By:
Wednesday December 4, 2024 | 10:01 p.m.
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Lampeter-Strasburg quarterback Caileb Howse takes on Thomas Jefferson’s Jarrett Becoate in their PIAA Class 4A semifinal Friday at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Thursday marks the first of the final three days of the 2024 high school football season.
The PIAA football championships begin at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field with the Class A and Class 4A title games.
Three of the four teams are trying to win their first national football title.
The two 4A teams, Lampeter-Strasburg (14-0) from District 3 and Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast (11-2) from District 12, play for their first state title at 7 p.m. while the District 9 champion, Port Allegany (14-0) seeks PIAA football gold for the first time.
Their opponent in the Class A final at 1 p.m. is an exception as District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle (14-1) will try to win its fifth state football championship.
Some class 4A and A birthdays here in 2024:
• Thirty years ago, McKeesport won everything in 4A and Southern Columbia won its first A state title in 1994.
• Twenty-five years ago, Central Bucks West edged Cathedral Prep to win the 1999 4A crown and South Side beat Southern Columbia to win its first and only State A title.
• Twenty years ago, Central Catholic completed a perfect, dominant season with a defeat of Neshaminy, 49-14, in the 2004 4A final, while Southern Columbia blanked Rochester to once again win Class A gold .
• A decade ago, St. Joseph’s Prep repeated as 4A champion by edging Pine-Richland, 49-41, and Bishop Guilfoyle was defeated by Clairton to win the Class A title in 2014, 19-18.
• Five years ago, Thomas Jefferson beat Dallas to win the 4A state title, 46-7. Farrell defeated Bishop Guilfoyle to win the 2019 Class A championship, 10-7.
Even Steven
The Chartiers Valley girls basketball program has plenty of gold to show for its success over the years in Class 5A.
However, in the last two-year cycle, the Colts crossed the finish line and played in Class 6A, running into Section 2-6A with, among other teams, Mount Lebanon.
After sweeping Chartiers Valley in the 2022-23 regular season, Mount Lebanon hosted the Colts in a 6A quarterfinal playoff game.
CV looked ready for the upset, only to see a big lead slip away and the Blue Devils won, 47-46.
Last season, the two teams split in the regular season, each winning on the other team’s home court.
They finished tied for second behind Peters Township and faced off again in the 6A quarterfinals at Mt. Lebanon.
This time, the Colts relied on defense to tie the score and took out the Blue Devils, 34-26.
With a realignment this offseason, the Colts are back in 5A while the Blue Devils remain in 6A.
The stakes won’t be as high Thursday when Chartiers Valley travels to Mount Lebanon in a non-section match.
The Colts are looking for their first win of the season after losses to Canon-McMillan and Thomas Jefferson while the Blue Devils are 2-1 this year, beating Class 4A powers Blackhawk and North Catholic before bow Tuesday in Altoona.
Woody and the Harbor
Two Class 5A playoff teams from a year ago with strong girls basketball traditions face off Thursday in non-sectional competition as Woodland Hills hosts McKeesport.
The Wolverines won their season opener Sunday against Gateway, 52-24.
This is the fourth game this season for the Tigers, who are still looking for their first win after losses to North Allegheny, Johnstown and Hempfield.
McKeesport has won the last four meetings between the two, including a third-place game in the 2023 WPIAL Class 5A after the Tigers lost to Oakland Catholic and the Wolverines fell to South Fayette in the semifinals.
The last time Woody High beat The Port in girls hoops was in a Section 4-5A game in February 2021, 57-45.