Going for the gold in Chocolate Town

Written by: Joe Stokes on Tuesday, December 11th, 2012. Follow Joe Stokes on Twitter.

The eight remaining schools that will be present in Hershey this weekend have fulfilled their early season dreams. While each team wants a state title getting to Hershey is a great accomplishment. They have all survived the heat of August, the early grind of September, the league challenges of October, the chill of November and the playoff pressure of December to reach this moment in Chocolate Town.   

The east meets west for four great matchups at Hershey Park Stadium along with a statewide live TV audience watching on the PCN network.

Week fifteen predictions went moderately well for this prognosticator. Archbishop Wood, North Allegheny and Dunmore all won as predicted. However LaSalle and Inhotep Charter fell short in hard fought losses.  

The last six years the prognostication record stands at 315-127 while going 48-22 for the 2012 season.

This final week of the season offers the best football of the year for fans across the state to check out. Let’s get right on with the predictions

The state final at AAAA level offers a true battle of the heavy weights. The WPIAL champion North Allegheny Tigers will face District One title holder the Coatesville Red Raiders. The Red Raiders have scored an incredible 244 points in the last five playoff games, while yielding 133 to their opponents. QB Emmit Hunt directs this talented and speedy group. Coatesville’s offense opened up 42-21 lead and held on for 42-35 win over LaSalle before a crowd estimated at 8,000 at Downingtown West High Scholl last Friday night. North Allegheny has an equally impressive playoff run with QB Mack Leftwich leading all in playoff passing at 721 yards. In addition Gregg Garrity leads all playoff receivers with 238 yards. The Tigers overwhelmed Wilson West Lawn 45-10 last Saturday and will be tough to beat again in this title game. The Tigers win in a high scoring affair.

North Allegheny  49  Coatesville  35

The AAA state final features the defending champion Archbishop Wood Vikings attempt to retain their title against the Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers. The Archbishop Wood Vikings were all on deck last week in a 36-6 win over Allentown Central Catholic. Running back Andrew Guckin was rowing hard again last week by rushing for 131 yards and a touchdown. The other Vikings from Allentown Central Catholic were held to just one score by the Wood defense. The Ramblers will rely on QB Damion Terry to keep the Viking defense on their heels.  Terry threw 2 TD passes and rushed for two more in the 38-3 win over previously undefeated Bishop McDevitt. Archbishop Wood is a great team but Erie Cathedral just has too many weapons to stop.

Erie Cathedral Prep  38  Archbishop Wood  31

The Pa state AA final will be quite a struggle; Wyomissing Area scored what many believe was a big upset last Saturday over Inhotep Charter of Philadelphia Public League 35-13. All-American linebacker Alex Anzalone anchors the defense while QB Corey Unger became eligible to play on December 1 after transfer from Fleetwood held him out until that date. His participation was big last week as he passed for 119 yards and a TD. Wyomissing faces their biggest challenge this week when they face the Quips from Aliquippa. Running back Dravon Henry rushed for 222 yards and 3 TD’s in their 37-21 win over Richland last Friday night. This match up looks like another win for the WPIAL.

Aliquippa  31  Wyomissing Area  23

The single A final has the Dunmore Bucks who have been underdogs for the last two weeks but here they are in Hershey. Dunmore has been here before five years ago and would love break through for the title this time around. Running back Daiqwon Buckley is sure to make plenty of noise for Dunmore. Buckley found pay dirt four times in their 40-19 win over Bellwood-Antis last Friday.  The Bucks will once again be underdogs as they face the Clairton Bears on Friday afternoon. The Bears have won four consecutive titles and this school has an unmatched football tradition. Tyler Boyd is the key to another Bears title but this pick shows a belief in small miracles as the Bucks beat the odds and save one win for the east in 2012

Dunmore 35  Clairton 31

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8 Responses to “Going for the gold in Chocolate Town”

1. Andy says:
   December 13th, 2012 at 10:08 pm

   Predictions please!!!!!! Any OT games???

2. Andy says:
   December 13th, 2012 at 10:08 pm

   Predictions please!!!!!!

3. Joe Stokes says:
   December 13th, 2012 at 4:32 pm

   Thanks Rollie, Spell check & I missed that one

4. Dick Hertz says:
   December 13th, 2012 at 4:20 pm

   @Rollie

   and its “Anzalone” this guy needs a proofreader.

5. Andy says:
   December 13th, 2012 at 1:34 pm

   4A NA 41, C’Ville 23
   3A ECP 35, WOOD 33
   2A Aliquippa 34, Wyomissing 23
   1A Clairton 37, Dunsmore 20

   GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!! Can’t wait to watch…

6. KEVIN says:
   December 13th, 2012 at 9:14 am

   @:Rollie Ciffo If all you’re going to do is correct peoples spelling, Maybe you should just leave here!!!REALLY!!

7. Rollie Ciffo says:
   December 11th, 2012 at 8:02 pm

   “ankers the defense”…seriously?

   “anchors”

8. C'ville says:
   December 11th, 2012 at 8:00 pm

   Reasonable picks, I too think there will be a lot of points in the North Allegheny/Coatesville game, but I’m going with a 42-35 Coatesville win. I think C’ville might score more, but I’ll give the Tigers some respect for the good defense they’ve played all year. If you analyze the points Coatesville has given up you’ll see they’re better than many think on the defensive side. Who really knows what will happen, probably just wishful thinking, because I think the Red Raiders are something special — one has to like an underdog — right?