The 2018 Hershey Experience, Year Five Observations and Thoughts
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Billy Splain | December 13, 2018
The ultimate goal of the season: Hersheys Gold Click picture for entire gallery by Jason Syk
It’s time for the annual review of the six championship games held in Hershey last weekend. In addition to a summary of each contest that may include some quotes and facts not seen elsewhere, we’ll follow up with a few keen observations and comments.
Farrell vs. Lackawanna Trail (1A) – The Thursday afternoon game started fast and unexpected. Trail recovered a Steeler fumble on the opening kickoff and scored two plays later to take a 7-0 lead thirty-five seconds into the game to give the Lion faithful hope that an upset of historic proportions just might occur. But alas, Farrell scored the next 55 points and coasted to the 55-20 victory. Christian Lewis, a quiet, soft-spoken young man, was the game’s MVP by rushing for 249 yards and 5 touchdowns. He said he jokingly predicted he’d score 5 TDs when his offensive line asked if he ‘wanted it’ before the game. This may be one of the best Class A teams ever, ranking right up there alongside the 2006 Southern Columbia team with Henry Hynoski.
Farrell had one of the biggest offensive lines in the state for any class. They average 6’3” 289 pounds! The quarterback, Kyi Wright, stands 6’3” and weighs 240 pounds. He is going to Pitt to play 
LB/DE. The Steelers have at least three other D-1 players. The mother of Farrell Steeler coach Jarrett Samuels passed away this year. Wright and Coach Samuels are cousins. Wright and the seniors dedicated the season to Samuels due to the loss of his mom (Wright’s aunt). Coach Samuels said the players actually carried him through the year in dealing with his loss. When asked what about his team stands out the most, Samuels proudly points out the team’s average GPA is 3.5. Lewis says Samuels has been like a father to him and that it’s been a blessing to have him in his life. Samuels closed his post-game interview with, “this is for you, momma, for you.”
Erie Cathedral Prep vs. Imhotep Charter (4A) – The Thursday night contest was the fourth year in a row the same two teams met, which is a state finals record. Prep started fast by scoring on a Billy Lucas 56-yard run a minute and forty seconds in. They had a chance to go up by fourteen, but Tep stopped the Ramblers on fourth down, inches from the goal line. The Panthers drove 99 plus yards to tie the game and one would think the momentum was now in their favor. But Erie Prep was like an unstoppable train in the playoffs. They were not going to be denied their third straight title, scoring the final 31 points of the game. Billy Lucas set title game records by carrying the rock 40 times for 287 yards. In the process he scored three touchdowns. Coach Mike Mischler told the press, “Lucas runs like a man.” That was Cathedral Prep’s fifth title in eight appearances. Mischler was head coach in all five victories. They have won 13 straight playoff games.
Prep’s defense held Tep’s offense to 117 yards for the rest of the game after the 99-yard scoring drive. Imhotep’s offensive line averages 6’1” 299 pounds, but obviously the Ramblers had little trouble dealing with the size. Credit Coach Mischler and his staff for making the appropriate adjustments and getting the team to respond at the right time of year. He did theorize though, “we run a defense many don’t see at the high school level.” Mischler also stated, “I feel proud and blessed and I don’t know what I’ve done to receive these blessings.” His father passed away during the season and it has been an emotional time for him. Remember, Prep did not have a scrimmage before their first game. The Ramblers also have the honor of being the only team in finals history to defeat the same team three years in a row.
Southern Columbia vs. Wilmington (2A) – Friday afternoon’s game was a tremendous game, for a half. Wilmington had leads of 6-0 and 14-7 in the second quarter, but a 32-yard pass from Stone Hollenbach to Gaige Garcia with one second left in the half pulled the Tigers even. Then, on the ‘Hounds’ second possession in the third quarter, Shane Miller intercepted his first of two passes. That seemed to turn the complexion of the game totally around and Southern went on to score 35 consecutive points with the Garcia boys scoring all seven touchdowns. Gaige had five and brother Gavin had a couple of dazzling 30 plus yard scores. Gaige now has 124 career TDs and has another season left to play! In fact, with the exception of the quarterback, the corps of Southern’s team are all back next year!
Coach Jim Roth won his 428th game and stands in third place in PA history behind George Curry and Jack Henzes. “This was a rewarding win because we faced adversity for the first time all year and it showed strong character on the part of the players,” Roth declared. The two teams combined to go 5 for 5 on fourth downs (the Tigers were 4 for 4). Southern Columbia tied the 2007 Jeannette team for most points scored in a season with 860. When a reporter told Gaige he’d heard that Gaige was an outstanding wrestler, Garcia humbly said, “not bad.” Garcia went on to say wrestling helps him with football with the use of his hips and because it’s a tough sport.
Penn Hills vs. Manheim Central (5A) – Friday night’s contest was supposed to be the best game of the weekend. In a way it was as the 36-31 final would indicate. But, at one time in the third quarter the Indians led 36-14. The Barons got a touchdown at the end of the game (three ticks left on the clock) to make the score closer. The story of the game was Daequan Hardy. Mr. Hardy made the night and the venue his own party and playground. In a performance reminiscent of Aliquippa’s Darrelle Revis in 2003, Hardy put on quite a show. With Penn Hills trailing 7-6 in the second stanza, he scored three straight touchdowns. The first came on a 74-yard pass from Hollis Mathis, the second tied a state title game record when he picked off an Evan Simon pass at the goal line and returned it 100 yards, and on the third he hauled in a 27-yard pass to put the Indians up 24-7 early in the second half. Hardy later found the end zone returning a kickoff 84 yards for his fourth TD of the evening.
There were three touchdowns scored in the third quarter within 26 seconds! We’ll go out on a limb and say that’s a state finals record. At 5:58 Manheim’s Tyler Flick ran it in from the fifteen. Hardy returned the kickoff with 5:45 remaining on the clock. Finally, Colby Wagner caught a 64-yard TD toss from Simon at the 5:32 mark. Many Manheim people feel they were the better team because the Barons outplayed the Indians, having over 100 yards more offense (445-331) and get this, all twelve of Manheim’s drives ended in up in Penn Hills territory! Four times they had the ball inside Penn Hills’ ten-yard line and came away with only one touchdown! Four interceptions hurt though as the Indians converted three, directly or indirectly, into scores. But ultimately it is the scoreboard that determines who the better squad is on any particular night.
Cousins Terry “Tank” Smith and Avante McKenzie both heading for the endzone at Hershey. Avante told me he told his teammates if he got a chance he would do the same as Tank did the night before. Billy Splain
Aliquippa vs. Middletown (3A) – This was another very close game for a half as the Quips led only 7-0 at the break. It may have been tied at zero if not for William Gipson’s fake punt on a fourth and ten from his own twenty. Gipson gained thirteen and Aliquippa proceeded to drive downfield until Avante McKenzie bolted in from the five, scoring his first of four straight TDs. McKenzie finished the game with 198 yards on 22 carries. The team stats were fairly even heading into the third quarter, but as The Chief (McKenzie’s nickname) stepped up his game, the Quip defense was lights out in the second half holding the Blue Raiders to 24 yards on 18 plays! This was the third year in a row that Middletown lost the championship game to a team from Beaver County. Jose Lopez rushed for 145 yards and his team’s total yards amounted to only 168!
Aliquippa’s MJ Devonshire was one punt return for a touchdown shy of a national record. He had 8 TDs off of punt returns this year, but none since mid-October. Gevod Tyson, who scored the fifth Quip touchdown on a pass Eli Kosanovich and led his team in tackles on defense, said, “this is the best feeling of my life.” Coach Mike Warfield, an Aliquippa quarterback in his day, became only the third D-7 coach to win a state title in his first year. To his credit, he came in and instituted the spread offense which was a perfect fit for the talent he inherited. The Quips have at least six D-1 players. Their offensive line average size was 6’1” 284 lbs. with three 305-pound guys. From what we’ve heard, there is a lot of young talent in the Aliquippa youth football league. Consider that fair warning to all the other AAA teams in years to come.
St. Joseph’s Prep vs. Harrisburg (6A) – This game was close through three quarters as Harrisburg kept up with the nation’s 6th ranked team according to USA Today. A pick six by Jai Burney, one of Burg’s top defenders, put the underdog Cougars up early in the first. Two TD passes by sophomore sensation Kyle McCord and a 59-yard run by Kolbe Burrell sent St. Joes into the lead at 20-7 by the end of one quarter. The two powerhouses traded scores in the second and Harrisburg had the only TD in the third to pull within a touchdown at 27-20. But the Hawks were just too good offensively and their defense picked it up in the last quarter. Two Marques Mason 4-yard TD runs gave St. Joes the 40-20 triumph. Harrisburg showed they could play as D-1 recruit Andre White, Jr. led the defense in tackles and Burney had the interception plus three fumble recoveries! Offensively, the Cougars’ QB Kane Everson is very quick and got out of a few sacks with his slick agility and elusiveness.
Dana Purdy Jr leads the Cougars onto the field in unique fashion
McCord ended the game 26 of 37 passing for 284 yards and a pair of TDs. Burrell had 147 yards rushing. Junior WR/DB Anthony Rightley had a game, catching a touchdown pass from McCord and also catching three of Everson’s passes too! “Love and trust. That’s what we believe in,” said Gabe Infante. He has been the Hawks head coach the last nine years and has led St. Joes to five title games in the past 6 years, winning four. St. Joes is going to be scary good in the next couple of years as the key and jewel of their team is the sophomore class. McCord, WR Marvin Harrison, Jr., WR Sahmir Hagans, and LB Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. are major contributors now. The Hawks return 7 offensive and 6 defensive starters and the kicker is a freshman. If they are ranked #6 in the country now, they may be vying for the top honor in the next couple years. Harrisburg’s cupboard will not be bare next year either, but they do have to replace Everson, Burney, and White. The Harrisburg band uniforms were one of the nicest this ole writer has seen in a while. The drummers’ solo was the highlight of their show for me.
Once again, fans were treated to a plethora of talent that will be playing on Saturdays. A few may well be playing Sundays someday too. Of the bands that played, Harrisburg’s was the
LeDonne in shorts with his family
highlight. Farrell’s baton twirler, Kalia Knight, did a very nice job. Never saw each team line up on the wrong side of the field before for a kickoff, yet that is what happened after Lackawanna Trail scored in the fourth quarter of their game with Farrell. Imhotep is an Egyptian polymath or person expert in many areas of learning. Imhotep was also the name of Boris Karloff’s character in the 1932 movie, ‘The Mummy.’ Wilmington’s coach, Brandon Phillian, is in his first year and is quite articulate. He used to announce games on the local radio station and had played for legendary coach, Terry Verrelli. I’m presuming another state finals record was set in the Penn Hills-Manheim game as 7 two-point conversions failed and Penn Hills was responsible for 6 of them! Penn Hills’ coach Jon LeDonne was his high school valedictorian at Aliquippa. He is bearded and wears shorts every game. Which may be a little unusual for a PhD in engineering who works for a secured research lab that supports the nuclear Navy.
If you haven’t made it to Hershey, please consider it for next year’s finals. There is plenty to do in the surrounding areas, so make it a family outing, even if only you go to the games. A heartfelt thanks to my cousin who provided a place to crash for a couple of nights. It gave us a chance to ‘catch up.’ A special thanks to my wife who allows me to travel and talk high school football for 16 weeks. She was rewarded with a new vehicle this year. Don’t expect something like that every year, honey. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. And just think, only about eight and a half months till the 2019 season kicks off.
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