CTK ’14: WPIAL 2013 Single-A Football Flashback

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 6, 2014 | 6:39 PM

The big, bad Bears historic five year run came to an end in 2013, leaving the door open for a new team to wear the Class A crown. While many thought it was Sto-Rox and record setting quarterback Lenny Williams turn to claim gold, it was first time champion Cardinal Wuerl North Catholc that emerged as the kings of the Single-A gridiron.

2013 WPIAL Single-A Headlines:

*  What a run, but the run of championships and records for Clairton was done in 2013. First came the WPIAL and PIAA 66-game winning streak, which ended in Week 4 on September 20th at home to Monessen 42-24. The Bears finished 8-1 and were tri-champions with the Greyhounds and the Fort Cherry Rangers in the Class A Black Hills Conference. Then the championship run for Clairton ended in the WPIAL Semifinals with a 24-19 loss to Sto-Rox ending: A 22-game WPIAL win streak going back to a Semifinals loss to Springdale in the 2007 playoffs…..A 30-game WPIAL and PIAA playoff win streak which started after they lost to Steelton-Highspire in the 2008 PIAA Finals…..A record run of FIVE consecutive WPIAL football championships…..A record-tying run of FOUR consecutive PIAA football championships.

*  The baton of Single-A champions was passed from a Clairton team that had won the previous five district titles to a Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic team that had NEVER won a WPIAL football crown. It was the first year Cardinal Wuerl was added to the North Catholic name, and the last year the Trojans would call the old school on top of Troy Hill home. CWNC went out in grand style, shutting down high scoring in the WPIAL finals, then going on to squeak past Old Forge in a state title game overtime classic to win the schools first PIAA football championship.

*  It was another year of settling for silver for the boys from The Rox, but it was a record setting season for their outstanding quarterback. Lenny Williams became the all-time leading passer in WPIAL history when he hit on 136 of 209 passes for 2,709 yards and 34 touchdowns. The University of Temple recruit finished throwing for a district record for career passing yards with 8,508, completing 479 of 833. He also rushed for 3,051 yards and finished with another WPIAL record of 11,559 total yards.

*  Holy Bicentennial Batman!  (yes, that is the second time in CTK flashback that we’ve used that line). After getting off to a great start in 2012, there were hopes that long suffering Avella fans would have reason to celebrate with their first playoff berth in nearly four decades. However the Eagles struggled in the second half and were spectators again for the playoffs. But after a quick start in 2013, there would be no close but no cigars again, only victory cigars for Avella as they broke the longest postseason drought in the WPIAL by making the playoffs for the first time since 1976 by going 6-3 and finishing fourth in the Tri-County South Conference. The Eagles lost in Round One to top-seed Sto-Rox 36-7. The current longest drought is Southmoreland as the Scotties haven’t made the playoffs since 1979.

*  While Avella ended a 37-year playoff drought, West Shamokin also made the WPIAL football playoffs last fall for the first time in a long time…long time as in ever. In 2012, West Shamokin entered the season with the longest losing streak in WPIAL history. In 2013, they ended up with a school record six victories and made the District 7 postseason for the first time. It was a short stay in the postseason for the Wolves as they fell in the First Round 37-14 to Monessen.

2013 WPIAL Single-A Standings:

Eastern Conference:
#-Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans : (8-0) – (10-0)
*-Avonworth Antelopes : (7-1) – (9-1)
*-Apollo-Ridge Vikings : (6-2) – (8-2)
*-West Shamokin Wolves : (5-3) – (6-4)
x-Springdale Dynamos : (3-5) – (3-6)
x-Leechburg Blue Devils : (2-6) – (2-7)
x-Wilkinsburg Tigers : (2-6) – (2-7)
x-Northgate Flames : (2-6) – (2-8)
x-Riverview Raiders : (1-7) – (1-8)

Big 7 Conference:
#-Sto-Rox Vikings : (8-0) – (10-0)
*-Neshannock Lancers : (7-1) – (8-2)
*-Laurel Spartans : (6-2) – (7-3)
*-Western Beaver Golden Beavers : (5-3) – (5-5)
x-Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers : (4-4) – (5-4)
x-Union Scotties : (3-5) – (4-5)
x-Rochester Rams : (2-6) – (2-7)
x-Shenango Wildcats : (1-7) – (2-7)
x-South Side Beaver Rams : (0-8) – (0-9)

Black Hills Conference:
#-Monessen Greyhounds : (7-1) – (9-1)
#-Clairton Bears : (7-1) – (8-1)
#-Fort Cherry Rangers : (7-1) – (9-1)
*-Brentwood Spartans : (5-3) – (5-5)
x-Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers : (4-4) – (5-4)
x-California Trojans : (3-5) – (3-5)
x-Carlynton Cougars : (2-6) – (3-6)
x-Bishop Canevin Crusaders : (1-7) – (2-7)
x-Serra Catholic Eagles : (0-8) – (0-9)

Tri-County South Conference:
#-Beth-Center Bulldogs : (8-0) – (9-1)
*-Carmichaels Mighty Mikes : (7-1) – (8-2)
*-Frazier Commodores : (6-2) – (7-3)
*-Avella Eagles : (5-3) – (6-4)
x-Mapletown Maples : (4-4) – (5-4)
x-Jefferson-Morgan Rockets : (3-5) – (4-5)
x-West Greene Pioneers : (2-6) – (2-8)
x-Bentworth Bearcats : (1-7) – (1-8)
x-Geibel Catholic Gators : (0-8) – (0-9)

2013 WPIAL Single-A Playoffs:

2013 WPIAL CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans 14 – Sto-Rox Vikings 0 

WPIAL CLASS A Semifinals:

Sto-Rox Vikings 24 – Clairton Bears 19 

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans 27 – Neshannock Lancers 14 

WPIAL CLASS A Quarterfinals:

Sto-Rox Vikings 42 – Apollo-Ridge Vikings 20 

Clairton Bears 52 – Fort Cherry Rangers 35 

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans 14 – Avonworth Antelopes 7 

Neshannock Lancers 35 – Monessen Greyhounds 6 

WPIAL CLASS A First Round:

Sto-Rox Vikings 36 – Avella Eagles 7 

Apollo-Ridge Vikings 42 – Beth-Center Bulldogs 28 

Clairton Bears 33 – Frazier Commodores 14 

Fort Cherry Rangers 13 – Carmichaels Mighty Mikes 12 

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans 24 – Western Beaver Golden Beavers 0 

Avonworth Antelopes 34 – Laurel Spartans 16 

Monessen Greyhounds 37 – West Shamokin Wolves 14 

Neshannock Lancers 40 – Brentwood Spartans 9 

2013 PIAA Single-A Playoffs:

2013 PIAA CLASS A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

CARDINAL WUERL NORTH CATHOLIC TROJANS 15 – Old Forge Devils 14 in Overtime

PIAA CLASS A Semifinals:

CARDINAL WUERL NORTH CATHOLIC TROJANS 39 – Clarion Bobcats 12 

Old Forge Devils 26 – Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers 7

PIAA CLASS A Quarterfinals:

CARDINAL WUERL NORTH CATHOLIC TROJANS 48 – Tussey Mountain Titans 7

Clarion Bobcats 35 – Lakeview Sailors 20

Old Forge Devils 35 – Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes 0

Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers 40 – Homer-Center Wildcats 7 

PIAA CLASS A First Round:

CARDINAL WUERL NORTH CATHOLIC TROJANS 14 – STO-ROX VIKINGS 0 

Tussey Mountain Titans 42 – Berlin-Brothersvalley Mountaineers 14

Lakeview Sailors 27 – Sharpsville Blue Devils 0

Clarion Bobcats 55 – Redbank Valley Bulldogs 0

Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes 56 – Bristol Warriors 27

Old Forge Devils 19 – Southern Columbia Tigers 14

Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers 26 – York Catholic Fighting Irish 7

Homer-Center Wildcats 22 – Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders 12