Over the next three days, Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field will host six PIAA championship games, starting with the PIAA 1A final matchup between Port Allegany and Bishop Guilfoyle.
It goes without saying that there are intriguing statistics regarding the 12 finalists’ sliding into Mechanicsburg. Some of the names and numbers to be aware of before Thursday’s opening tilt are listed below.
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The number of WPIAL champions who advanced to championship week is two, the fewest since 2018 when Aliquippa (3A) and Penn Hills (5A) won championships. On Saturday, Avonworth (3A) and Pittsburgh Central Catholic (6A) will attempt to repeat that accomplishment.
PIAA first: the third-ranked Philadelphia Catholic League squad in the state finals. The PCL is represented by Bonner-Prendergast (4A), Roman Catholic (5A), and St. Joseph’s Prep (6A).
Bishop Guilfoyle, the representative for District 6, has a 4-1 record in state championship games. In 2021, the Marauders (14-1) defeated Redbank Valley 21-14 at Hersheypark Stadium to win the 1A championship for the first time.
6 of the championship round’s first-time qualifiers. Roman Catholic (5A), Lampeter-Strasburg (4A), Bonner-Prendergast (4A), Port Allegany (1A), Troy (2A), and Central Clarion (2A) are on the list.
6.0 Central Clarion’s average points allowed. The Wildcats have accumulated 89 tackles for loss when playing Troy, whose offense averages 52.2 points per game.
11 Lampeter-Strasburg’s first half yards against WPIAL champion Thomas Jefferson in last week’s 4A semifinal. QB Caileb Howse led the Pioneers to victory with a score of 20–16. With 1,582 yards through the air and 1,350 yards rushing, the senior has been incredibly dynamic. Together, Howse has scored 37 touchdowns.
The last two seasons’ record for Northwestern Lehigh is 30-1. A 38-7 loss to Belle Vernon in the 2023 3A championship at Cumberland Valley was that only setback. In an effort to become the third NWL program to capture a state championship this fall, the Tigers are now 15-0. Last month, the girls’ and boys’ soccer teams won 2A with perfect scores.
During Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Ocean City High School in Ocean City, New Jersey, Anthony Sacca (39), of St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.), participated in the Battle at the Beach football game between IMG Academy and St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.). picture in the file. New Jersey Advance Media’s Scott FaytokNew Jersey Advance Media’s Scott Faytok
31-2St. Joseph’s Prep’s overall state playoff record. The Hawks are vying for their sixth 6A title in seven seasons as well as their ninth state championship banner.
58Bishop McDevitt quarterback Stone Saunders’ career total number of starts, including Friday’s game against Roman Catholic. Throughout his career, the Kentucky signee has averaged 235.6 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Bishop McDevitt quarterback Stone Saunders needs 131 passing yards to take the lead in that metric for Pennsylvania’s career. In 2023, Alex Erby of Steel-High set the record (13,562).
Elijah Faulkner, a running back for Pittsburgh Central Catholic, has averaged 179 yards per game over the last four playoff games. Faulkner has scored 20 touchdowns on 27 attempts on average during that time.
Eli Zimmerman of Northwestern Lehigh scored 2,548 running yards. With 24 running touchdowns, the adaptable 5-9, 160-pound athlete is averaging an incredible 11.5 yards per carry.
3,180 Running yards for Aiden Bliss, a junior for Port Allegany. The 200-pound, 6-0 player leads Pennsylvania in points scored with 22 two-point conversions and 57 total touchdowns. Right now, his rushing total is fourth in the country.
Jase Ferguson, a QB-FS for Central Clarion, had 4,734 total yards from scrimmage. The senior, who is 6-0 and weighs 195 pounds, has led the 14-0 Wildcats with 3,293 passing yards, 1,441 yards on the run, and 73 (49 pass) touchdowns. Ferguson has also gathered nine of CC’s twenty-one team interceptions.
Eric Epler can be followed on Twitter and X at @threejacker.
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