The first of the state championship football games kicked off last night in Hershey. Jeannette defeatd Homer Center 42-12 to win the 1A championship. It was Jeanette’s first PIAA title since Terrelle Pryor’s senior season in 2007. Erie Cathedral Prep won the 4A championship with a 38-28 win over Imhotep Charter.
The 5A championship will be played tonight at 7pm at Hersheypark Stadium. Gateway will meet Archbishop Wood. At 1pm today, Wilmington and Southern Columbia play for the 2A state championship.
Saturday at 6pm, Pine-Richland will face St. Joseph’s Prep in the 6A championship.
Tomorrow at Noon, Quaker Valley and Middletown will play for the 3A state championship.
The Tennessee head football coach saga has finally ended. Jeremy Pruitt, who is currently the Alabama defensive coordinator has been hired to lead the Volunteers. Tennessee fired Butch Jones in November after he went 34-27 over five seasons. Pruitt will remain with Alabama through their College Football Playoff run.
At last night’s college football awards ceremony in Atlanta: Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was announced as the Maxwell Award winner for best college player. Stanford running back Bryce Love was given the Doak Walker Award for best running back. Both players are finalists for the Heisman Trophy along with Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson which will be announced Saturday.
Penn State running back Sayquon Barkley was the recipient of the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Award, given to the top player from the Big Ten. He was also named a first team All-American.
Cheyney University has announced it is dropping its football program effective immediately. The school has been battling funding problems.
