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.
