Here's what they are saying...
-
THE CHOPS
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: October 24th, 2003, 10:42 am
- Location: SCOTTDALE, PA.
Here's what they are saying...
P.I.A.A. PLAYOFFS:
CLASS (AAAA)
(West Championship):
Pittsburgh Central Catholic 35, Bishop McDevitt 27
Yes, this means PCC slows down the Shady Train enough for a return to the state finals. Or will it? The frank appraisal of this game is No Shady, No Way for McDevitt. But TB LeSean McCoy will be on what might be the fastest carpet in the state, and, well, excuse us for thinking that helps McDevitt's chances somewhat. The big concern, of course, is the McDevitt defense. PCC has a McCoy clone (Eugene Jarvis), balance, quickness and generally does not make the Big Mistake. That usually has spelled trouble for the McDevitt D. It has not been fatal to McDevitt in the playoffs to this point. We repeat, to this point.
(East Championship):
Easton 26, Neshaminy 21
Talk about your mixed signals. Easton throws unbeaten Phillipsburg, N.J., back across the Delaware River with a 31-0 shutout victory on Thanksgiving, then literally limps through a late fourth-quarter victory over a Philadelphia team that didn't figure to offer a District 11 stalwart much resistance. Neshaminy had all sorts of things going for it, including a revenge factor for an earlier loss to North Penn, even though the Redskins were playing, to some measure, the North Penn JVs. At that, the Knights had a 26-24 lead heading into the final period when Neshaminy's powerful running game turned it on. This game might last an hour, including halftime, the way these two run the ball. Minor injuries to Easton RBs Ovid Goulbourne and Zach Pizarro are a concern.
CLASS (AAA)
(East Championship):
Berwick 21, Manheim Central 14
Well, that ought to be a cozy little gathering up in Shamokin tomorrow. Actually, Kemp Memorial Stadium is large enough for this game. Really. So deep-six the lousy venue talk, OK? No one mistakes either team for their most recent state championship versions, but they didn't wind through the playoffs on reputations alone. Both teams usually love their passing games but not this year. And which RB do you give the edge to, Berwick's Brant Quick or Manheim Central's Jeremiha Hunter? Hmmm.
(West Championship):
Thomas Jefferson 14, Strong Vincent 7
Strong Vincent with its too-tough defense is the hip pick, but Thomas Jefferson brings a little more to the table than some of the Colonels' recent opponents. TJ isn't flashy, but it is effective.
CLASS (AA)
(East Championship):
Lansdale Catholic 28, Littlestown 8
A nice round of applause for Littlestown, the first 3-AA team to see the sweet side of the state semifinals since McDevitt made a second straight appearance in 1996. The Thunderbolts are not as flashy as their nickname, unless you're talking about the defense, which has posted two straight playoff shutouts. Alas, the'Bolts will have to keep Lansdale Catholic's beefy R.C. Lagomarsino under control, which hasn't been done this year.
(West Championship):
Tyrone 28, Grove City 6
That crown we had reserved for Seton-LaSalle after it knocked off defending champion Aliquippa in the WPIAL championships? We're going to drop is off at Clay Avenue in Tyrone on our way to Altoona this Saturday. Hope the Golden Eagles don't mind. Is Grove City the most quiet semifinalist in years?
"THE CHOPS".
CLASS (AAAA)
(West Championship):
Pittsburgh Central Catholic 35, Bishop McDevitt 27
Yes, this means PCC slows down the Shady Train enough for a return to the state finals. Or will it? The frank appraisal of this game is No Shady, No Way for McDevitt. But TB LeSean McCoy will be on what might be the fastest carpet in the state, and, well, excuse us for thinking that helps McDevitt's chances somewhat. The big concern, of course, is the McDevitt defense. PCC has a McCoy clone (Eugene Jarvis), balance, quickness and generally does not make the Big Mistake. That usually has spelled trouble for the McDevitt D. It has not been fatal to McDevitt in the playoffs to this point. We repeat, to this point.
(East Championship):
Easton 26, Neshaminy 21
Talk about your mixed signals. Easton throws unbeaten Phillipsburg, N.J., back across the Delaware River with a 31-0 shutout victory on Thanksgiving, then literally limps through a late fourth-quarter victory over a Philadelphia team that didn't figure to offer a District 11 stalwart much resistance. Neshaminy had all sorts of things going for it, including a revenge factor for an earlier loss to North Penn, even though the Redskins were playing, to some measure, the North Penn JVs. At that, the Knights had a 26-24 lead heading into the final period when Neshaminy's powerful running game turned it on. This game might last an hour, including halftime, the way these two run the ball. Minor injuries to Easton RBs Ovid Goulbourne and Zach Pizarro are a concern.
CLASS (AAA)
(East Championship):
Berwick 21, Manheim Central 14
Well, that ought to be a cozy little gathering up in Shamokin tomorrow. Actually, Kemp Memorial Stadium is large enough for this game. Really. So deep-six the lousy venue talk, OK? No one mistakes either team for their most recent state championship versions, but they didn't wind through the playoffs on reputations alone. Both teams usually love their passing games but not this year. And which RB do you give the edge to, Berwick's Brant Quick or Manheim Central's Jeremiha Hunter? Hmmm.
(West Championship):
Thomas Jefferson 14, Strong Vincent 7
Strong Vincent with its too-tough defense is the hip pick, but Thomas Jefferson brings a little more to the table than some of the Colonels' recent opponents. TJ isn't flashy, but it is effective.
CLASS (AA)
(East Championship):
Lansdale Catholic 28, Littlestown 8
A nice round of applause for Littlestown, the first 3-AA team to see the sweet side of the state semifinals since McDevitt made a second straight appearance in 1996. The Thunderbolts are not as flashy as their nickname, unless you're talking about the defense, which has posted two straight playoff shutouts. Alas, the'Bolts will have to keep Lansdale Catholic's beefy R.C. Lagomarsino under control, which hasn't been done this year.
(West Championship):
Tyrone 28, Grove City 6
That crown we had reserved for Seton-LaSalle after it knocked off defending champion Aliquippa in the WPIAL championships? We're going to drop is off at Clay Avenue in Tyrone on our way to Altoona this Saturday. Hope the Golden Eagles don't mind. Is Grove City the most quiet semifinalist in years?
"THE CHOPS".
-
THE CHOPS
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: October 24th, 2003, 10:42 am
- Location: SCOTTDALE, PA.
Re: Here's what they are saying...
P.I.A.A. CLASS (AAAA)
WEST CHAMPIONSHIP BISHOP McDEVITT (10-2) vs. PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC (14-0) Mansion Park, Altoona 1 p.m. Saturday.
Altoona is a hospitable town (well, other than the December weather), and Bishop McDevitt has luxuriated in Blair County. This year, the Crusaders won a ho-hum game at Mansion Park, executing that rarest of moves for this McDevitt defense, a 23-0 shutout.
Nine years ago, McDevitt posted another shutout, a 29-0 win over Burrell, and hopped the next bus home towing the PIAA Class (AA) trophy behind it. That's 52-0[/U] in games played at Mansion, a very fine and fast track.
A shutout Saturday against Central Catholic seems unlikely. Some people are slurping up Central Catholic's consensus top-10 national rankings. Some are awed by Tinker Tot tailback Eugene Jarvis and his snappy feet. Some love that quick defensive line, led by all-stateish DE Graham Rihn.
Of course, McDevitt TB LeSean McCoy is the Great Equalizer, which is actually a bit of an insult because he's actually been the Great Difference Maker. McCoy's incredible performances of late lead to two simple questions: Can he and his offensive line do it again, and will it be enough to beat a high-caliber team that is no stranger to the state playoffs?
Check in Saturday. You'll get your answer.
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P.I.A.A. CLASS (A) EAST CHAMPIONSHIP:
CAMP HILL (12-1) vs. S. COLUMBIA (13-0)
Selinsgrove High School
7 p.m. Tomorrow Night.
Seven hundred and fifty-eight yards of rushing. No other American high school football team, anywhere, has ever done that in one game. Only Southern Columbia has.
That it came in the P.I.A.A. quarterfinals against a high-quality team like Bangor Pius X, a team that handled District 3-(AA) champion and P.I.A.A. semifinalist Littlestown, is the really awe-inspiring aspect of that record.
That performance has added another layer to Southern's growing mystique.
This is being pegged as the can't-miss game, the surest bet on the P.I.A.A. board, the thoroughbred against the quarter horse. Camp Hill might be able to sprint out of the gate to a quick lead, but surely the Tigers' might, savvy, experience and sheer heft will take over.
Possibly. Probably. But those are the pundits' lines, and well, the pundits don't play much high school football these days. Camp Hill does ... and does it pretty well.
"THE CHOPS".
WEST CHAMPIONSHIP BISHOP McDEVITT (10-2) vs. PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC (14-0) Mansion Park, Altoona 1 p.m. Saturday.
Altoona is a hospitable town (well, other than the December weather), and Bishop McDevitt has luxuriated in Blair County. This year, the Crusaders won a ho-hum game at Mansion Park, executing that rarest of moves for this McDevitt defense, a 23-0 shutout.
Nine years ago, McDevitt posted another shutout, a 29-0 win over Burrell, and hopped the next bus home towing the PIAA Class (AA) trophy behind it. That's 52-0[/U] in games played at Mansion, a very fine and fast track.
A shutout Saturday against Central Catholic seems unlikely. Some people are slurping up Central Catholic's consensus top-10 national rankings. Some are awed by Tinker Tot tailback Eugene Jarvis and his snappy feet. Some love that quick defensive line, led by all-stateish DE Graham Rihn.
Of course, McDevitt TB LeSean McCoy is the Great Equalizer, which is actually a bit of an insult because he's actually been the Great Difference Maker. McCoy's incredible performances of late lead to two simple questions: Can he and his offensive line do it again, and will it be enough to beat a high-caliber team that is no stranger to the state playoffs?
Check in Saturday. You'll get your answer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.I.A.A. CLASS (A) EAST CHAMPIONSHIP:
CAMP HILL (12-1) vs. S. COLUMBIA (13-0)
Selinsgrove High School
7 p.m. Tomorrow Night.
Seven hundred and fifty-eight yards of rushing. No other American high school football team, anywhere, has ever done that in one game. Only Southern Columbia has.
That it came in the P.I.A.A. quarterfinals against a high-quality team like Bangor Pius X, a team that handled District 3-(AA) champion and P.I.A.A. semifinalist Littlestown, is the really awe-inspiring aspect of that record.
That performance has added another layer to Southern's growing mystique.
This is being pegged as the can't-miss game, the surest bet on the P.I.A.A. board, the thoroughbred against the quarter horse. Camp Hill might be able to sprint out of the gate to a quick lead, but surely the Tigers' might, savvy, experience and sheer heft will take over.
Possibly. Probably. But those are the pundits' lines, and well, the pundits don't play much high school football these days. Camp Hill does ... and does it pretty well.
"THE CHOPS".