Central Dauphin Stands Atop Class AAAA

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Central Dauphin's run to the top of the heap in Class AAAA wasn't a dominating one, but none of that mattered when the Rams hoisted the state championship trophy Saturday in Hershey.

The Rams beat North Penn 14-7 to capture the school's first state football championship.

North Penn tied the game, which was the second lowest scoring game in AAAA championship history, at 7 early in the fourth quarter.  The Rams game-winning score came with 8:08 to go in the game when Zayd Issah scored on a 2-yard run.

Central Dauphin finishes 15-1 with a 14-game win streak.

Aside from a 30-0 win over Central Dauphin East in the first round of district playoffs, the Rams won their final five playoff games by an average of 4.6 points.

Pennsylvania AAAA State Champs

2011- Central Dauphin
2010 - North Allegheny
2009 - La Salle College
2008 - Liberty
2007 - Pittsburgh Central Catholic
2006 - Upper St. Clair
2005 - McKeesport
2004 - Pittsburgh Central Catholic
2003 - North Penn
2002 - Parkland
2001 - Neshaminy
2000 - Erie Cathedral Prep
1999 - Central Bucks West
1998 - Central Bucks West
1997 - Central Bucks West
1996 - Downingtown
1995 - Penn Hills
1994 - McKeesport
1993 - North Hills
1992 - Cumberland Valley
1991 - Central Bucks West
1990 - North Allegheny
1989 - Upper St. Clair
1988 - Pittsburgh Central Catholic

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.