EasternPAFootball.com Notebook: Quarterback, coaching milestones, Fullback leads team in receiving yards, and other tidbits
Just call it the year of the quarterback. Several quarterbacks in the eastern half of the state have or recently have eclipsed career milestones for passing yardage. One quarterback, in fact, helped his program establish a new state standard in one statistical category. It begins with Manheim Township’s Brennan Scott, who surpassed the 5,000-yard passing […]
2012 Statewide Football Rankings – Week 3
Statewide football rankings are compiled and updated weekly by EasternPAFootball.com’s Josh Funk and released for publication each Monday during the season. Installments for Weeks 1 through 16 will include the team, geographic district, overall season record and the previous week’s result. Teams listed in the “Honorable Mention” category are arranged in numerical order by geographic […]
McDowell shows no mercy in convincing victory over Lancaster Catholic
ALTOONA, Pa. – If you’d take a look at Erie McDowell’s final team rushing statistics from its 2011 season, you wouldn’t see James Conner’s name in the No. 1, 2, or 3 slot. And not even the fourth. The now 6’2, 230-pound senior and Pitt recruit was fifth, with 267 yards and three touchdowns. “I […]
2012 Statewide Football Rankings – Week 2
Statewide football rankings are compiled and updated weekly by EasternPAFootball.com’s Josh Funk and released for publication each Monday during the season. Installments for Weeks 1 through 16 will include the team, geographic district, overall season record and the previous week’s result. Teams listed in the “Honorable Mention” category are arranged in numerical order by geographic […]
2012 Statewide Football Rankings – Week 1
Statewide football rankings are compiled and updated weekly by EasternPAFootball.com’s Josh Funk and released for publication each Monday during the season. Installments for Weeks 1 through 16 will include the team, geographic district, overall season record and the previous week’s result. Teams listed in the “Honorable Mention” category are arranged in numerical order by geographic […]
2012 Statewide High School Football Rankings – Preseason
Statewide football rankings are compiled and updated weekly by EasternPAFootball.com’s Josh Funk and released for publication each Monday during the season. Installments for Weeks 1 through 16 will include the team, geographic district, overall season record and the previous week’s result. Teams listed in the “Honorable Mention” category are arranged in numerical order by geographic […]
Haverford School TE/LB Matt Galambos issues verbal declaration to Pitt
After Thursday, the Inter-AC League will now boast a trio of Division-1 FBS recruits. Matt Galambos, a 6’2, 220-pound tight end/linebacker from Haverford School, issued a verbal declaration to Pitt Thursday, according to national recruiting service Scout.com. Including the Panthers, Galambos held a total of six scholarship offers, including Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Harvard and Yale, […]
Downingtown East LB Nelson Lee Lucas-Murphy issues verbal declaration to Robert Morris
Make it three Division-1 football recruits on Downingtown East’s 2012 edition of its football team. Nelson Lee Lucas-Murphy, a 6’2, 220-pound linebacker, issued a verbal declaration to Robert Morris Wednesday, according to national recruiting service Rivals.com. With his declaration to the Colonials, Lucas-Murphy joins teammates Jay Harris and Kyle Lauletta as Division-1 FBS or FCS […]
West York Area OL/DL Brody Kern issues verbal declaration to Delaware
Three of the last four seasons for the West York Area Bulldogs have ended in the District 3 AAA semifinals. If the Bulldogs are destined to reach that juncture of the season, they’ll have a Division-1 prospect on their offensive line helping to pave the way. Brody Kern, a 6’2, 270-pound offensive and defensive lineman, […]
Roman Catholic WR Will Fuller issues verbal declaration to Notre Dame
Exactly two months to the day after issuing his initial verbal declaration to Penn State, a top Philadelphia Catholic League recruit has reconsidered and made a new decision.. Will Fuller, a 6’1, 170-pound wide receiver from Roman Catholic High School, issued a verbal declaration to Notre Dame Sunday, according to national recruiting service Scout.com. Fuller’s […]
Inguilli, Gething help City run past County in 78th Dream Game
SCRANTON, Pa. – At one point in the second half, a Delaware Valley assistant coach asked, “Is it Thursday (morning) yet?” It was hard to tell whether the assistant was joking or serious with the inquiry, but one thing was certain: in the 78th installment of the Scranton Lions’ Club Dream Game, the City all-stars […]
Penn Charter WR/S Daryl Worley issues verbal declaration to West Virginia
One non-PIAA affiliated program will now boast a second major Division-1 FBS recruit on its 2012 roster. Daryl Worley, a 6’0, 185-pound wide receiver/safety from William Penn Charter School in the Inter-AC League, issued a verbal declaration to West Virginia Monday, according to national recruiting service Scout.com. In addition to the Mountaineers, Worley, who held […]
Wyomissing RB/LB Alex Anzalone issues verbal declaration to Notre Dame
Pennsylvania’s top linebacker prospect in the 2013 recruiting class has made his choice of where he will continue his collegiate football career. Alex Anzalone, a 6’3, 220-pound running back/linebacker from Wyomissing Area High School in Berks County, issued a verbal declaration to Notre Dame Sunday evening, according to national recruiting services Scout.com and Rivals.com. Anzalone […]
Central Dauphin RB/LB Zayd Issah issues verbal declaration to Penn State
For the second consecutive recruiting class, the Central Dauphin Rams have one of its players bound for Happy Valley. Zayd Issah, a 6’4, 210-pound running back/linebacker for the defending PIAA AAAA champs, issued a verbal declaration to Penn State Friday, according to national recruiting services Scout.com and Rivals.com. Issah becomes the Nittany Lions’ 14th recruit […]
Downingtown East WR Jay Harris issues verbal declaration to Michigan State
Downingtown East returns several key offensive pieces from its District 1 AAAA quarterfinalist team a season ago. One of those pieces is a Division-1 FBS prospect bound for the Big Ten Conference. Jay Harris, a 5’10, 180-pound wide receiver for the Exton-based Cougars, issued a verbal declaration to Michigan State Monday, according to 247sports.com. In […]
Stroudsburg OL/DL Sebastian Joseph issues verbal declaration to Rutgers
The Mountain Valley Conference can claim at least one Division-1 FBS prospect among its 2013 class. Sebastian Joseph, a 6’4, 270-pound defensive lineman for defending MVC champion Stroudsburg High School, issued a verbal declaration to Rutgers Saturday, according to national recruiting services Scout.com and Rivals.com. Joseph becomes the second Keystone State athlete to declare to […]
Ohio rallies for 17 unanswered points, stuns Pennsylvania for fourth straight victory
HERSHEY, Pa. – “Four-peat! Four-peat! Four-peat!” That was the chant the 34 all-stars from Ohio bellowed from a midfield stage postgame after the trophy presentation from honorary game chairman Ben Roethlisberger. But the Buckeye Staters’ four-peat wouldn’t have been possible without a “repeat” of a different sort – from defensive back Nana Kyeremeh (Thomas Worthington). […]
Roman Catholic WR Will Fuller issues verbal declaration to Penn State
One of the Philadelphia Catholic League’s top returning wide receivers will be continuing his career in-state. Will Fuller, a 6’1, 170-pound wide receiver from Roman Catholic High School, issued a verbal declaration to Penn State Tuesday evening, according to national recruiting service Scout.com, just days after he picked up an offer from the Nittany Lions […]
Hulyo’s arm, Groff’s legs carry South to victory in Tri-County All-Star Game
MANHEIM, Pa. – Listing only one quarterback on a roster for an all-star game isn’t always common, but that’s exactly what South head coach John Manion did for Saturday evening’s Tri-County All-Star Game. “I got a lot of questions about that, about who the backup would be, but we had a lot athletes with (prior) […]
East Pennsboro QB Austin Wilson issues verbal declaration to Syracuse
Make it three Keystone State quarterbacks who will be continuing their collegiate football careers at the Division-1 FBS level. Austin Wilson, a 6’3, 205-pound quarterback from East Pennsboro High School, issued a verbal declaration to Syracuse Sunday evening, according to national recruiting service Scout.com. Wilson becomes the third quarterback from the 2013 class to issue […]
Maryland-bound Hills’ 4 TDs key West rout of East, 45-24
MONROEVILLE, Pa. – During his high school career, it wasn’t uncommon for Pittsburgh Central Catholic quarterback Perry Hills to only attempt nine passes in a game. But what Hills did with his nine pass attempts Sunday afternoon in his final scholastic football game of his career was something he admitted he’d never, ever done before […]
Wyomissing RB/LB Alex Anzalone issues verbal declaration to Ohio State
Pennsylvania’s highest-profile linebacker prospect in the 2013 recruiting class will continue his collegiate football career in the Big Ten Conference. Alex Anzalone, a 6’3, 220-pound running back/linebacker for Wyomissing High School in Berks County, issued a verbal declaration to Ohio State today, according to national recruiting services Scout.com and Rivals.com During his recruiting process, Anzalone […]
Hershey OL Andrew Nelson issues verbal declaration to Penn State
The Hershey Trojans will boast a Division-1 prospect on its football roster for the second consecutive season. Andrew Nelson, a 6’5, 260-pound offensive tackle for the orange and blue, issued a verbal declaration to Penn State Sunday, according to national recruiting service Scout.com. The Nittany Lions marked Nelson’s sixth verbal scholarship offer to date, including […]
Council Rock North OL/DL Curtis Cothran issues verbal declaration to Penn State
A second Pennsylvania prep football prospect has chosen to become a part of Bill O’Brien’s 2013 recruiting class at Penn State. Curtis Cothran, a 6’5, 245-pound offensive tackle/defensive end combination for Council Rock North High School, issued a verbal declaration to the Nittany Lions Monday, according to national recruiting services Scout.com and Rivals.com. Cothran held […]
William Penn Charter OL/DL Mike McGlinchey issues verbal declaration to Notre Dame
One of Pennsylvania’s top offensive line prospects in the 2013 class has chosen where he’d like to continue his college football career. Mike McGlinchey, a 6’7, 265-pound offensive lineman from William Penn Charter School in the Inter-AC League, issued a verbal declaration to Notre Dame Sunday, according to national recruiting services Scout.com and Rivals.com. The […]
Council Rock South’s P.J. Gallo added to Big-33 roster
District 1 AAAA runner-up Council Rock South will now feature one of its players on the 2012 Big-33 Classic roster. According to John Pizzigoni of the Council Rock South Football Boosters, tight end P.J. Gallo has been selected as a replacement for the Big-33 game, played June 16 at Hersheypark Stadium. Gallo, a Maryland recruit, […]
Central Dauphin OL Zach Wilk named as replacement to Big-33 team
Central Dauphin will now have two athletes representing it in the Big-33 Football Classic June 16. Zach Wilk, a 6’5, 275-pound offensive and defensive lineman, will join teammate Evan Schwan for one last high school football game together before departing for college. Wilk is a Cornell recruit; Schwan will head to Penn State. Wilk received […]
GAR Memorial DL Shakir Soto earns first verbal scholarship offer
One of the key returning pieces from GAR Memorial High School’s two-time defending District 2 Class AA champion football team has garnered his first Division-1 FBS verbal scholarship offer. Shakir Soto, a 6’4, 220-pound lineman for the Grenadiers, received a verbal scholarship offer from Boston College Tuesday evening, according to an e-mail from his head […]
Allentown Central Catholic WR Kevin Gulyas accepts preferred walk-on status with Villanova
Pennsylvania’s most prolific wide receiver has chosen to continue his collegiate football career at the Division-1 FCS level. Kevin Gulyas, a 6’0, 175-pound wide receiver/kickoff returner for three-time defending District 11 AAA champ Allentown Central Catholic, will play collegiate football for Villanova as a preferred walk-on, according to the Allentown Morning Call. Preferred walk-on status […]
Hershey FB/DT Harold Brantley issues verbal declaration to Missouri
A two-way football player from the Mid-Penn ranks has switched up on his choice of where he will continue his collegiate football career. Harold Brantley, a 6’3, 280-pound fullback/defensive lineman for Hershey High School, issued a verbal declaration to Missouri Sunday, according to national recruiting service Scout.com. Originally, Brantley has declared he would continue his […]
Central Dauphin OL/DL Zach Wilk issues verbal declaration to Cornell
An offensive lineman who helped to pave the way for Central Dauphin’s District 3 and PIAA AAAA championship team this past season has chosen where he will continue playing collegiate football.. Zach Wilk, a 6’5, 275-pound offensive and defensive lineman for the Rams, issued a verbal declaration to Ivy League representative Cornell Tuesday, according to […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – FINAL 2011 poll
The FINAL 2011 installment of Funkster’s Fab 40 statewide rankings includes the team, geographic district and overall season record. Final honorable mention selections for the final set of 2011 statewide rankings will take only 10 teams from each classification and will list the team’s geographic district and end-of-season record. Instead of being arranged in order by […]
TIPPING THE SCALES: Central Dauphin wins D3’s first AAAA state title in 20 years
HERSHEY, Pa. – At the beginning of the season, Central Dauphin head coach Glen McNamee said he was worried only about getting better each day. Because the Rams focused on the little things, it was able to take one giant leap Saturday night – a leap into the history books that neither the 54 players […]
Lancaster Catholic wins second PIAA title in three years
HERSHEY, Pa. – Holding a five-pound Hershey’s chocolate bar firmly in his left hand, Lancaster Catholic junior Roman Clay outlined the Crusaders’ set of goals for the season. “We wanted to win our non-league games; win our section; win Districts; win the state championship,” Clay said. The purple and gold have a message to headquarters: […]
Clairton wins third straight title
HERSHEY, Pa. – About an hour prior to kickoff, the hood of one of Southern’s school buses was raised briefly for what appeared to be some sort of engine inspection. And while Clairton’s offense was very much slowed by Southern’s grinding, ball-controling Wing-T offense, it didn’t take long for junior Tyler Boyd to rev his […]
PIAA “AAAA” state championship preview – Central Dauphin (14-1)
It’s been quite a while since District 3 sent a representative to the PIAA AAAA championship game. Try longer than a decade and a half. It’s actually the 20th season (if counting 1992 as the starting point) since Cumberland Valley hoisted District 3’s only PIAA AAAA championship. Lower Dauphin was the last D3 AAAA title […]
PIAA “AAAA” state championship preview – North Penn (13-2)
District 1 used to be a frequent participant in PIAA championship games, making a total of 12 appearances from 1990 to 2004. But since 2004, D1 hasn’t sent a team on to compete for a state title in the state’s largest classification. District 11 took a stranglehold on PIAA final appearances before a two-year run […]
Archbishop Wood throttles McDevitt for first PIAA title
HERSHEY, Pa. – There have been some dominant teams who have been counted among the Class AAA ranks in PIAA history, including the 1992 Berwick Bulldogs and 2008 Thomas Jefferson Jaguars. Add the 2011 edition of the Archbishop Wood Vikings to the list. Wood (14-1), ranked nationally among the USA-Today’s top-25 teams, rolled to 343 […]
Clairton wins third straight title
HERSHEY, Pa. – About an hour prior to kickoff, the hood of one of Southern’s school buses was raised briefly for what appeared to be some sort of engine inspection. And while Clairton’s offense was very much slowed by Southern’s grinding, ball-controling Wing-T offense, it didn’t take long for junior Tyler Boyd to rev his […]
PIAA “AA” state championship preview – Lancaster Catholic (15-0)
Prior to 2003, the Lancaster-Lebanon League could only claim a pair of PIAA finals appearances – Wilson-West Lawn in 1989 and Conestoga Valley in 1991. Neither trip ended well for the L-L League. The Bulldogs and Buckskins would lose their appearances by a combined 14 points. And so it stayed until 2003. But between 2003-’09, […]
PIAA “A” state championship preview – Clairton (15-0)
It’s been a long, long time since the WPIAL has seen a team have a run of dominance like the Clairton Bears have had these last few years. And really, in some facets, Clairton’s dominance is unlike anything the WPIAL or state has ever seen. Clairton can add yet another notch in their caps to […]
PIAA “A” state championship preview – Southern Columbia (14-1)
When the state last saw Southern Columbia in Hershey, the Tigers were flying past District 10 champion West Middlesex to their PIAA-record fifth consecutive state championship, supplanting Berwick’s previous state standard of four straight titles from 1994-1997. At that point in time, the Tigers had the stranglehold on the state’s smallest classification; Steelton-Highspire hadn’t yet […]
PIAA “AA” state championship preview – Tyrone (14-1)
If anybody outside of northeastern Blair County had the Tyrone Golden Eagles reaching the PIAA championship game this year, please stand up and take a bow. Such a prediction was viewed as bold, as conventional thinking was that the WPIAL representative, whether it was Jeannette or ultimately Aliquippa, would advance to Chocolatetown. But a funny […]
PIAA “AAA” state championship preview – Bishop McDevitt (13-2)
Last year at this time, we were talking about Bishop McDevitt as a “first-in-a-while” type of program, referencing its appearances in PIAA championship games. That same type of chatter can’t be applied this year, except when speaking in terms of hoisting PIAA gold. For just the third time in District 3’s PIAA finals history, a […]
PIAA “AAA” state championship preview – Archbishop Wood (13-1)
It’s been quite the ride for Archbishop Wood this 2011 season. Actually, it’s been a pretty smooth ride. The Vikings have met little resistance with each passing week. Now, Archbishop Wood has finally arrived at the destination it wanted to reach all season long – Hersheypark Stadium and the PIAA championship game. This time around, […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 15
The Week 15 installment of Funkster’s Fab 40 statewide rankings includes the team, geographic district and overall season record. AAAA: 1. North Penn (1, 13-2) 2. Central Dauphin (3, 14-1) 3. North Allegheny (7, 14-1) 4. La Salle College High School (12, 12-2) 5. Nazareth (11, 12-2) 6. Upper St. Clair (7, 11-2) […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 14
The installments of Funkster’s Fab 40 statewide rankings following Weeks 1-16 include the team, geographic district, overall season record and the previous week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. To save space, team records for those listed as honorable mentions are not published. AAAA: 1. […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 13
The installments of Funkster’s Fab 40 statewide rankings following Weeks 1-16 include the team, geographic district, overall season record and the previous week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. To save space, team records for those listed as honorable mentions are not published. AAAA: 1. […]
Columbia claims second D3 title in school history over Camp Hill
HERSHEY, Pa. – Columbia hadn’t had much luck, historically, in District 3 Class A championship games opposite Mid-Penn Capital rep Camp Hill, losing the 1988 and 2001 title games to the Lions. Mike Burke III, Columbia’s present head coach in just his second season, was a senior on that 1988 Crimson Tide team. This time […]
Lancaster Catholic downs Wyomissing for 6th District 3 AA crown
HERSHEY, Pa. – In the critical moments, big-time players make big-time plays. When Lancaster Catholic needed a shot in the arm, it got what it needed from junior corner Isaiah Taltoan. When it needed the knockout punch, senior Brandon Hollister delivered. Hollister ran for a game-high 159 yards, 87 of which came on the final, […]
