W.P.I.A.L. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS: PIAA STATE FINALS

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

The most difficult part of the season is up us, the final show, the tip of the cap, the curtain call….this weekend we conclude the 2017 season from Hershey Park Stadium in Hershey as we will crown the “Kings Of Football 2017”.

The PIAA Championships, 6 teams will head home with PIAA gold! The heat of summer training, cool winds of autumn have given way to the cold bite of early winter. For the 12 teams remaining, they have survived all of these elements to get to this point.

All games will be televised on the god-awful PCN Network that is still not in High Definition. 

Could someone please explain to us why the hell they have yet to upgrade? Let us assume they do not take charge card for a PCN membership either? You have to mail them a damn check!

PToThePowerOf2 posted a 10-2 record last week in the Semifinals. 

Our 2017 standings look like this.

2017 Playoffs (73 wins – 14 defeats / 83%)

2017 Entire Season (142 wins – 22 defeats / 86%)

Better than most of your local papers prognosticators! Just remember who predicted them better than the rest this season! PToThePowerOf2!

Well, here we go, the PIAA Finals, our final rendition. We’ll miss you during the off-season, but we’ll be back in 2018!

Class ‘A’ PIAA Championship 

Thursday, 1:00pm

Jeannette Jayhawks (15-1) vs Homer Center Wildcats (13-1)

The Jeannette Jayhawks defeated Farrell last week, 17-6. Homer Center defeated Steelton-Highspire, 20-14.

The Wildcats of Homer Center shocked the state a few weeks ago when they upended the favorite Bishop Guilfoyle, 20-14. Seems to be trend on the scoring for the Wildcats. They’ll look to the RB duo of Mike McCraken who has 1,111 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns and Jesse Lee who has 1,375 yards rushing with 21 touchdowns. QB Ben Schmidt has thrown for 1,096 yards and has 8 touchdowns.

Jeannette has do-it-all player of Robert Kennedy. At the quarterback position, he has thrown for 1,294 yards and 23 touchdowns. At the RB position, he has rushed for 1,238 yards and 19 touchdowns. RB Imani Sanders will also see the rock, as he has 12 touchdowns on the season.

Homer Center must keep Robert Kennedy “in-check” if they don’t, they’ll find themselves going home a runner-up.

Jeannette over Homer Center

Class ‘AA’ PIAA Championship 

Friday, 1:00pm

Wilmington Greyhounds (14-0) vs Southern Columbia Tigers (15-0)

Wilmington defeated Washington last week in a shootout, 49-42. Southern Columbia make quick work of Dunmore, 56-19.

Southern Columbia is back, again, matter of fact, for the 16^th time! They’ll look to capture their 8^th PIAA Championship. The Tigers are led by RB Gage Garcia who has a staggering 2,137 yards rushing on the season, 388 yards receiving with 41 touchdowns. QB Stone Hollenbach has thrown for 2,366 yards and 27 touchdowns. The Tigers have scored over 750 points this season and are averaging 51 points per game.

Wilmington will counter with their 3 headed rushing attack with Cam Marett, Jack Patton & Bryson Verrelli. These 3 backs have combined for 3,143 yards and 49 touchdowns. QB Robert Pontius has thrown for 10 touchdowns on the season. They Greyhounds are known for their defense this year as they have only allowed 105 points against this season.

Tigers eat Greyhounds in the wild. We’ll stick with that on the field too.

Southern Columbia over Wilmington

Class ‘AAA’ PIAA Championship 

Saturday, 12:00pm

Middletown Blue Raiders (14-0) vs Quaker Valley Quakers (13-1)

Quaker Valley makes its first ever PIAA final appearance by defeating Sharon last week, 43-23. They Quakers are led by QB Ricky Guss who has thrown for 2,125 yards, rushed for 936 yards and has a total of 47 touchdowns overall. WR Isaiah McNair has 916 yards receiving with 14 touchdowns. RB Jordan Taylor has rushed for 631 yards and has 8 overall touchdowns.

The Blue Raiders are here for the 2^nd year in a row. They were able to return to Hershey by defeating Conwell-Egan Catholic, 49-7. The Raiders are now led by RB Brady Fox who has 1,563 yards rushing with 30 touchdowns. They are without their leading rusher Jose Lopez who had 1,749 yards with 25 touchdowns. QB Scott Ash has 11 touchdowns with 1,321 yards. The Raiders defense has only given up 100 points this season. Last year, the Raiders lost in their first ever PIAA appearance, to Beaver Falls.

We go back again, to that saying “You have to lose one, to win one” A toss up in this one, maybe overtime? We’ll go with our gut!

Quaker Valley over Middletown

Class ‘AAAA” PIAA Championship 

Thursday, 7:00pm

Imhotep Charter Panthers (12-1) vs Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers (13-0)

History channel? Nope! The third straight meeting between these two programs, the prior 2 meetings were split.

Imhotep Charter defeated Bethlehem Catholic last week, 34-14. The Panthers will look to QB Jalen Sutton-Christian who has thrown for 1,656 yards for 21 touchdowns. In the absence of the recently arrested Isheem Young, RB Tykee Smith has over 200 yards last week. WR Yusuf Terry has 796 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns.

Cathedral Prep is looking for back-to-back titles as they defeated Imhotep last year. Ramblers QB Joe Mischler has 3,057 yards passing this season with 37 touchdowns. The Ramblers RB Billy Lucas has rushed for 985 yards and 19 touchdowns. Matt Lupo has 862 yards rushing with 14 touchdowns. The Ramblers are also defensively led by Notre Dame commit Matt Bauer who is a stud. On the season, 9 sacks and over 90 tackles.

When Cathedral Prep defeated a very good Thomas Jefferson squad a few weeks ago, they proved to us that they’ll take another title.

Erie Cathedral Prep over Imhotep

Class ‘AAAAA’ PIAA Championship  

Friday, 7:00pm

Gateway Gators (14-1) vs Archbishop Wood Vikings (11-2)

Gateway defeated Manheim Central last week on a last moment field goal, 31-28. Archbishop Wood pounded Unionville, 49-29.

Gateway will look to its high-flying offense led by QB Brady Walker who has thrown for 4,364 yards this season with 44 touchdowns. His target of choice will be WR Courtney Jackson who has 1,885 yards receiving with 23 touchdowns. RB Isaiah Cameron and Derrick Davis are both out with injuries. Oh boy! Not good!

Archbishop Wood will do what they do best, run! RB Nasir Peoples has rushed for 1,571 yards with 25 touchdowns. QB Jack Colyar has thrown for 1,152 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Archbishop has been on the big stage numerous times already this season, with victories over Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, FL 14-13, losing to National power Paramus Catholic, 34-14.

Archbishop Wood over Gateway

Class ‘AAAAAA’ PIAA Championship 

Saturday, 6:00pm

Pine Richland Rams (15-0) vs Saint Joseph Prep Hawks (13-0)

We save the best of the best for Saturday night. The highly anticipated matchup between the Rams and the Hawks.

Hawks QB Marquez McCray has 1,414 yards passing this season with 13 touchdowns. RB Kolbe Burrell has rushed for 721 yards with 13 touchdowns. RB Marques Mason has 677 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns. Saint Joseph Prep gave up 49 points last week to Coatesville, until that time they led the state in the defensive category.

Pine Richland features QB Phil Jurkovec has staggering statistics this season. Jurkovec has thrown for 3,772 yards, Rushed for 1,136 yards and has 58 touchdowns. RB Jordan Crawford leads the Rams with rushing at 1,200 yards and 24 touchdowns.  

Tune into this one, should be a dandy. The Rams have made 2 appearances in the finals, they lost them both, in 2003 & 2014. Last year, St Joe’s Prep crushed Pittsburgh Central Catholic 42-7 on their way to their 3^rdPIAA championship in 5 years. They’ll look to capture number 4 Saturday.

This is the Super Bowl Game of high school in the commonwealth this year. Double-Overtime? Triple-Overtime?

Pine Richland over Saint Joseph Prep

Enjoy the final segment of lights…..See yous in 2018!