Preview of the PIAA Class 3A and 4A State Championship Games

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

Class 3A: Archbishop Wood (13-1) vs. Bishop McDevitt (13-2)
Current wins streaks:
Vikings: 13
Crusaders: 12
Last loss: 
Vikings: Week One vs Pittsburgh Central Catholic 20-17
Crusaders: Week Three vs Cumberland Valley 3-0
Last week:
Vikings: beat Allentown Central Catholic 70-14
Crusaders: beat Montour 41-32
Quarterbacks:
Vikings: Senior Joey Monaghan makes all the right decisions. His passes are usually on point and he keeps defenses honest with his mobility. He has not been asked to win a game for the Vikings, but big games are what this kid has prepared for over the last four years. Playing second fiddle to a dominant run game, he still has thrown 22 touchdown passes to two interceptions. It does not hurt that Monaghan has three Division-One recruits on his offensive line.
Crusaders: Junior Alec Werner has seemed to turn the page and found his groove late in the season. He eclipsed the 3000 yard mark through the air is completing close to 70 percent of his passes. His high number in rushing in a game for the season is 22 yards, so he is your prototypical drop-back gun-slinger.

Desmon Peoples

Skill players:
Vikings: The cousins Desmon (Rutgers) and Brandon Peoples (Temple) have been the focal point of the Vikings offense. The combo has combined for 1929 yards rushing and 36 touchdowns. Don't pack the box though, because play maker Nate Smith (West Virginia) and Florida recruit tight end Colin Thompson are tough to cover in the receiving game.
Crusaders: While the combo of Rashad Lawson and Andre Robinson (29 touchdowns) has been electric it's the wide receivers Werner has to work with that are scary. Some will argue they will be a bigger test than Allentown Central Catholic's bunch, but definitely just as good. Brian Lemelle has over 1300 yards and 13 scores and Shawn Seif has 61 catches for over 800 yards and six scores.
Defense
Vikings: I think it's fair to say the Vikings' defense unit is not a one man show. Behind defensive coordinator's Mike Carey genius ways the unit gives their all on every play and get lost in the 70 point shuffle by the offense. Their big up front and talented in the secondary. It will be Werner and the Crusaders' offensive line biggest test.

Noah Spence

Crusaders: It's easy to see the current PA Gatorade Player of the Year lining up at defensive end and say he's what makes the Crusaders click. Noah Spence, deserved the award for his 12.5 sacks, but you cannot forget about the dynamic line-backing corp of Allen Holman, Tariq Spence and Brock Dean (Maryland).
Prediction: I have to admit this is all feel because I have not seen McDevitt play a lick. So my gut says after beating every body with ease that Vikings will finally get their state championship. I don't think we can see another 70-14 win and starters out at halftime again, but I can see a 42-28 score.



Class 4A: North Penn (13-2) vs. Central Dauphin (14-1)
Current win streaks:
Knights: 12
Rams: 13
Last loss:
Knights: Week Three vs Saint Joseph's Prep 51-33
Rams: Week Two vs Bishop McDevitt 20-13
Last week:
Knights: beat LaSalle 21-14
Rams: beat North Allegheny 23-20
Quarterbacks:
Knights: I actually think Corey Ernst has quietly had the best season that no one seems to talk about. He's over 2000 yards and a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio of 25-to-5. In the playoffs I think coach Dick Beck has stuck to the ground game because it has worked and it has kept some potent opposing offenses on the sideline, but do not take the senior Ernst lightly. He will hit the big play when you are not looking.

Zayd Issah

Rams: The Rams have a very similar quarterbacking situation as the Knights. Junior Brandon LaVia will hit the big play when he is asked to, but more often this year they have looked toward their offensive line and run game for their tempo. That being said, LaVia is getting Division-One looks from Maryland and Penn State and his big arm is a little scary for a up-and-down Knights secondary.
Skill players
Knights: The Knights have a mixture of inside power and outside play makers. Dan Gevirtz needs to get involved here in anyway possible. He is the best wide receiver and most likely to take an end-around 70 yards for a score. James Fielder and Ralph Reeves have split time at fullback and know how to turn the tough yards into big days for the Knights. Reeves had all three scores in the win over LaSalle last week.
Rams: Welcome to the Zayd Issah show. The 6-foot-4 junior is getting looks from Division-One schools all over the country and rightfully so. Issah has done a little bit of everything this season for the Rams. Avergaing close to six yards per carry he has 1200 plus yards on the ground and 20 scores. He has 10 more touchdowns in the air. Issah has scored in every game this season and I don't think it's going to stop in Hershey.
Defense

Ralph Reevs

Knights: This is where the Knights have made their money during the playoffs. They have kept some of the best runners in the area bottled up and forced quarterbacks to take the air. The secondary played very well against LaSalle is not the same average group it was when they were 1-3 to start the year. They know their assignments like the back of their hand. Ralph Reeves leads a talented from seven from the middle of the field at linebacker.
Rams: Here we find Issah making plays as well. Issah lines up at linebacker and has over 100 tackles to show for it. He has 14 sacks and is the ball hawk that scares all offensive coordinators. But the Rams have four men with over 100 tackles and that is why the defense has been the team's strength. Evan Schwan has 15 sacks, Nate Hamilton has 13 sacks to go with his 111 tackles. These men swarm.
Prediction: I have to admit this is all feel because I have not seen Central Dauphin play a lick. I'm a little nervous for the Knights who have not seen so many play makers on defense all year. Will they be able to move the chains or have time to get the ball down the field? It's been a great season for the Knights, but I can see it ending her with a 21-7 loss in Hershey on Saturday.