2011 Class AAAA All-State Team

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle

Senior quarterback Dan Harding of Nazareth and Zayd Issah of Central Dauphin have been named Class AAAA Co-Players of the Year.

Harding finished his career with a school record 5,541 yards and 52 touchdown passes, including 32 this past season.

Issah, a junior two-way starter, rushed for 1,300 yards and caught 29 passes for 672 yards.  He scored 31 touchdowns this season.

On defense, the outside linebacker made 123 tackles and recorded 14 sacks.

Central Dauphin's Glen McNamee was named Coach of the Year after leading his team to the AAAA state title.

2011 AAAA All-State Team

OFFENSE
Quarterback -- Dan Harding, Nazareth, 6-4, 205, Sr.; Mack Leftwich, North Allegheny, 5-11, 190, Jr.

Running back -- Dan Brown, Central Bucks South, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Jack Haffner, State College, 5-10, 205, Sr.; Luke Hagy, Mount Lebanon, 6-1, 198, Sr.; Damion Jones-Moore, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 5-7, 180, Sr.

Wide receiver -- Adam Bridgeforth, Nazareth, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Diante Cherry, J.P. McCaskey, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Anthony Nixon, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 6-2, 205, Sr.

Tight end -- Adam Breneman, Cedar Cliff, 6-5, 230, Jr.

Linemen -- Patrick Kugler, North Allegheny, 6-4, 270, Jr.; Chris Muller, Boyertown, 6-6, 300, Sr.; Ian Park, Upper St. Clair, 6-4, 290, Sr.; Zach Wilk, Central Dauphin, 6-5, 275, Sr.

Specialist -- Dakota Conwell, Upper St. Clair, 6-1, 210, Sr.; Eugene Lewis, Wyoming Valley West, 6-3, 200, Sr.

Kicker -- Matt Loughnane, Penn-Trafford, 5-10, 150, Jr.

DEFENSE
Linemen -- Cody Conway, Gateway, 6-4, 210, Sr.; Kyle Friend, Cumberland Valley, 6-1, 280, Sr.; Arthur Goldberg, Mount Lebanon, 6-4, 280, Sr.; Evan Schwan, Central Dauphin, 6-6, 225, Sr.

Linebacker -- Rob Dvoracek, Parkland, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Tyrone "T.J." Neal, McKeesport, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Hakeem Oliver, Gateway, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Sean Burke, La Salle College HS, 5-10, 185, Jr.; Ralph Reeves, Lansdale North Penn, 6-0, 230, Sr.

Defensive back -- Brendan Coniker, North Allegheny, 6-1, 170, Jr.; Andrew Erenberg, Peters Twp., 5-10, 200, Sr.; Anthony Orlando, Liberty, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Will Parks, Germantown, 6-1, 175, Sr.

Specialist -- Jaylen Coleman, University Prep, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Greg Garmon, McDowell, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Zayd Issah, Central Dauphin, 6-4, 210, Jr.

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.

Former Penn Stater Named Head Football Coach at Central Dauphin East

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle

His name was different when he was a All-Big Ten defensive back at Penn State, but for now, Central Dauphin East football fans hope that the guy, who changed his name from Brian Miller to Brian Bowman can change the school's football fortunes.

Bowman, who was an assistant last year, takes over the program from George Landis, who resigned after four years and a 4-32 record. The Patriot-News reports that Bowman was the school's top choice.