No. 1 Steel-High and Lower Dauphin didn't survive the semifinal round of the PIAA football playoffs, but Bishop McDevitt did with an epic 47-42 win over Erie Cathedral Prep in the snow and cold of E.J. Mansell Stadium on Dec. 7 in Dubois. LD was flattened by Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 45-0, at Altoona, while Steel-High didn't fare much better in a 26-7 loss to Old Forge in Hazleton.
No. 2 After Erie Cathedral Prep took a 15-point lead in the third quarter, the Crusaders rallied for three scores, while shutting out the Ramblers over the final 21 minutes. Junior quarterback Nick Marsilio came of age in the playoffs, again playing well with 291 yards passing with three TDs. Junior running back Andre Robinson also starred with 372 all-purpose yars and two TDs.
No. 3 It was also a record-setting weekend for McDevitt grads Matt Johnson of Bowling Green University and LeSean McCoy of the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson threw for an MAC record 393 yards by completing 21 of 27 passes for five TDs in a 42-27 win over Northern Illinois. Johnson was named player of the game in the MAC championship game, out-playing Heisman Trophy hopeful Jordan Lynch of NIU.
No. 4 LeSean McCoy and the Eagles were up to the challenge of playing in nearly a foot of snow with a 34-20 win on Dec. 8 at Philadelphia. With a NFL rushing title in his sights, McCoy exploded for a club record 217 yards rushing to break Steve Van Buren's record of 205 that stood since 1949. McCoy currently leads the NFL wit 1,305 yards rushing and his 1,744 all-purpose yars translates to 134.2 per game for the 8-5 Eagles. His gear from the record-breaking game was sent to the NFL Haff of Fame.
No. 5 Bishop McDevitt athletic director Tommy Mealy, an assistant on coach Jeff Weachter's staff, said it was truly a memorable weekend in the annals of McDevitt football. "The Erie Cathedral Prep win was one of the most thrilling moments in Crusader athletic history," Mealy said. "Every play was so pressure packed and intense. That game may be the favorite memory in their lifetime for many or our kids and it was really special to see our entire team on their feet cheering each other on for that come-from-behind victory. The whole weekend left a smile on the face of coach Weachter, myself and everybody affiliated with McDevitt football."
No. 6 "Matt Johnson is such a good example for all kids at any level of competition," continued BM a.d. Tommy Mealy. "He was the second string quarterback beaten out for his position for two years and he never chose to be negative or pout. He chose to compete and get better and when his opportunity came, he took advantage of it. He succeeded because he was prepared. As for LeSean, I'm looking forward to going to the Eagles next game at home with the Bears and I'll be wearing full McDevitt football clothing."
No. 7 McDevitt wasn't the only East Shore school with football success recently. Susquehanna Twp. grad Marques Colston also had a big game Dec. 8 with nine catches for 125 yards and two scores as the New Orleans Saints beat the Carolina Panthers, 31-13.
No. 8 The Palmyra girls' basketball team is picking up where it left off last year when it went 29-1 with District 3-AAA and Mid-Penn championships. The Cougars opened the season by winning the Northern Lebanon tip-off tournament Dec. 7 with wins over Northern Lebanon and Lebanon. Bucknell-bound Carly Richardson is back for her senior year, with help from returning starters Kristen Smoluk, Maria Tukis and Katy McClellan. They followed with a 63-36 win over Cedar Cliff on Dec. 10 on the opening night of Mid-Penn Keystone play. Richardson scored 18 and sophomore Josie Stovall had 16.
No. 9 The Middletown boys were surprised on Dec. 6 in their opener in the Annville-Cleona tip-off tournament when Northern Lebanon's Sam Light erupted for 37 points in the Vikes' convincing 87-49 win. NL returned the next night to defeat Annville-Cleona, 77-57, as Isaac Ray scored 34. The Vikes hit 12 treys against the Little Dutchmen.
No. 10 On hand for the Dec. 7 tourney at A-C was former coach Scott Pera, whose 1999 PIAA-AA champs were honored with a 15-year anniversary. Pera, a graduate of Hershey High and current assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania, is best known for having coached James Harden of the Houston Rockets at Artesia High in Lakewood, Ca. and Arizona State.