North Star-Serra Catholic

[Born_to_Ramble]

End of First Quarter: North Star 7 Serra Catholic 7

[Born_to_Ramble]

End of First Half: North Star 22 Serra Catholic 14

[Born_to_Ramble]

End of Third Quarter: North Star 28 Serra Catholic 14

[Born_to_Ramble]

Final Score: Serra Catholic 34 North Star 28

[lhacbigfan]

Wow, thats too bad North Star must have played a great game and its a shame that they couldnt hold on in the 4th quarter against the #1 team in the state. Congrats North Star on a great effort!!

[THE CHOPS]

PIAA Football Playoffs: Road to Hershey Updates
12/1/2007 -
The 'Road to Hershey' is open for business with second round action this weekend. Along with all of the First Round results from last week, here are ALL of the final scores from Friday's action in the PIAA Quarterfinals, including wins by WPIAL champions Pittsburgh Central Catholic in Class AAAA and Serra Catholic in Class A, plus the Saturday schedule for Round Two.

PIAA CLASS AAAA:

Quarterfinals:

Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings 44 - Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers 6 {F} (MSA)

Harrisburg Cougars (11-1) vs Governor Mifflin Mustangs (12-1) AT Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey on Saturday, December 1st at 7:00pm

Ridley Raiders 19 - West Chester Henderson Warriors 0 {F}

Philadelphia George Washington Eagles (11-1) vs Parkland Trojans (13-0) AT J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown on Saturday, December 1st at 12:00pm

Semifinals:
(Friday, December 7th or Saturday, December 8th - sites and times to be determined)

Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (14-0) vs Harrisburg (11-1)/Governor Mifflin (12-1) winner

Ridley Raiders (13-0) vs Philadelphia George Washington (11-1)/Parkland (13-0) winner

First Round:

Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings 35 - Gateway Gators 34 in Overtime (MSA)

Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers 48 - Brashear Bulls 14

Harrisburg Cougars 17 - West Lawn Wilson Bulldogs 14 in Overtime

Governor Mifflin Mustangs 28 - Manheim Township Blue Streaks 21 in Overtime

West Chester Henderson Warriors 36 - Downingtown West Whippets 14

Ridley Raiders 27 - Neshaminy Redskins 7

Philadelphia George Washington Eagles - Bye

Parkland Trojans 16 - Hazleton Cougars 14


PIAA CLASS AAA:

Quarterfinals:

Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (13-0) vs Selinsgrove Seals (11-2) AT Mansion Park in Altoona on Saturday, December 1st at 1:00pm

Indian Valley Warriors (11-2) vs Erie Strong Vincent Colonels (10-2) AT Veterans Stadium in Erie on Saturday, December 1st at 7:00pm

West Scranton Invaders (12-1) vs Garnet Valley Jaguars (11-1) AT Red Raider Stadium in Coatesville on Saturday, Decmber 1st at 1:00pm

Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers 35 - Gettysburg Warriors 21 {F}

Semifinals:
(Friday, December 7th or Saturday, December 8th - sites and times to be determined)

Thomas Jefferson (13-0)/Selinsgrove (11-2) winner vs Indian Valley (11-2)/Erie Strong Vincent (10-2) winner

West Scranton (12-1)/Garnet Valley (11-1) winner vs Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers (12-2)

First Round:

Thomas Jefferson Jaguars 34 - Montour Spartans 0 (MSA)

Selinsgrove Seals 28 - Bradford Owls 0

Indian Valley Warriors 54 - Perry Commodores 0

Erie Strong Vincent Colonels 41 - General McLane Lancers 6

West Scranton Invaders 39 - Blue Mountain Eagles 16

Garnet Valley Jaguars 41 - Pottsgrove Falcons 22

Gettysburg Warriors 35 - Daniel Boone Blazers 14

Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers 17 - Hershey Trojans 7


PIAA CLASS AA:

Quarterfinals:

Jeannette Jayhawks (13-0) vs Karns City Gremlins (12-0) AT Clarion University on Saturday, December 1st at 1:00pm

Wilmington Greyhounds 35 - Bishop McCort Crimson Crushers 24 {F} (MSA)

Dunmore Bucks 21 - Lansdale Catholic Crusaders 14 {F}

Loyalsock Lancers 35 - Delone Catholic Squires 14 {F}

Semifinals:
(Friday, December 7th or Saturday, December 8th - sites and times to be determined)

Jeannette (13-0)/Karns City (12-0) winner vs Wilmington Greyhounds (13-1) winner

Dunmore Bucks (13-1) vs Loyalsock Lancers (12-2)

First Round:

Jeannette Jayhawks 61 - Beaver Falls Tigers 12 (MSA)

Karns City Gremlins 50 - Moniteau Warriors 12 (MSA)

Wilmington Greyhounds 18 - Harbor Creek Huskies 6 (MSA)

Bishop McCort Crimson Crushers 28 - Central Cambria Red Devils 21

Lansdale Catholic Crusaders 46 - Palisades Pirates 14

Dunmore Bucks 41 - Taylor Riverside Vikings 14

Delone Catholic Squires 25 - Camp Hill Trinity Shamrocks 0

Loyalsock Lancers 28 - Towanda Knights 7


PIAA CLASS A:

Quarterfinals:

Serra Catholic Eagles 34 - North Star Cougars 28 {F} (MSA)

Kane Wolves (13-0) vs Mercyhurst Prep Lakers (13-0) AT Veterans Stadium in Erie on Saturday, December 1st at 1:00pm

Bloomsburg Panthers 21 - Marian Catholic Colts 7 {F}

Bellwood-Antis Blue Devils (9-4) vs Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers (10-3) AT Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey on Saturday, December 1st at 1:00pm

Semifinals:
(Friday, December 7th or Saturday, December 8th - sites and times to be determined)

Serra Catholic Eagles (14-0) winner vs Kane (13-0)/Mercyhurst Prep (13-0) winner

Bloomsburg Panthers (13-1) vs Bellwood-Antis (9-4)/Steelton-Highspire (10-3) winner

First Round:

Serra Catholic Eagles 10 - Springdale Dynamos 6 (MSA)

North Star Cougars - Bye

Kane Wolves 14 - Cameron County Raiders 6

Mercyhurst Prep Lakers 21 - Mercer Mustangs 19 (MSA)

Bloomsburg Panthers 49 - Lackawanna Trail Lions 27

Marian Catholic Colts 20 - Minersville Battling Miners 0

Bellwood-Antis Blue Devils 27 - Purchase Line Red Dragons 7 (MSA)

Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers 24 - Millersburg Indians 21

[AmusedObserver]

Congratulations to North Star. I listened to the entire game and with the exception of the last 10 minutes they outplayed Serra Catholic. There was never any quit and they went toe to toe with Serra. The players have nothing to be ashamed of. In a game where no one but their family and friends gave them "a snowball's chance in hell" of playing with the mighty District 7 team not only did they play with them, they outplayed them for a large part of the game.

I must admit, however, that I was somewhat confused by the play calling of North Star in the 4th quarter. They had just forced Serra to turn the ball over on downs at their own 10 yard line. Rather than sticking to the running game and attempting to "shorten the game" by running the ball and then punting it away, keeping the clock running the entire time, they elected to pass the ball. The pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, bringing Serra within 7 points. On the next two possessions a similar decision was made and on both possessions the ball was again intercepted and in both cases the interception led to a touchdown and North Star's ultimate demise. Other than that, North Star played probably as good of a game as they could play.

Again, congratulations to the Cougars! I was really hoping to see them bring home the victory. However, even though they fell short I believe that we should all give them the respect that they have earned.

WELL DONE COUGARS! YOU HAVE MADE DISTRICT 5 PROUD!

[THE CHOPS]

I couldn't have said it better.. well said, amused observer

When The Ramblers of Windber played Duquesne two years ago, they too :!: went the opposite direction... No, they never had the lead like this years North Star's team did.. but the Ramblers went Too conservative :roll: against a good Duquesne team..

In the play-offs one has to be smart & know when to eat clock time & when to use a {good} play selection.
Windber using the Single Wing -T had Duquesne scratching their heads the whole first half, because they used many different formations from the Single~Wing T .. Windber had them confused & kept a more athletic & somewhat more talented Duquesne team guessing... Which is what you have to do. You can't run up the middle & around the end all day :roll: THE ELEMENT OF SUPRISE WINS GAMES

I was surprised a little & PLEASED, that N.S. did play as well as they did... It showed that The W.P.I.A.L. is still with-in reach of getting beat...

The chops....

[THE CHOPS]

Here's what the Harrisburg News said, about what they saw....


EAGLES "LOVING" 20-POINT COMEBACK: North Star Gives W.P.I.A.L. Champs Bigtime Scare

by Joshua Funk

Saturday December 01, 2007, 12:50 AM


HERMINIE, Pa. - In three previous meetings with the W.P.I.A.L., District# 5 didn't fare very well.

So it almost seemed logical that picking Serra Catholic, W.P.I.A.L. champion and a team boasting 3 1,000 yard rushers, in a rout was the only option.

North Star didn't get the memo.

For "3" quarters, the Cougars (9-3) led, but three fourth quarter interceptions doomed the D.#5 Champs as Serra Catholic (14-0) turned those gifts into "20" unanswered points to win in comeback fashion 34-28, at Yough High School.

With the win, Serra takes on the winner of the Kane - Mercyhurst Prep game being played tomorrow next weekend at a site and time to be determined for the right to go to Hershey and represent the West in Class (A).

Serra's Rich Bowen knew that North Star was going to be a real challenge. "I don't care what anybody says, that team (North Star), they are a good football team," he said.

"I think our kids said, that in the huddle just now, that was the best team we've faced this season."

But looking at the stats on paper, it seemed Serra's stifling defense, which hadn't allowed an offensive point in 20 quarters, would have easily controlled the Cougars' multiple-I scheme.

But when North Star jumped to a 7-0 lead on an "81"-yard touchdown pass, eyebrows raised slightly.

Serra countered on its next possession with an 85-yard touchdown pass from TJ Heatherington to Chris Loving, knotting the game @ 7-all.

North Star jumped back on top 14-7 on a Josh Burns (11 carries, 53 yards) 27-yard touchdown run.

Serra then countered again, this time with Loving hauling in a 15-yard pass from Heatherington.

Two plays later, the Cougars were back in front, 20-14, on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Cody Kaltenbaugh to Alijah Petrilla. An offsides penalty against Serra enabled the Cougars to go for two, which the did successfully, and built a 22-14 halftime lead.

It was obvious North Star wasn't going to fold just because history said it should.

"We laid it out to the kids at halftime: do you want to go out like this or do you want to fight?" Bowen said. "They chose to fight."

But the fight mentality appeared to be all for naught when North Star scored to make it 28-14.

"It was nice to have a good showing for our District," said Cougar head coach Stacy Schmitt. "We shouldn't hang our heads."

But after the quick score, North Star was held in check, only gaining 1 first down the remainder of the game.

Serra's defense forced "3" second-half interceptions. Chris Loving returned the first for a touchdown to get Serra within "7" points at 28-21.

Then Gabe Newman intercepted another Kaltenbaugh pass at the Cougar 15. 2 plays later, Isaiah Jackson darted in from 4 yards out to give Serra its only lead of the game, 34-28.

Chris Loving capped the interception binge with 3:02 left in the game. From there, Serra ran out the clock and ended North Star's hopes of the upset.

"The turnovers were just devastating today," Schmitt said. "You can't have your defense stop the #1 team in the state when you give them the ball inside the "30" three times."

Kaltenbaugh finished the game 5-of-12 for 192 yards with "2" TDs and "4" INTs. Logan Fleegle added 20 rush yards for the Cougars, who amassed "300" yards of offense.

Heatherington finished with "200" passing yards and "2" scores and 67 yards rushing. Isaiah Jackson finished with 105 yards rushing and 2 fourth quarter touchdowns for the Eagles.

Chris Loving did a little bit of everything. He ran for 15 yards, caught 7 passes for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns, and had 2 INTs on defense.

"These kids have been resilient," Bowen said. "They found a way to get it done, and that's what I'm proud of."