Who will be this year’s surprise and who will dominate football this year. It’s never too early to talk High School Football.
Who are your top players in 2012? Who do you think will be the top teams going into the 2012 season?
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482 Responses
@ phiilyboy:
Believe me, they were good. I seen them several times. Curry (their coach) was famous for recruiting players from all over the state & outside the state. How? He usually got their fathers a job at the local power plant & other places. So the rumor has it.
Good chance they would have beat CB West back in the day. They used to invite some of the best teams in the country. I seen them play St Ignatious out of Ohio. Ranked in the top 10 nationally.
Oh yea, they were real good.
@ Josh Funk — Do you think those great Berwick teams were all that?? Never saw them play but how could some AAA coal country team be the best in the country? I mean, who did they play that was really good? They didn’t even play CB West. Who did they beat — Selinsgrove and Manheim Central? They’re good programs but I don’t know if that’s enough to be crowned national champions. What do you think?
Brian Hope,
Reread my previous response to you and you’ll see I had one more item for reference with Pennridge beyond just the preseason lineup. I also had the SOL Continental Conference team to look at, too, from the first team all the way through HM. And as I said previously, I only found two underclassmen OL on the all-conference team, neither of which were mentioned on the preseason lineup (which is why I try to find as many all-conference teams as possible). Mike Class was in that preseason list, actually.
While Pennridge does put information up on Maxpreps in terms of offensive and defensive individual stats, it doesn’t show starters for the offensive line. So, seeing you seem to know a lot about Pennridge (even though they aren’t your team), I thought I’d ask you because I knew I didn’t have complete information. And that, I guess, makes me closed-minded.
@ Josh Funk,
How can you look at a pre-season lineup to determine what you have? Who thought Mike Class would end up being one of the top rushers in the league in the “preseason lineup”, you seem to be a little close minded. Riddle me this, how can a team (Pennridge) hold 7th ranked powerhouse CR South to a 2-0 loss with all underclassmen on the line. Just go back to the WNPV Lansdale Sports Radio archives. Anyway we’ll see in September. By the way I’m a Souderton graduate from the late 1970’s, I’m just calling it the way I see it. No preference for Pennridge, I just want to see one of the other Continental teams knock off North Penn this year and Pennridge has the best shot.
I agree but they can say they were in it to win the game vs all those teams besides springfield this year even though ending 2-8
# Josh:
Well said.
Hentz,
You might be thinking of the 1985, 1986 and 1987 editions of CB West, which went 11-0 in all three seasons. The ’85 team was 10th; the ’86 team was ranked 9th; and the ’87 team was 7th nationally. Those rankings came during a period from 1983-’88 where the Bucks went 63-2-1 (.969) overall.
Joey,
First, whether anyone played a down of football or not doesn’t diminish their ability to answer HISTORICAL football-related questions. However, to answer your question, I personally know offhand of only three sportswriters who played football during their high school careers. It is possible that there are more. That’s not the first question I ask members of the scholastic football media, though. One is Joby Fawcett (Scranton region), one is Eric Epler (Harrisburg region), and the other is a good friend I attended college with at Clarion, Andy Close (Bradford region). If you are trying to base one’s football credibility on whether he played a down or not, then, in your eyes, I would have none. That’s fine. I don’t need your blessing or approval of having “football credibility” to make my life complete, nor do I seek it. 2012 will mark the 17th season I have actively followed high school football in this state and 7th as a football writer. I am a member of the Maxwell Football Club and have also participated in nominating/voting for last year’s Pennsylvania Sportswriters’ All-State teams, so I cannot be too terribly ignorant about the game as you seem to be inferring. I am doing what I love, both for my full-time job and in my spare time, and that is covering sports. I hope you are able to say the same about your life situation, that you are doing something in this life that you enjoy.
I had thought that CB West won the “mythical” national title back , I believe, in the early 80’s, possibly during their 55 game winning streak.
@Josh Funk how many downs of football have you played?
Tim,
Yes, but not from eastern PA. The 1987 North Hills Indians went 13-0, won the WPIAL AAAA championship over Mt. Lebanon, 21-0, and earned USA-Today’s No. 1 ranking. The season prior to that, North Hills was ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA-Today, but lost the WPIAL AAAA title game to Gateway, 7-6, when it went for the win and a two-point conversion and missed. The current head coach at Gateway, Terry Smith, was the Gators’ starting QB in ’86.
was any team from pa besides berwick ever national champs?
@Josh
Penncrest is gonna have some players going into next year, but they still have to get through the likes of Garnet Valley, Ridley, Strath Haven, Springfield, Haverford, Conestoga, and even Harriton (although Penncrest did beat them this past year, but will not be an easy win). The Central League will once again be very competitive to win.
Kudos Dave
Look for Penncrest to make a big improvement in the Central League. Donnelly at Qb, with Trust at WR and Gartland at RB all three of them three year varsity starters.
I see Central Dauphin as the top team in AAAA Lavia is back at QB and Zayid Isiah back. Class A I see Pius X with the Long kid at QB and Southern. Lancaster Cath and McDevitt AAA Trinity in AA.
Brian Hope,
Actually you answered my question. All I had to go on for Pennridge was a pre-season projected lineup and the SOL all-Continental Conference team, neither of which reflect injuries or defections. When I went over the Continental Conf. team, I was expecting to find 4 or 5 underclassmen listed as linemen for the Rams, but only found two. Anybody can come on here and thump their chest and say, “My team has everybody coming back,” but I legitimately thought you only meant the skill guys because I never saw you post any specifics about the line, only the general statement, “Everybody is coming back.” Thank you for being more specific. And sorry if I came off a bit callous. I am just skeptical by nature when it comes to people hyping up their team by making general statements. I figured I’d try to flush a little more specific info out of you.
@ Josh Funk
James Worthington was plagued with injury and missed a few games, Stefan Crouse was out all year with a knee injury, Fecondo was out with injury then quit, Newmman was plagued with injury and missed a few games. When I went to watch the CB South & Quakertown games and went through the roster I counted about 3 seniors on both sides of the ball. So riddle me that?
Barry- agreed on Wilson- BUT they lose their QB and Rodney Gillem- that is a lot to lose on the offense- defense is always a strong suit with the Doggies and they do tend to reload every year. The game with Lancaster Catholic is one to watch- Bruce Harbach is a Wilson grad and feeling slighted he didn’t get the job at Wilson. Wilson does tend to get underrated in the beginning of the year and they do tend to rise to the top by the end. One of the longest streaks of winning seasons in the state, and the last time they had a losing season was around 1965.
The Wilson Bulldogs who are usually overlooked and underrated every year and have a long tradition as being a football power for the past 50 years could potentially be stronger this year because they are developing another fearsome Bulldog defense with 8 of their 11 starters returning from last years very tough defensive unit.
The Wilson Bulldogs which has been one of the most overlooked District 3 and state powers for the past 50 years will have another brutal defense with 8 out 11 starters returning.
Wyomissing has a team full of talent. Keep an eye on Wyomissing Offensive Lineman Ben Wertz #71.
What about Academy Park?
Academy park
Brian Hope,
Not quite sure Pennridge has “everybody” back as you proclaim, especially up front. OL James Worthington was a senior. Stefan Krause was a senior OG. OG/DL Anthony Fecondo was a senior. TE/DE Jake Newman was a senior. Yes, I count the TE among the offensive linemen in run-centric offenses. The only returning starters up front I’ve found for Pennridge were Shayne Kraynik and Tyler Kio. That’s 2/3 of the line gone. So, riddle me this: How can Pennridge have “everybody” coming back in 2012 when 4 of the six linemen listed were seniors in 2011? Unless they have 11 of Mike Class or 11 Kenny Crawford’s, there seems to me to be some holes to fill. Care to elaborate?
CR North has a lot of senior players who can be All-League and possible all state players such as Curt Cothran, Bill Foote, Nate English, Pat Krimm, Aj Nielson, John Devine, Bobby Bartlett. Check thes kids out and you will see how dominant CR North can be this coming season.