West Catholic and Two Others Football Schools to Remain Open

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

There were a lot of hallelujahs coming from four Philadelphia catholic high schools recently when the archdiocese decided to keep open four schools that it announced it was closing on January 6th.

West Catholic, Conwell-Egan, Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast and St. Hulbert (all-girls, no football) will remain open and be playing football in the fall thanks to a tremendous outpouring of support since the January announcement.

The decision was made after close to 20,000 financial donations were received from a wide range of people.

The announcement is especially exciting for West Catholic head football coach and alum Brian Fluck, who now has a chance to build on last year's 10-4 season that ended with a loss in the Class AA state semifinals.  However, there will be a question on whether Fluck will have his senior, blue chip running back David Williams in the backfield.

Williams, who moved to West after his sophomore season when North Catholic closed, had begun looking at other schools, such as defending Class AAA champ Archbishop Wood.

Back on February 16th I spoke with Fluck on the High School Football America radio show about the close.  Click here to listen to that interview.

Harold Fairclough Resigns at Allentown Central Catholic

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Two years after leading his alma mater to a PIAA Class 3A title, Harold Fairclough has resigned as Allentown Central Catholic's head football coach.

Fairclough, who played on the Vikings' 1993 state champion team, went 49-27 in six years as head coach. The Vikings were 9-6 this past season, losing to 3A champ Archbishop Wood 70-14 in the state semifinals.

Fairclough's last three teams were led by quarterback Brendan Nosovitch, who recently signed his letter of intent to play at South Carolina.

Before his team's loss to Archbishop Wood, I spoke with Fairclough on High School Football America on December 8th.

Click here to listen to that interview.

Lansdale Catholic Names Successor for Jim Algeo

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Tom Kirk is the new head football coach at Lansdale Catholic.

Kirk replaces the legendary Jim Algeo, who retired at the end of the season, after 44-years as the Crusaders  head coach.  Algeo retired with a record of 293-193-15.  Coach Algeo led LC to the 2004 PIAA Class AA title.

The Crusaders went 2-7 in 2011.

National Letter of Intent Signing Day - Pennsylvania High Schools

Brandon Acidiacono - OL (Archibishop Wood) - Rutgers
Adam Bisnowaty - OL (Fox Chapel) - Pitt
Harold Brantley - DL (Hershey) - Missouri
Matt Camilletti - WR (Pius X) - St. Francis, PA
DeVaughn Chollette - LB/RB (West Scranton) - New Hampshire
Trenton Coles - DB (Clairton) - Pitt
Mike Capara - LB (Woodland Hills) - Pitt
Brock Dean - LB (Bishop McDevitt) - Maryland
J.J. Denman - OL (Pennsbury) - Rutgers
Adam DePietro - OL (Lancaster Catholic) - Northwestern
Jason Emerich - OL (Blue Mt.) - Syracuse
Dontez Ford - S (Sto-Rox) - Syracuse
P.J. Gallo - TE (Council Rock South) - Maryland
Perry Hills - QB (Pittsburg Central Catholic) - Maryland
J.P. Holtz - TE (Shaler) -  Pitt
Jesse James - TE (South Allegheny) - Penn St.
Quinton Jefferson - DL (Woodlands) - Maryland
Eugene Lewis - WR (Wyoming Valley West) - Penn St.
Connor Mahoney - DT (Malvern) - Northwestern
Ryan McMullin - RB (Archbishop Wood) - Villanova
Tad McNeely - DL/OL (Allentown Central Catholic) - New Hampshire
Skyler Mornhiweg - QB (St. Joseph's Prep) - Florida
Chris Muller - OL (Boyertown) - Rutgers
Anthony Nixon - DB (Pittsburgh Central Catholic) - Maryland
Brendan Nosovitch - QB (Allentown Central Catholic) - South Carolina
Ian Park - OL (Upper St. Clair) - Northwestern
Desmon Peoples - RB (Archbishop Wood) - Rutgers
Deasyean Rippy - S (Sto-Rox) - Pitt
Blake Rankin - QB (Bloomsburg) - Rutgers
Andrew Scanlan - WR (Spring Ford) - Northwestern
Jack Schwaba - TE (Upper St. Clair) - Northwestern
Evan Schwan - DL (Central Dauphin) - Penn St.
Rushel Shell - RB (Hopewell)-  Pitt
Noah Spence - DE (Bishop McDevitt) - Ohio St.
Frank Taylor - OL (Archbishop Wood) - Boston College
Nyeem Wartman - LB (Valley View) - Penn St.