Four Archbishop Wood Players Named to Big 33 Roster

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

2011 Class 3A state champ Archbishop Wood was one of the most talented teams to ever step on a high school football field in Pennsylvania.

Aside from state gold medals, the Vikings were honored with several players earning all-state honors from the state's various media outlets.  Today, the Vikings learned that four of its seniors will play in the 55th annual Big 33 Game on June 16th in Hershey.

The Pennsylvania stars will be led by Blue Mountain head coach Mike Brennan.

Below are the 34 players that were named to the squad today.

2012 Pennsylvania Big 33 Roster

OFFENSE
QB-Skyler Mornhinweg, St. Joe’s Prep
QB-Brendan Nosovitch, Allentown C.C.
RB-Rushel Shell, Hopewell
RB-Julian Durden, Montour
H Back-Colin Thompson, Archbishop Wood
H Back-J.P. Holtz, Shaler
WR-Shakim Alonzo, Woodland Hills
WR-Eugene Lewis, Wyoming Valley West
WR-Kevin Gulyas, Allentown C.C.
WR-Cory Jones, Penn Hills
OL-Brandon Arcidiacono, Archbishop Wood
OL-Frank Taylor, Archbishop Wood
OL-Ian Park, Upper St. Clair
OL-Kyle Friend, Cumberland Valley
OL-Jason Emerich, Blue Mountain
OL-Adam DePietro, Lancaster Catholic
OL-JJ Denman, Pennsbury
ATH-Greg Garmon, McDowell

DEFENSE
DL-Treyvon Hester, Penn Hills
DL-Tyrique Jarrett, Allderdice
DL-Noah Spence, Bishop McDevitt
DL-Evan Schwan, Central Dauphin
DL-Terrell Williams, McKeesport
LB-Bryton Barr, Mechanicsburg
LB-Mike Caprara, Woodland Hills
LB-Jon Hicks, Palmyra
LB-Nyeem Wartman, Valley View
DB-Nate Smith, Archbishop Wood
DB-Miles Williams, Bishop McDevitt
DB-Anthony Nixon, Pittsburgh C.C.
DB-Andrew Scanlan, Spring-Ford
DB-Damiere Shaw, Cardinal O’Hara
DB-Michael Felton, South Western
K/P-Bryant Myer, Manheim Central

Archbishop Wood Finishes #13 in Final MaxPreps' Xcellent 25 National Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle

Archbishop Wood's 3A championship season has resulted in the Vikings being recognized by several national rankings services, including MaxPreps.com.

The Vikings, who were not ranked all season, finished #13 in the nation in the website's final national poll.  Two other Pennsylvania teams, Pittsburgh Central Catholic and North Allegheny, spent time this year in MaxPreps Xcellent 25.

Wood finished #21 in USA Today's Super 25; #19 in ESPNHS' Fab 50; and #23 in the National Prep Football Poll.

Final MaxPreps Xcellent 25

1. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 11-0
2. Trinity (KY) 14-0
3. Armwood (FL) 15-0
4. Grayson (GA) 15-0
5. Good Counsel (MD) 12-0
6. Southlake Carroll (TX) 16-0
7. Lake Travis (TX) 16-0
8. Maryville (TN) 15-0
9. Plant (FL) 14-1
10. De La Salle (CA) 13-1
11. Manatee (FL) 13-2
12. Bishop Gorman (NV) 15-1
13. Archbishop Wood (PA) 14-1
14. Bellevue (WA) 14-0
15. Carmel (IN) 14-1
16. Norland (FL) 15-0
17. Central (FL) 13-1
18. Page (NC) 15-0
19. St. Ignatius (OH) 13-2
20. Dekaney (TX) 14-2
21. Olive Branch (MS) 15-0
22. Prattville (AL) 12-2
23. Santa Margarita (CA) 13-2
24. Lake Oswego (OR) 14-0
25. Skyline (TX) 14-1

Archbishop Wood Caps Season with AAA Title

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Aside from a national television loss to Pittsburgh Central Catholic to open the season, Archbishop Wood was unstoppable.

Friday, the Vikings set a state championship record for margin of victory by beating Bishop McDevitt 52-0 to win the state's AAA title.  The old record was 49 points, set back in 1998 when CB West beat New Castle 56-7.

Archbishop Wood outscored its opponents 699 to 124 this year, which gave the school the seventh highest points differential in state history.

Running back Desmon Peoples rushed for 171 yards and two scores.  He and his cousin Brandon Peoples combined for 322 yards in total offense and five touchdowns.

With six D-1 recruits, Archibishop Wood may go down as one of the best-ever teams in Pennsylvania history.

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.