Weekly Rewind (Friday, Nov. 30)
How many people would have thought the following in the summer: two YAIAA teams were a mere hours (or one win) away from playing football in December?
No matter how unlikely it seemed, that was, indeed, the case Friday night. Delone Catholic and West York both survived long enough to nearly hold football practices in December.
Unfortunately for the Squires and Bulldogs, neither made it past Friday. Both were done in by perennial powers.
First, West York.
The Bulldogs had a difficult assignment against two-time defending District 3 Class AAA champion Bishop McDevitt in the title game.
The Crusaders didn't play their best, but were still a little better than West York and won, 21-10, behind a stout defense that limited West York to 190 yards of total offense.
The setback ended a banner year for the Bulldogs that saw them win YAIAA Division II and roll to a 13-1 record. It was West York's first trip back to Hershey since stunning Manheim Central, 15-7, to win the 2008 title. That was the Bulldogs' first Class AAA crown -- they captured District 3-AA titles in 1988 and 1991.
West York, which will lose 24 seniors from this team, remains the lone YAIAA school to own either a District 3 Class AAAA or AAA title.
Bishop McDevitt (14-0) travels to Clearfield on Friday at 7 p.m. to meet District 10 champion Erie Cathedral Prep (14-0) in a state semifinal.
The winner advances to the PIAA Class AAA final at Hersheypark Stadium on Dec. 14 p.m. at 7 p.m.
Delone had, arguably, a more difficult pill to swallow.
The Squires (9-4) were seconds away from advancing to the PIAA Class A semifinals when it all fell apart at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona.
Haden DeGennaro scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds left and the Blue Devils added a two-point conversion to pull even at 20-20.
In overtime the Squires struck first when Austin Noel caught a 10-yard TD pass from Brett Smith, but the extra point was blocked. Casey Gray responded for the Blue Devils with a 1-yard touchdown run and, needing to make the extra point to win, Tyler Campbell missed it wide left.
Gray scored on the first play of the second overtime and Campbell nailed the PAT, putting the pressure on Delone, which cracked.
Matt Giuffreda fumbled on the second play and Nick Torsell fell on the ball to end the game.
The Blue Devils (13-1) will meet District 2 winner Dunmore (13-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Central Mountain in Hill Hall.
The winner advances to the PIAA Class A championship at Hersheypark Stadium on Dec. 14 at 1 p.m.
Despite the result, it's safe to say the Squires and their leading rusher, junior Giuffreda, will likely be one of the favorites to win the District 3-A title again next year. Delone dropped from Class AA to A for at least this school year and next and immediately made it be known that it will be a force.
Notes from around the state: The four Class AA winners (Aliquippa, Imhotep Charter, Richland and Wyomissing) won by their quarterfinal games by an average score of 49-9. Those four teams enter state semifinal play with a combined record of 55-0. ... Delone and Bellwood played the first multiple-overtime game in the PIAA playoffs since Nov. 27, 2009 when Bedford beat Karns City, 28-26, in triple OT. ... LaSalle College and Coatesville are scheduled to play the first PIAA Class AAAA eastern final at night since 2003. The Explorers and Warriors meet Friday at 7 p.m. at Downingtown West's Kottmeyer Stadium. ... another unique start time has District 3 Class AAAA champ Wilson meeting District 7 winner North Allegheny at Mansion Park in Altoona on Saturday at 3 p.m. In six of the previous seven Class AAAA western finals involving a District 3 team, the game has started at 1 p.m. Last year's matchup between Central Dauphin and North Allegheny kicked off at 6 p.m. and was the third of three games in two days at Mansion Park.