PIAA football championship notebook: Despite criticism, St. Joseph’s Prep coach proud of powerhouse team’s achievements

By: Chris Harlan
Monday, December 11, 2023 | 7:16 PM

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St. Joseph’s Prep football has dominated the state’s largest classification for over a decade, and the Philadelphia team’s coach isn’t about to apologize for the school’s success.

The Hawks won their eighth title in 11 years on Saturday by defeating WPIAL champion North Allegheny, 45-23, in a Class 6A final that ended with a running clock under the mercy rule. Afterward, NA coach Art Walker acknowledged some frustration about having to face St. Joseph’s Prep.

Walker pointed out days before the game that the Philadelphia Catholic school draws students from multiple states yet was playing for a Pennsylvania championship.

Asked about the criticism levied by opponents, St. Joseph’s Prep coach Tim Roken praised the hard work of his players and staff.

“I don’t think a lot of people understand the sacrifices these guys make, and their families, and how we go about our business,” Roken said after the game. “I’m just so very proud of our school and our community. We’re going to continue to work our tails off to have this opportunity every year.”

Roken joined St. Joseph’s Prep coaching staff in 2010 and was promoted to head coach in 2019. The Hawks have reached the PIAA finals in all five of his seasons, winning four state titles.

“There are a lot of great coaches (in Pennsylvania) and they all work very hard, and all of the kids work very hard in this state,” Roken said. “It’s a very tough state for football. Our guys believe in what we do.”

National power IMG Academy was the only opponent to beat St. Joseph’s Prep this year.

The Philadelphia Catholic League team also won state titles in 2013, ’14, ’16, ’18, ’19, ’20 and ’22. The Hawks have had some star-studded rosters over the years, and this year’s team was ranked sixth nationally by USA Today.

The lineup North Allegheny faced was heavy in Division I college recruits, starting with Cincinnati-bound quarterback Samaj Jones. The senior threw touchdown passes to receivers committed to West Virginia (Brandon Rehmann) and Cincinnati (Elijah Jones), and highly recruited junior running back Isaiah West also reached the end zone.

Where this team ranks in St. Joseph’s Prep history is debatable.

“That can be argued, I’m sure, by some of our past teams,” Roken said. “They’re obviously a special group. With this senior class, some will look at it just based on where some of these guys are going (to college). We’ve had some great teams in the past that may not have been as recognized at the Division I level.”

The notable alumni list includes current Philadelphia Eagles teammates D’Andre Swift and Olamide Zaccheaus, Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Ohio State standouts Marvin Harrison Jr. and Kyle McCord.

Before becoming coach at North Allegheny, Walker won a state title with Central Catholic in 2004. But Walker has emphasized that it’s the multi-state enrollment that sets St. Joseph’s Prep apart.

“I never had a kid from Ohio or West Virginia or New York or Maryland on my team,” Walker said last week. “There’s a difference there. St. Joe’s and Central Catholic are not the same.”

Staying or going?

Westinghouse was the first City League team to reach consecutive state finals, and the Bulldogs left Cumberland Valley already planning a third trip next year.

“The expectation started last year,” Westinghouse coach Donta Green said. “We’ve got to get here. The young guys got a taste of it. Hopefully that will give us some fuel and motivation throughout this offseason and we’ll be able to rock and roll.”

The Bulldogs fell to Southern Columbia, 21-20, in the Class 2A final Friday. This was the second year in a row that the teams met in the state finals, and they could rematch again next season, if they both remain in 2A.

The PIAA competitive-balance rule will decide their fates.

“We’ll play whoever they put on the schedule at the end of the day,” Green said. “Doesn’t matter if we’re 1A, 3A, 2A, 12A — we’ll play wherever — and I believe we’ll be competitive.”

Updated enrollment numbers list the Bulldogs in Class A with 127 boys, but they’re not allowed to drop under the competitive-balance rule. However, they could be bumped up to 3A.

The PIAA rule counts postseason success and transfers. Westinghouse accumulated eight “success points” under the formula, which is more than what’s needed for promotion. But to be forced up, Westinghouse also would’ve needed to add three or more transfers to the football team in the past two years.

Green said Friday he wasn’t certain about the transfer number. The PIAA was expected to start tabulating transfers in the coming weeks. The PIAA board meets Jan. 24.

Southern Columbia coach Jim Roth said the 14-time state champions will remain in Class 2A next season. The Tigers also had more than enough success points to be promoted, but Roth said the team didn’t add three transfers.

Making their points

Aliquippa posted the fifth-highest point total in PIAA championship history in a 60-14 win over Dallas in the Class 4A final Thursday.

The only teams to score more were:

• Southern Columbia (74) against Avonworth in the 2019 Class 2A final

• North Allegheny (63) against Coatesville in the 2013 Class 4A final

• St. Joseph’s Prep (62) against Central York in the 2020 Class 6A final

• Southern Columbia (62) against Serra Catholic in the 2021 Class 2A final

Record-setting career

The state final was the career finale for Steelton-Highspire quarterback Alex Erby, who closed out his high school days as the state’s all-time passing leader in yards (13,567) and touchdowns (175).

A Navy commit, Erby had 350 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-8 win over Fort Cherry in the Class A final Thursday. The state title was the team’s third in four seasons.

The previous record for passing yards was held by 2015 South Fayette graduate Brett Brumbaugh, who had 11,084. Central Martinsburg’s Jeff Hoenstine was credited with the career touchdown mark at 146 last year.

Erby broke both records in October.

Imhotep breaks WPIAL streak

Imhotep Charter snapped a three-game losing streak to WPIAL champions by beating Peters Township, 38-13, in the Class 5A final Friday.

Overall, the win was only the second in eight PIAA finals appearances for the Philadelphia school, which lost to Pine-Richland in 2022, Penn-Trafford in 2021 and South Fayette in 2013. The Panthers improved to 2-6 in state finals.

“Every loss we took, we were respectful,” Imhotep coach Devon Johnson said. “We didn’t complain. We didn’t make excuses. When they would troll us online, we would just take that. But they’ve got to deal with it now. … We’re state champions.”

Imhotep is another team that could be bumped up by the competitive-balance rule. If so, the Panthers would join Class 6A along with St. Joseph’s Prep, meaning the two reigning state champions could meet in the District 12 finals, and only one would qualify for the state playoffs.

WPIAL adds 2 titles

By adding two more state titles this year, the WPIAL increased its record total to 58.

District 4 has the next most with 19 titles, led by Southern Columbia. District 12 has 18 titles after wins by St. Joseph’s Prep and Imhotep Charter.

The PIAA football playoffs started in 1988.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.