by Dave Ferris
Last week’s results – District 1 Championship/State Quarterfinals
(1) North Penn 48, (10) Garnet Valley 38
The expected happened, but it was a never-say-die, nitty gritty performance by Garnet Valley that kept North Penn from celebrating too early. The Jaguars played tough and scored more points than any other NP opponent this year, but they were outmanned by the juggernaut of District One. Their Cinderella season has come to an end. The Knights have won their seventh D1 title in school history denying GV their first. NP will go on to meet St. Joe’s Prep for the Eastern PA Championship. They are one step away from playing for the very first Pennsylvania 6A state championship. GV stymied 1000-yard running back, Nick Dillon, with a game plan that dared NP to throw the ball. Reece Udinski did just that tearing into the GV defense for 447 yards passing on 23 of 28 with four 4 TD’s. Udinski is piling up record setting totals and may have two more games to do so. GV fought back from a 21-0 first quarter deficit to 28-17 at the half. In a shoot-out, the teams combined for 41 points in the second half as North Penn pulled away. North Penn doubled-up Garnet Valley in total yards 500-250. In spite of GV grit, the game was never really in doubt.
Game notes: West Virginia commit Ricky Johns had 215 yards receiving and another 40 yards rushing. Garnet Valley finishes 11-3. North Penn stays unbeaten at 14-0.
The Rest of the East 6A
Last week’s results – Eastern PA State Quarterfinals
St. Joe’s Prep 38, Parkland 17
This weeks’ game – Eastern PA Championship/State Semifinal
North Penn 14-0 vs. St. Joe’s Prep 12-0 at Northeast High School 5pm Saturday
North Penn’s road to a state title will not be an easy one, for they will have to defeat St. Joe’s Prep and most likely Pittsburgh Central Catholic to do it. Prep won back to back state titles in 2013 and 2014 and are headed back to the state semifinals for the third time in four seasons. PCC won the title last year. Prep is ranked #1 in the state, and North Penn is ranked #2. PCC is ranked #3. The Prep is ranked No. 13 in the country by USA Today. NP has achieved the program’s first district title since 2011 before losing in the finals to Central Dauphin 14-7.
North Penn’s offense is diverse and can rely on both its running game and passing game. The North Penn defense is usually overlooked because of all the attention their offense commands, but they have speed and quickness to burn. Reece Udinski has passed for 3,814 yards this season and has broken the D1 record. He has also thrown 36 TD’s with only 9 int’s. That is how good NP’s passing game is.
Nick Dillon has rushed for 1000 yards.
St. Joe’s Prep narrowly beat Don Bosco Prep, one of the best programs in the country, in what appeared to be a stunning victory in week two. But as the season wore on, Don Bosco accumulated five losses making St. Joe’s victory look less impressive. Even though remaining undefeated, some subsequent St. Joe’s Prep wins have been less than impressive for a team ranked #1 in the state. Is there a crack in their armor? Parkland would say no as they were dominated 38-17 last week.
St. Joe’s offense boasts one of the most highly recruited running backs in the country in Georgia commit D’Andre Swift who ran for 275 yards and 7 TD’s in week 8. Last week against Parkland he ran 18 times for a career-high 318 yards and an astounding 18 yards per carry and two touchdowns.
Prep is very tough to run against. They’re big and physical. St. Joseph’s Prep also controlled the line of scrimmage on defense against Parkland. They held the Trojans to -15 rushing yards on 22 carries. Prep most likely will control the NP running game as Garnet Valley did last week, but their soft spot may be their pass defense against Udinski. If there is a weak spot in any high school defense it is against a great passing QB. They are rare and difficult to practice against. After having given up 182 yards passing against Parkland, one must wonder if Udinski can put together another great game against Prep. If so, North Penn may have a chance.
Udinski vs. Swift? St. Joe’s Prep would appear to be favored in this game as they often are. But the game could come down to a matchup between the performances of Reece Udinski and D’Andre Swift. Either one could tip the game in their team’s favor.
The Catholic Schools
St. Joe’s Prep is ranked #1 in the state, undefeated and poised for another run at a title. Since the Philly Catholic League joined the PIAA in 2008, either LaSalle or Prep has represented the East and played for the state title four times in that eight-year span. Prep won two straight titles prior to last year when Parkland beat LaSalle to win the East and go on to lose to Pittsburgh Central Catholic in the final. Liberty, North Penn and Coatesville have represented the East in the other years. So, optimism for District One’s chances must be tempered with a measure of reality for this year and many years to come. The advantages of private schools in recruiting and scholarships create an uneven playing field and are difficult to overcome – not impossible but difficult.
Western PA 6A
Last week’s results – Western PA State Quarterfinals
Pittsburgh Central Catholic 62, Williamsport 21
Wilson West Lawn 28, Cumberland Valley 14
This Weeks’s Game – Western PA Championship/State Semifinal
Pittsburgh Central Catholic 13-1 vs. Wilson West Lawn 12-1 at Mansion Park Stadium 7pm Saturday
