W.P.I.A.L. High School Football Predictions: PIAA State Semifinals

Each week from the start of the WPIAL season through the PIAA State Finals, Pittsburgh SportsNation brings you the best, uncensored, no holds barred predictions by our local high school football guru who goes by the moniker “P To The Power of 2”.

He is one of our underground writers who covers the hard hitting action of WPIAL High School Football in Western Pennsylvania. Or is it she...? Either way, we'll never tell! (Unless you have a crisp $100 bill in hand)

By P To The Power of 2

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle…wait! What? Christmas music has engulfed our radio stations, restaurants and every other place besides your home. 

Last night, PToThePowerOf2 enjoyed the holiday festivities outside of Rockefeller Center. 

Did Matt Lauer plug in the lights for the tree?

Have we really reached the PIAA SemiFinals, Already?!? Sad to say, but yes, we have.

The “Final Four” of each classification, 24 teams will battle this weekend for the right to advance to the PIAA State Championships next weekend in Hershey.

Last week, PToThePowerOf2 posted a record of 17 victories and 6 defeats, thus placing our postseason total to 63 victories and only 12 defeats, 84%.

Postseason record (63-12 / 84%)

Season Total (132-30 / 81%)

Great matchups this weekend, let’s do what we do best, bring you our predictions! Let’s get to work!

 

Class ‘AAAAAA’

Western Championship: 

District 7 Champion, Pine Richland Rams (14-0)

Versus

District 3 Champion, Manheim Township Blue Streaks (12-1)

This contest will take place on Saturday, 1pm, from the “Bone-Yard” in Altoona, Mansion Park Stadium. 

Manheim Township has never taken their season to the Western Finals before. They captured their first ever district title last week when they defeated Cumberland Valley in a thriller, 24-21. Blue Streaks RB Grayson Sallade will be key to time-of-possession. On the season, he has 1,313 yards rushing with 17 touchdowns. Last week, Sallade scored the game winning touchdown from 10 yards out with 6:50 remaining in the contest.

Pine Richland continued the trail of destruction in the 2017 playoffs as they cruised past State College, 49-21. Notre Dame commit & stand-out QB Phil Jurkovec has staggering statistics this season. On the season, 3,279 yards passing with 33 touchdowns, he’s also rushed for 908 yards. The Rams have made 2 PIAA finals, losing both in 2003 & 2014. 

We turn to the old quote of “You have to lose one to win one”. 

That’s also true for the Western Championship…

Pine Richland over Manheim Township

Eastern Championship:

District 3 Champion, Coatesville Red Raiders (13-1)

Versus

District 12 Champion, St Joseph Prep Hawks (12-0)

Friday, 7pm, from Walter Kottmeyer Stadium in Downingtown, PA. 

This is familiar territory for St Joseph as their on the doorstep of their 4^th state championship in 5 years. The Hawks are also riding a 27 game win streak. St Joseph defense has only allowed an average of 7.7 points per game. Last week, St Joseph sent Parkland home, again, 49-14.

Coatesville defeated 35-28 last week, Rutgers commit Avery Young had a pick six 72 yards for the victory. This game will feature plenty of talent and has the possibility of turning into a shootout all depending on how the defensive teams show up. 

All season, the whole commonwealth has been speaking about the potential match-up between St Joseph Prep vs Pine Richland…well, they are about to receive their wish.

St Joseph Prep over Coatesville

 

Class ‘AAAAA’

Western Championship:

District 7 Champion, Gateway Gators (13-1)

Versus

District 3 Champion, Manheim Central Barons (13-0)

Friday, 7pm, from the “Bone-Yard” in Altoona, Mansion Park Stadium. 

Manheim Central upset Governor Mifflin, 30-29 last week to claim their 17^th district title. The Barons relied on RB Giovanni Lester last week as he rushed for 90 yards and had 2 touchdowns. QB Evan Simon threw for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns as well. The Barons are looking to make their 3^rd trip to the State finals.

Gateway will turn to QB Brady Walker who has 3,597 yards passing this season with 38 touchdowns. Walker has also rushed for 579 yards. Last week, the Gators defeated Hollidaysburg, 49-30. Key to this game, can the Barons force Walker to be “uncomfortable”?  

Best of luck to the Barons slowing down Walker & Co.……

Gateway over Manheim Central

Eastern Championship:

District 1 Champion, Unionville Indians (13-1)

Versus

District 12 Champion, Archbishop Wood Vikings (10-2)

Friday, 7pm from Charles Martin Memorial Stadium. 

Unionville enters by defeating Springfield last week, 35-25 in the District 1 championship. Unionville is led by Joe Zubillaga who last week who had 2 touchdowns and a crucial interception. The only defeat this season to the Indians was from Downingtown East, 45-21.

Meanwhile, Archbishop is being Archbishop. A loaded program led by Virginia Tech commit Nasir Peoples who has 1,427 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. The Vikings have made easy work of the PIAA bracket, as they’ve won 48-0 over Archbishop Ryan, 36-6 over Simon Gratz and 41-14 last week over Wyoming Valley. 

Unionville has had a great season. It ends Friday.

Archbishop Wood over Unionville

 

Class ‘AAAA’

Western Championship:

District 3 Champion, Berks Catholic Saints (13-0)

Versus

District 10 Champion, Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers (13-0)

Friday, 7pm, Somerset Highschool. 

Cathedral Prep and Berks Catholic meet yet again in the Western Final. Last season, Cathedral Prep defeated Berks Catholic, 28-14 on their way to a PIAA title. Cathedral Prep defeated Thomas Jefferson last week, 42-17. The Ramblers will be led by dual-threat QB Joe Mischler who has thrown for 2,960 yards and 37 touchdowns. His favorite targets are Iowa commit Terry Roberts who averages over 30 yards per reception and Tyler Oedekoven. RB Matt Lupo has rushed for 824 yards this season and has 13 touchdowns. Cathedral will operate behind massive Penn State commit Frederick Scruggs at 6’4, 273lbs. Prep has won 26 straight including victories this season over DeLaSalle from Detroit, MI and Canisius in Buffalo, NY. 

Berks Catholic defeated Bishop McDevitt last week behind the stellar performace of Cooper Lutz who rushed for 221 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 45-24 victory. Berks Catholic is averaging roughly 47 points per game and winning on an average of 38 points per game. On the season, Lutz has 1,338 yards rushing. LB Brandon George leads the Saints with tackles and interceptions. The whole team has 22 interceptions on the season.

Berks Catholic wanted a rematch, they got one. They’ll fall short once again.

Erie Cathedral Prep over Berks Catholic

Eastern Championship:

District 12 Champion, Imhotep Charter Panthers (12-1)

Versus

District 11 Champion, Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks (12-2)

Last week, Bethlehem Catholic defeated Selilnsgrove, 33-32. Golden Hawks QB Javon Clements has thrown for 2,235 yards this season with 19 touchdowns. A tailback trio of Tavion Banks, Zaheer Seabrooks and Matt Bisko are combined for 3,413 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns. The Golden Hawks last week racked up 391 total yards and 5 touchdowns in the 1 point victory.

The Panthers are back, again, and again, and again. Imhotep is seeking a third trip to the PIAA finals. Last year, the Panthers lost in the finals to Cathedral Prep. Defeating Valley View last week, 41-0 the Panthers are led by Isheem Young who is commited to Penn State. Young has rushed for 783 yards this season with 17 touchdowns. Also, Khadarius Sampson and Carl Jones have combined for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns. QB Jalen Sutton-Christian has thrown for 1,566 yards and 21 touchdowns.

If the Hawks want to win this contest, they better keep the ball on the ground and the time of possession in their favor. Last year, Imhotep defeated Bethlehem Catholic, 24-13. We will have another great matchup on deck.

Imhotep Charter over Bethlehem Catholic

Class ‘AAA’

Western Championship:

District 10 Champion, Sharon Tigers (10-3)

Versus

District 7 Champion, Quaker Valley Quakers (12-1)

Friday, 7pm from Martorelli Stadium in North Hills, where Anthony Morelli is still, taking out the trash.

Quaker Valley stunned the state two weeks ago, upending the favorite Aliquippa Quips in an odd contest, 2-0. Giving the Quakers their first ever district championship. The Quakers will ride the “Guss Bus”. QB Ricky Guss has thrown for 1,942 yards this season with 24 touchdowns. Ricky Guss’ target of choice, WR Isaiah McNair who has 806 yards and 14 touchdowns only on 43 receptions.

Sharon ended their 17 year absence in the western finals by defeating Forest Hills, 45-25 last week. QB Lane Voytik has thrown for 2,439 yards this season and has 28 touchdowns. WR Ziyok Strickland has 1,248 yards receiving.  RB Jordan Wilson has 1,138 yards rushing with 17 touchdowns.

The story here is strength of schedule / competition that each team has encountered this season. State rankings show Quaker Valley in at # 5, Sharon in at #60. Nationally, Quaker Valley at # 246, Sharon at #1,890.  

Sharon has not faced a team this season that competes like Quaker Valley.

Quaker Valley over Sharon

Eastern Championship:

District 12 Champion, Conwell-Egan Catholic Eagles (8-6)

Versus

District 3 Champion, Middletown Blue Raiders (13-0)

Middletown finds themselves on the door step of another trip to Hershey. The Blue Raiders last week crushed Scranton Prep, 35-0. Middletown has only given up 7 points thru the 3 weeks of the PIAA playoffs, so that makes 2 shutouts in 3 games. RB Jose Lopez will carry the rock for the Blue Raiders. On the season, he has 1,749 yards and 23 touchdowns. Also RB Brady Fox has 1,402 yards rushing with 26 touchdowns. QB Scott Ash has thrown for 1,132 yards and 9 touchdowns.

onwell-Egan will look no further than to do-it-all back Patrick Garwo who has 1,838 yards rushing with 24 touchdowns. QB Alex Goldsby has 12 touchdowns on the ground and has thrown for 7 touchdowns. Conwell-Egan upended Palisades last week, 34-17

Good game, Raiders pull away late.

Middletown over Conwell-Egan

Class ‘AA’

Western Championship:

District 10 Champion, Wilmington Greyhounds (13-0)

Versus

District 7 Champion, Washington Lil’ Prexies (13-0)

Another clash between district 10 & district 7 in the west, yes sir! Fridays contest will take place at Slippery Rock University at 7pm.

Wilmington will feature a trio of tailbacks. Jack Patton has 1,108 yards with 14 touchdowns, Cameron Marett has 875 yards with 15 touchdowns and Bryson Verrelli has 1,010 yards rushing with 17 touchdowns. The Greyhounds defense is ranked top of the state with only giving up 63 points the entire season. Impressive to say the least.

Washington, well, they up-ended the defending State Champ Steel Valley last week 37-10. Prexies QB Nick Schwarts has thrown for 1,855 yards and has 27 touchdowns. RB Nick Welsh has 2,083 yards rushing with 29 touchdowns. The Prexies have amassed 554 points on the season and are the second ranked defense in the state, allowing only 112 points.

Which defense is better? Speed kills! Ask Wilmington what happened when they tried to beat Terrell Pryor & Jeannette?

Washington over Wilmington

Eastern Championship:

District 4 Champion, Southern Columbia Tigers (14-0)

Versus

District 2 Champion, Dunmore Bucks (14-0)

Friday night from Danville highschool these 2 teams will battle for a spot in the finals. 

Last week, Dunmore defeated Ligonier Valley, 23-20 and Southern Columbia crushed Neumann-Goretti, 45-12.

Dunmore QB Gavin Darcy has thrown for 1,468 yards and has 27 touchdowns. RB Frank Damiano has 631 yards rushing with 15 touchdowns. His partner, RB Billy Donvito has 603 yards with 8 touchdowns. The Bucks must play a mistake free game.

Southern Columbia is back again! They’ll give Dunmore fits with QB Steve Hollenbach who has tossed for 2,238 yards and has 26 touchdowns. WR Julian Fleming has 1,283 receiving yards with 18 touchdowns. RB Gage Garcia has 32 touchdowns with 1,901 yards rushing.

Too much offense for Dunmore to “outscore Southern”

Southern Columbia over Dunmore

Class ‘A’

Western Championship:

District 10 Champion, Farrell Steelers (12-2)

Versus

District 7 Champion, Jeannette Jayhawks (13-1)

Friday night, 7pm from Seneca Valley Highschool

Jeannette captured another district title last week by defeating Imani Christian, 35-34. Farrell shutout Ridgway, 36-0.

Farrell QB Isaac Clarke has 2,176 yard and 30 touchdowns this season. RB Christian Lewis has 1,330 yards rushing with 14 touchdowns. WR Jourdan Townsend has 1,509 yards receiving and 22 touchdowns. Farrell has put up 563 points this season and they have only surrendered 185.

Jeannette has the threat of QB/RB of Robert Kennedy. Kennedy this season has 1,294 passing yards, 1,113 yards rushing and has a total of 42 touchdowns. RB Imani Sanders and Seth Howard have a total of 22 touchdowns combined.

Jeannette has seen greater competition than Farrell. Farrell has not seen a player similar to Robert Kennedy.

Jeannette over Farrell

Eastern Championship:

District 3 Champion, Steelton Highspire Steamrollers (11-2)

Versus

District 6 Champion, Homer Center Wildcats (12-1)

This contest will also be played on Friday night at 7pm, From Hollidaysburg.

Homer Center shocked the state last week, ending Bishop Guilfoyles reign, 20-14. Steelton Highspire defeated Williams Valley, 41-6.

The Steamrollers, are Steamrolling we tell ya! QB Malachi Young has 2,110 yards passing this season ith 27 touchdowns. RB Dupre Andrews has racked up 1,390 yards rushing with 20 touchdowns. WR Kavon Hope has 576 yards receiving with 3 touchdowns. The Steamrollers Defense is nasty! Sky’Kirr Johns has 8 interceptions this season.

The Wildcats of Homer Center will be led by RB Jesse Lee who has 1,250 yards with 20 touchdowns. Another RB, Mike McCracken has also added 973 yards with 12 touchdowns. QB BGen Schmidt has just above 1,000 yards passing.

Might be the game of the weekend!

Steelton Highspire over Homer Center

Enjoy the lights! See yous in the finals……Where the hell is my chocolate bar?!