Bishop McDevitt RB Jameel Poteat up to 13 D-1 offers
For the second consecutive recruiting class, Pennsylvania will feature a notable recruit among its running backs. Last season, Cardinal O’Hara’s Corey Brown, a multi-purpose athlete who committed to Ohio State, easily stole the title of top Keystone State running back prospect. Now, Bishop McDevitt’s senior-to-be Jameel Poteat will more than likely own that title. […]
LaSalle pummels State College, 24-7
HERSHEY, Pa. – In talking with a Philadelphia reporter following the “AAAA” state championship game, Sam Feleccia said he was thinking about a major in some area of business. Speaking of business, LaSalle College (14-1) was very businesslike in handling District 6 champion State College (12-3), holding the Little Lions to just 120 yards […]
Lancaster Catholic wins PIAA gold; snow, LC defense slows Miller, Greensburg Central Catholic
HERSHEY, Pa. – When there would be talk and discussion about Lancaster Catholic’s football team, the topics would hinge around Kyle Smith and state passing records. It’s only fair, in a way. Smith’s 8,510 yards and 118 touchdown passes are both state career bests. His 50 touchdown passes were a state single season record. […]
Central fought the “Lauv,” and the “Lauv” won; Selinsgrove wins first PIAA title
HERSHEY, Pa. – In reality, Selinsgrove’s Seth Lauver could play on the offensive line for the Seals. Lauver is a 6’2, 250-pound junior, and he could probably flatten many an opposing defensive player. Lauver, though, did some flattening from his fullback position in Friday night’s PIAA “AAA” championship game – flattening Manheim Central’s hopes […]
Clairton’s defense stifles Bishop McCort; WPIAL wins 30th PIAA title
HERSHEY, Pa. – Clairton’s 36 players gathered in a huddle, a joyous, jubilant huddle, and started a call-and-response chant of, “Ohhhh, yeeeaaaaaaah!” But for much of the game, District 6 rep. Bishop McCort kept things very, very close. But never were the Bears in danger of bellowing, “Ohhhhh no!” Clairton (15-1) pulled away […]
PIAA “AAA” State Championship – Manheim Central Preview
Believe it or not, Manheim Central’s 45-27 victory against West Allegheny Friday night snapped a playoff drought for Manheim Central. Prior to that victory, Manheim Central had been without a PIAA playoff victory since 2004, when it defeated Berwick 16-13 at Shamokin High School. Central’s two state playoff games since then – the 2004 “AAA” […]
PIAA “AAA” State Championship – Selinsgrove Preview
Picture someone standing outside a locked door, knocking, knocking, and knocking some more, waiting for the opportunity to get a chance to get inside. That person knocking on the doorstep used to be the Selinsgrove Seals’ football program. Prior to last season, the Seals had been on the doorstep of the “AAA” semi-finals only to […]
PIAA “AAAA” State Championship – State College Preview
A pregame conversation with Cumberland Valley head coach Tim Rimpfel before Saturday’s “AAAA” Western Final revealed just how much parity there was within the Mid-Penn Conference this season. State College had lost to Central Dauphin and Bishop McDevitt in the regular season. Cumberland Valley had lost to State College and Central Dauphin. State College barely […]
PIAA “AAAA” State Championship – LaSalle College HS Preview
The Philadelphia Catholic League seems to have this PIAA playoff thing down pat. They’ve only been involved with the PIAA playoff system since last year, but the PCL’s record against PIAA playoff opponents is fairly impressive. Archbishop Wood, a “AAA” school, is 3-2. West Catholic, which ripped through the “AA” bracket last year and made […]
PIAA “A” State Championship – Bishop McCort Preview
Bishop McCort calls the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference its home. And, when you look at some of the names that are included in the LHAC, there are powers past and present, like Bishop Carroll, Forest Hills, Greater Johnstown, and so on. But there’s been one thing that’s eluded the conference – a PIAA football championship. […]
PIAA “A” State Championship – Clairton Preview
The South Hills of Pittsburgh has become a hotbed for football in the recent past, especially in the smallest classification. Just look at the list of WPIAL champions – Clairton won titles three of the last four years. Duquesne, now defunct, won the 2005 championship and faced Southern Columbia in the state finals. And in […]
PIAA “AA” State Championship – Greensburg Central Catholic Preview
How do you normally think of celebrating a 50th anniversary? Usually, there is cake involved, or a large party of some sort. For WPIAL representative Greensburg Central Catholic, it’s celebrating its 50th anniversary of its football program in a different way – playing for a PIAA title. Playing for a state championship is nothing new […]
PIAA “AA” State Championship – Lancaster Catholic Preview
To put it simply, Bruce Harbach’s got things rolling in the Rossmere neighborhood of the northeastern reaches of the city of Lancaster. The Crusaders have become a mainstay in the District 3 “AA” landscape, and can usually be counted on as a lock to make up half of the ticket of the District 3 championship […]
Big plays help State College ground Cumberland Valley
ALTOONA, Pa. – State College head coach Al Wolski reclined on the Mansion Park Stadium turf with a football in his right hand. His State College Little Lion football team crowded behind him. Moments earlier, State College finished striking big play after big play after big, big play in winning District 6’s first ever […]
Indians can’t slow down Gorman, Gruber, Barons; Manheim advances to 3rd PIAA championship game
ALTOONA, Pa. – Manheim Central had always been on the cusp of making a trip to Altoona in the middle 1990s, only to fall in Eastern Finals to Berwick, in heartbreaking fashion. So the Barons’ first trip to Altoona, ever, and first meeting against West Allegheny would end in vain, just like first meetings with […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 14
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 14 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Bishop McCort (6, 13-0), def. Millersburg 33-6 2. Clairton (7, 13-1), def. Conemaugh Township 46-0 3. Farrell (10, 14-0), def. Clarion Area 19-14 4. Tri-Valley (11, 10-4), def. Southern Columbia 35-32 5. Rochester (7, […]
ONE FOR THE AGES: Cumberland Valley stuns McDevitt in double OT
HERSHEY, Pa. – Trying to find the words to describe the second half of football between Bishop McDevitt and Cumberland Valley would be hard to do. There were many highlight-worthy plays and heart-stopping moments. But, in the end, Cumberland Valley’s Kevin Snyder made the biggest play of his career and the Eagles’ season. […]
Bishop McCort crushes Millersburg, advances to Eastern Finals
HERSHEY, Pa. – After a 2-3 start to its season, the Millersburg Indians went on a nice run, an eight-game winning streak, along with the school’s first District 3 football championship. Speaking of runs, Bishop McCort literally ran over Millersburg. The Crushers (13-0) pounded the Indians (10-4) into submission, amassing 218 yards rushing […]
Live blog from Hershey – Cumberland Valley stuns McDevitt in 2OT; McCort routs Millersburg, 33-6
FINAL THOUGHTS FROM HERSHEY STADIUM: Gutty performance tonight by Cumberland Valley. Not many folks probably picked the Eagles to win, but lo and behold, look what happened. I made the comment that McDevitt is the “Gateway of the East” tonight, and that theory seems to have some validity right now, even though the Crusaders do […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 13
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 13 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Bishop McCort (6, 12-0), def. Bellwood-Antis 34-20 2. Farrell (10, 13-0), def. Sharpsville 34-7 3. Clairton (7, 12-1), def. Rochester 14-13 4. Southern Columbia (4, 9-4), def. Northwest Area 60-7 5. Millersburg (3, 10-3), […]
McDevitt stymies upset minded Penn Manor
HARRISBURG, Pa. – After a brief pregame chat with Bishop McDevitt coach Jeff Weachter, one of the Crusaders’ coaching staff gave a small reminder: “Just remember what you see today.” For Penn Manor, it won’t soon easily forget Jameel Poteat running inside, outside, and through its defense. Or Salath Williams’ receptions that chewed up a […]
NUMBERS GAME: Manheim rolls Conrad Weiser; Williams wins #300
MANHEIM, Pa. – Football is more than just the X’s and O’s and Johnny’s and Joe’s. The numbers are fun to crunch. 465 – total number of victories in Manheim Central’s history. 10 – number of 500-point scoring teams to the Barons’ credit. 42 – number of District 3 playoff victories. But tonight, the number […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 12
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 12 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Bishop McCort (6, 11-0), def. Penns Manor 45-21 2. Farrell (10, 12-0), def. Linesville 39-0 3. Rochester (7, 12-0), def. Pittsburgh North Catholic 14-7 4. Clairton (7, 11-1), def. Laurel 33-0 5. Bellwood-Antis (6, […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 11
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 11 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Bishop McCort (6, 10-0), def. Mount Union Area 30-7 2. Farrell (10, 11-0), def. Eisenhower 53-0 3. Rochester (7, 11-0), def. Brentwood 38-12 4. Clairton (7, 10-1), def. Avonworth 24-0 5. Portage Area (6, […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 10
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 10 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Bishop McCort (6, 9-0), DNP Week 10 2. Farrell (10, 10-0), def. Kennedy Catholic 56-7 3. Rochester (7, 10-0), def. Charmichaels 40-6 4. Clairton (7, 9-1), def. South Side Beaver 61-0 5. Old Forge […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 9
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 9 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Bishop McCort (6, 9-0), def. Bedford Area 48-13 2. Farrell (10, 9-0), def. Conneaut Lake 36-6 3. Rochester (7, 9-0), def. Monaca 28-0 4. Clairton (7, 8-1), def. Serra Catholic 39-7 5. Old Forge […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 8
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 8 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Bishop McCort (6, 8-0), def. Central Cambria 47-14 2. Farrell (10, 8-0), def. Lakeview 18-0 3. Rochester (7, 8-0), def. South Side Beaver 45-6 4. Clairton (7, 7-1), def. Avella 59-0 5. Old Forge […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 7
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 7 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Bishop McCort (6, 7-0), def. Greater Johnstown 40-21 2. Farrell (10, 7-0), def. Sharpsville 12-7 3. Rochester (7, 7-0), def. Neshannock 42-0 4. Steelton-Highspire (3, 5-1), def. James Buchanan 48-7 5. Clairton (7, 6-1 […]
SUNDAY SWOON: State College prevails; Central Dauphin East can’t quite pull off the upset
COLONIAL PARK, Pa. – If only high school football was 36 minutes instead of 48. Then we’d be talking about one of the biggest upsets in the state this season, and possibly even in Mid Penn history. Central Dauphin East had a 17-game losing streak entering the day, and State College was figured to win […]
Video replays aids Penn State in pummeling of Minnesota
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Joe Paterno says he’s always been a fan of instant replay. In fact, he said that he clamored for it well before video replay was instituted just a few seasons ago. Against Minnesota, the Nittany Lions benefitted from two video reviews, and both calls ultimately put the game out of reach. […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 6
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 6 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Farrell (10, 6-0), def. West Middlesex 40-7 2. Bishop McCort (6, 6-0), def. Westmont Hilltop 41-14 3. Rochester (7, 6-0), def. Shenango 42-6 4. Steelton-Highspire (3, 4-1), def. Middletown Area 33-21 5. Clairton (7, […]
Penn State pummels Eastern Illinois
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Leaving Beaver Stadium Saturday afternoon, three tiny Schnouser dogs chased this writer for a short distance. “Are you a mailman?” the dogs’ owner asked. No, not quite, but moments earlier, Penn State (5-1, 1-1) did their best impersonation of the postal service, delivering a 52-3 wallop to Eastern Illinois’ (4-2) doorstep. […]
Millersburg’s option too much for East Juniata
BEAVER SPRINGS, Pa. – The Saturday night sunset over Beaver Springs was one to behold. So was Millersburg’s defensive performance against East Juniata, which entered the game riding four consecutive victories. Millersburg (3-3) outrushed East Juniata (4-2) 312-84 in a convincing 27-6 victory at West Snyder Middle School. The Indians outgained the Tigers 384-200 in […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 5
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 5 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Farrell (10, 5-0), def. Linesville 40-0 2. Bishop McCort (6, 5-0), def. Richland 69-35 3. Rochester (7, 5-0), def. Laurel 14-7 4. Steelton-Highspire (3, 3-1), def. Central Dauphin East 56-29 5. Clairton (7, 4-1), def. […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 4
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 4 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Farrell (10, 4-0), def. Conneaut Valley 66-7 2. Rochester (7, 4-0), def. Western Beaver 39-0 3. Bishop McCort (6, 4-0), def. Bishop Carroll 28-6 4. Steelton-Highspire (3, 2-1), def. Palmyra 61-30 5. Portage Area […]
UN-HAPPY VALLEY: Iowa shocks Penn State in the national spotlight
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A soaking wet Joe Paterno sat in front of a packed Penn State media room, the lone man on the podium. “It was going to be a tough football game,” the 386-game winner said. “I think we played a strong game defensively.” But offensively? “We just didn’t get it done,” Paterno […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 3
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 3 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Farrell (10, 3-0), def. Reynolds 47-0 2. Rochester (7, 3-0), def. Union Area 37-0 3. Schuylkill Haven (11, 3-0), def. Minersville 35-3 4. Bishop McCort (6, 3-0), def. Somerset Area 38-0 5. Portage Area (6, […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 2
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 2 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Farrell (10, 2-0), def. Mercer 20-14 2. Rochester (7, 2-0), def. Riverview 54-14 3. Schuylkill Haven (11, 2-0), def. Marian Catholic 31-14 4. Bishop McCort (6, 2-0), def. Penn Cambria 35-6 5. Portage Area […]
Coach Danny Algeo: Corey Brown is “explosive”
In a word, Cardinal O’Hara senior running back Corey Brown is, well, explosive. That’s not just the impression of this writer – his coach, Danny Algeo, will tell you as much. But there’s more to the Lions’ multi-purpose weapon than just his explosiveness. “He’s very versatile,” Algeo said. “He’s a good runner. He’s a […]
Penn State defeats Syracuse despite poor ground game
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – If there was a fitting analogy to describe Penn State’s game against Syracuse Saturday afternoon, it might have been like that of a burning out light bulb. A bright flash, then nothing, then another bright flash, and then, nothing. Seventh-ranked Penn State (2-0) did manage 318 yards of offense (240 passing) […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Statewide Rankings – Week 1
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS WEEK 1 RANKINGS Honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Farrell (10, 1-0), def. Sharon Area 46-7 2. Southern Columbia (4, 1-0), def. Shamokin 21-7 3. Schuylkill Haven (11, 1-0), def. Tri-Valley 28-6 4. Rochester (7, 1-0), def. Monessen 21-0 5. Portage Area (6, […]
St. Joe’s Prep stuns McKeesport with 4th quarter comeback
WHEELING, W. Va. – Tickets to the Wheeling Rally in the Valley cost $20. McKeesport and St. Joe’s Prep gave ticketholders their monies worth…and then some. The Hawks (1-0) erased a 12-point fourth quarter deficit with two late touchdown passes, stunning McKeesport’s (0-1) potent flexbone attack 27-26 from Wheeling Island Stadium. It […]
Josh Funk’s 2009 Preseason Statewide Rankings
EASTERNPAFOOTBALL.COM’S 2009 STATEWIDE RANKINGS PRE-SEASON RANKINGS Teams ranked include geographic district and 2008 season record; honorable mentions are arranged in numerical order by geographic district. A: 1. Clairton (7, 15-1) 2. Farrell (10, 12-3) 3. Steelton-Highspire (3, 16-0) 4. Southern Columbia (4, 10-3) 5. Schuylkill Haven (11, 14-1) 6. Pittsburgh North Catholic (7, […]
McKeesport – St. Joe’s Prep Preview
The game: McKeesport Area (7, 0-0) vs. St. Joseph’s Prep (12, 0-0) When: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 @ NOON Where: Wheeling Island Stadium, Wheeling, W. Va. About the game: In a cross-state clash, McKeesport’s vaunted flexbone offense, with what some have called the best backfield in the state of Pennsylvania, take to the gridiron against […]
Liberty ranked 20th by USA-Today
There’s only one Keystone State team that cracked the USA-Today’s national high school football national rankings, which were released Friday Aug. 21, and for the first time in the last three pre-seasons, it’s not a WPIAL team. Bethlehem Liberty checks in at #20 in the nation, which is its second-highest national ranking in school history. The Hurricanes […]
A brief profile of St. Joe’s Prep football
In a way, it’s kind of ironic that St. Joseph’s Prep head football coach Gil Brooks works as a lawyer for Wolf, Block, Schorr, and Solis-Cohen LLP, a law firm in Philadelphia, in the business litigation group. The Hawks have had a very tight grip on the Philadelphia Catholic League football landscape for just over […]
Friends of Coal Classic press conference highlights game matchups
WHEELING, W. Va. – Thursday was supposed to be an exciting day, a day of talking football and the 2nd annual Friends of Coal Prep Football Classic during a press conference featuring the 10 coaches of the schools involved in a five-game marathon Sept. 5th in Wheeling. Instead, the press conference began on a somber […]
Manheim Central star Dakota Royer commits to Penn State
Manheim Central standout defensive end Dakota Royer made a verbal commitment to Penn State Thursday, according to Rivals.com. The 6’3, 221-pound sack machine had narrowed his list of choices to four schools prior to committing – Penn State, Pitt, Michigan State, and Notre Dame. Royer had over 20 Division-1 offers, including Oregon, UCLA, West Virginia, […]
Pennsylvania is better off with current 4-class system
Four classes and 16 weeks of football will stay with us for at least another two years. Thank God for that. I actually was sweating this one out, worrying that the PIAA football championships would be minus a cornerstone district in the WPIAL. Maybe I’m too much of a traditionalist in some respects. Having […]
Lebanon OL commits to Pitt
The Pitt Panthers added an offensive lineman from Central Pennsylvania to its 2010 recruiting class Tuesday. According to reports on Rivals.com and PantherLair.com, Lebanon’s Arthur Doakes verbally committed to Pitt Tuesday evening. Prior to committing to Pitt, Doakes also had offers from Rutgers, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Troy. Virginia, West Virginia, Boston College, UCONN, […]
