Scouting the State Finals: PIAA Class 5A Championship

<p></p>      <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Imhotep's Offensive Line vs. PR's Front Seven</strong></p>   <p>I'm a believer that no team in the State of Pennsylvania can compete with this Imhotep running attack so long as the offensive line fires off the ball and mauls kids the way I'm accustomed to seeing week in and week out. Although incredibly talented, this front is youthful and still developing. I didn't see [player_tooltip player_id='143199' first='Jabree' last='Wallace-Coleman'] run free often against Malvern Prep, against Roman, or even against the much smaller Upper Dublin. This isn't necessarily to the fault of Wallace-Coleman, he's one of the best underclassmen running backs I've laid eyes on in my young career. JWC is going to get his no matter who is in front of him. If this offensive front can dominate, PR won't have a shot. Thing is, dominating outings from this young group haven't come on a weekly basis. </p>   <p>This Pine-Richland front deploys special front-seven prospects, an underrated cast that resembles the one Malvern Prep put up against Imhotep earlier in the year. [player_tooltip player_id='92703' first='Max' last='Heckert'] will be the man in the middle and will absolutely need to be accounted for on every down. [player_tooltip player_id='358011' first='Brady' last='Carrigan']'s reps up front will prove to be pivotal in this one. He will need to win matchups on the edge. Cole Wilson will look to eat inside as well. This isn't a front-seven to take lightly. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PR_RamsFootball/status/1599586547400986624?s=20&t=YciGU0vnuWs5u3ksnwbTYg </div></figure>   <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PR's Offensive Line vs. Imhotep's Front Seven</strong></p>   <p>Whoever wins in the trenches will win this football game. I think Imhotep shouldn't take the PR front lightly. Yet everyone at Pine Richland knows whats coming for them from along the Imhotep defensive line. Pine-Richland will be well equipped in their own right, stationing [player_tooltip player_id='98505' first='Ryan' last='Cory'], [player_tooltip player_id='139979' first='Jake' last='Beam'], and [player_tooltip player_id='358118' first='Isaiah' last='Kerns'] in the interior. </p>   <p>No scout team and no prior history will prepare Pine-Richland for what's coming for them both through the A-gaps, as well as around the edge. [player_tooltip player_id='142896' first='Zahir' last='Mathis'] is the 6'6 monster that will be screaming off the edge, presumably the top-ranked prospect in the entire class of 2025. Real speed, real bend, Mathis is still learning with each rep. Every snap that Mathis is on the field is a snap that could change the game. </p>   <p>Can't go without speaking about [player_tooltip player_id='119073' first='Jahsear' last='Whittington']. I've seen the kid numerous times. Not many prospects in my travels have wowed me the way this kid has. He is mentally and physically prepared to wreak havoc in this football game. An incredible blend of upper/lower body strength. Elite get-off, elite motor. We have always thought this young man was the best DT in the state, each week he's proving it. Whittington is done with rankings, done with projections, all he wants are sacks and TFLs. It's showing. Somehow, the Pitt commit is the one prospect on this Imhotep roster that I'd be worried about the most. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='142833' first='David' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='248111' first='Mysir' last='Mayo'] are only D1 graded defenders that will also be ready to take on the star-studded interior that is Pine-Richland's IOL. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jahwhitt/status/1597089889530843136?s=20&t=YciGU0vnuWs5u3ksnwbTYg </div></figure>   <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Which version of Mikal Davis will we see?</strong></p>   <p>I've grown fond of Mikal Davis' game. I've had the pleasure of seeing the highs and the lows his game provides. The junior quarterback has done a great job this year limiting his lows from reaching catastrophic levels, which has to please the Imhotep coaching staff. I don't see Davis making the same mistakes he's made in the past. Yes, he might not be the most elite passer, yet he's functioning exactly how the staff would like him to. Trustworthy in his decision-making, trustworthy both pre and post-snap. Davis is proving he can be trusted with the keys to the Porsche. Occasionally, Davis will flash more than a game manager. If the playmaking Mikal Davis shows up, the one that makes Imhotep more than one-dimensional, the entire PR defense will have their work cut out for them. Davis' confidence as a passer has reached its highest level, he located under duress against Upper Dublin, while providing spark after spark with his arm and legs. Happy to see Davis grow into this leadership role. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/kelldavis12/status/1596948910396035072?s=20&t=YciGU0vnuWs5u3ksnwbTYg </div></figure>   <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Which version of [player_tooltip player_id='358055' first='Ryan' last='Palmieri'] will we see?</strong></p>   <p>Sadly for [player_tooltip player_id='358055' first='Ryan' last='Palmieri'] and Pine-Richland, Imhotep might have gotten a wake-up call last week. I didn't think [player_tooltip player_id='140946' first='Colin' last='O'Sullivan'], who ranks as the second-highest senior quarterback, could evade pressure the way he did. I didn't think he would be as slippery as he was in the pocket. [player_tooltip player_id='358055' first='Ryan' last='Palmieri'] will provide Imhotep with a double dose of this style of play. I'd imagine Imhotep would be ready for it considering what Upper Dublin was able to do to this defense in the second half. [player_tooltip player_id='27734' first='Semaj' last='Bridgeman'] would play a huge factor in how [player_tooltip player_id='358055' first='Ryan' last='Palmieri'] would operate, whether it be in the mesh zone-read action post-snap, Bridgemen would make things difficult if he were suited up. He isn't. Will PR be able to neutralize the 'Tep pass rush with Palmieri's ability to read the edge defender? Will Palmieri be able to hit wideouts like [player_tooltip player_id='140964' first='Andrew' last='Mellis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='148535' first='Niko' last='Andrews'] downfield if the defense plays the run? I know he is capable of doing so. Imhotep better be prepared. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PR_RamsFootball/status/1595757876815044612?s=20&t=YciGU0vnuWs5u3ksnwbTYg </div></figure>   <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Unforeseen Difference Makers</strong></p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='255061' first='Ethan' last='Pillar'] is often forgotten about somehow. He only managed to churn turf up for over 1,100 yards on the year. His frame might deem him unassuming, yet he is often the man meshing with Palmieri in the backfield. Watch for Pillar to break a couple runs loose in this one. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='377921' first='Evan' last='Johnson'] is another Ram to watch in this one. 6'1, 185-pound wideout that can block, while also being able to provide real OLB reps if need be. </p>   <p>Crazy that I can go an entire article without mentioning arguably the best overall prospect on Imhotep, that being the most college-ready DB in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='27730' first='Rahmir' last='Stewart']. The veteran presence in the backend will help keep this defense together if things get sideways early. They count on Stewart to do so. </p>   <p>Kenny Wosely is currently ranked as a top ten prospect in his class, while also ranking as the second best DB in his class. PR might not test his abilities to cover too much, yet his awareness and edge-setting ability will be crucial in this one. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='357957' first='Corey' last='Wright'] has showed up in each game I've attended, PR needs to be ready for this kid to explode for a big play or two in each half. His game is always ready to pop. Don't sleep on him. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PRZPAvic/status/1598875962875482112?s=20&t=YciGU0vnuWs5u3ksnwbTYg </div></figure>