Last week’s game – Eastern PA Championship/State Semifinal
by Dave Ferris
(PIAA district in parenthesis)
Parkland (11) 30, Upper Dublin (1) 14
Legions of fans streamed into Souderton Area High School Stadium creating a massive traffic jam. The Upper Dublin cheerleaders were seen leaving their bus and walking to the field. The standing room only crowd watched the two best teams in the East battle it out as Upper Dublin’s magical, undefeated season came to an end. The diminutive school finally succumbed to the onslaught of the big schools they have faced throughout the playoffs. But that is the way it is when the cream rises to the top during the playoffs. The big schools have an advantage. District 11’s giant, Parkland, took the coveted Eastern PA crown Saturday after overcoming a 7-7 halftime deadlock. Upper Dublin has faced off against the second, third, fourth and, now eighth, biggest schools in the state all during this year’s playoff run. Finally, one of them found a way to stop the Cardinals, and the last District One team has bowed out of the playoffs.
There were a few turning points during the game that could have gone either way, but in the end Parkland proved to be the better team on this day. As the game went on, Parkland was slowly gaining momentum wearing down the Cardinals with their size advantage. For a while it looked like Upper Dublin might pull off yet another upset. They took their first lead early in the third quarter after a spectacular scramble, spin and run by QB Ryan Stover led to a 43 yard touchdown. But, the game changed dramatically late in the third quarter going from a 14-14 tie to the final 30-14 score in the space of about two and a half minutes. The Upper Dublin QB threw an interception that a few plays later led to a Parkland TD on the last play of the third quarter breaking the tie. Three plays after the Parkland kickoff, Stover was sacked at his own five yard line on a third and long. On the UD punt attempt, a low snap rolled out of the end zone resulting in a safety making the score23-14. In an attempt to regain momentum, UD tried an onside kick after the safety which failed as Parkland took possession at 10:46 of the fourth quarter. On the first play from scrimmage, Devante Cross threw a 43 yard TD pass to Kenny Yeboah putting Parkland up 30-14. UD was unable to regain their offensive footing as Parkland kept the choke-hold on as the fourth quarter clock slowly wound down to all zeros.
Last week’s game – Western PA Championship/State Semifinal
(PIAA district in parenthesis)
Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7) 24, Cumberland Valley (3) 7
Pittsburgh Central Catholic led 17-0 at halftime over Cumberland Valley and went on to a 24-7 PIAA Class 4A semifinal victory at Altoona Mansion Park Stadium. PCC’s Troy Fisher and Ronnie Jones ran for touchdowns in the first half. The PCC defense held CV to just 79 yards in total offense.
This week’s game – AAAA State Championship
(PIAA district in parenthesis)
Parkland (11) 14-1 vs Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7) 14-1 – Saturday 6:00 at Hersheypark Stadium
Parkland is making its first trip to Hershey since 2007 losing 21-0 to Pittsburgh Central Catholic. PCC has three state championships to its credit, and Parkland has one.
District One AAAA State Championship Appearances
(playoffs began in 1988)
2012 Coatesville lost to North Allegheny 63-28
2011 North Penn lost to Central Daulphin 14-7
2004 Neshaminy lost to PCC 49-14
2003 North Penn beat PCC 37-10
2001 Neshaminy beat Woodland Hills 21-7
2000 CB West lost to Erie Prep 41-35 (OT)
1999 CB West beat Erie Prep 14-13 (AAAA record three straight)
1998 CB West beat New Castle 56-7
1997 CB West beat Upper Saint Clair 44-20
1996 Downingtown beat Woodland Hills 49-14
1994 Downingtown lost to McKeesport 17-14
1993 CB West lost to North Hills 15-14
1991 CB West beat Erie Prep 26-14
1990 Ridley lost to North Allegheny
CB West in the ‘90s
1990 10-1
1991 12-0 State Champion
1992 11-1 District One Finalist
1993 11-2 State Finalist
1994 11-1 District One Finalist
1995 10-2 District One Finalist
1996 10-1 District One Semifinalist
1997 15-0 State Champion
1998 15-0 State Champion
1999 15-0 State Champion
Overall record was 120-8 for the decade.
Coach Mike Pettine retired after the 1999 season with a 326-42-4 record in 33 seasons at West.
