HERSHEY — Archbishop Wood became only the second team to pass for more than 100 yards this season against the Selinsgrove defense in Friday night’s PIAA Class AAA semifinal.
But doesn’t tell the story on how well the Seals’ secondary played against the Vikings.
Quarterback Jerry Rahill threw for 245 yards in the quarterfinals against Pottstown and started Friday night’s game on the same path completing his first two passes for 22 yards. The next time the Vikings’ quarterback completed a pass came with nine minutes left in the third quarter and the Seals already ahead 21-0.
Rahill threw 10 consecutive incomplete passes with two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown by defensive linemen Jon Trego.
The unrelenting pressure of the Seals’ 3-5 defense and the ability of cornerbacks Cameron Benner and Dan Bausinger to cover down field has played a key role in Selinsgrove’s run to the state final.
“The coaches just tell us to stay in front of the receivers and not allow the big plays,” Bausinger said after the Seals 28-0 win on Friday night.
The times Rahill had time to go downfield against the Seals, his receivers couldn’t get away from the coverage or, like in the third quarter when Benner went up with wide receiver Sam McCain, the Seals came down with the interception.
FUN IN THE COLD : Selinsgrove coach Dave Hess stresses to his team that in the end, football is just a game and they should have all the fun they can on the field.
So it doesn’t come as a shock that some of Jon Trego’s teammates couldn’t help but poke a little fun at the senior defensive tackle after Friday night’s win. Trego picked off a pass and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown, beating Rahill to the corner of the end zone.
Linebacker Bryant Trautman joked that it was the longest 20-yard return in history and linemate Spencer Myers speculated that Trego might have been motivated by a food reward in the end zone.
“Maybe he thought there was a hoagie,” Myers joked.
AHEAD OF THE GAME: Selinsgrove’s Ryan Keiser is too nice to ever mention it, but he certainly had Archbishop Wood’s Scott Adkins’ number on Friday. On his first-quarter touchdown catch, Adkins tipped quarterback Cory Briggs’ pass, but Keiser was able to make a one-handed snag, while lying on his back in the end zone.
Later, matched up in one-on-one coverage with Adkins, Keiser got a few steps on him and made a diving catch for a 36-yard gain.
He also cost Adkins two touchdowns as the safety on kickoff returns. Adkins had returns of more 30 yards in each half after Selinsgrove touchdowns and had just Keiser to beat on both, but the Selinsgrove safety made two shoe string tackles to bring down the speedy kick returner.
CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND: Friday night’s PIAA title game between Selinsgrove (15-0) and Manheim Central (15-0) is the only one of the four finals that will have unbeaten teams facing each other.
In fact, the only other unbeaten team left heading into the finals is Bishop Mc- Cort (14-0), which will meet Clairton (14-1) in the Class A title game at 1 p.m.
Friday.
In Saturday’s games, Greensburg Central Catholic (13-2) meets Lancaster Catholic (14-1) in the AA final at 1, followed by the Class AAAA battle between State College (12-2) and La Salle (13-1).
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Game Night to return for PIAA final
SUNBURY — Game Night, which runs during the high school football season, will make a return in Thursday’s edition to preview Selinsgrove’s game against Manheim Central in the Class AAA state title game on Friday.
The publication will feature preview stories and photos, as well as statistics and starting lineups for both teams.
High School Football
Related Photos
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Daily Item file photo
December 14, 2009
Seals stand tall
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The Daily Item's High School Football Podcast
Listen here as Daily Item Sports Editor Bill Bowman and Sports Correspondent Todd Hummel discuss Southern Columbia's quest for a state championship on Friday afternoon..
- Myers state's best defensive player Thanks to a dominating performance in the PIAA playoffs, Selinsgrove senior Spencer Myers was named the Pennsylvania Football News' Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year
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Seals defense comes up big again in clutch
Manheim Central was just one big play away from spoiling Selinsgrove’s shot at a first state title. The Seals were clinging to a 10-7 lead, the result of a Seth Lauver touchdown run with just 1:47 left in the game.
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Briggs guts out victory despite illness
Forty-five minutes after Friday night’s state championship game, Selinsgrove quarterback Cory Briggs did a forward roll on the 50-yard line in celebration, took a knee and then was wracked by coughs.
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Selinsgrove overcomes adversity
For a year that lacked adversity, the Selinsgrove High football team decided to pack whole season’s worth into the final week.
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Myers shines on offensive side
Spencer Myers has made a name for himself in Selinsgrove's state championship run for his outstanding play as a defensive tackle for the Seals, but Friday night against Manheim Central, it was Myers' play on offense that turned out to be the big difference.
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Selinsgrove Seals win state championship
The Selinsgrove Area High School football team made history Friday night by beating Manheim Central to win its first state championship, and end its season as Pennsylvania’s only undefeated squad.
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Seals stand tall
Archbishop Wood became only the second team to pass for more than 100 yards this season against the Selinsgrove defense in Friday night’s PIAA Class AAA semifinal.
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Selinsgrove beats ABW 28-0 to advance to state title game
Always a bridesmaid, never a ... finalist? No longer.
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Seals get a kick out of this duo
SELINSGROVE — Kyle Bennar and Spencer Hotaling came into the 2009 football season with different expectations.
Bennar was a captain on the Seals soccer team and wasn’t thinking of football until he heard a conversation between his coach, Chris Lupolt, and the Selinsgrove football coaches.
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