PIAA Class 5A and Class 2A football championship previews for Dec. 6, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 7:03 PM

Purchase Photo Options

There was great excitement in these parts last season when the WPIAL sent five teams and the City League had one reach championship weekend in the 2023 PIAA football playoffs.

Following several stunning results on the day after Thanksgiving, the district only has two teams remaining to play for state gold in 2024.

Central Catholic in 6A and Avonworth in 3A will get their shot at a PIAA title on Saturday, but before then, here is a look at the other title games at Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley on Day 2.

On Friday, the PIAA Class 2A and 5A championships take place in Mechanicsburg.

Class 5A

Bishop McDevitt (13-2) vs. Roman Catholic (11-4)

7 p.m. Friday, Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley HS in Mechanicsburg

Coaches: Jeff Weachter, Bishop McDevitt; Rick Prete, Roman Catholic

How they got here: Bishop McDevitt was the No. 6 seed in the District 3 Class 5A playoffs but beat Lower Dauphin, Conrad Weiser, Mechanicsburg and Exeter Township to win the D-3 title before eliminating WPIAL champion Pine-Richland. Roman Catholic was the top seed in the District 12 postseason and ousted Father Judge and Frankford to win the D-12 crown and then beat East Stroudsburg in the PIAA first round, Hollidaysburg in the quarterfinals and West Chester Rustin in the final four.

Last week: Bishop McDevitt 28, Pine-Richland 14; Roman Catholic 41, West Chester Rustin 17

Players to watch: Stone Saunders, Bishop McDevitt (Sr., 6-2, 200, QB); Semaj Beals, Roman Catholic (Jr., 6-1, 175, QB)

Team notes

Bishop McDevitt: The Crusaders were rock steady in eliminating WPIAL champion Pine-Richland last week. In rough weather conditions at Mansion Park in Altoona, senior quarterback Stone Saunders threw for 133 yards and three touchdowns, two to sophomore Jontai Quick and one to senior Dominic Diaz-Ellis. On the ground, junior running back Nazir Jones-Davis had a big night with 221 yards rushing on 29 carries and a touchdown.

Roman Catholic: Don’t be deceived by the Cahillites’ four losses as they came against national power Dematha (Md.), Class 4A state finalist Bonner-Prendergast and District 12 6A powers St. Joe’s Prep and LaSalle College. They have outscored their three PIAA opponents by a score of 130-44. Roman Catholic is led by junior quarterback Semaj Beals, who threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns in the semifinal victory over West Chester Rustin.

Historic factoid

• This is the first meeting in the PIAA football playoffs between Bishop McDevitt and Roman Catholic.

• In 15 previous appearances, Bishop McDevitt has a 11-13 record in the PIAA postseason, including 2-4 in championship games. The Crusaders are 0-2 against District 12 teams in the state playoffs with championship game losses to Archbishop Wood in both 2011 and 2013. The two PIAA championship game victories came over Burrell in the 1995 2A finals, 29-0, and in the 2022 4A title game against Aliquippa, 41-18.

• This is the first year that Roman Catholic qualified for the PIAA postseason and the Cahillites are a perfect 3-0. They have outscored East Stroudsburg, Hollidaysburg and West Chester Bayard-Rustin in the state playoffs by a combined score of 130-44.

Class 2A

Central Clarion (14-0) vs. Troy (15-0)

1 p.m. Friday, Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley HS in Mechanicsburg

Coaches: Dave Eggleton, Central Clarion; Jim Smith, Troy

How they got here: Central Clarion captured the District 9 Class 2A title with a victory over Karns City before eliminating Farrell in the PIAA first round, Cambria Heights in the state quarterfinals and South Park in the semifinals. Troy was the top seed in the District 4 playoffs and crushed Warrior Run to win D-4 gold. Then in the PIAA postseason, it ousted Bedford in the quarterfinals and Taylor Riverside in the state semifinals.

Last week: Central Clarion 55, South Park 0; Troy 35, Taylor Riverside 14

Players to watch: Jase Ferguson, Central Clarion (Sr., 6-0, 195, QB/FS); Brendan Gilliland, Troy (Jr., 6-0, 195, RB//TEOLB)

Team notes

Central Clarion: Five years after the merger of Clarion, Clarion-Limestone and North Clarion high schools, the Wildcats have a chance to make history. They are one win away from producing the first PIAA football championship for District 9. In the bitter cold at Farrell, Central Clarion senior quarterback Jase Ferguson was dominant again, hitting on 6 of 11 passes for 160 yards while rushing for 174 yards on 15 carries and scoring an incredible seven touchdowns.

Troy: The Trojans reached their first PIAA football championship game with a three-touchdown victory over D-2 winner Taylor Riverside thanks to a complete effort in all aspects. Junior running back Bredan Gilliland scored three touchdowns while senior wide receiver Lincoln Chimecs got the ball rolling on the scoring by returning a punt 75 yards for the first Troy touchdown. Gilliland leads the Trojans with 24 touchdowns while Chimics has added 15 scores.

Historic factoids

• This is the first meeting between Central Clarion and Troy.

• Central Clarion is participating in a third straight PIAA postseason and has a record of 3-2. The Wildcats lost in the first round to Westinghouse in 2022 and 2023, but now have wins over Farrell, Cambria Heights and South Park. Clarion was 2-4 all-time in the PIAA playoffs, Clarion-Limestone was 2-2 and North Clarion never played in a state playoff game. None of those schools ever reached the state title game. In fact, only four District 9 teams have ever played for state football gold: Keystone in 1989, Smethport in 1992, Redbank Valley in 2021 and Port Allegany in the Class A finals on Thursday. All four lost.

• This is only the second appearance in the PIAA playoffs for Troy and their overall record is 2-1. The Trojans lost to Berks Catholic in a 2013 Class 2A quarterfinal, 33-6, before beating Bedford and Taylor Riverside the last two weeks.