HERSHEY, Pa. — They staged the first 6A football championship in PIAA history Saturday night. For Central Catholic, it was hardly an inaugural ball.
It was pretty much a rotten experience for Central Catholic at Hersheypark Stadium. The Vikings’ offense that looked unstoppable in the postseason? Ahhh, not so much.
That impressive Central Catholic defense filled with future major-college players? It was reduced to a minor role.
Mighty St. Joseph’s Prep of Philadelphia made Central Catholic look rather ordinary, drubbing the Vikings, 42-7, to win the 6A championship against the defending champions. St. Joseph’s actually forced the mercy rule late in the fourth quarter. It was the third-worst postseason loss for Central Catholic since the Vikings joined the WPIAL and PIAA in the mid 1970s.
It was a sad — and surprising — ending to a fine season for Central Catholic (14-2). But it was a season that ended like it started — with a loss to a saintly bunch outside the WPIAL. In the season opener, Central Catholic was defeated by St. John’s of Washington, D.C.
Few could have expected a blowout in the PIAA championship, though. Central Catholic’s offense had breezed through the WPIAL regular season and the postseason was also a cinch. The Vikings entered the title game averaging 55.6 points in five playoff games.
But St. Joe’s certainly isn’t Seneca Valley or Pine-Richland. St. Joe’s was on a completely different level, winning its third PIAA title in four years. The Hawks came in 13-0, ranked No. 13 in the country by USA Today and they used their size and speed on the perimeter to lock up Central Catholic’s offense. Central Catholic had only 185 total yards and the Vikings lost four fumbles.
“I think we were on a little bit of a high streak coming in here, but it’s a different world out here playing them,” said Central Catholic quarterback Troy Fisher. “It’s different than WPIAL guys. Obviously they are a great team.”
Central Catholic’s only touchdown came on a 19-yard run by Justice Evans on the final play of the third quarter. That cut the lead to 28-7.
“We didn’t help ourselves, but that’s a darn good football team,” said Central Catholic coach Terry Totten. “I don’t even think they were as big as us on defense, but they’re very athletic and that presented a lot of problems. They are who we thought they were.”
St. Joseph’s offense got another strong game from star running back D’Andre Swift, a University of Georgia recruit who had 140 yards on 26 carries. St. Joseph’s had 345 yards offense.
St. Joe’s led, 14-0, at halftime. One score came after a Central Catholic fumble and the other came after a 19-yard punt gave St. Joe’s the ball at the Central Catholic 35 with 22 seconds left in the half. On the first play, St. Joe’s quarterback Marquez McCray hit Darryle Simmons with a pass to the sideline and Simmons broke free from Rodney Thomas’ tackle for a touchdown.
St. Joe’s other touchdown came after J.J. Younger fumbled at the Hawks’ 29. Two plays after McCray threw a 26-yard pass, Swift busted through the middle, bowled over a few defenders and took off on a 34-yard scoring play.
First Published: December 11, 2016, 3:57 a.m.
