What to watch for in high school sports on Dec. 6, 2024: Day 2 of state football champions

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By: Don Rebel


Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 7:13 PM

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The second of three days of the 2024 PIAA football championships are set for Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley on Friday.

On Day 2 in Mechanicsburg, the Class 2A and 5A state football title games take center stage.

Three of the four teams playing Friday are searching for their first PIAA football crown.

Both the 2A teams, Central Clarion (14-0) from District 9 and Troy (15-0) from District 4, will be playing in their first state championship football game at 1 p.m. while District 12 5A champion Roman Catholic (11-4) is also playing in its inaugural PIAA football title game.

The Cahillites’ opponent in the Class 5A finals at 7 p.m. is District 3 champion Bishop McDevitt (13-2), which is participating in its seventh state championship game. The Crusaders are 2-4 in previous trips, including wins over Burrell in 1995 and Aliquippa in 2022.

In the early game, Central Clarion will be trying to become the first District 9 school to win a PIAA championship. The district is 0-4 in state title games, including the loss Thursday in the Class A finals by Port Allegany to Bishop Guilfoyle, 41-22.

Some Class 5A and 2A anniversaries here in 2024:

• Thirty years ago, Mount Carmel edged Forest Hills in the 1994 Class 2A finals in only the second PIAA title game to go to overtime, 20-14.

• Twenty-five years ago, defending champion Mount Carmel lost in the 1999 Class 2A title game to Tyrone, 13-6, as the Golden Wave became the first District 6 team to win a state championship.

• Twenty years ago, Lansdale Catholic rolled past District 10 winner Grove City in the 2004 Class 2A finals, 40-17.

• Ten years ago, South Fayette repeated as PIAA Class 2A champions with a win over Dunmore in the 2014 state finals, 28-16.

• Five years ago, Archbishop Wood from District 12 won the 2019 Class 5A finals over Cheltenham, 19-15, and Southern Columbia struck gold again by crushing WPIAL champion Avonworth, 74-7.

First win wanted

Two boys basketball programs that were playoff teams a year ago collide Friday with new coaches who are in search of their first victory.

Seton LaSalle battles Bethel Park in the first game of the Upper St. Clair tipoff tournament on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

The Rebels lost long time coach Mark “Knobby” Walsh, who left after last season to take over as coach of the Mt. Lebanon girls hoops program.

The Black Hawks said goodbye to Dante Calabria, who resigned after two years to take a head coaching job overseas in Italy.

Replacing them is Kenny Klase at Seton LaSalle and Rico Abbondanza at Bethel Park.

Both teams enter the weekend tournament with 0-1 records following losses to Serra Catholic for the Rebels and Elizabeth Forward for the Black Hawks.

In the second game of the opening round, Kiski Area (0-1) takes on host Upper St. Clair (1-0).

All four games of the tournament, the first round on Friday and the consolation on Saturday at 1 p.m. and the championship game at 2:30 p.m., can be viewed here on the TribLive High School Sports Network.

More tipoff tourney action

It may be the second weekend of the season, but a lot of “tipoff” tournaments will be held this weekend instead of opening weekend.

Some of the other district schools hosting boys basketball tournaments are:

• Aquinas Academy

• Baldwin/Peters Township

• Brentwood

• Brownsville

• Central Catholic

• Chartiers Valley

• Derry

• Fort Cherry

• Freeport

• Hempfield

• Jeannette

• Neighborhood Academy

• Neshannock

• North Catholic

• North Hills

• Sewickley Academy

• St. Joseph

It is a busy weekend for tipoff tourneys in WPIAL girls basketball as well. Schools hosting include:

• Aquinas Academy

• Baldwin/Peters Township

• Bethel Park

• Brentwood

• Brownsville

• Carlynton

• Fort Cherry

• Freeport

• Greensburg Salem

• Monessen

• Moon

• Neighborhood Academy

• Plum

• South Park

• St. Joseph