PIAA Class AAA Western Quarterfinals
Bishop McDevitt (11-2) vs. Lampeter-Strasburg (12-1)
Hershey Park Stadium
12/2 7:00 p.m.
Outside of a shocking opening day defeat to Class AAAA Gateway and a
defensive battle with Cumberland Valley, the Crusaders have been on a roll. The
defense is lead by Scout.com's No. 1 rated defensive end Noah Spence and
Maryland commitment Brock Dean. Junior Alec Warner has developed into a threat
in the passing game at quarterback (2,976/26 TD's). He has a talented paid of
receivers in senior Shawn Seif (833/6 TD's) and highly touted junior Brian
Lemelle (1,307/12 TD's). The ground game is a running back by committee with
freshman Andre Robinson (685/14 TD's), sophomore Rashad Lawson (825/14 TD's) and
junior Darnell Holland (524/8 TD's). Lampeter-Strasburg has played a weaker
schedule and was beaten handily by Cedar Cliff. The Crusaders dominated Cedar
Cliff.
PREDICTION: Bishop McDevitt 35, Lampeter-Strasburg 12
Montour (11-2) vs. Grove City (11-0)
Carl Newman Stadium @ North Allegheny High School
12/2 7:00 p.m.
This could be the most difficult game to handicap of the entire quarterfinal
round in any classification. Grove City stunned a lot of people last week,
including myself with their 33-0 destruction of Erie Cathedral Prep. Grove City
likes to run the ball they have seven backs with more than 200 yards rushing on
the season. Their season total of 3,765 yards and 71 touchdowns is borderline
ridiculous. Their main back is fireplug Wes Phipps (1,269/28 TD's). Phipps is
headed to Penn State on a wrestling scholarship. The Eagles also feature an
opportunistic defense that has recorded (37) takeaways. If Grove City has a
weakness it is their passing attack, senior Tyler Dagres has completes less than
50% of his passes this season. Not much need to throw when you average 342 yards
per game on the ground. Grove City likely hasn't seen a passing attack like
Montour led by senior quarterback Dillon Buechel (2,313/36 TD's) or receivers
like senior Darren Massey (861/16 TD's) and junior Devin Wilson (754/10 TD's).
The Spartans also feature one of the states best backs in Julian Durden
(1,876/25 TD's). The Montour offensive line usually has a size advantage, but
this game may be different as the Eagles feature sophomore center Shaun Smoker
(6-3/330) and senior tackle Jordan Patterson (6-6/310).
PREDICTION: Grove City 28, Montour 21
PIAA Class AAA Eastern
Quarterfinals
Archbishop Wood (11-1) vs. Pottsgrove (11-2)
Charles Martin Memorial Stadium @ Northeast High School
12/2 7:00 p.m.
Wood hasn't been tested much outside of their season opening controversial
loss to Pittsburgh Central Catholic. The is no secret Wood likes to run the ball
with their D-I running backs Desmon Peoples (495/9 TD's) who is headed to
Rutgers and Brandon Peoples (395/10 TD's). The secret is the line that consists
of Boston College bound Frank Taylor, Rutgers bound Brandon Arcidiacono and
tight end Colin Thompson who is headed to Florida. If they have to throw it will
be to two-way star Nate Smith who is headed to West Virginia or junior Benji
Abercrombie. Pottsgrove will run first and run second and they have been
successful running for 3,780 yards on the season led by junior Tory Hudgins
(1,037/24 TD's), junior Mark Dukes (927/10 TD's) and senior Robby Curtin (820/12
TD's).
PREDICTION: Archbishop Wood 28, Pottsgrove 14
Shamokin (6-7) vs. Allentown Central Catholic (8-5)
Silver Bowl @ Mount Carmel High School
12/2 7:00 p.m.
I've been asked several times how did Shamokin make the quarterfinals and I
honestly don't have an answer. They have a losing record and they have been
outscored 310-266 on the season. They run a lot of odd sets from a single wing
and they swarm on defense. The Vikings were expected to dominate everyone and
offensively they have done well, but anyone who saw the ACC vs. Valley View game
knows that the defense is suspect. The Vikings gave up 531 yards rushing in that
game, but South Carolina bound quarterback Brendan Nosovitch threw for 484 yards
and eight touchdowns that game. For the season his numbers are insane (3,219/33
TD's). He has also accounted for (841/14 TD's) on the ground. His main targets
are senior Kevin Gulyas (1,777/24 TD's) and senior Jalen Snyder-Scipio (980/8
TD's).
PREDICTION: Allentown Central Catholic 42, Shamokin 28
PIAA Class AAA Eastern Final Allentown Central
Catholic vs. Archbishop Wood