P.I.A.A High School Football Forecast: Pennsylvania State Finals

Every week during the High School Football season, Pittsburgh SportsNation brings you uncensored, no holds barred predictions by our guru who goes by the moniker “P To The Power of 2”. He is one of our underground writers who covers W.P.I.A.L. High School Football in Western Pennsylvania. Or is it she? Either way, we'll never tell...unless you have $10,000,000 for PSN.


By P-to-The-Power of 2

The hardest part of the season is upon P-TO-THE-POWER OF 2: The final show, the tip of the cap, the curtain call….as we conclude 16 weeks of action this weekend from Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania!  

We crown the “Kings Of Football 2014”….The PIAA Championships. Four teams will head home with a title.  The heat of summer training, cool winds of autumn and the cold bite of winter have not derailed these final 8 teams.  

All games will be televised live on the god awful PCN network, where the camera man gets faked out more than a girl in a bathroom stall in a Georgia night club….

 

In last week’s semifinal action, P-TO-THE-POWER OF 2 posted a record of 5 wins and 3 defeats, taking my postseason total to 72-18, 80% and the 2014 season total to 142 wins and only 37 defeats, 79%.  

This will be the 3^rd anniversary for P-TO-THE-POWER OF 2.  So, over 3 seasons, I’ve posted 362 victories and only have 94 defeats, 79%. Last season in the PIAA Finals I was only able to take away 1 victory, losing 3.

 

Here are the “ALL TIME” PIAA Champion records.

 

CLASS A – East: 13 wins vs West: 13 wins

CLASS AA – East: 16 wins vs West: 10 wins

CLASS AAA – East: 16 wins vs West: 10 wins

CLASS AAAA – East: 13 wins vs West: 13 wins

 

This season will be the first time District 7 has sent all 4 champions to the PIAA finals since 2007.  The West has never swept.

 

On a much somber note…a tragedy occurred last weekend to a school district that I am not too fond of, for those of you who follow me, you know who they are, Central Valley…Our prayers, thoughts and best wishes to the family members affected by this tragedy….as for the scumbags who let this young man pass away without calling for help, I’ll keep my comments to myself….Reminder to parents that football is not everything….a reality check if you will….

 

But, we have 4 great games on the slate for this weekend…..for the final time in 2014…..Let’s Get To Work!

 

CLASS ‘A’ CHAMPIONSHIP – FRIDAY, 1:00PM

 

District 6 Champion Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders (15-0) vs District 7 Champion Clairton Bears (15-0) 

Bishop Guilfoyle enters the final by defeating South Williamsport last weekend, 28-21.  Clairton enters by clobbering Sharpsville, 54-18.  The Bears of Clairton are making their 6^th appearance in the past 7 years, winning 4 championships in the process.  RB Lamont Wade has rushed for 2,550 yards and has 45 touchdowns on the season, he is only a sophomore.  QB Ryan Williams has thrown for 2,877 yards, 39 of them for touchdowns and only has 3 interceptions.  First year head coach Wayne Wade has been the defensive coordinator for the past 5 seasons.  He is perfect so far, 15-0.  Bishop Guilfoyle will feature the best defenses that Clairton has seen all season.  The Marauders have 7 shutouts this season and allowed 5.9 points per game.  Their size up-front is a force.  QB Brandon Chadbourn has thrown for 1,499 yards and has 14 touchdowns, he also has 1,052 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground.  RB Sam McCloskey has 2,111 yards and 14 of them have been for touchdowns.  The matchup here is who wins the battle of the trenches, the hog mollies.  Bishop Guilfoyle defense vs the very fast offense of Clairton.

Can I get a pinky ring?....Yes, yes you can, a 5^th championship.

2014 PIAA A Champions….Clairton over Bishop Guilfoyle

 

 

CLASS ‘AA’ CHAMPIONSHIP – SATURDAY, 12:00PM

 

 

District 2 Champion Dunmore Bucks (14-1) vs District 7 Champion South Fayette Lions (15-0)

Dunmore defeated Wyomissing, 23-21 last weekend in a thriller while South Fayette took down Hickory for the second straight season, 44-14.  The Bucks of Dunmore make their fourth PIAA Finals appearance. Dunmore won the Class ‘A’ title in 1989 but fell to Jeannette in 2007 and lost to Clairton in 2012.  QB Eric DeLuccie has only thrown for 579 yards and 4 touchdowns.  RB Sal Marchese and Colin Holmes lead the way for the Bucks. 4,857 yards and 65 touchdowns on the ground game by these two gentlemen.  South Fayette features state record holder QB Brett Brumbaugh who has thrown for a ridiculous 3,618 yards and 40 touchdowns.  RB Hunter Hayes has rushed for 2,101 yards and 33 touchdowns and WR Nick Ponikvar has 998 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.  South Fayette is in the PIAA finals for the 3^rd time in 5 years, winning last year.  Since the start of the PIAA tournament, not one team in the ‘AA’ classification has gone on to repeat, not 1.  Twice has a defending champion reached to defend its crown, only to fall. Dunmore will be without their star Colin Holmes due to an injury….ugh! Buck down!  

Last year I selected against South Fayette. Cue up The Who – We won’t be fooled again…..

2014 PIAA AA Champions….South Fayette over Dunmore

 

CLASS ‘AAA’ CHAMPIONSHIP – FRIDAY, 7:00PM

 

District 7 Champion Central Valley Warriors (15-0) vs District 12 Champion Archbishop Wood Vikings (14-1)

Central Valley surprised a lot of folks last week by upending Bishop McDevitt in a driving rain, 26-21 while Archbishop Wood baptized Somerset, 63-20. Central Valley has reached the pinnacle game for the first time in the schools 5 years. QB John George has thrown for 1,329 yards and has 15 touchdowns.  RB Jordan Whitehead has 1,899 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns. WR BJ Powell has 880 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. Former Rochester Ram Preston Johnson will lead the Warriors defense.  In last weekend’s semifinal, Archbishop Wood rushed for 525 yards on 39 carries behind 6’5, 280lb offensive tackle Ryan Bates.  The Vikings line averages 255 pounds. RB Jarrett McClenton has 1,956 yards rushing only on 173 carries and has 33 touchdowns. This will be the Vikings 4^th straight PIAA Championship appearance. The Vikings have won 2 championships in the process, last year in 2013 and in 2011.  The Warriors ship will be sunk, matter of fact, they won’t even have enough buckets to empty the water to keep it afloat.

A 3^rd ring for the Vikings….Row, Row, Row your ship….To the trophy case! Do this in a Dicky Vitale voice…"A Back-To-Back Baby!”

2014 PIAA AAA Champions….Archbishop Wood over Central Valley

 

CLASS ‘AAAA’ CHAMPIONSHIP – SATURDAY, 6:00PM

 

District 7 Champion Pine Richland Rams (15-0) vs District 12 Champion St. Joes Prep Haws (10-3)

St Joes defeated Pennsbury 37-7 last weekend and Pine Richland escaped Wilson in the final moments, 28-17.  Pine Richland features Gatorade Player of the Year, QB Ben DiNucci who has passed for 7,242 career yards. This season he has 3,886 yards for 42 touchdowns. WR Mike Merhaut has 96 receptions for 1,418 yards and 14 touchdowns, WR D’ondre Gastion has 57 receptions for 1,105 yards and 14 touchdowns.  RB Connor Slomka has rushed for 1,511 yards and 34 touchdowns. The Rams offensive line will be anchored by Jake Good 6-3, 240. Matt Pickels 6-0, 250. James Willard, 6-5, 270. Matt Hampson 6-4, 220 and John Kohley, 6-2, 275.  St. Joes Prep QB Jack Clements has thrown for 1,906 yards and has 24 touchdowns.  RB De’Andre Swift has 825 yards with 10 touchdowns and Olamide Zaccheaus has 683 rushing yards and has 9 touchdowns.  The Hawks cut their path through D12 power LaSalle College and Parkland, usint their national slate early by playing Chicago Mt. Carmel, Don Bosco Prep and St. Ignatius.  They’ll be led up front by Jon Runyan Jr, 6-6, 285 and Jake Strain, 6-4, 240.  A team hell bent on another ring….forget technique, this is a street fight…not for the squeamish for sure.

The Hawks land the final blow.

2014 PIAA AAAA Champions…..St Joes Prep over Pine Richland

 

I thank you all for your support on another campaign.  We shall meet again, in August, under the lights. Take care! See you next season!