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Hittin’ The Road With Travelin’ Matt – State Finals

Tagged under: News, pfn, Playoffs

| December 12, 2024

Each week Travelin’ Matt traverses Pennsylvania attending the hottest high school football games

and best match ups in the Commonwealth.  Follow his exploits each week

as he documents his journey from Week 0 to the Pennsylvania State Football Finals!

 

Thursday, December 5

1A #1 Bishop Guilfoyle (14-1) vs. 1A #2 Port Allegany (14-0)

4A #1 Lampeter-Strasburg  (14-0) vs. 4A #2 Bonner-Prendie (11-2)

 

Friday, December 6

2A #1 Troy (15-0) vs. 2A #2 Central Clarion (14-0)

5A #1 Bishop McDevitt (13-2) vs. 5A #2 Roman Catholic (11-4)

 

Saturday, December 7

3A #1 Northwestern Lehigh (15-0) vs. 3A #2 Avonworth (12-3)

6A #1 St. Joe’s Prep (10-2) vs. 6A #3 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (12-2)

 

ROUNDTRIP – 148 MILES

 

16 action-packed weeks of Pennsylvania High School Football have taken me across the Commonwealth to 57 games this season while driving more than 7000 miles to chase my passion.  From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between (and even Delaware for one game) I’ve seen the best our state has to offer in football teams, players and coaches.  What a thrill it’s been to have you along for the ride from the warm late summer games through the cold early winter contests.

The 2024 season came to a close with 6 State Championship matchups held at Cumberland Valley High School over three days.  For more than a decade, myself and a group of high school friends have met every year at the State Football Finals and make a mini-vacation of it attending all of the games while also enjoying each others’ company with plenty of meals and beverages at local restaurants in between.  While Hershey was home for so many years Cumberland Valley has proven to be a more than capable host over the past two seasons.

Going into the title games I had already watched 9 of the 12 teams competing during the regular season and many of the finals faceoffs were compelling with excellent storylines.  Three first-time champions were crowned this year (Troy, Northwestern Lehigh & Bonner-Prendie) while two capped off perfect seasons (Troy and NW Lehigh).  We also had some traditional powers capture state titles again in Bishop Guilfoyle, Bishop McDevitt and St. Joe’s Prep.  This year we were treated to some tremendous games as three were decided by three points or less (two in overtime) and two other contests were tied midway into the second and third quarters.

Here’s a brief recap and highlights from each game…

 

1A Bishop Guilfoyle 41-22 defeats Port Allegany

The perennial power Crusaders captured their 5th PA State Title pulling away in the second half against a run-heavy Port Allegany Gators squad.  The game was knotted at 14-14 midway through the third quarter before Bishop Guilfoyle tallied 27 straight points to put the game away.

 

 

 

 

2A Troy 26-25 defeats Central Clarion

In a battle of first-time and also undefeated finalists Troy outlasted Central Clarion by a single point to claim the schools first State Football Title.  Troy held a 12-3 advantage at halftime before do-it-all Clarion QB Jase Ferguson led his Wildcats to a late fourth quarter 25-20 lead. Troy answered back scoring with just over a minute remaining in the game and a 50 yard field goal attempt by Central Clarion fell short to give the Trojans the title.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3A Northwestern Lehigh 36-33 defeats Avonworth in Overtime

The NW Lehigh Tigers returned to the title game for the second year in a row seeking the first state football title for the program.  A back-and-forth battle with District 7 representative Avonworth ensued and wasn’t decided until superstar Tiger running back Eli Zimmerman took it in from a few yards out in overtime to give NW Lehigh their championship.  Interesting sidenote…the NW Lehigh athletics department is on fire this season as the Boys and Girls Soccer teams both secured undefeated and state title campaigns this year in addition to the football teams perfect and state title run as well…wow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

4A Bonner-Prendie 40-14 over Lampeter-Strasburg

After Bonner-Prendie raced out to a 14-0 lead Lampeter-Strasburg battled back to even the score at 14-14 midway through the second quarter.  It was all Bonner from there on out as they tallied twice before the half for a 28-14 advantage at the break.  Another two touchdowns from Bonner and some smothering defense brought home the title for the District 12 Friars.

 

 

 

 

5A Bishop McDevitt 34-31 defeats Roman Catholic in Overtime

An all-Catholic, private school matchup featured two of the top quarterbacks in the state as Stone Saunders and Bishop McDevitt toppled Samaj Beals and Roman Catholic.  McDevitt built a 21-3 lead in the first half and led most of the game until Roman Catholic battled back to take a 31-28 advantage with just 5 minutes remaining.  McDevitt evened the score in the fourth quarter to send it to overtime and another three-pointer in the extra frame captured the third state title for the Crusaders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6A St. Joe’s Prep 35-6 defeats Pittsburgh Central Catholic

Dominant Philly Catholic League squad St. Joe’s claimed their seventh PA State Football title in the past nine seasons with a convincing 35-6 tally against District 7 Pittsburgh Central Catholic.  The Hawks put up 21 straight points to open the contest (including an 80 yard TD run on the game’s first play) and didn’t look back en route to another title for the private school powerhouse.

 

 

 

 

 

What a year it’s been and thank you for following my travels all season!  Follow along next year as Travelin’ Matt takes you on another PA High School Football journey.

 

2024 SEASON RECAP – 7220 TOTAL MILES (57 GAMES)

 

Week 0

Garnet Valley – 34  Coatesville – 19

Imani Christian Academy – 45  West Catholic – 6

Bishop Guilfoyle – 21  Bald Eagle Area – 0

 

Week 1

Manheim Township – 28  Central York – 10

Twin Valley – 40  Selinsgrove – 10

Harrisburg – 35  Bishop McDevitt – 33 (1 OT)

Troy – 8  Dover (DE) – 3

 

Week 2

East Stroudsburg South – 38  Whitehall – 7

Lampeter-Strasburg – 35  Cocalico – 14

Harrisburg – 7  State College – 6

Bethlehem-Liberty – 31 Stroudsburg – 14

 

Week 3

Bethlehem-Freedom – 38  Nazareth – 10

Scranton Prep – 28  Delaware Valley – 25

 

Week 4

Schuylkill Haven – 72  Minersville – 52

Central Bucks South – 22  Central Bucks West – 17

Pope John Paul II – 24  Phoenixville – 13

Bethlehem Catholic – 27  Allentown Central Catholic – 0

 

Week 5

Towanda – 40  Canton – 14

Danville – 34  Southern Columbia – 8

 

Week 6

Bethlehem-Freedom – 24  Bethlehem Catholic – 3

Central Bucks South – 14  North Penn – 6

Neshaminy – 38  Pennridge – 3

LaSalle – 35  St. Joe’s Prep – 34 (4 OT)

 

Week 7

North Schuylkill – 38  Blue Mountain – 14

Wyomissing – 34  Twin Valley – 24

Cumberland Valley – 24  Harrisburg – 21

Nazareth – 36  Bethlehem Catholic – 7

 

Week 8

North Allegheny – 28  Pine-Richland 21

Owen J. Roberts – 27  Spring-Ford – 25

St. Joe’s Prep – 48  Roman Catholic – 20

 

Week 9

Western Wayne – 42  Dunmore – 7

Shamokin – 21  Mount Carmel – 0

Lampeter-Strasburg – 20  Wyomissing – 7

 

Week 10

Lehighton – 29  Blue Mountain – 28

Downingtown West – 28  Coatesville – 21

Executive Education – 26  Minersville – 6

 

Week 11

Southern Lehigh – 41  Pottsville – 34

Thomas Jefferson – 38  Aliquippa – 21

Schuylkill Haven – 53  Executive Education – 14

 

Week 12

Southern Lehigh – 28  Bethlehem Catholic – 7

Central Clarion – 41  Farrell – 6

Thomas Jefferson – 28  McKeesport – 7

Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 45  North Allegheny – 14

 

Week 13

Troy – 42  Bedford – 16

Fort Cherry – 21  Clairton – 20

South Park – 21  Seton LaSalle – 14

Avonworth – 17  Central Valley – 0

Pine-Richland – 20  Peters Township – 9

 

Week 14

Lampeter-Strasburg – 20  Thomas Jefferson – 16

Bishop McDevitt – 28  Pine-Richland – 14

Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 38  Harrisburg – 33

 

Week 15

Bishop Guilfoyle – 41  Port Allegany – 22

Bonner-Prendie – 40  Lampeter-Sttrasburg – 14

Troy – 25  Central Clarion – 24

Bishop McDevitt – 34  Roman Catholic – 31 (OT)

Northwestern Lehigh – 36  Avonworth – 33 (OT)

St. Joe’s Prep – 35  Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 6

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