2011 Class A All-State Team

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Clairton junior running back Tyler Boyd, who led his team to a third straight Class A championship, has been named the Associated Press' Class A Player of the Year.

Boyd, who rushed for a Clairton single-season record 2,400-plus yards, scored 324 points this season.

Bill Packer, head coach at Penns Manor, was named Class A Coach of the Year
Class A All-State Team

OFFENSE
Quarterback -- Matt Bodamer, Port Allegany, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Mike Gaval, Mahanoy Area, 6-0, 165, Sr.; A.J. Long, Pius X, 6-0, 18, So.

Running back -- Tyler Boyd, Clairton, 6-1, 170, Jr.; Colin Bryan, Windber, 6-0, 188, Sr.; Alex Holland, Curwensville, 6-0, 180, Sr.; De'Andre Moon, Rochester, 6-0, 215, Sr.

Wide receiver -- Mike Burke, Columbia, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Tyce Miller, Port Allegany, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Boise Ross, Pius X, 6-0, 175, Jr.

Tight end -- Ian O'Shea, Bellwood-Antis, 6-0, 180, Jr.

Lineman -- Alex Karlovich, Line Mountain, 6-1, 300, Sr.; Todd Munchak, Curwensville,, 5-11, 295, Sr.; Zach Rugg, Bishop McCort, 6-5, 269, Sr.; Carvan Thompson, Clairton, 5-10, 215, Sr.; Michael Weber, Mercyhurst Prep, , 6-3, 310, Sr.

Specialists -- Danny Ferens, Penns Manor, 6-0, 190, Jr.; David Argust, Old Forge, 6-0, 178, Sr.

Kicker -- Philip Esposito, Brockway, 6-0, 175, Jr.

DEFENSE
Linemen -- Jacob Craig, Berlin-Brothers Valley, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Eric Hirschfield, Bishop Canevin, 6-0, 182, Sr.; Quinton Hixson, Northern Bedford, 6-3, 295, Sr.; Tom Schetroma, Southern Columbia, 6-0, 260, Sr.; Eric Walker, Clairton, 6-3, 245, Sr.

Linebackers -- T.J. Armstrong, Clarion, 6-2, 215, Jr.; Mike Dunn, Bishop Canevin, 6-1, 225, Jr.; Bryan Flory, Columbia, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Luke Patten, West Middlesex, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Deaysean Rippy, Sto-Rox, 6-2, 205, Sr.

Backs -- Marzett Geter, Sto-Rox, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Brody Pollock, Union (Rimersburg), 5-11, 180, Sr.; Trenton Coles, Clairton, 6-3, 180, Sr.

Specialists -- Cole Weachock, Minersville, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Matt Moore, Southern Columbia, 6-2, 200, Sr.

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.