Ryan Nase gets his first win at Northeast in 14-6 triumph over West Catholic
WILMINGTON, DEL — It gnawed at them for a week. The Northeast football team knew that they were better than their 24-0 showing in their season-opening loss to Cedar Crest last weekend, in the debut of Ryan Nase as the Vikings’ head coach. The frustration boiled over into Friday afternoon, when the Vikings played West […]
The Inaugural Mid-Atlantic Pigskin Classic kicks off this Thursday
It started like usual, most things tend to begin, with a conversation, a few years ago. Mark Wolpert, Executive Director of the prestigious Maxwell Football Club, and John Schmid, a prominent Maxwell board member and President of JFS Event Planning & Consulting, have been around football their whole lives. Their extensive knowledge goes back decades. […]
IMG escapes St. Joe Prep’s late push in 17-14 victory in the Battle at the Beach
OCEAN CITY, NJ — IMG head coach Billy Miller is very familiar with the Sacca family. The South Jersey native who graduated from Delran High School lived close to Tony Sacca, the Delran legend who went on to play for Penn State. Sacca’s mother was Miller’s middle school math teacher. In some ways, Saturday night […]
Jake Kucera saves the day for Downingtown West in 32-27 opening victory over stubborn Lincoln
PHILADELPHIA — Call it an uncanny habit that Jake Kucera has picked up over the last few years. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior has this penchant for swooping in when Downingtown West is in dire straights to make the right play, at the right time, in the nick of time. On Friday, in the season opener […]
District 12 Media Day: The Imhotep Charter Panthers want to prove the state wrong
Kenny Woseley doesn’t run away from it. Neither do his teammates. Woseley, Imhotep Charter’s sterling 5-11, 170-pound cornerback who is committed to Penn State, put it bluntly at the District 12 media day last Friday: “It’s mandatory that we win the state championship this year. Coming up short it seems like every year, people have […]
Meet Bonner-Prendie’s secret weapon Kenjai Gatling
The first time Kenjai Gatling played football, he played an age up. He was sacked 12 times. Each time, he got back up. Bruised ribs and all. He was so beat up that his coach told him to skip practice the next day. Gatling still showed up. He cried when he was told he had […]
St. Joseph Prep quarterback Samaj Jones commits to Cincinnati
Sitting on his living room sofa at around 5 p.m. on Thursday night, Samaj Jones decided. The gifted 6-foot-1, 215-pound St. Joseph’s Prep rising senior quarterback ended a two-year long journey and called Cincinnati’s first-year coach Scott Satterfield to tell him that he’s going to be a Bearcat. On Sunday at 7 p.m., Jones made […]
St. Joseph Prep cornerback Omillio Agard commits to Wisconsin
Omillio Agard has been getting college attention before he even stepped on a high school football field. Since then, the scholarship offers have been rolling in for the perennial Philadelphia All-Catholic League St. Joseph’s Prep 5-foot-11, 175-pound cornerback. He made his choice public on Saturday night. After four years of recruiting, and some recent stress […]
Team Red takes out Team Blue, 14-9, in the Hero Bowl
Photos courtesy of Rick Martin SPRINGFIELD, PA — It was far from memorable. At least the way the game itself was played. What will hold a lasting thought is that every player on the field at Cardinal O’Hara on Thursday night competed in their last high school game in the annual Hero Bowl. The game […]
Pennsylvania outlasts Maryland, 31-27, in a BIG 33 Classic
HARRISBURG, PA — No one wearing Pennsylvania white really wanted to leave the field at Bishop McDevitt’s Rocco Ortenzio Stadium Sunday night. They milled around for as long they could, inhaling their dramatic 31-27 victory over Maryland in the 66th Annual Big 33 game. Dallastown and Pitt-bound receiver Kenny Johnson was MVP for Pennsylvania, snaring […]
Coatesville’s Spencer Ferguson leads Team Allison in a 21-13 Valor Bowl victory over Team Carroll
Photo’s by Rick Martin DOWNINGTOWN, PA — Spencer Ferguson was sweaty and tired, and beaming Thursday night at Downingtown’s Walter E. Kottmeyer Stadium. The Coatesville senior is bound for Lycoming, where he intends on continuing his football career and holds hope of making the baseball team. For a long moment in the 23rd Valor Bowl, […]
State College’s Finn Furmanek leads the West over East, 24-16, in the big school PFCA East-West All-Star game
Photos courtesy of Matt Topper HARRISBURG, PA — Finn Furmanek had to think about it for a second. Then, it slowly sunk in for the State College 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback: He probably threw his last pass in an organized football game on Sunday in the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association (PFCA) East-West Large School All-Star game […]
East outlasts West in the PFCA All-Star game, 41-34, with a classic goal line stand
HARRISBURG, PA — For three guys who never played next to each other before, you would swear Northern Lehigh’s Jayden Krempasky, Hamburg’s Charles Sheppard and Mahoney Area’s David Sanchez had been playing next to each other for years. With Sanchez in the middle, Krempasky to his right, and Sanchez on the left, the three cinderblocks […]
The Public League takes the Philadelphia City All-Star Game, 38-30, over the Non-Pub
PHILADELPHIA, PA — There was a lot of handshaking, and fist bumps, and laughing, though between the sidelines, when to came down to hitting, the crunch of the pads was certainly audible enough for everyone to hear a few blocks away on Saturday at Northeast High in Philadelphia. For the first time since 2017, some […]
Interboro’s Yale-bound Abu Kamara is the Maxwell Club’s PA Player of the Year
DREXEL HILL — Abu Kamara held the awards in his hands, heard the applause, and shook the hands of countless people, many of whom he never met before, walking up to congratulate Interboro’s 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior running back and defensive back. Kamara was chosen Pennsylvania Player of the Year by the prestigious Maxwell Football Club […]
St. Joe’s Prep smashes Harrisburg, 42-7, in the Class 6A championship for its seventh state crown
Photo courtesy of Matt Topper MECHANICSBURG, PA — Nothing was going to stop them. From the first meetings in January to summer practice, to the first snap in balmy Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, nothing was going to get in the way of the St. Joseph Prep Hawks from winning another PIAA Class 6A state championship but […]
Belle Vernon wins its first state title in dramatic fashion, 9-8, over Neumann-Goretti in the 3A state finals
MECHANICSBURG, PA — Inches from history. Inches from making history. Inches from being haunted by missing history. Inches is what separated Belle Vernon and Neumann-Goretti Saturday afternoon in the PIAA Class 3A state championship at Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley High School. On a third-and-one with :45 left to play, and inches from the go-ahead […]
Ryan Palmieri leads Pine-Richland over Imhotep Charter, 28-14, in the Class 5A final
Photo courtesy of Matt Topper MECHANICSBURG, PA — Ryan Palmieri was still back in the locker room cleaning up after the mess that was Pine-Richland’s homecoming game against Seneca Valley back in September. Everyone was mulling around, struggling to piece their emotions together, when Rams’ coach Jon LeDonne pulled everything in with a terse passing […]
Southern Columbia wins its sixth-straight Class 2A state title, taking down Westinghouse, 37-22
Photos courtesy of Matt Topper MECHANICSBURG, PA — A few months ago, Braeden Wisloski wasn’t supposed to be here in December. Neither was Wes Barnes or Blake Wise, or legendary Southern Columbia coach Jim Roth. A few months ago, the Tigers were considered dead. They were sitting at an uncharacteristic 5-3 after suffering their third […]
Bishop McDevitt claims its first title in 27 years, beating Aliquippa for the 4A crown, 41-18
Photo courtesy of Matt Topper MECHANICSBURG, PA — It haunted them. Bishop McDevitt senior receiver Tyshawn Russell sat on the edge of his couch after last year’s state title loss to Aliquippa and replayed it 10 times the next morning. Crusaders’ senior two-way lineman Riley Robell couldn’t sleep at all, anxious to cut up the […]
Steelton-Highspire is 1A State Champs for the second time in three years
Photo courtesy of Matt Topper MECHANICSBURG, PA — Taped up on a mirror in the Steelton-Highspire weight room sits a picture. It’s a resonating image of two chest-bumping Canton players with the final score emblazed in the background. It was a tough image for the Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers to get over after they lost in last […]
2022 PIAA State Championship Class 6A Preview
This year christens a new venue for the PIAA state football championships—Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley. This year’s state championships also welcome four teams that have never been to the state finals before, which is in the seventh year under the 6A system. Only two defending state champions return this season, Southern Columbia going for […]
2022 PIAA State Championship Class 3A Preview
This year christens a new venue for the PIAA state football championships—Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley. This year’s state championships also welcome four teams that have never been to the state finals before, which is in the seventh year under the 6A system. Only two defending state champions return this season, Southern Columbia going for […]
2022 PIAA State Championship Class 5A Preview
This year christens a new venue for the PIAA state football championships—Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley. This year’s state championships also welcome four teams that have never been to the state finals before, which is in the seventh year under the 6A system. Only two defending state champions return this season, Southern Columbia going for […]
2022 PIAA State Championship Class 2A Preview
This year christens a new venue for the PIAA state football championships—Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley. This year’s state championships also welcome four teams that have never been to the state finals before, which is in the seventh year under the 6A system. Only two defending state champions return this season, Southern Columbia going for […]
2022 PIAA State Championship Class 4A Preview
This year christens a new venue for the PIAA state football championships—Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley. This year’s state championships also welcome four teams that have never been to the state finals before, which is in the seventh year under the 6A system. Only two defending state champions return this season, Southern Columbia going for […]
2022 PIAA State Championship Class 1A Preview
This year christens a new venue for the PIAA state football championships—Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley. This year’s state championships also welcome four teams that have never been to the state finals before, which is in the seventh year under the 6A system. Only two defending state champions return this season, Southern Columbia going for […]
St. Joe Prep is heading to another PIAA Class 6A state final after sinking Garnet Valley 48-7
PHILADELPHIA — It’s technically a new destination since the PIAA state football championships will be played at Chapman Field, at Cumberland Valley High School this year, as opposed to Hersheypark Stadium, in Hershey. That doesn’t matter to St. Joseph’s Prep because every year the Hawks’ aim is the same destination, a date in December in […]
Imhotep Charter is heading back to the Class 5A championship after beating Upper Dublin, 21-14
AMBLER — The mission was to get back. That’s the edict Imhotep Charter coach Devon Johnson put to his team back in August. That’s the promise the Panthers made to themselves. Imhotep accomplished its mission on Friday night over District 1 champion Upper Dublin, 21-14, at Wissahickon High School surviving some tense late moments to […]
Neumann-Goretti’s Shawn Battle explodes in the Saints’ 38-6 state 3A quarterfinal romp over Northwestern Lehigh
PHILADELPHIA — Shawn Battle sat there like a simmering volcano ready to erupt. Neumann-Goretti’s 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior was already spewing sweat from every pore, spewing whatever else he tried holding down while trying to maintain his composure as his stomach was doing backflips. The Boston College-bound safety and tailback would heat up, rehydrate, heat up, […]
Garnet Valley captures its second-straight District 1 Class 6A championship
GLEN MILLS — Drew Van Horn carries a proud family legacy. He was born after his legendary grandfather, Donald “Ducky” Van Horn, had passed away, but he heard and knows the stories. He still has his grandfather’s tattered Cardinal O’Hara red coaching shirt. Football is part of Drew’s DNA. By the instinctive way the 6-foot, […]
Imhotep captures the District 12 5A title with a 14-6 win over Roman Catholic
PHILADELPHIA — Mikal Davis’ feet hurt. It was a little hard to tell by the way the Imhotep Charter 6-foot, 200-pound junior quarterback moved through a very stubborn Roman Catholic defense on Saturday in the PIAA District 12 Class 5A championship at Northeast High School. Davis’ crucial 30-yard fourth-quarter run, followed by his second touchdown […]
St. Joe Prep’s offensive line carries the weight in dominating Northeast, 49-6, to head to the PIAA 6A quarterfinals
PHILADELPHIA — They don’t mind the obscurity. They embrace it. They know what they’re really doing. They know winning rests on them. It’s always that way with offensive linemen. They’re the ones working in the pits, doing the grinding, selfless work of creating opportunities for their teammates. So, if St. Joseph Prep is looking to […]
Magic Matt Mesaros leads Garnet Valley into the District 1 6A championship in a 28-17 victory over Downingtown East
GLEN MILLS — Matt Mesaros is the starting quarterback for Garnet Valley. The 5-8, 170-pound senior takes his role as a leader seriously. So serious that he’s willing to selflessly play scout team quarterback, usually a part for an understudy. It allows Mesaros to have some fun with the Garnet Valley first-team defense. During those […]
Haverford School caps historic season with Inter-Ac title in 21-19 win over Episcopal Academy
Haverford School couldn’t practice on Friday afternoon because of the rain, so the Fords took their final season walkthrough indoors in their gym. It’s when coach Brian Martin pointed something out to his team. Up there, adorned on the gym wall hung a gold banner with maroon numbers on it under the heading Inter-Ac Football […]
Downingtown East blows out Downingtown West, 34-9, to reach District 1 6A semis
DOWNINGTOWN — The call rang out, “49 main, 49 main,” from the Downingtown East offense. The Downingtown West defenders knew just what the Cougars were going to do before the snap. A West defender even yelled, “they’re running left, they’re running left.” And that’s what East did Friday night against rival West in the second […]
Chester Makes History With First Playoff Win, 18-15, Over Marple Newtown
CHESTER, PA — Before the Chester coaches entered the locker room at halftime, the Clippers’ senior leaders stood up. They weren’t about to let the chaos that had just ensued follow them into the two most crucial quarters of their young football lives in Saturday’s PIAA District 1 Class 5A playoff game against Marple Newtown. […]
Josiah Trotter leads St. Joe’s Prep to a 42-0 win over Roman Catholic for the Catholic League championship
SPRINGFIELD (DELCO), PA — The explosion was coming. It had been brewing for about a month. Somebody was going to feel the wrath of Josiah Trotter. The standout St. Joseph’s Prep linebacker missed four games this season recovering from a knee injury, which he suffered just three plays into the season during the Hawks’ opening […]
Upper Dublin remains perfect, despite being imperfect, in 34-3 victory over Souderton
FORT WASHINGTON, PA — Bret Stover was not about to take the bait. The legendary Upper Dublin coach was not going to place any definition on his team, because Stover has yet to see them at their best. Upper Dublin, District One’s No. 1-ranked Class 5A team, rolled over Souderton, 34-3, and the Cardinals were […]
Downingtown West gets by Chester in an ugly 34-19 victory for the ages
DOWNINGTOWN — No one had ever seen anything like it. Fans, coaches, players, and even media, all left Downingtown’s Kottmeyer Stadium on Friday night shaking their heads. Amid flying flags, angry sidelines, tossed headsets, screaming coaches, holding calls, facemasks, offsides, personal fouls, and unsportsmanlike calls, Downingtown West and Chester managed to play a football game. […]
Galamama Mulbuh leads the way to Pennsbury’s 37-22 victory over Central Bucks East
BRISTOL, PA — Each time there was a pile Friday night, Pennsbury’s Galamama “G” Mulbuh seemed to come out the other end dragging Central Bucks East defenders with him. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound senior tailback likes to initiate contact and he often bursts through it. For the third-straight week, Mulbuh rushed for 200 yards, and for […]
Malvern Prep keeps rolling, getting by tough Roman Catholic 10-0
MALVERN, PA — Malvern Prep coach Dave Gueriera was aware of all the dangers. His team beat state powerhouse Imhotep Charter 17-13 last week and the Friars had another major obstacle coming up in undefeated Roman Catholic and its spectacular junior wide receiver Tyseer Denmark. It will not fall under the pretty department, in fact, […]
Mason Ellingsworth Continues To Be An Inspiration Through Tragedy
Photos by Travis Boyd Mason Ellingsworth doesn’t look down. He hardly ever looks down. He’ll look right up at you. And you better look him in the eyes, too, because upon meeting him, the first thing out of his mouth is, “I’m here.” The 17-year-old Octorara senior knows he could very easily not be “here.” […]
Central Bucks East “Shines,” 30-13, on a historic night over Souderton
BUCKINGHAM, PA — It didn’t take Ethan Shine long to turn the lights on him Friday in the first-night football game ever played in the 52-year history of Central Bucks East High School. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound senior running back and linebacker had a career game over visiting Souderton, barreling his way through the Indians’ defense […]
Samaj Jones shatters the St. Joe’s Prep record book in the Hawks’ 55-20 victory over St. Peter’s Prep
PISCATAWAY, NJ — Samaj Jones stood at midfield with the game ball tucked under his magic right arm, holding his helmet in his left hand like he was coming off a construction site. When he first heard, he blinked in disbelief. The St. Joe’s Prep junior quarterback knew he broke some kind of record. […]
St. Joe Prep’s comeback falls short in a 48-37 season-opening setback to St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida
It could have been worse. Much worse. Still, the St. Joseph’s Prep football team doesn’t look at it that way. The Hawks, six-time PIAA large school state champions, never have. They play in the real world to win, with no moral victory barometer attached. Nationally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas, from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, looked like […]
Neshaminy pushes back in season-opening 21-0 victory at Ocean City
It came a little tough for Jack Dunkley and Kyle Cunningham. The senior Neshaminy offensive linemen got a little tired of being pushed around last year. And Neshaminy was pushed around a lot. It finished 2-8 last season with a young team that matured through trial-and-error. The goal this year is to shove back. It’s […]
Downingtown West’s Jake Kucera makes a triumphant return in 48-13 win over Highland
The rattling rails of the rollercoasters could be overheard in the background, and the cool breeze pushing off the Atlantic Ocean on Friday afternoon gave Carey Stadium a reprieve from the heat in Ocean City, New Jersey, at the Battle of the Beach. It was a fitting tableau for the combustible Jake Kucera. The Downingtown […]
Chuck Burgy takes the reigns as head coach at Pennridge
The Pennridge head coaching job wasn’t something Chuck Burgy was looking for. The 43-year-old did not have a grand scheme as to when he wanted to become a head coach. But when Cody Muller expressed his desire to return to Texas, where his family originates, Burgy thought the time was right to make a move […]
Archbishop Wood names David Armstrong as its new head coach
David Armstrong thought the time was right. The former Central Bucks West great who played under the legendary Mike Pettine Sr. was named by Archbishop Wood as the school’s new football coach on Monday, taking over for Matt Walp, who decided to step down in May after two seasons. The Ivyland, Bucks County resident and […]
