North Penn vs. Neshaminy: The battle for District 1-AAAA supremacy will be decided in Souderton. The Knights walk into the clash on a 10-game winning streak and have bounced Neshaminy four straight times in the postseason. The 1-2 punch of Nyfease West and Luke Berry has produced more than 2,300 rushing yards and 23 scores. QB Austin Shearer has chipped in solid numbers, as well. The Redskins have their own hammer, RB D'Andre Pollard, a workhorse who has rushed 275 times for 2,563 yards. Pollard also has hit pay dirt 32 times. The winner advances to the semifinal round against the St. Joseph's Prep-Parkland clash.
Cathedral Prep vs. West Allegheny: The highly-anticipated rematch of last year's quarterfinal lands at Newman Stadium in Wexford. The Defending Class AAA champion Ramblers are working on a 27-game winning streak and offer all kinds of firepower in the form on QB Billy Fessler (39 TDs), RB Jake DeHart (11.6 ypc.) and a lethal receiving corps. Prep is posting nearly 53 points per outing. The Indians, meanwhile, just bested Central Valley in the WPIAL finale and will bring another physical crew to North Allegheny High. QB Andrew Koester (1,481 yards) and RB Troy Delmonico (15 TDs) were part of that 2012 squad that couldn't hold a 10-6 halftime lead over the Ramblers a year ago.
Troy vs. Berks Catholic: Some considered Troy a long shot to collect the District 4-AA title, but favorites Montoursville and Danville were unable to control Jim Smith's vaunted veer offense. Behind a sizable offensive line, QB Jed Wright has guided the run with more than 1,500 rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns. In all, Troy is averaging more than 350 grounds yards and 37.8 points per game. The Trojans, however, are running into a pretty heady defense in Berks Catholic, which just shutout previously-unbeaten Littlestown in Saturday's District 3 title game in Hershey. Playmakers Pop Lacey, Chris Warren and the Saints will try to keep that momentum rolling in Towanda.
TOP STATE GAMES
Friday, November 29
North Penn (10-3) vs. Neshaminy (12-1), 7
Berwick (13-0) vs. Clearfield (13-0), 7
Old Forge (12-1) vs. Schuylkill Haven (10-3), 7
Manheim Central vs. Bishop McDevitt (12-1), 7
Cathedral Prep (12-0) vs. West Allegheny (13-0), 7
Archbishop Wood (10-2) vs. Academy Park (10-2), 7
Saturday, November 30
Homer-Center (12-1) vs. Steel-High (11-1), noon
Berks Catholic (13-0) vs. Troy (11-2), 1
Central Martinsburg (11-2) vs. Hickory (11-1), 1
Catasauqua (12-1) vs. Imhotep Charter (10-1), 1
St. Joseph's Prep (9-3) vs. Parkland (12-1), 1
Pittsburgh C.C. (13-0) vs. McDowell (7-5), 1
Clarion (13-0) vs. Lakeview (11-1), 1
Cumberland Valley (11-2) vs. Lower Dauphin (12-1), 6
Epler on Twitter: @threejacker
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