2013 PIAA Class AAA Football Eastern Final
Friday, December 6, 2013 at 7 PM at J Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown
Berwick (14-0) vs. Archbishop Wood (11-2)
Series History
First Meeting
RANKINGS
Points Scored Per Game: Berwick, 40.8; Archbishop Wood, 40.1
Points Allowed Per Game: Berwick, 10.6; Archbishop Wood, 11.5
OPPONENTS’ WINNING PERCENTAGE
Berwick – 89-69 (56.3%)
Archbishop Wood – 88-62 (59.4%)
Berwick’s Schedule
1 – Crestwood, 41-7 W
2 – at Pottsville, 56-7 W
3 – at Dallas, 37-7 W
4 – Wyoming Valley West, 42-28 W
5 – Selinsgrove, 36-0 W
6 – at Tunkhannock, 57-3 W
7 – at Williamsport, 48-7 W
8 – Pittston, 50-0 W
9 – Coughlin, 39-7 W
10 – at Hazleton, 43-7 W
11 – Crestwood, 14-13 W *
12 – Abington Heights, 35-28 W *
13 – Bethlehem Catholic, 29-27 W *
14 – Clearfield, 44-7 W *
*-playoff games
BULLDOG NOTES
-With George Curry as the Bulldog head coach, Berwick has won 49 of their last 50 games when they’ve scored 21 points or more.
-Last year, Berwick finished 2-2 while allowing their opposition to post 20 points or more. This year, they’re 3-0 when the opposition registers that mark.
-Berwick has gained 200 or more yards rushing as a team in 6 of their last 7 games.
-In their last outing, the Bulldog defense forced 3 turnovers from Clearfield in a 44-7 win which saw the Bison holding a 7-0 advantage after the 1st quarter. Senior Dain Kowalski scored once on offense (12-yard run) and had a 76-yard interception return for a score to end the first half. C.J. Curry tallied 4 total touchdowns (3 rushing, 1 passing).
EASTERN FINAL HISTORY (7-3)
2004: Manheim Central 16 Berwick 13
-The Barons’ kicker Ryan Huber booted through a 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to break the 13-13 tie.
1997: Berwick 37 Manheim Central 0
-The Bulldogs’ signal caller Jeremy Chapin ran for 2 scores and threw for another 105 in the runaway win.
1996: Berwick 20 Allentown Central Catholic 3
-Central’s standout runner Tom Williams gained just 63 yards on the ground as Berwick forced 4 takeaways.
1995: Berwick 18 Manheim Central 17
-Manheim Central led 17-0 at the intermission; however, Dave Robbins ran in a 1-yard score for a touchdown with 1:36 left to give the Bulldogs a victory by a single point.
1994: Berwick 37 Manheim Central 30
-Jason Canouse intercepted an errant pass in the end zone with 27 seconds remaining to hold off Manheim Central’s attempt to tie the game.
1993: Allentown Central Catholic 13 Berwick 8
-Berwick’s 28 game winning streak was halted by Allentown Central Catholic.
1992: Berwick 29 Manheim Central 6
-Ron Powlus and Jason Soboleski scored twice, a piece, in the Bulldogs’ 29-6 win.
1990: Bethlehem Catholic 7 Berwick 3
-Spike Johnson found John Weiss on a 48-yard strike for the game-winning score with 1:15 left to eliminate the Bulldogs.
1989: Berwick 14 Manheim Central 10
-Berwick trailed 10-0 at the half but scored a pair of second half touchdowns to catapult themselves to their second straight title tilt.
1988: Berwick 16 Middletown 12
-Jake Kelchner’s game winning 1-yard keeper with 3:49 remaining was the difference as the Bulldogs punched their ticket to the first state championship game.
Archbishop Wood’s Schedule
1 – at Bensalem, 38-7 W
2 – at North Penn, 49-3 W
3 – at Frankford, 42-14 W
4 – West Catholic, 54-6 W
5 – Cardinal O’Hara, 41-0 W
6 – St. Joseph’s Prep, 21-31 L
7 – at Lansdale Catholic, 35-6 W
8 – at Archbishop Ryan, 7-22 L
9 – Bonner-Prendie, 49-6 W
10 – Lansdale Catholic, 49-26 W *
11 – Bonner-Prendie, 42-6 W *
12 – Martin Luther King, 52-8 W *
14 – Academy Park, 42-14 W *
*-playoff games
VIKING NOTES
-Over the last six seasons, Archbishop Wood has compiled a 73-13 record (84.9%) and has won the District 12 title in each year. The last time the Vikings had finished with a losing record was in 2002 (3-8).
-Wood is 6-7 over their last 13 games when they’ve allowed their opponents to score 20 points or more. When the Vikings score 24 points or more, they’re a perfect 37-0 since 2011.
-In only his 7th season, Steve Devlin has accumulated more victories (82) than any other coach in school history.
-Junior offensive tackle Ryan Bates (6’5, 280-lbs) has received offers from Penn State, South Carolina, Boston College, Pittsburgh, and Virginia. Ryan’s classmate Jake Cooper (6’2, 226-lb linebacker) has received interest from a number of large schools and offers from Pittsburgh and Temple. Also in the junior class, the Philadelphia Catholic League Player of the Year Jarret McClenton (5’9, 165-lb running back) has tallied such interest from the likes of Penn State, Nebraska, and Syracuse. Senior guard Deion Oliver (6’5, 275-lbs) was offered by Yale and is awaiting a number of small-FBS schools to offer.
-Former Vikings’ under coach Steve Devlin to play FBS football: Brandon Arcidiacono (OL/Rutgers), Nick Arcidiacono (TE/Rutgers), Desmon Peoples (RB/Rutgers), Nate Smith (DB/Temple), Frank Taylor (OL/Boston College), Colin Thompson (TE/Florida), and Nick Visco (K-P/Temple).
LAST 6 YEARS IN STATE TOURNAMENT
2013
State Quarterfinal – Archbishop Wood 42 Academy Park 14
2012
State Final – Erie Cathedral Prep 24 Archbishop Wood 14
Eastern Final – Archbishop Wood 36 Allentown Central Catholic 6
State Quarterfinal – Archbishop Wood 35 Interboro 7
2011
State Final – Archbishop Wood 52 Bishop McDevitt 0
Eastern Final – Archbishop Wood 70 Allentown Central Catholic 14
State Quarterfinal – Archbishop Wood 41 Pottsgrove 22
2010
Eastern Final – Allentown Central Catholic 49 Archbishop Wood 27
State Quarterfinal – Archbishop Wood 24 Strath Haven 14
2009
Eastern Final – Selinsgrove 28 Archbishop Wood 0
State Quarterfinal – Archbishop Wood 30 Pottsgrove 28
2008
State Final – Thomas Jefferson 34 Archbishop Wood 7
Eastern Final – Archbishop Wood 13 Selinsgrove 7
State Quarterfinal – Archbishop Wood 37 Bayard Rustin 7
Winner to play either Erie Cathedral Prep (13-0) or Bishop McDevitt (13-1) on Friday, December 13 at 7 PM in HersheyPark Stadium for the PIAA Class AAA Championship.
48 Responses
Archbishop Wood is 11-2, losing to ST.Josephs Prep 31-21 and Archbishop Ryan 22-7. Prep is playing in the quad A eastern final this weekend. Archbishop Ryan had lost 3 games in a row before beating Wood. Can someone tell me how a team like Ryan that lost 3 games in a row defeat Wood? That’s one of the reasons Berwick fans feel they can defeat Wood !!
Sorry about type error,,, THEY ONLY HAVE ONE SIDED STANDS FOR BOTH TEAMS AND PARKING SUCKS THERE .. THANKS
To let everyone know I have not seen Berwick or Wood play and they both seem really good to get to this point of the season. What I’m thinking is if Berwick can stop Woods running game and contain some small passing they should do just fine.. I have seen some vid’s on both teams and they both look pretty big on both sides of the ball. So I’m going to take or pick [Berwick] in this game ‘but close’ 28-Berwick Wood-24 final … GOOD LUCK TO BOTH TEAMS AND HOPE THAT EVERYONE GETS ALONG.. THEY ARE ONLY ON SIDED STANDS THERE… From M-Central Barons
@RedDawgs,
Agree with you completely. I think there is a bit of good humored smack talk back and forth. The only insult I have seen was a comment not directed specifically at Wood, but D12 in general. The comment was something to the effect of D12 fans reminding somebody of the D7 fans of the past. I believe the word was arrogant. Billy would probably know better than me how he stated the insult. I don’t remember verbatim, but it was an insult nonetheless.
….whoaaaa Time Out!!!! Enough!!!! Take a look at yourself…you are acting lower than 15, 16 and 17 year olds…be thankful for what you have and lets enjoy the moment and look forward to a great match-up no matter what the outcome…shake hands at the end of the game and root for the winner to win the State Championship…getting beat by the state champs is no disappointment.
Note: The WOOD fans and DAWG fans will be sitting on the same set of bleachers so lets get along and enjoy a great game!!!!!
Billy,
Not sure what sites you are looking at, but the constant hating and whining on Private Schools gets old. This site and another well known HS football site have had more than their share of whiners and haters.
Show me the comment where someone said Berwick “shouldn’t even show up”? I have seen Wood supporters think their team will win, and most think convincingly. And I have seen Berwick fans think their team will win. On this thread alone, many Berwick supporters pick their team.
BTW, the Berwick Facebook page clearly makes reference to “Let’s show the Private schools”.. Seriously?? Get over it..it’s about the kids, not about whether you agree with Public or Private Schools.
Honestly, I am sure most Berwick fans are good knowledgeable football fans, and
@reddawgs: I’ve been all over the internet and don’t see any “hate” from Berwick fans on Wood. What I DO see is a lot of people basically saying that Berwick shouldn’t even bother showing up and Berwick fans defending their team…show me the “hate” please
@glenn,
If you didn’t want to make excuses, why did you rattle off excuses? I made a pretty funny post in response, but it didn’t make the cut. Apparently accusing people of being drug addicts or suffering from mental retardation is funny, but a bit of satire is frowned upon. You were responsible for neither nor, just some stuff that gets through, compared to stuff that doesn’t, is kinda confusing to me.
@tom,
I don’t know about the drug addict comment, but just curious as to how that curry Kool-Aid tastes? Send me an e-mail address to contact you. Perhaps making a wager with my drug money would be putting it to a better use.
@Stephen, doubt Ii said any such thing; at any rate, last week doesn’t matter. AW is not Bethlehem Catholic.
I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses, BUT 3 kids from Wood got food poisoning this week. Their star RB stubbed his toe a while back, the starting WR chewed his finger nails down a bit too short the other day, and the starting QB has a bad case of the sniffles last week. Kudos to the trainer that had a box of tissues ready for him while the defense was on the field. If this causes Wood to lose, they still had a great season. Mind you, I am not making any excuses.
Glenn
Well said. I think sometimes we all take things too seriously. The reality is that it is HS football and some 15-16-17 year olds will ultimately be disappointed. I can tell you the Wood community has a ton of respect for Berwick football and the history of the program. Word in Philly is that 10,000 plus might make the trek from Berwick- kudos to the community. I would just ask the Berwick fans show mutual respect for the kids from Wood. Regardless of your feelings toward private schools, these Wood kids have also busted their butts the last 6 months to get to this point. I see a lot of hate coming from
Berwick tweets and Facebook. I do see Wood winning convincingly in this one, but if I’m wrong I will certainly be cheering for Berwick to represent the East. Here’s to an injury free game for both teams!
Wood 42 – Berwick 21
Good stuff Glenn!
Isnt it crazy how adults can get so caught up in things like this?…kudos to Berwick for battling thru adversity.
I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses, but the fact is Berwick got hit hard with injuries, beginning the third play of the season. They lost three key linemen, one committed to Temple, and an outstanding defensive end. It’s hard to have that many injuries and play your A game. I have to give the Dawgs a lot of credit for doing as well as they have.
I’ve also visited Wood’s website, and I must say they seem like a fine school with outstanding students and athletes, and a fine program. I hope it is a good clean game from start to finish. Remember humility in victory and graciousness in defeat. These are kids who will be playing their guts out for their schools, their parents, their coach, and their self-pride. Show them respect and you will be a better person for it.
Berwick 35 Wood 28 in a shootout. neither team can stop the other team.
Dawgs 24 wood 21 take that to the bank LETS GO DAWGS
Stephen,
Yes Beth.Cath. did have some speed at some positions. But nothing compared to what Berwick will see with Wood. Beca is a pretty average team. They struggled badly the week before against a so-so Southern Lehigh squad. But that doesn’t mean Wood will walk away with the game. I think it will be a close one. Ill be at the game and very much looking forward to the match up. I thought it would come down to these 2 squads for the East. I will say this…Wood will be far and away the best team Berwick has played to this point. That wont be the case for Wood.
O.L coach u don’t know what your talking about that’s the same thing u said about Bethlehem Catholic and they lost.
Too much speed; Wood wins easily going away.
Honestly, Wood is a much better team. We’ll see what happens, but Berwick hasn’t really played a tough schedule. Wood’s quarterback isn’t thought about much, but he’s a sophomore who helped lead them to a state final as a freshman last year. I’d say that kid is a future stud on a team that rarely has to use him. Wood wins 35-14 easily. Take it to the bank.
….The Dawgs game plan is simple…STOP WOOD’S RUNNING GAME FOR 48 MINUTES!!!!!!
Should be a great game. Both teams are extremely well coached. I think the OL/DL are pretty equal. I think Berwick’s QB is better. But I think Wood overall has more team speed.
Berwick’s got a long bus ride…over 75 miles…where Wood’s only got a 35 mile trip.
Should be a great game between the old master and the young pup.
wish more ppl would take your advice my friend
…very impressive resume by both teams…hopefully the game will live up too all the hype and become a classic. Please remember they are just kids out there and trying their very best…and to all the bleacher bashers during the game…they are someone’s son (or daughter) out there…be respectful