What to watch for in high school sports on Dec. 5, 2024: State football championships kick off

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 | 10:01 PM

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Thursday marks the first of the final three days of the 2024 high school football season.

The PIAA football championships kick off at Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley with the Class A and Class 4A title games.

Three of the four teams are trying to win their first state football crown.

Both 4A teams, Lampeter-Strasburg (14-0) from District 3 and Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast (11-2) from District 12, play for their first state title at 7 p.m. while District 9 champion Port Allegany (14-0) looks for PIAA football gold for the first time.

Their opponent in the Class A finals at 1 p.m. is the outlier as District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle (14-1) will be trying to win its fifth state football championship.

Some Class 4A and A anniversaries here in 2024:

• Thirty years ago, McKeesport won it all in 4A and Southern Columbia captured its first state title in A in 1994.

• Twenty-five years ago, Central Bucks West edged Cathedral Prep to win the 1999 4A crown and South Side defeated Southern Columbia to win its first and only A state title.

• Twenty years ago, Central Catholic ended a perfect and dominant season with a rout of Neshaminy, 49-14, in the 2004 4A finals while Southern Columbia blanked Rochester to win Class A gold again.

• Ten years ago, St. Joseph’s Prep repeated as 4A champs by edging Pine-Richland, 49-41, and Bishop Guilfoyle squeaked by Clairton to win the Class A title in 2014, 19-18.

• Five years ago, Thomas Jefferson cruised past Dallas to win the 4A state title, 46-7. Farrell edged Bishop Guilfoyle to win the 2019 Class A championship, 10-7.

Even Steven

The Chartiers Valley girls basketball program has plenty of gold to show for its success over the years in Class 5A.

However, in the past two-year cycle, the Colts galloped across the line and played in Class 6A, butting heads in Section 2-6A with among other teams, Mt. Lebanon.

After sweeping Chartiers Valley in the 2022-2023 regular season, Mt. Lebanon hosted the Colts in a 6A quarterfinals playoff game.

CV looked primed for the upset, only to watch a big lead slip away led and the Blue Devils prevailed, 47-46.

Last season, the two teams split in the regular season with each winning on the other team’s home court.

They finished tied for second place behind Peters Township and once again squared off in a 6A quarterfinal at Mt. Lebanon.

This time, the Colts leaned on defense to even the score and eliminated the Blue Devils, 34-26.

With realignment this offseason, the Colts are back in 5A while the Blue Devils remain in 6A.

The stakes won’t be as high Thursday when Chartiers Valley visits Mt. Lebanon in a nonsection matchup.

The Colts are in search of their first win of the season after losses to Canon-McMillan and Thomas Jefferson while the Blue Devils are 2-1 this year, defeating Class 4A powers Blackhawk and North Catholic before falling Tuesday at Altoona.

Woody and The Port

Two playoff teams from Class 5A a year ago with strong girls basketball traditions collide Thursday in a nonsection contest as Woodland Hills hosts McKeesport.

The Wolverines won their season opener Sunday over Gateway, 52-24.

This is the fourth game this season for the Tigers, who are still in search of their first victory following losses to North Allegheny, Johnstown and Hempfield.

McKeesport has won the last four meetings between the two, including a 2023 WPIAL Class 5A third-place game after the Tigers lost to Oakland Catholic and the Wolverines fell to South Fayette in the semifinals.

The last time Woody High defeated The Port in girls hoops was in a Section 4-5A matchup in February of 2021, 57-45.