by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle
It looks like the PIAA will stick with the state’s current four class high school football playoff system. The PIAA strategic planning committee has voted against a plan to expand the playoffs by two classifications for the 2010 season. The recommendation now goes to the Board of Control, which rarely goes against what the planning committee recommends.
by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle
Time to catch-up a little bit after a busy month of May that included trips to NYC, London and my first ever visit to Africa.
While I was on the Dark Continent, the PIAA decided to table the proposal to expand the football playoffs from four to six classifications. The proposal will probably come back around in July. Click here to read the story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle
Pennsylvania is one affirmative vote in May away from expanding the high school football post-season to six classification from its present four classes. However, not all schools in the state are happy with the proposal to add two classes.
The most vocal voices against expansion are coming from the western part of the state where WPIAL officials plan to meet twice next week to discuss the plans put forth by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The PIAA is the state’s governing body.
Click here to read more from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle
This Friday and Saturday marks the end of the 2008 high school football season, and with California, Florida and Texas staging its state championships, a lot will be decided.
When it comes to USA Today’s mythical national championship, it will come down to four big games. #1 St. Thomas Aquinas controls its destiny. The Raiders will play #6 Lakeland Friday for the state’s 5A title. Waiting in the wings are #2 Centennial, which will play #16 De La Salle in the California Division I title, # 3 Long Beach Poly, which plays Sacramento Grant for the California Open Division title, and #4 Allen, which plays Hightower for the Class 5A Division I in Texas.
Last weekend #13 Trinity (KY) and #17 Camden County (GA) claimed state titles. Liberty, which beat former #17 Bethel Park for the Pennsylvania AAAA title, is the only new team in the Super 25.
Here are the rankings…
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 14-0, LW: #1
2. Centennial (Corona, CA) 14-0, LW: #2
3. Long Beach Poly (CA) 14-0, LW: #3
4. Allen (TX) 14-1, LW: #4
5. Skyline (Issaquah, WA) 14-0, LW: #5
6. Lakeland (FL) 14-0, LW: #6
7. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) 15-0, LW: #7
8. Lake Travis (Austin, TX) 15-0, LW: #8
9. Byrnes (Duncan, SC) 14-1, LW: #9
10. Trinity (Euless, TX) 13-1, LW: #10
11. Plant (Tampa, FL) 13-1, LW: #11
12. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, OH) 14-1, LW: #12
13. Trinity (Louisville, KY) 14-1, LW: #13
14. Center Grove (Greenwood, IN) 14-1, LW: #14
15. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) 11-1, LW: #15
16. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 12-1, LW: #16
17. Camden County (Kingsland, GA) 15-0, LW: #21
18. Armwood (Seffner, FL) 12-1, LW: #18
19. River Hill (Clarksville, MD) 14-0, LW: #19
20. Oceanside (CA) 12-0-1, LW: #20
21. Liberty (Bethlehem, PA) 15-1, LW: NR
22. Maine South (Park Ridge, IL) 14-0, LW: #22
23. Timpview (Provo, UT) 13-0, LW: #23
24. Muskegon (MI) 14-0, LW: #24
25. Union (Tulsa, OK) 13-1, LW: #13
By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle
Liberty traded in its bridesmaid outfits for the glass slipper Saturday night beating nationally-ranked Bethel Park (#17 USA Today Super 25) 28-21 in overtime for Pennsylvania’s AAAA championship. Liberty, which lost finished runner-up in 2005 and 2006, eneded a streak of four straight AAAA championships from schools from the WPIAL. Click here for game story.
Pennsylvania High School Football Scores
Saturday, December 13, 2008
USA Today Super 25
Liberty 28 #17 Bethel Park 21 (OT)
Finals
AAAA
Liberty 28 Bethel Park 21 (OT)
AA
Wilmington 35 West Catholic 34 (2OTs)
By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle
Thomas Jefferson won its 31st straight in-state game Friday night and claimed its second straight Pennsylvania Class AAA football championship. TJ beat Archbishop Wood 34-7 at Hershey Park Stadium. Wood’s appearance in the state title game marked the first time a school from the Philadelphia Catholic League played for a state championship. This is the first year that a PCL school was eligible for the state playoffs. Click here for game story.
Pennsylvania High School Football Scores
Friday, December 12, 2008
Finals
AAA
Thomas Jefferson 34 Archbishop Wood 7
A
Steelton-Highspire 35 Clairton 16
By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle
Steelton-Highspire (16-0) captured its second straight Pennsylvania Class A title Friday with a 35-16 win over Clairton (15-1) at Hershey Park Stadium. The game marked the end of the the state’s all-time leading rusher Jeremiah White, who was held to 81-yards on 20-carries. White ended his career with 9,027 yards rushing and two state titles. Click here for game story.
By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle
The western Pennsylvania AAAA semifinal might still be going if it weren’t for a roughing the kicker call in the third overtime of Bethel Park’s 38-35 win over Wilson West Lawn. After missing a 23-yard attempt, Patrick Lyndon was able to redeem himself with a 25-yard boot to put the Black Hawks in their first-ever state championship game next Saturday.
Bethel Park (#21 USA Today) will face Liberty, which beat North Penn 21-14 Saturday to avenge its only loss of the season, which came during the first week of the season. Liberty will playing in its third state championship game in four years. The Hurricanes are 0-2 in title tilts.
Click here for the Bethel Park-Wilson West Lawn game summary. Click here to read about Liberty’s win over North Penn.
Pennsylvania High School Football Scores
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Semifinals
USA Today Top 25
#21 Bethel Park 38 Wilson West Lawn 35 (3 OTs)
AAAA
Liberty 21 North Penn 14
Bethel Park 38 Wilson West Lawn 35 (3 OTs)
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle 