Archbishop Wood TE Colin Thompson up to 10 D-1 offers
Pennsylvania boasted two talented prospects at tight end in its 2011 recruiting class in Oil City’s Ben Koyack and Downingtown East’s Tyler Kroft. Pennsylvania’s 2012 recruiting class includes one of the nation’s top tight end prospects in Archbishop Wood’s Colin Thompson. Thompson, a 6’5, 255-pound senior-to-be, has received 10 Division-1 verbal scholarship offers to date, […]
Pennsbury OL J.J. Denman up to 13 D-1 offers
The Pennsbury Falcons may be able to lay claim to having the Keystone State’s top offensive line prospect in senior-to-be J.J. Denman. The 6’6, 310-pound tackle now has more than a dozen Division-1 verbal scholarship offers to his credit – 13, to be exact – according to national recruiting service Scout.com. Denman’s list of offers […]
Bloomsburg QB Blake Rankin generating Division-1 interest
It is safe to say 2010 was “the year of the quarterback” across the District 4 AA landscape. Consider that Towanda produced 1,000/1,000 quarterback Cody Miller; Danville’s Andrew Andreychik threw 32 touchdown passes; Lewisburg’s Camden Cassels helped lead the Dragons to a school-record 14 wins. But don’t forget about the Bloomsburg Panthers. They have Division-1 […]
Downingtown East RB Drew Harris up to 4 D-1 offers
The Downingtown East Cougars have posted consecutive seasons of at least nine victories and 400 points scored, and one of the reasons for their success has been the performance of D-1 prospect running back Drew Harris. Harris, a 6’1, 200-pound senior-to-be for the Exton-based Cougars, is up to four verbal scholarship offers from Division-1 football […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – FINAL 2010 POLL
The final 2010 installment of Funkster’s Fab 40 statewide rankings include the team, geographic district, and final 2010 season record. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. North Allegheny (7, 15-1) 2. La Salle College High School (12, 13-2) 3. North Penn (1, 13-2) 4. Pittsburgh Central […]
MERCY, PLEASE: West Catholic drops half a hundred on South Fayette to claim PIAA gold
HERSHEY, Pa. – High atop Section 26 of the visitors side of seating at HersheyPark Stadium, a group of South Fayette youth could be seen running back and forth across empty rows of bleachers during the second half of Saturday’s PIAA AA state championship game. It was eerily similar to what was going on down […]
Bishop McDevitt….
PIAA AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW – Bishop McDevitt (13-2) Harrisburg has waited for this moment for quite some time. The city watched as the Steelton-Highspire football community celebrated consecutive PIAA championships in 2007 and 2008. It watched as Lancaster-Lebanon League representatives Manheim Central and Lancaster Catholic reached the state finals last year, finishing 1-1. It […]
North Allegheny….
PIAA AAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW – North Allegheny (14-1) It only took six years, but North Allegheny head coach Art Walker is back on the PIAA’s biggest stage – the AAAA state championship game. Take a jog down memory lane, if you will, to the 2003 and 2004 PIAA finals when Walker guided Pittsburgh Central […]
Allentown Central Catholic….
PIAA AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW – Allentown Central Catholic (15-0) Isn’t it fun sometimes to turn on a football video game, say maybe NCAA ’10, and play an entire season with a juggernaut football team just to see what stats and numbers you can pile up? But the difference is, that’s a video game. The […]
LaSalle College High School….
PIAA AAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW – LaSalle College High School (13-1) Championship teams don’t rebuild. They reload. Many apologies from this writer for beginning with an old and tired sports cliche, but for this edition of the LaSalle College High School Explorers, it is a fairly appropriate statement. After the Explorers claimed the Philadelphia Catholic […]
Taylor-Riverside….
PIAA A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW – Taylor-Riverside (14-1) What seemed to happen with constant regularity once is now something to be treasured. From 1988 until 1997, it seemed that District 2 was a regular participant in PIAA championship games, making 13 appearances in that span and winning 10 titles. But suddenly, those District 2 appearances […]
West Catholic….
PIAA AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW – West Catholic (12-2) Heartbreak. That could best describe West Catholic’s first experience in the PIAA finals two years ago. The Burrs had it all – a record-setting scoring machine, a trio of 1,000-yard rushers, a quarterback heading to Penn State, a sizeable offensive line, and plenty of speed to […]
South Fayette….
PIAA AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW – South Fayette (15-0) For the second consecutive year, a football team led by a record-setting quarterback has found its way to the PIAA AA championship game. Last year, it was Kyle Smith (now at Central Michigan) and his more than 8,500 career passing yards and 118 touchdowns gracing Hershey’s […]
Clairton….
PIAA A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW – Clairton (15-0) It may be official. In fact, it is official. The supply of superlatives to describe what the Clairton Bears’ defense (including both first string and reserves) has accomplished these last trio of years is running lower than the supply of ice in the Arctic. They’ve put up […]
HERSHEY BOUND: Bishop McDevitt rallies to defeat lighting-quick Cathedral Prep
DuBOIS, Pa. – Amid the postgame celebration, Bishop McDevitt senior quarterback Matt Johnson was running around the melee with a Santa hat in his hand. The red hats with the poofy white ball on the end are quite a common sight this time of year, as Christmas is not too far away. Moments earlier, Johnson […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 14
Week 14 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. LaSalle College (12, 12-1), def. Easton Area 19-7 2. North Penn (1, 13-1), def. Neshaminy 42-6 3. North Allegheny (7, 13-1), def. State College Area 21-6 […]
Cumberland Valley mercy rules Red Lion for 12th District 3 championship
HERSHEY, Pa. – To fully appreciate the feeling of winning a championship, you have to go through some seasons in the doldrums. That was Cumberland Valley head coach Tim Rimpfel’s feeling after his Eagles claimed their 10th District 3 AAAA football championship and 12th District crown overall. The 35-7 mercy-rule victory Saturday night in HersheyPark […]
Shamrocks’ 12-game win streak ends with loss to Lewisburg
HERSHEY, Pa. – The formula for success on the gridiron in Pennsylvania’s cold December weather is rather simple. First, hit a couple big, momentum-turning plays. Second, play some solid defense. Third, and most importantly, limit the mistakes. Lewisburg followed that formula to a tee. The Green Dragons (14-0) scored the first 28 points of the […]
Cumberland Valley claims 12th District 3 football championship
HERSHEY, Pa. – The Cumberland Valley Eagles are hoisting District 3 gold once again. The Eagles (12-2) successfully defended their 2009 District 3 AAAA championship with a dominating 35-7 victory over Red Lion Saturday evening from HersheyPark Stadium. Game story and final stats are forthcoming.
Holy Name can’t slow Bishop Carroll’s ground game
ALTOONA, Pa. – From Mansion Park Stadium’s pressbox, one can hear the whistles from passing freight trains on the Main Line, one of the busiest freight rail lines in Pennsylvania. The Holy Name defense ran into a freight train of a different sort – the Bishop Carroll ground game. And it was a freight train […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 13
Week 13 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. LaSalle College (12, 11-1), DNP Week 13 (playoff bye) 2. North Penn (1, 12-1), def. Council Rock South 28-14 3. North Allegheny (7, 12-1), def. Woodland […]
Phillipsburg defeats Easton, 3-0, in OT
EASTON, Pa. – The Easton Red Rovers have fallen to the Phillipsburg Stateliners, 3-0, in their annual Thanksgiving Day rivalry game. Story and stats are forthcoming.
EASTON GETS THE BOOT: Pburg wins 104th meeting with OT field goal
EASTON, Pa. – Anthony Castro has made longer field goals in his career for the Phillipsburg Stateliners. He’s already tied the school record long of 47 yards. Castro’s also kicked many other field goals in his time with the Stateliners. But in the rain and slush on Fisher Field’s turf, Castro kicked his way into […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 12
Week 12 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. LaSalle College (12, 11-1), def. Philadelphia Northeast 35-0 2. North Penn (1, 11-1), def. Downingtown East 49-33 3. North Allegheny (7, 11-1), def. Pittsburgh Central Catholic […]
Pennsylvania’s 1,000-yard backfield rushing duos, 2006-present
Here is a compilation of 1,000-yard backfield rushing duos, since 2006. There have been 65 backfields with a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in that span. Impressive? Sure. Nearly a third of the backfields on this list occured in 2008 – when there were 16 duos and one trio of 1,000-yard rushers in the state. Of […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 11
Week 11 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7, 11-0), def. Gateway 10-0 2. LaSalle College (12, 10-1), def. Roman Catholic 35-16 3. North Penn (1, 10-1), def. Penn Wood 20-6 4. […]
PENNSYLVANIA’S TOP FRESHMAN PASSING QUARTERBACKS: Pius X’ gunslinger tops list
It appears Bangor Pius X freshman A.J. Long is all alone when it comes to passing yardage and touchdown passes in a freshman season. The Pius X field general has thrown for 2,633 yards and 27 touchdowns this season, putting him on a collision course for wicked good career passing totals should he continue producing […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 10
Week 10 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7, 10-0), def. Pine-Richland 37-10 2. LaSalle College (12, 9-1), def. Father Judge 34-7 3. Ridley (1, 10-0), def. Upper Darby 14-7 4. North […]
Defense reigns supreme as McDevitt tops archrival Harrisburg
HARRISBURG, Pa. – There’s a large, white banner spanning Market Street a few blocks west of Bishop McDevitt High School that reads, “Be a friend, not a bully.” The sign is part of an anti-bullying campaign in Harrisburg area schools. But there was just one problem. Bishop McDevitt’s ferocious defense obviously was unaware of said […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 9
Week 9 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7, 9-0), def. Fox Chapel 49-0 2. Ridley (1, 9-0), def. Garnet Valley 38-0 3. LaSalle College (12, 8-1), def. St. Joseph’s Prep 31-7 […]
Abington Heights defeats North Pocono to avenge ’09 loss
CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. – Abington Heights’ senior back James Freuhan had the luck of escorting the lucky girl crowned as AH’s 2010 Homecoming queen. Had the Comets not awoke in the second half from a slight scare from a capable North Pocono Trojan team, AH may have lost its crown as one of the top […]
LaSalle ground attack punishes St. Joe’s Prep
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – The game of football is one of adjustments. Some are big adjustments and some are subtle. And sometimes, it’s the subtlest of adjustments that yield the biggest impact.Just ask LaSalle head coach Drew Gordon, who simply tweaked an offensive formation at halftime. “We switched from a double tight set to a […]
Danville rallies to down Bloomsburg
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – For all that the Bloomsburg Panthers did to shut down Danville running back Anthony Sori for the first three and a half quarters, it would have been easy for #28 to get frustrated and not keep his head in the game. The Panthers’ speedster running back, who entered the game with more […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 8
Week 8 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7, 8-0), def. Altoona Area 38-10 2. Ridley (1, 8-0), def. Radnor 42-0 3. LaSalle College (12, 7-1), def. Archbishop Ryan 41-0 4. North […]
Allentown Central Catholic QB could mark a state first
Allentown Central Catholic quarterback Brendan Nosovitch is wreaking more havoc in the Lehigh Valley in his junior season, guiding the Vikings to a 7-0 record. And Nosovitch has the potential to do something that no other quarterback in Pennsylvania football history has ever accomplished. With 1,391 passing yards and 663 rushing yards through ACC’s first […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 7
Week 7 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7, 7-0), def. Gateway 21-7 2. Ridley (1, 7-0), def. Marple Newtown 46-21 3. LaSalle College (12, 6-1), def. Father Judge 42-14 4. […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 6
Week 6 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7, 6-0), def. Plum 33-6 2. Ridley (1, 6-0), def. Conestoga 28-14 3. LaSalle College (12, 5-1), def. Neumann-Goretti 63-0 4. North Penn […]
Zephyrs’ perfect season derailed by Vikings
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Whitehall placekicker Joshua Cirocco’s cleats were pretty distinctive – a bright shade of blue on a sideline decked in maroon and gold. Cirocco explained he had played in a soccer game earlier Saturday and didn’t have time to get a different pair of cleats. By the time the game clock at J. […]
Crusaders crush Colts
HARRISBURG, Pa. – It’s rare for Cedar Cliff head coach Jim Cantafio to turn down an interview request. But, sitting on the visitor’s bench behind Bishop McDevitt High School Saturday afternoon, the veteran taskmaster politely declined comment postgame. After what happened in the two-plus hours that preceded the polite declination, one would understand exactly why […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 4
Week 4 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record, and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7, 4-0), def. Woodland Hills 24-7 2. Ridley (1, 4-0), def. Springfield-Delco 32-0 3. Central Dauphin (3, 4-0), def. Mechanicsburg 38-3 4. North […]
SPIRIT OF GIVING DOOMS AVON GROVE…
SPIRIT OF GIVING DOOMS AVON GROVE: Shanahan forces 4 Red Devil turnovers, moves to 4-0 DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. – Christmas might be more than 80 days away, but both Avon Grove and Bishop Shanahan were in rather giving moods Saturday afternoon. Between seven combined turnovers, some missed opportunities and a blown 16-point lead, the only things […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 3
Week 3 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record, and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7, 3-0), def. Kiski Area 48-14 2. Ridley (1, 3-0), def. Haverford Township 39-3 3. Central Dauphin (3, 3-0), def. Delaware Valley 35-12 […]
Susquehanna Township “bedeviled” by Greencastle-Antrim
SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP, Pa. – As Susquehanna Township sophomore speedster Colby Grant awaited the second half kickoff, one of his teammates shouted out, “Take it to the crib!” The crib? “Yeah, the crib,” the player said. Greencastle-Antrim, however, did more than just take it to the crib. They took it right to Susquehanna Township using a […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 2
Week 2 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record, and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. Cumberland Valley (3, 2-0), def. Central York 30-0 2. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7, 2-0), def. Bethel Park 24-3 3. Ridley (1, 2-0), def. Lower Merion 33-0 […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings – Week 1
Week 1 rankings include the team, geographic district, season record, and last week’s result. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. AAAA: 1. Cumberland Valley (3, 1-0), def. Red Lion 45-6 2. LaSalle College (12, 1-0), def. North Penn 27-14 3. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7, 1-0), def. Akron Buchtel […]
Funkster’s Fab 40 Statewide Rankings
Pre-season rankings for the 2010 season include only the teams ranked and their respective geographic district. Teams listed as honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. EasternPAFootball.com & WesternPAFootball.net statewide rankings will be updated throughout the season the Monday of each week by site reporter Josh Funk. AAAA: 1. Woodland Hills (7) […]
East Stroudsburg South CB Kyshoen Jarrett verbally commits to Pitt
The Pitt Panthers have landed yet another four-star recruit in their 2011 recruiting class – the latest coming from eastern Pennsylvania. Kyshoen Jarrett, a RB/CB for East Stroudsburg South High School, verbally committed to Pitt today during a press conference at his school, according to EasternPAFootball.com’s David Mika. Jarrett chose Pitt over Penn State, among […]
LaSalle College’s Jamal Abdur-Rahman verbally commits to Villanova
It would be sufficient to say the Villanova Wildcats have had a pretty good week. After landing a verbal commitment from Whitehall QB Chris Polony, the Wildcats have now landed one of the Philadelphia Catholic League’s better multi-purpose running backs. Jamal Abdur-Rahman, an RB/CB for LaSalle College High School, verbally committed to Villanova today, according […]
Avon Grove FB/LB Brendan McLaughlin…
Avon Grove FB/LB Brendan McLaughlin transfers to Cardinal O’Hara One of southeastern Pennsylvania’s top returning fullbacks has bid his Chester County high school adieu for a Philadelphia Catholic League school. Brendan McLaughlin, a 6’0, 205-pound fullback who helped Avon Grove to its best football season in school history a year ago, has transferred to Cardinal […]
Delaware Valley Charter WR Brad Wilson receiving D-1 attention
One of the Philadelphia Public League’s top returning receivers (statistically speaking) has been generating some Division-1 interest. Brad Wilson, a 5’10, 173-pound receiver from Delaware Valley Charter, has received interest, but no scholarship offers, from four Division-1 programs – Cincinnati, Ohio State, Penn State and Temple – according to his profile on Scout.com. Wilson was […]
