The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has released its Pre-Season Top Five Football rankings for Pennsylvania. Here's how things look going into the opening night of the season.
PIAA
CLASS AAAA
1. Central Catholic / 10-2
2. Woodland Hills / 10-3
3. North Penn / 12-2
4. Harrisburg / 7-3
5. Bethlehem Liberty / 14-1
CLASS AAA
1. Thomas Jefferson / 11-2
2. Pottsville / 13-2
3. Hopewell / 7-3
4. Strong Vincent / 9-2
5. Manheim Central / 12-2
CLASS AA
1. Greensburg C.C / 11-1
2. Aliquppa / 8-2
3. Wilson / 12-3
4. Mount Carmel / 8-3
5. Lancaster Catholic / 12-1
CLASS A
1. Southern Columbia / 13-2
2. Rochester / 12-1
3. Clairton / 4-5
4. Shenandoah Valley / 9-3
5. Kennedy Catholic / 9-3
This blog is part of Jeff Fisher's High School Football America network that is dedicated to providing high school football fans in Pennsylvania with the most up-to-date news and information in the Keystone State.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Colonial League Preview
Wilson has a bullseye on its chest. With nine starters back on offense and seven on defense, most expect the Warriors to walk away with the Colonial League championship. However, most feel the Colonial League title is just the first step, as many say head coach Bret Comp's team has the talent to make a return trip to the Pennsylvania 2A championship game.
For a complete league preview from The Morning Call, please click on our headline "Colonial League Preview".
For a complete league preview from The Morning Call, please click on our headline "Colonial League Preview".
Lehgh Valley Conferenece Preview
With quarterback Dan Persa back for his senior season, many believe that it will be Liberty that top the pack once again in the Lehigh Valley Conference. However, the Hurricanes did lose a lot of talent, and will have to work hard to make a return trip to Hershey where they lost in the 2005 4A title game.
Whitehall, which shared the regular season LVC title with Liberty last year, returns a strong offensive line. If the Zephyrs can find a replacement for graduated quarterback Mike Gnall, Whitehall should be able to fight itself to the top of the standings again.
For a preview of the LVC from The Morning Call, click on our headline "Lehigh Valley Conference Preview".
Whitehall, which shared the regular season LVC title with Liberty last year, returns a strong offensive line. If the Zephyrs can find a replacement for graduated quarterback Mike Gnall, Whitehall should be able to fight itself to the top of the standings again.
For a preview of the LVC from The Morning Call, click on our headline "Lehigh Valley Conference Preview".
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Easton Names QB For Opener Against Cardinal O'Hara
Jon Baltz, a 5-8 170 pound senior, will be the Red Rovers starting quarterback when the regular season opens September 1st against Cardinal O'Hara. Head coach Steve Shiffert named Baltz the starter after a three-way battle for the starting job during pre-season camp.
Easton looked solid coming into this season at quarterback until tragedy struck in March when Mike Cummings, part of the Rovers two-headed quarterback tandem in 2005, was killed in a automobile accident.
To read more about Shiffert's decision from The Express-Times, click on our headline "Easton Names QB For Opener Against Cardinal O'Hara".
Easton looked solid coming into this season at quarterback until tragedy struck in March when Mike Cummings, part of the Rovers two-headed quarterback tandem in 2005, was killed in a automobile accident.
To read more about Shiffert's decision from The Express-Times, click on our headline "Easton Names QB For Opener Against Cardinal O'Hara".
Sunday, August 20, 2006
WPIAL Interstate Conference Preview
The Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle wants to bring Keystone State football fans as many pre-season articles as we can. Here's one on the WPIAL Interstate Conference, which should see Greensburg Central Catholic battling Jeannette and Yough battling for the top spot.
Greensburg Central Catholic is loaded with three players already giving their verbal commitments to play Division I-A football (QB- Cody Catalina (Syracuse), RB- Max Suter (Syracuse) & WR Nick Sukay (Penn St.). Last year the Centurions made it to the WPIAL Class AA final before suffering their first loss of the season.
To read the preview from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, click on our headline "WPIAL Interstate Conference Preview".
Pittsburgh Central Catholic In National Spotlight Again
The 2006 Pittsburgh Central Catholic team is starting the season just like the 2004 Vikings team...with a high national ranking. The Vikes are ranked in the Top 10 in several national publications. That was also the case in 2004 when Central Catholic ran the table and won the PIAA 4A state championship.
One of the reason for the glare of the national spotlight is junior quarterback Tino Sunseri, who transferred to the western Pennsylvania school from Weddington High School in North Carolina. The 6-2, 190 pound Sunseri is the son of Sal, who is a Central Catholic grad and the current defensive line coach for the NFL's Carolina Panthers.
However, the national ranking isn't just because of Sunseri, the Vikes return speeding running back Lamont Smith, who ran for nearly 2,200 yards last year.
How excited are people in western PA about this team? When Central scrimmaged defending 4A champ McKeesport this past Saturday, 2,500 fans showed up.
To read more about how Vikings head coach Terry Totten is approaching the upcoming season, please click on our headline "Pittsburgh Central Catholic In National Spotlight Again".
One of the reason for the glare of the national spotlight is junior quarterback Tino Sunseri, who transferred to the western Pennsylvania school from Weddington High School in North Carolina. The 6-2, 190 pound Sunseri is the son of Sal, who is a Central Catholic grad and the current defensive line coach for the NFL's Carolina Panthers.
However, the national ranking isn't just because of Sunseri, the Vikes return speeding running back Lamont Smith, who ran for nearly 2,200 yards last year.
How excited are people in western PA about this team? When Central scrimmaged defending 4A champ McKeesport this past Saturday, 2,500 fans showed up.
To read more about how Vikings head coach Terry Totten is approaching the upcoming season, please click on our headline "Pittsburgh Central Catholic In National Spotlight Again".
Joe Montana To Be Honored By Ringgold
Ringgold High School has had its share of top notch athletes, but probably none more famous than Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana. So to honor the QB with four Super Bowl rings, school officials have announced they will name their stadium after him.
The naming will take place September 1st when Ringgold hosts Indiana. The naming of Joe Montana Stadium will be just part of a bigger weekend to commemorate Ringgold High's new Hall of Fame.
Also being enshrined that weekend will be baseball great Stan Musial and Kenny Griffey, Sr., plus former Minnesota Vikings kicker Fred Cox.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Southern Columbia's Hynoski Chooses Pitt
Southern Columbia plays in Pennsylvania's small classification, but that doesn't start its players from doing big things. Earlier this year, Southern Columbia lineman Josh Marks made a verbal commitment to play Division I-A ball at Penn State...now Marks' teammate, fullback Henry Hynoski has made his verbal commitment, choosing Pitt.
Hynoski, who's 6-1, 248-pounds, chose the Panthers over Iowa, Rutgers and Temple. Last year Hynoski carried the ball 240 times for 2,186 yards leading Southern Columbia to its fourth straight PIAA Class A championship. The Tigers have been in 11 of the last 12 championship games. No other team has made as many championship appearances.
Hynoski's father Henry, Sr. played in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.
Hynoski, who's 6-1, 248-pounds, chose the Panthers over Iowa, Rutgers and Temple. Last year Hynoski carried the ball 240 times for 2,186 yards leading Southern Columbia to its fourth straight PIAA Class A championship. The Tigers have been in 11 of the last 12 championship games. No other team has made as many championship appearances.
Hynoski's father Henry, Sr. played in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.
Liberty Quarterback Persa Chooses Northwestern
Liberty is expected to have a shot at returning to Hershey this year to take a run at winning the state's 4A championship, which they lost last year in a 49-10 thumping at the hands of McKeesport last December.
The reason? Quarterback Dan Persa is back for his senior season, which will be his fourth as a starter for the Hurricanes.
Earlier this summer, Persa revealed that he'll play his college ball in the Big 10 at Northwestern. Persa chose the Wildcats over West Virgina, which is where crosstown rival Adam Bednarik (Bethlehem Catholic) is playing his college ball.
To read more about Persa's verbal commitment decision, please click on our headline "Liberty Quarterback Persa Chooses Northwestern".
The reason? Quarterback Dan Persa is back for his senior season, which will be his fourth as a starter for the Hurricanes.
Earlier this summer, Persa revealed that he'll play his college ball in the Big 10 at Northwestern. Persa chose the Wildcats over West Virgina, which is where crosstown rival Adam Bednarik (Bethlehem Catholic) is playing his college ball.
To read more about Persa's verbal commitment decision, please click on our headline "Liberty Quarterback Persa Chooses Northwestern".
Easton Opens Camp With Quarterback Questions
One of Pennsylvania's most storied programs is dealing with something old, but something new at the start of camp...the search for a new quarterback.
Yes, head coach Steve Shiffert has opened other fall camps with the same question, "who will be my quarterback?" However, he didn't expect that to be the case at the end of last year.
Shiffert expect that when camp began Monday that Michael Cummings would handed the reigns to the Rover offense. That all changed March 5 when Cummings, who split time at the quarterback position last year with Chris Flournoy, was killed in a car crash.
That tragedy has created quite a battle for the Rovers #1 signal caller. To read more about Shiffert's search from the Express Times, please click on our headline "Easton Opens Camp With Quarterback Questions"
Yes, head coach Steve Shiffert has opened other fall camps with the same question, "who will be my quarterback?" However, he didn't expect that to be the case at the end of last year.
Shiffert expect that when camp began Monday that Michael Cummings would handed the reigns to the Rover offense. That all changed March 5 when Cummings, who split time at the quarterback position last year with Chris Flournoy, was killed in a car crash.
That tragedy has created quite a battle for the Rovers #1 signal caller. To read more about Shiffert's search from the Express Times, please click on our headline "Easton Opens Camp With Quarterback Questions"
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Litzenberger-era Begins At Catasauqua
After two decades as an assistant coach around the Lehigh Valley, Mike Litzenberger began calling the shots as the #1 guy at Catasauqua yesterday. To read about his first day on the job from an article in The Morning Call, please click on our headline "Litzenberger-era Begins at Catasauqua".
High School Football Begins in Pennsylvania; Wilson Readies For Return To State Championship
Fall camps opened across Pennsylvania Monday, with each school sporting high hopes as the Road to Hershey began. Last year, Wilson got off to a slow start, but in the end, it was the Warriors, who found themselves in Chocolatetown in December playing for the 2A title.
This year, things are a little different as Wilson begins the season at the pre-season favorite to win the Colonial League, and make a return trip to Hershey.
One big reason is the Warriors return quarterback D.J. Lenehan, who's getting looks for several Division I-A schools.
For a look at the first day of camp at Wilson and Colonial League foe Pen Argyl, please click on the Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle headline "High School Football Begins in Pennsylvania; Wilson Readies For Return To State Championship".
This year, things are a little different as Wilson begins the season at the pre-season favorite to win the Colonial League, and make a return trip to Hershey.
One big reason is the Warriors return quarterback D.J. Lenehan, who's getting looks for several Division I-A schools.
For a look at the first day of camp at Wilson and Colonial League foe Pen Argyl, please click on the Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle headline "High School Football Begins in Pennsylvania; Wilson Readies For Return To State Championship".
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