PIAA Class 1A Semifinals, Final Four, Key Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Port Allegheny (11-1) VS. Union Area (10-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='91662' first='Drew' last='Evens'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Port Allegheny ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63845cc00cd17"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Braylon Thomas","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Union Area","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63845cc00cea7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll be completely transparent. I wasn't quite in the know of what Union Area was capable of up until they "upset" Bishop Canevin in a dominant showing this past weekend. Hard to label a 26-0 win an upset for Union Area, considering Bishop Canevin was hardly in this game. I immediately scoured this program's Hudl and found many kids that need to be represented on the site. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting with some offensive weapons, Union Area's Braylon Thomas, Maddox Thompson, and Dayne Johnke all need to be accounted for if they are on the field. Add Kaden Fisher to that list too. Braylon Thomas will be the athlete behind center, a prospect that can legitimately break a game open. Thomas' tape against Bishop Canevin proves he can be magical out of the pocket. His improvisational skills will keep Port Allegheny on their heels. They are going to need to prepare for an offensive attack that could beat them at all levels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Port Allegheny should be aware of Mike Gunn's alignment before each snap. As we saw against Bishop Canevin, Gunn has incredible range from his safety spot. He's more than capable of reading passing concepts and jumping passing lanes. He's going to be ready to make a play, Port Allegheny needs to key him and keep him honest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Union Area might have the bulk of the prospect talent in this one, that doesn't mean Port Allegheny's [player_tooltip player_id='91662' first='Drew' last='Evens'] can't lead this offense to an offensive outpouring, much like he did against Reynolds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11-13 through the air, 175+ yards, and two scores. Add another score on the ground and an additional 60 yards on the ground. You can argue that Evens is the top prospect in this matchup, I'd like to think so. He, along with [player_tooltip player_id='1158407' first='Aiden' last='Bliss'] and Noah Archer is more than enough to match up with Union Area. I'd love to watch this game live. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/amazingbraytho/status/1596625223050489856?s=20u0026t=jEYrfBKuj9hJNSNLRoj1sA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/amazingbraytho/status/1596625223050489856?s=20&amp;t=jEYrfBKuj9hJNSNLRoj1sA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Steelton Highspire (11-1) VS. Canton (11-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["64022"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63845cc00cf11"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["242277"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63845cc00cf4e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm unaware of [player_tooltip player_id='142805' first='Andrew' last='Erby Jr']. and Jahkai Noss's status in this one. It would be a huge loss if the two aren't able to suit up in this matchup. I think their absence is showing, considering Steelton was in a scary fight against Northern Lehigh. Credit to those boys for making Steelton work for their victory. All this being said, Steelton Highspire at full strength should run the 1A table. They are far too talented and well-coached to be beaten even by a special roster over at Canton and Union Area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The attack, led by [player_tooltip player_id='64022' first='Alex' last='Erby'] and WR tandem [player_tooltip player_id='358008' first='DaQuan' last='McCraw'] and [player_tooltip player_id='259542' first='Durrell' last='Ceasar'], is going to test an underrated defense that enlists [player_tooltip player_id='358267' first='Weston' last='Bellows'] and Mason Nelson. Even if Canton throttles down the passing attack, Canton will have to throttle Noss and/or Ronald Burnette on the ground. I can go on and on about this roster. A fully healthy Roller team has enough to stop [player_tooltip player_id='242277' first='Riley' last='Parker'], whose efforts at Canton can't and won't go unnoticed. So many Canton prospects play both ways, it's going to still take a full effort from the Roller defense to stalemate this rushing attack. Parker and Bellows each run the ball with authority, they each have hands in defense and special teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I can speak about the Rollers roster as much as I want, I know for sure that this Canton football team won't go down easy. They don't have the highly-touted recruits, sure. We know that doesn't win football games. Something has to give. Excited to see who shows up and who doesn't, I can't see either team backing down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One last note, Hayden Ward is another name that will take carries for Canton. This kid is just as special with the ball as Bellows and Parker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/beckyjoy22/status/1596918978164703238?s=20u0026t=jEYrfBKuj9hJNSNLRoj1sA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/beckyjoy22/status/1596918978164703238?s=20&amp;t=jEYrfBKuj9hJNSNLRoj1sA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->