Prep, LaSalle and Imhotep if TEP stays at 6A in District 12. This would also have the privates knocking off one another and leave an opening in 5A for a Pub to win the State championship and temper the recruiting complaints. Question is does TEP move back down? I can’t imagine they would want to stay in 6A and lose to the Catholic League Champ every year. Curious about Wyomissing in District 3, do they move back down to 3A? Would love to see the backyard brawl between Berks Catholic and Wyomissing again as it was the biggest game in Berks County back in the day.
I believe Wyomissing will move back down to 3A. Not because Coach Wolfrum wants easier competition – – he likes to play good teams — but he was chagrined that the official reason Wyo was moved up was because of ‘transfers.’ From a story I either read in the local paper or saw on the internet he seemed to take the reason that Wyo was bumped up as a slight towards him – – with the implication being Wyo recruits – – which it certainly does not. At 75 years old Wolfrum is as straitlaced as they come and doesn’t need anyone drawing the wrong conclusions about his legacy.
I’d love to see Imhotep be able to move back down. I’d really love if they could move down, to be able to move all they way down to their actually enrollment classification, 3A, and make up for lost playoff games the past 2 years from getting buried in D12’s 6A with Prep and La Salle.
Foleman, meant to say be tough for PJP to schedule Wyo at the moment..Maybe they meet in playoffs sometime.
@foleman. like to see PJP play Wyomissing sometime be a good matchup, PJP probably needs to lighten up a bit in non league now that they are playing the big schools ( mainly SF and PV ) next few yrs. I thought they were rotating the ches mont schools but PJP is playing Rustin again next yr that might be the toughest game of all..they are always good
Irish1, not sure Rustin is going to be as strong next year as they have been in the past, they graduate most of their starters on offense and defense, however, you are right, they are always good and seem to reload every year. Shanahan loses 25 seniors and also probably won’t be as strong as they have been recently, they are also a good program. Is Neumann Goretti on the schedule for next year? What team replaces Shawnee?
If Roman goes to 6A, then only one of SJP, La Salle, and Roman can make the state sweet 16. One will be eliminated before the round of 32. We talk about how the combined playoffs hurt public schools, but these are matchups that are more worthy of an all-private state semifinal or final.
Goodness gracious, the LaSalle team this year is utterly stacked, they have a stud player at every skill position. I stand by my assertion that some of the PA public schools could up their game a bit, but this particular roster of LS is above average by elite private program standards. Think they even have a D1 OL that’s 6’8″, ridiculous, lol. Would be interesting to see this LS team go up against Mater Dei or IMG, they’d have a chance. It’s amazing that they lost a game, shows how strong Roman is this year. Btw, phillyboy gives a respectful salute to Easton and Springfield (Delco). They had genuinely good teams, just petered out against Philly all-star teams ‘A’ and ‘B’, basically. And props to Aliquippa and Southern Columbia, probably the two best programs in the state, pound for pound.
Nice to hear that cash will be accepted at the gate again, those wannabe globalists are mad as can be, lol.
Lastly, what is it about Columbus, OH?! The Olentangys, the Pickeringtons, and the Hilliards of the world got it goin’ on. They set the bar high for quality public HS football (Indianapolis isn’t bad either). Another Columbus area team put away St. Edward in the Division 1 semifinal the other day, we’ll see if they can take out St. Xavier in the final (it’s tough to beat Cleveland and Cincinnati all-star teams in back to back weeks, for goodness sakes). In the last 30 years though, OH public teams have apparently won 10 Div. 1 state titles, not too shabby actually.
Mater Dei plays in the toughest football league in the Country, they have 11 lineman on the team that range from 290-350 pounds. They have a geographic area to draw students from that is in the millions. California, Texas, Fla, Georgia, Ohio crush Pa in terms of football talent and teams. Mater Dei lost to league Foe Centennial, a Public school, twice this year. Several years ago, Pa’s flagship big school program St Joe Prep lost to the top teams in N.NJ and Ohio, they even got blown out a few times by the N.NJ schools.
It’s true that SJP lost to Bosco and St. Joe’s (Montvale), both from North Jersey the first couple of times they played. The first game against Bosco in 2006 was on ESPN and SJP lost a close one (due largely to some very poor officiating.) Bosco then blew out the Prep the next couple of times they played. But SJP beat SJ Montvale the last time they played (2015) and they beat Bosco the two most recent times (2016 and 2023). They’ve also beaten St. Peter’s (Jersey City) the last few times they’ve played.
Against Ohio teams, SJP was 1-2 against St Ignatius when St. Ignatius was one of the top teams in the state, and they lost a very close game to Hilliard-Davidson (sp?) in 2006 when H-D won the state championship. Last year they lost by two TD’s to St. Edward’s because they had a melt-down in the 2nd quarter when St. Edward’s scored all of their 35 points.
Crack kills
I’m pretty confident that Mater Dei or IMG would wipe the floor with La Salle. They’ve had a few close games against private schools that aren’t really in the national conversation: Malvern Prep by 7, Salesianum by 11, even St. Joe’s by 10/11. The true top-tier private schools in the country are on another level. La Salle is a representation of what the best private school in PA looks like on an annual basis: pretty much invincible against a team operating under public school rules, but can be challenged by other private schools that don’t need to worry about geographic boundaries.
There are hurry up offenses, and then there is Roman Catholic. Their precision was amazing, a work of art. Don’t think I ever felt sorry for a chain gang before.
They also accepted $10 cash at the gate if you requested it (I asked the guy scanning my phone). There was no outward or obvious acknowledgement that cash was being accepted as a form of payment for admittance (at least from the entrance I used).
Mcdevitt came right back to take the lead 28-25:on a 24 yard td pass with just over 4 minutes to go after a holding penalty on the kickoff Peters started on their own 7 yard line and methodically drove to first and goal at the 8 yard line but 3 plays gained no yards and they kicked a field goal to tie it at 28 with 93 seconds to go. A questionable late hit call on the kickoff gave mcdevitt good starting position at their own 43 they subsequently got a first down and on 2nd and 14 hit a big catch and run down to the 7 yard line where they ran 1 more play and kicked a game winning 23 yard field goal as time expired to win 31-28. Excellent high school football game between 2 very good teams but Roman on a different level and I think they win next week by 2-3 scores they beat LaSalle enough said.
Got a barn burner at mansion park Peters trailed 21-10 at half now 25-21 Peters with 7 minutes to go in the fourth Peters just had a 94 yard drive capped by 70 yard td pass to take their first lead of the game.
Yeah guess both BG and Clairton got their scare last week and made a statement last night that should be a great game I think the 4a game will also be very competitive nice we have 2 publics in 4a.
Just thought this was interesting and caught my eye…….
Both 4A semi final games were 28-24
Combined scores of the “A” semi final games 92-0
The coaching staff at Southern was right in target tonight.
NW Lehigh 48 Trinity 13 This game was actually tied at Halftime 13-13 2nd half NW Lehigh offensive stars Ley, Lakatosh Zimmerman just flat out exploded! QB Ley hit several big time throws on the 1st 2 drives of the 2nd half that led to touchdowns and the route was on. One of the few games I have ever seen that was tied at the half and wound up being a mercy rule game. The 3 kids mentioned above are 3 of the quickest players I have seen this year. The rematch with Avonworth next week will be must see TV.
Its a common theme a lot of time for Northwestern, they don’t come out of the gates early. I am not sure what it is, but between coaching adjustments and the boys executing, they have been an amazing second half team all year long.
Avonworth and NW in my opinion could both be the 4A champions based on their games earlier this year where they beat the Quips and Southern Lehigh. Both teams have weapons all over and are multiple. Avonworth has the advantage in the trenches but overall skill positions including the QB I give NW the advantage. Coaching staffs are both excellent and this should be a great, hoping it lives up to last year’s game.
i heard josh say after the game there’s a “feeling out” process early in the game. it’s easy if you just give it to a back like lakatosh and he takes off. actually did that in the 2nd half. first half…not so much…but we started rolling out leh which was the key adjustment. he’s incredible out of the pocket…and in the pocket for that matter. this passing game might be even more explosive than the running game with eli zimmerman last year. you have no idea where it’s going to attack you.
philadelphia eagles take note. you can adjust to what the defense is doing especially when you have weapons all over the field.
line of scrimmage will be the key to the game on friday. i’ll dig up some avonworth tape on youtube since i haven’t seen them since the game last year. it seems like assuming they’re just luca neal left, middle, and right would be a mistake. i would imagine that’s what nwl will try to take away first though. i was concerned how the tigers would match up against a bigger offensive line. they held up very well against southern lehigh and in the 2nd half on friday night.
avonworth is equipped to run the ball and play keep away. it seems like the tigers play defense more to contain you than dominate. there are teams that have looked like they were in control of the game at times like trinity friday and even notre dame. they are patient and wait for you to stop executing because they know if you give this northwestern offense one extra possession with a punt or turnover…things will snowball and before you know it you’re down 2-3 scores.
@mechanicsburgtiger you are absolutely correct that he said that, my only concern is we didn’t really make that adjustment to the air until the final 4 minutes of the 1st half. Even when we went empty, Trinity still had the box stacked so it was the right adjustment, just a little late in my opinion. I am all about trying to establish the run and line of scrimmage first, however, against Avonworth if we wait until the last minutes of the first half to do so, the game will be over.
This year’s Avonworth as mentioned does run a more standard offensive set, with wildcat mixed in. While Avonworth won’t have the biggest oline/dline that Northwestern has faced this year (North Schuylkill x2 and Southern Lehigh), Avonworths will be the best.
My quick analysis of what is to come, Northwestern will need to adjust quicker than usual, get a turnover or 2, win that middle 8, play man to man, stack the box and make Avonworth beat you through the air. If they do, tip you cap but can’t let them ground and pound us into submission, almost what happened last year.
It will be tall task but I do think itll he a great game and close.
i’m hoping nwl feels like their defense played their worst game of the year last year. they locked pretty much everybody down and were a threat to score points of their own. they didn’t tackle well at all against avonworth. i’m sure the challenge will be issued to the defense to carry over the way they played in the 2nd half against trinity.
bryer reichard was a big loss from last year’s team. fritz scheirer is smaller but seems to have a nose for the football. devin rex had a great 2nd half on friday night. nice to see they’re young…but they’ll need to step up on saturday.
Absolutely agree with everything you said. I was able to see NWL play four games this year in person watching multiple high school football teams across the state
6a-1a they really play fast and aggressive.
The linebackers #8 #5 best combo I have seen!
They adjust well.
Cardinal O’Hara was robbed by the officials tonight and every person in that stadium (coaches and players included) knows it. The PIAA and the officials keep putting out their commercials and ads about officials deserve nothing but respect. The officiating this year in district 11 has been abysmal. Coaches and players are all held to the highest of standards and put hundreds of hours of work in to win games, but it’s okay for officials to wander onto the field from the coffee shop, consistently officiate poorly, and take opportunities away from them. It’s truly a shame.
Seeing the video, the Wr clearly fumbled the ball, not even close! O’Hara got robbed with that call under 3 mins to go changed the outcome.
That was a horrible miss, no excuses. It should have been a fumble, great punch out by 21. There was still 5 minutes left roughly if I recall but could be off a little so anything could have happened but it would have made it much more difficult for Southern Lehigh. Southern Lehigh did outplay O’Hara, that fumble return for a TD was a huge change in the game to put them up but the missed call, dang.
Couple of crazy stats about the
Quips/Twin Valley game…
-Quips score 4 TD’s, gor for 2 all 4x, zero conversions
-Quips D holds TV to zero pts., and zero 1st downs in the 2nd half..and still lose. That might be a first!
Credit TV’s defense for creating the turnovers in the first half to set up very short fields for their offense and for getting the stop they needed late to hold off the quips but they were very fortunate to win that game after getting completely dominated in the second half.
The quips did not go for 2 each time the PAT was blocked after their first TD which forced them to chase points in the second half after they trailed 28-6 at half. Twin valley had 3 TD drives in the first half that started inside the quips 10 yard line so they didn’t need to do much on offense. After the quips made it 7-6 TV returned the kickoff to the 4 yard line and scored to make it 14-6 and subsequent INT’s returned to the 1 and 9 yard lines led to 2 more TDs to make it 28-6 at the half and TV managed to hold on for dear life in the second half as the quips had goal to go late for the winning score but TV’s defense came up big when it mattered most.
NWL v Trinity
That coaching staff @ NWL has to be tops in state. The games I was able to see NWL play they adjust as a unit. Players are very receptive. Next week final
Avonworth who is also very well coached and play as a unit. It will be another classic game, as it will showcase the best 2 teams in state in 3a!
Agree this will be a tremendous game I said back in September after Avonworth dominated the quips and TJ in back to back weeks that these teams were headed for a rematch.
I think there is a chance both 3A teams are better than the 4A representatives. NW had a 21 point lead over Southern Lehigh in the 4th before giving up a late couple scores. Couple that with what Avonworth worth did against the Quips and TJ.
While the 3A game was a great game last year, I am very anxious to see Avonworths offense run a normal set, not just the wildcat. It was very effective but seeing and reading about Avonworth this year, it seems like they are running a normal offensive set.
They are when star RB Dimitri Vesisaris is playing but still occasionally run wildcat with Luca Neal he had a 67 yard td run last week out of wildcat. They held Vesisaris out last night because he was banged up last week against Imani so they plugged Neal in at RB and he ran for 110 and caught 3 passes for 115 Vesisaris is expected to play next week.
Totally agree both of these teams would win 4a had the Quips completed the comeback last night you would have had the unique situation of both 3a finalists beating both 4a teams.
Southern Columbia has another date to play for state title number 15 with a win over Lansdale Catholic 24-7.
When are they moving up to 3A to challenge themselves and take on the big boys either NWL or Avonworth would crush them this year.
SCA put 70 points on Avonworth just a few years ago.
That was with their best team ever I guarantee you this team would not beat Avonworth this year and maybe won’t beat Farrell next week we’ll see.
My question is who has the advantage in the trenches because that will be the key to a run heavy offense like Southern’s
I believe it’ll be a monumental task for the Tigers to defeat the Steelers next Friday. Farrel appears to have an excellent line along with a very capable attack through the air and especially on the ground with their Nebraska commit toting the pigskin. They don’t do anything super fancy, but they just lean on their opponents with athleticism and physicality. Very well coached. But, if anyone can have his team prepared for such a contest, it’d be Jim Roth and staff.
That was a generational team SC had that year
Since I’m on a links kick………La Salle/North Penn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL8N3HuDmT4
They sure did!!!! Lots of articles out there, a small sampling and the bill itself…….
https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/PDF/2025/0/HB0685/PN1025
https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/schools-events-in-pennsylvania-must-accept-cash-under-new-law/
http://newtownpanow.com/2025/11/26/area-schools-must-now-accept-cash-for-events/
I am interested if it goes into effect immediately or not until next season guess I’ll find out at the mcdevitt vs Peters game today. It’s unfortunate the legislature had to pass a law for something that should be common sense but I wholeheartedly support it.
PIAA’s Bob Lombardi’s response is unreal in this interview segment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgW_uuKkEXY
Bob Lombardi is absolutely clueless glad he’s retiring he’s part of the problem and not the solution how tone deaf can you be. I was the treasurer for the woodland hills band parent organization for several years and we ran a concession stand at the wolvarena and I handled thousands of dollars of cash after each game without incident it’s not rocket science.
Should be in effect now. It was part of the long delayed PA state budget that was finally passed a week or so ago. I thought I saw in one of the many articles and videos that I read and watched that it took effect immediately when the budget was signed. I have a ton of questions myself, so we’ll see how it unfolds (the legal beagle in me). I am going to the Roman/Springfield game this afternoon, but I got my ticket on-line yesterday for numerous reasons. Maybe I’ll ask a some questions at the game. This upcoming basketball season tho is going to be real interesting with regards to this, especially at the local level.
I am happy to report they took $10 cash at the gate at mansion park mcdevitt is winning 21-10 at half in part thanks to some very questionable officiating.
Kevin X and others, looks like the bill passed that schools now have to accept cash for sports and other school events where they sell tickets , I’m assuming this extends to playoff games as well.
For the first time, I’m going to take a crack at other state games on Thanksgiving along with PA, thanks to the master schedule here. Should look into doing more of those games, even on the side. Should do a document next year & see how I fare entirely. If I do good, there may be a window for non-PA picks in future prognostications.
Turkey Bowls
– Easton 23, P’burg 21
– Northampton 55, Catty 13
– Pennridge 21, Q’town 14
– Haverford 28, Upper Darby 14
– Ridley 24, I’boro 7
– Chichester 35, Sun Valley 0
– Bristol 24, Morrisville 13
– Central 35, Northeast 21
– Olney 31, MLK 13
– West Phila. (Bel Air) 45, Overbrook 8
– Frankford 31, Gratz 7
Other States
– NJ: Camden Catholic 24, Paul VI 14
– NY: Cardinal Hayes 30, Mt. St. Michael 16
– NY: Fordham Prep 25, Xavier 19
– MD: Loyola Blakefield 34, Calvert Hall 20
– DC: Dunbar 27, Coolidge 13
– MA: Boston College HS 21, Catholic Memorial 14
– MA: St. John’s 24, Xaverian 14
– RI: La Salle 32, East Providence 14
Thanksgiving Day Easton over P-Burg, in a battle 21-20
Northampton over Catty easy 35-14
Upset Alert!
Quakertown over Pennridge 21-20
the logic, Q-town played 7 playoff teams, including 2 state semifinalists, hung with a couple of them. Had 3 weeks to get healthy and be ready, Pennridge played Friday night in a battle, has really only had 2 days of practice. Fresher team wins out.
14-10, halfway through the 3rd Qtr. A mistake, intercepted pass and ran out of gas, like most of their games this year, close but no cigar for Quakertown
Can’t believe we’re already at semis.
1A
– In the east game, Belmont Charter is going to try to play spoiler against a good Bishop Guilfoyle team. This is going to be a BG 35-14 win.
– Out west, Greenville surprised us all when they took on Port A & beat them. Can they do the same against Clairton? We’ll get a 3rd time rematch here, as the Bears win 41-14.
3A
– In the East, Trinity has a tall task: Beating NW Lehigh won’t be easy, but if they can hang around for a bit, I think we’ll have a good game. I’ll still take the Tigers 44-14.
– As for the west, Avonworth all the way. No contest. No debate. Penn Cambria just isn’t that good & the 3A West bracket is weak, outside of the WPIAL. Lopes get their big rematch, 42-14.
5A
– Roman vs. Delco will be a no-contest. As I jokingly said, Delco would be the sacrifice from D1. 38-14 Cahillites.
– Out west, McDevitt & Pine-Richland was going to be a good game, but now we have Peters. I’ll give the edge to McD. 31-20. If this was P-R, I would’ve gone the other way.
As for the evens
2A
– In the East, Southern should walk past Lansdale Catholic. Time to jump up to 3A & take on the challenge. SCA over LC 35-13.
– Out West, Stillers gahnta PIAA Super Bowl. I don’t trust Seton enough to beat them, so give me the Tigers & Steelers in a clash. Farrell 33, SLS 16.
6A
– La Salle. Sharpie. Over North Penn, 35-14.
– PCC should have no problem rolling past H’burg here, although I think H’burg may have pieces to hang around. PCC 28-14.
4A
– O’Hara comes in as, I assume, a favorite to Solehi, but I’m going to do the unthinkable. Take a public to beat a PCL school. SL gets to Chapman with a 27-24 upset.
– As for the west, Quip is Michael Myers. You can’t get rid of them. They just resurrect & prove us wrong, but Twin Valley is quite a dangerous team. All of the matchups I’ve predicted so far will be past rematches & returnees of past title games. To heck with it. Let Michael Myers prove me wrong again! Twin Valley’s #1 in 4A for a reason. I’ll take them to play in the 2nd closest distance between two teams state final history (that honor goes to Archbishop Wood & Cheltenham in 2019): TV 28, Quips 24.
I disagree about PCC rolling past Harrisburg I think that game is a pick em and could go either way Harrisburg is the best team PCC has played since their opener against LaSalle.
I agree with you on Twin Valley beating Aliquippa I think the key to that game will be TV’s o-line and rushing attack against the Quips defense which is very good. I hope you are right about southern Lehigh but I think O’Hara wins that game.
I too give the edge to McDevitt, however, Peters is full of confidence after their improbable and impressive second half comeback against PR, and I think Peters may surprise some people this week, I expect this game to be close in the fourth quarter and could go either way. Peters has a very tough and physical defense that I think will be able to slow down McDevitt’s offense. I’m not so sure PR would have beaten McDevitt, their kicking game is in total disarray, their top 2 kickers were hurt, and they had to recruit a kid from the soccer team to be their kicker in the final. After their first 2 TDs they went for 2 and used a strange unbalanced formation like the old swinging gate play, neither worked, after their last TD they let the new kicker try and it was ugly but was good, their kicking game ended up costing them big time in the final and would have been a factor against McDevitt if they had managed to hold off Peters last week.
I think both of the 1A games will be closer than you predicted, I was shocked Westinghouse held BG to only 7 points, as Westinghouse was down significantly from their last few years, I think Belmont loses by one score, I’ll say 28-20. I also think the Clairton game will be a lot closer as well but hard to believe Greenville can beat Port A and Clairton back to back.
Sorry I put my last post on Kevin’s comment. I forgot I pressed reply on another & meant to go back from it.
Case of the Mondays, I guess.
Extra D2 Notes
– Lake-Lehman & Nanticoke will be getting some new coaches next season, as Jerry Gilsky & Damon Saxon will be moving on this season. As is Montrose, for the moment.
– Lackawanna League has changes next year: The old 8-6-6 format is back, as West Scranton moves back to LFC 1, Riverside jumps to LFC 2, & Montrose returns to LFC 3.
I honestly wish they could just combine the two conferences at this point. I saw a proposal online & I think it should go off of that one, but with a twist. I’ll share later.
Good to see Montrose back in the mix, though I’m not sure how much good that division does Lackawanna Trail if Riverside isn’t involved. That whole division is pretty bad unless Old Forge reclaims some of their glory.
I think combining the two conferences would probably be the best for everyone. You wouldn’t even need to split up current conference rivals very much as long as you split divisions on an east/west basis. The structure also allows for teams to move up/down for competitive balance.
Division 1 West: Berwick, Crestwood, Dallas, Hazleton, Pittston, Wyoming Area, Wilkes-Barre
Division 1 East: Abington Heights, Del Val, N Pocono, Scranton, Scranton Prep, Valley View, Wallenpaupack
Division 2 West: Lackawanna Trail, Lake Lehman, Nanticoke, Old Forge, Riverside, Tunkhannock, Wyoming Valley West
Division 2 East: Carbondale, Dunmore, Honesdale, Lakeland, Mid-Valley, West Scranton, Western Wayne
Division 3: Hanover Area, Holy Cross, Holy Redeemer, Montrose, Susquehanna, Col-Mont VT (football-only invitation), Northwest Area (football-only invitation)
That’d be a great set up. I saw one a few weeks ago, & I agree with it.
Red Division: AH, Berwick, Crestwood, Dallas, DV, North Pocono, VV, Wilkes-Barre
Blue Division: Hazleton, Honesdale, Pittston, Scranton, Tunk, Paupack, West Scranton, WVW
White Division: Dunmore, Lakeland, L-L, Mid Valley, Riverside, Prep, WW, & Wyo Area
Gold Division: C’dale, Hanover Area, HC, Redeemer, Trail, Montrose, Nanticoke, OF, Susq.
Only swap I’d make is Berwick & Prep for the continuity of competition. Wouldn’t mind Northwest & CMVT as co-op options with 5 divisions of 7.
Interesting setup, I agree that Prep should be swapped into that Red division. Some longer bus rides than what teams currently deal with, but it might be worth it if it makes teams more competitive at the state level.
Pretty solid D3 vs. D7 day-night double header at Mansion Park in Altoona on Saturday, I have a hunch both of those games end up being more competitive than the state finals next weekend, because it appears to me that both LaSalle and RC are going to win comfortably next week over whomever they play. I would think most people would consider the catholic schools the favorites in both of these matchups, but I would not be at all surprised if either or both of the public schools won, I think both of these games are going to be close in the fourth quarter.