Each week Mr. PA Football brings you a preview of the top high school football action in Pennsylvania. The regular season is now over and now it is time for the postseason where the stakes are at the highest. Here’s what you need to know about the biggest games this weekend, including #5 St. Joseph’s Prep at #2 La Salle College HS.
#5 St. Joseph's Prep (5-4) @ #2 La Salle College HS (8-1)
Saturday 1:00 PM, District-12 PCL Class 6A Finals
A magnificent rematch in the Philadelphia Catholic League 6A Finals on Saturday afternoon and probably the Game of the Week across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
La Salle College is #2 in our Power 20 Rankings and St. Joseph’s Prep is #9 in our Power 20 Rankings for Week 10. The Explorers crushed Father Judge 56-7 last Friday night and the Hawks trounced Cardinal O’Hara 38-3 last Saturday.
St. Joseph’s Prep will be motivated to avenge the 31-20 loss from earlier this month to La Salle College. The Explorers also won last year’s regular season game, but lost convincingly in the rematch in the finals last season. Therefore, La Salle College will also have a ton of incentive to win this rematch because of last year’s disappointing result.
In the first contest, La Salle built a 17-0 halftime lead and led from start to finish in a win that featured an offensive explosion. The teams combined for 699 yards of total offense, 355 yards for La Salle and 344 yards for St. Joe’s Prep. Although, the Hawks gained a lot of the offensive yardage in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to rally from behind and earn the victory.
These teams arguably have the most talent in Pennsylvania and college prospects are scattered all over their rosters.
- Villanova Stadium on Saturday
- Two excellent coaches square off, La Salle College’s Brett Gordan and St. Joseph’s Prep’s Tim Roken. Coach Gordan is in his second year as Head Coach of the Explorers.
Key Players to watch:
La Salle College HS:
- Senior QB Gavin Sidwar, a Missouri recruit
- 5-Star Senior WR/CB Joey O’Brien, a Notre Dame commit
- 4-Star Senior OT Grayson McKeogh, a Notre Dame recruit
- Senior RB Desmond Ortiz, a Brown commit
- Senior TE/WR John-Patrick Oates, a Temple recruit
- 4-Star Junior LB Zykee Scott
- Junior RB Ahzir Nelson
St. Joseph’s Prep:
- 3-Star Junior QB Charlie Foulke IV
- 3-Star Senior Simaj Hill, a West Virginia commit (injured)
- 3-Star Senior DE/DT Alexander Haskell, a Syracuse recruit
- 4-Star Junior LB Brandon Lockley
- 3-Star Junior CB/ATH Masiia Acrey
- 5-Star Sophomore WR Jett Harrison
Keys to the game:
Wow, this one should be a barn burner on Saturday afternoon!
Again, this battle will be won at the line of scrimmage and will be decided by which team forces the most turnovers and capitalizes on those opportunities. In the last game, the Explorers forced two turnovers and won the game 31-20.
This time we again expect another very tight game. Who plays sound fundamental football and takes care of the football best on Saturday? The most opportunistic football team wins on Saturday and the team that protects the football. It is hard to beat a team twice and we think the Hawks turn the tables this time around and pull out an evenly matched 34-31 victory.
Quick Hitters Preview
Big School Class 4A-6A
Red Land (7-3) @ Mechanicsburg (9-1) 07:00 PM District-3 Class 5A 1st Round
This playoff game is another rematch. The Wildcats were victorious the first time 14-7. The Patriots and first-year Head Coach Jaimie Thomas will be looking for payback in this contest and should be energized on Friday night. Red Land is smarting from a 21-15 loss to Mifflin County last week and Mechanicsburg shutout Shippensburg Area 17-0 last Friday night and expects to continue their defensive dominance this week.
Athens (9-1) @ Jersey Shore (7-3) 07:00 PM District-4 Class 4A Semifinal
Athens travels to face off against Jersey Shore this weekend after pummeling Sayre 57-0 last week. The Bulldogs hammered Central Mountain 63-26 last Friday and anticipate another big home playoff victory this week. Keep track of Athens junior ATH/QB Connor Davidson in this game.
Plymouth-Whitemarsh (7-3) @ #10 Pennridge (9-1) 07:00 PM District-1 Class 6A 1st Round
Pennridge cruised by Central Buck South 28-7 and secured the No. 1 seed last week. The Rams and Head Coach Kyle Beller are having an outstanding season and anticipate keeping the momentum going at home on Friday night. The Colonials smashed William Tennent 42-15 last Friday night and hope to play the spoiler role this week at Pennridge.
Oil City (8-1) @ #10 General McLane (8-1) 07:00 PM Saturday District-10 Class 4A Semifinal
The Lancers had an immense home victory over powerhouse Cathedral Prep 28-14 two weeks ago and are expecting another big win on Friday night. Oil City destroyed Franklin 47-0 two weeks ago and hopes to continue the momentum this week. Keep track of General McLane senior QB/LB Matt Caro who should make an impact in this game.
Bethlehem Freedom (5-5) @ Bethlehem Liberty (7-3) 12:00 PM Saturday District-11 Class 6A Quarterfinal
This contest is a rematch of last week’s game which Bethlehem Liberty won 42-14 over Bethlehem Freedom. The Hurricanes and Head Coach Shawn Daignault ended a six-game losing streak to their rival last week in the “Battle of Bethlehem” and host the Patriots this week. Will the outcome change this week?
Chartiers Valley (7-3) @ #9 McKeesport Area (7-3) 07:00 PM District-7 Class 4A Quarterfinal
The Tigers have won five straight games after thrashing Knoch 57-0 last week and are anticipating another huge home victory. McKeesport has been rolling since 5-star RB phenom Kemon Spell is back healthy. Chartiers Valley routed Ringgold 38-0 last Friday night and has some confidence heading into Friday night’s game. Keep an eye on the Colts senior RB/CB Tayshaun Lewis who is a Week 10 Player of the Week nominee.
Mars Area (8-2) @ Thomas Jefferson (8-2) 07:00 PM District-7 Class 4A Quarterfinal
The Fightin’ Planets romped over Indiana 42-7 last Friday night and have won two games in a row heading into Friday’s contest. The Jaguars demolished Laurel Highlands 58-7 last week and have won three straight games. Watch out for Thomas Jefferson junior RB/LB Tyler Eber this week.
Small School Class 1A-3A
Hanover Area (6-4) @ #6 Berwick Area (10-0) 07:00 PM District-2 Class 3A Semifinal
This playoff game is a rematch from September which Berwick won the first meeting 56-19. The Bulldogs have been cooking all season and clobbered Tunkhannock 53-0 last week to remain unbeaten. Hanover Area comes in optimistic after pounding Greater Nanticoke Area 63-0 last Friday and has won three straight games. Look out for Berwick senior RB Ty’Meere Wilkerson who has had a fabulous season thus far.
Everett (6-4) @ Berlin-Brothersvalley (6-4) 07:00 PM District-5 Class 2A Semifinal
This playoff game is another rematch from September which the Mountaineers won 35-19. The Warriors are reeling after losing three straight games and getting beat badly last week by Claysburg-Kimmel via a 41-7 final score. Berlin-Brothersvalley defeated Moshannon Valley 34-8 last Friday and has won two straight games. The Mountaineers enter Friday’s contest with some momentum and expect another victory.
United Valley (7-3) @ #7 Richland (9-1) 07:00 PM District-6 Class 2A Quarterfinal
The Rams and Head Coach Brandon Bailey are humming and have won six games in a row after smashing Huntingdon 42-13 last week. United Valley has won four straight games after beating Purchase Line 41-22 last Friday night and hopes to pull the big upset this week.
Jefferson-Morgan (8-2) @ #9 Laurel (9-1) 07:00 PM District-7 Class A 1st Round
The Rockets enter this week’s playoff game hostile after losing to California 36-14 last week. The Spartans have been red-hot winning six straight games after defeating Neshannock 14-7 last Friday night and are expecting to keep the winning train rolling this week.
Corry Area (7-2) @ Fort LeBoeuf (7-3) 07:00 PM District-10 Class 3A Quarterfinal
We have another playoff game rematch here in this contest. Fort LeBoeuf won the first meeting 31-29 and Bison Head Coach Justin Blose expects another home victory this week after handling Mercyhurst Prep 41-23 last week. Corry Area has won four straight games after beating Harbor Creek 28-7 on the road two weeks ago and expects a different result this time at Fort LeBoeuf on Friday night.
Pen Argyl (7-3) @ Minersville Area (8-2) 06:00 PM Saturday District-11 Class 2A Quarterfinal
The Green Knights enter this playoff game after defeating Bangor 32-21 last week and winning two games in a row. The Battlin’ Miners are firing on all cylinders after drubbing Panther Valley 45-18 last Friday and have won five straight games. Minersville senior QB Dante Carr is one to keep track of in this playoff game.
