Football Forecast – 15
By Scott Huff
Act 219
“Private schools shall be permitted, if otherwise qualified, to be members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.”
The playing field for the private and public schools is inequitable to say the very least.
But it is the actually the law in Pennsylvania.
Private schools can recruit players into their respective programs regardless of geographical boundaries, while public schools are strictly bound by geography.
The 6A classification of the PIAA began in 2016 and St. Joe’s Prep – an elite private school in Philadelphia - has been in the state finals every one of those 9 seasons – winning 7 of those seasons.
The Hawks only losses came in 2017 in a 41-21 loss to Pine Richland – and in 2021 in a 35-17 loss to Mt. Lebanon. Both Pine Richland & Mt. Lebanon are public schools.
***
The PIAA 6A state bracket has the District One champion pair off with the winner of the District 12 & District 11 champion in the state semifinal.
Well, in those 9 years the District 11 team has never defeated the District 12 champion- and neither has the District One champion.
One real challenge to St. Joe’s Prep from District One over those years was back in 2016 when the Hawks defeated none other than the North Penn Knights.
In what became a PIAA semifinal classic, North Penn was more than competitive with the Prep in a 35-25 loss.
Knight quarterback Reece Udinski had a spectacular outing completing 19 passes for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns. Udinski fired TD passes to Ricky Johns, Justis Henley & Nick Dillon, while Kelly Macnamara kicked a field goal.
SJP star running back DeAndre Swift – a former Philadelphia Eagle and currently a starting running back for the Chicago Bears – carried 32 times for 271 yards and scored 4 touchdowns.
***
North Penn will not have to contend with the Prep this season as the Hawks were eliminated in the District 12 playoffs by powerful La Salle.
La Salle has a roster littered with Division One players that include quarterback Gavin Sidwar (Missouri University), offensive lineman Grayson McKeough (Notre Dame), wide receiver Joey O’Brien (Notre Dame), tight end John Patrick Oates (James Madison), linebacker Zykee Scott (West Virginia) – among others.
The Explorers can recruit a talented roster from literally everywhere – while North Penn can draw talent from 42 square miles that includes Hatfield, Lansdale, North Wales, Towamencin, Upper Gwynedd & Line Lexington.
It is what it is – like it or not.
And I don’t like it.
And the beat goes on…
PIAA State Semifinal Game
Saturday – 1 pm
North Penn (12-2) vs. La Salle (12-1)
@ Central Bucks South High School
Last Week:
North Penn captured the PIAA District One championship with a 21-14 victory over host Pennridge (12-2).
The Knights avenged a 34-10 loss to the SOL National Conference Rams during the regular conference season.
The explosive North Penn backfield of senior Matt Pownall and junior Rylei Gray fueled the victory.
Pownall rushed for a game-high 174 yards on 22 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 15 & 16 yards. Gray jetted for 92 yards that included a 67-yard touchdown scamper.
Quarterback Matt Bucksar directed the Knight offense and completed 8 of 12 passes for 103 yards.
The North Penn defense limited the Pennridge offense to single touchdowns in both the first and second half.
La Salle dominated previously unbeaten Easton (13-1) with a mercy-rule 49-7 victory. The Red Rovers were the District 11 champions.
Senior quarterback Gavin Sidwar completed 15 of 20 passes for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Sidwar fired a 19-yard TD strike to Owen Johnson & a 30-yard TD pass to J.P. Oates.
Johnson caught 8 passes for 139 yards, while Oates also scored with a fumble return of a kickoff for 17 yards.
Ahzir Nelson was the featured back for the Explorers and scored on a 5-yard run.
Season Resume:
North Penn has defeated Downingtown East (41-21), Council Rock South (21-14), Quakertown (42-7), CB East (31-20), CB South (28-7), Pennsbury (20-0), CB West (31-13), Abington (56-12), Boyertown (42-14), Souderton (43-14), Neshaminy (35-7) & Pennridge (21-14).
The Knights have lost games to Neshaminy (18-14) & Pennridge (34-10).
La Salle has defeated Central Catholic (23-6), Salesianum (28-7), Calvert Hall (48-7), St. Joe Prep (31-20), MBAPC (42-0), Cardinal O’Hara (31-16), Father Judge (56-7), St. Joe Prep (24-14), Imhotep Charter (31-16) & Easton (49-7).
The Explorers lost its only game to Roman Catholic, 39-36.
Scoring Summary:
North Penn has scored an average of 32.4 points per game and has allowed an average of 14.4 points per game.
La Salle has scored an average of 30.7 points per game and has allowed an average of 10.7 points per game.
Winner Gets:
The winner of the game between North Penn & La Salle will play the winner of the game between Harrisburg (13-0) & Pittsburgh Central Catholic (12-1) for the PIAA 6A state championship.
Prediction:
La Salle Explorers 38 * North Penn Knights 14
-30-
- Log in to post comments
