Clairton 3-Peats in Single A

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle

Two-time defending champ Clairton made it three-in-a-row Friday in the battle of Class A powers.

The Bears won their 47th straight by beating Southern Columbia 35-19.  SC was looking for a record 7th Pennsylvania state football title.

Tyler Boyd was the star for Clairton rushing for 218 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries.  Terrish Webb caught three of Capri Thompson's four completions, two of them for touchdowns and 167 yards.  Thompson finished the afternoon completing 4-of-9 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

Clairton, which was playing in its fourth straight Class A championship game, hasn't lost since the opening week of the 2009 season.

Southern Columbia, which was playing in its 13th state title game, finishes this season 14-2.

On Thursday's High School Football America radio show, I spoke with Clairton head coach about Tom Nola about the Bear's four-year run to Class A supremacy.

Click here to listen to that interview.

Clairton Head Coach Tom Nola Talks about Class A Championship Game on High School Football America

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football 

Two of the best-ever in Class A in Pennsylvania football history will collide Friday in the state championship game in Hershey when two-time defending champ Clairton squares-off with Southern Columbia.

To preview the showdown, I'll be joined by Clairton head coach Tom Nola on Thursday night's High School Football America radio show.

Clairton is riding a 46-game win streak and is playing in its fourth straight state title game.  Southern Columbia will be playing in its 13 state title game in 22 years of state tournament play.  The Tigers are going after a record seventh title.  Berwick is the only other school to win six state championships.

Clairton has outscored its opponents 670-59 with the defense pitching nine shutouts.  Southern's only loss was a one-point loss to Mount Carmel, a Class AA school.

Click here to listen to Thursday night's interview with Coach Nola.

Pennsylvania Finals Set

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle

Eight teams to go in the 2011 Pennsylvania...five public, three private.

The only team back to defend its title is the Clairton Bears in 1A.

Now let's take at the match-ups...

Let's start in 4A where North Penn will face surprising Central Dauphin for the title.

North Penn won the its only state title in 2003 when it beat Pittsburgh Central Catholic.  Central Dauphin will be playing in its first state title game, thanks to a 23-20 defeating of defending state champ and nationally-ranked North Allegheny on Saturday.  The Knights advanced to the championship game by beating La Salle 21-14.  La Salle was looking for its third straight appearance in the 4A final.

North Penn (13-2) is on a 12-game win streak after a 1-2 start.  Central Dauphin's (14-1) only loss was to 3A finalist Bishop McDevitt in the second week of the regular season.

In 3A, the aforementioned Bishop McDevitt Crusaders will face top-ranked Archbishop Wood.  The Vikings have been on a roll since losing to Pittsburgh Central Catholic in the opening weekend of the season.  PCC was ranked #1 in 4A in several pre-season polls.

The Crusaders, like North Penn, began the season 1-2.  Last year Allentown Central Catholic beat McDevitt 28-27 in the 3A title game.  McDevitt hasn't won a state football title since 1995.

In 2A, Lancaster Catholic will take-on Tyrone.  LC made the final by knocking-off defending state champ West Catholic 23-20.

Lancaster Catholic (15-0) won its only state title in 2009 when it beat Greensburg Central Catholic 21-14.  Tyrone will be playing in its third state championship game, but first since 1999.

Tyrone won its only state title in '99 when it beat Mount Carmel 13-6 to win the AA title.  In 1995, Mount Carmel beat Tyrone 25-6.

In 1A, Clairton puts its 46 game win streak on the line when it plays Southern Columbia in the championship game.  The Bears have won back-to-back 1A titles and will be playing in its fourth straight championship game.

Southern Columbia is no stranger to state championship games.  The Tigers have won a record six 1A titles

BTW...if Clairton wins next weekend, they'll have a shot at going after the state's longest all-time win streak of 59 straight by Central Bucks West in the late 90's.

Pennsylvania HIgh School Football Scores - Playoffs/Quarterfinals

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle

There's nothing like the energy of state tournament football!

I was in Pennsylvania tonight for the showdown between two top-notch Class A teams.  Pius X and Southern Columbia both entered their quarterfinal match-up with identical 12-1 records, with both schools' losses coming at the hands of bigger schools.

Pius lost to Quad-A University Prep in Week 6, while SC lost to Double-A Mount Carmel.  University advanced to the first round of the 4A state tourney, while Mount Carmel has a meeting with Lancaster Catholic in Saturday's AA quarters.

Pius X raced-out to a 19-7 second quarter lead behind sophomore quarterback A.J. Long's 44th and 45th touchdown passes this season.  But, after that, it was all Southern Columbia.  The Tigers outscored the Royals 48-6 the rest of the way to advance to the state semifinals with 55-25 victory.

Southern Columbia, which is now 6-0 all-time against Pius, is going after its 7th state title in 22 years since Pennsylvania began playing for state titles.

Here are the rest of tonight's quarterfinal scores:

Pennsylvania High School Football Scores

Friday, December 2, 2011

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

AAAA

North Penn 34 Council Rock South 14

AAA

Allentown Central Catholic 56 Shamokin 14

Archbishop Wood 41 Pottsgrove 22

Bishop McDevitt 28 Lampeter-Strasburg 14

Montour 25 Grove City 21

AA

Aliquippa 32 Montineau 7

Tyrone 40 Hickory 28

A

Southern Columbia 55 Pius X 25

Sharpsville 35 Port Allegany 33

Clairton 44 North Star 0