DEC. 12
TEDBIT
  Decent year for individual stats in state quarters/semis/finals. Just not spectacular. The best efforts were posted in rushing by C-E's Patrick Garwo (274 for No. 2) and Wood's Nasir Peoples (267 for No. 5). The Prep's Marquez McCray made two more appearances in passing (raising his total to three) and C-E's Dajuan Harris checked in at No. 8 in receiving.

DEC. 11
TEDBIT
  Their high school careers have ended and their stats have been finalized . . . Players from SJ Prep, Wood and Conwell-Egan mixed in with players whose numbers were posted on Nov. 28. The two QBs, Marquez McCray and Da'Vion Kidd-Jackson, were backups for the Prep in 2015 before K-J transferred to West. They combined to pass for 6,199 yards and 62 TDs.

DEC. 10
TEDBIT
  SJ Prep's season wound down with a major shock. After allowing 92 points over their first 12 games, the Hawks surrendered 90 in their last two -- 49 in a win over Coatesville and 41 in a loss to Pine-Richland. SEVEN teams this season allowed at least 40 in back-to-back games and 12 of the 20 Catholic/Inter-Ac teams have done so over the last three seasons. Meanwhile, Malvern has never yielded as many as 40 in back-to-back games since joining the I-A for the 1950 season. La Salle hasn't done so since 1951. The breakdowns are below.

DEC. 9
TEDBIT
  This item first was posted back in September after Wood's first three games and we hoped that the season would turn out to be "extra special" for the family of Nasir Peoples. Back then the crew needed 807 rushing yards to hit 12,000. Well, that number has been left waaaaaay behind. The total now stands at 12,737 and Nasir owns the top season number at 1,838. Along with the most TDs at 29. In last night's state championship game, he stormed to 267 yards and four TDs. Brothers Charlie ('89 grad) and Darrien ('93) starred at Abraham Lincoln. Darrien's son, Desmon, did likewise at Prep for one year, then for two more at Wood ('12). Desmon and Brandon ('12), Charlie's son, were highly productive backfield mates in the '10 and '11 seasons. Nasir is Brandon's brother and the senior is bound for Virginia Tech. Through his junior season, he was almost exclusively known for his skills as a cornerback/safety. Charlie and Darrien made college football waves at Indiana (PA) and Kutztown, respectively. Desmon played at Rutgers. Brandon did so at Wagner. Charlie is an assistant to Wood coach Steve Devlin. Back in September, Nasir had not yet posted a game rushing total that qualified for a spot on the family's Top 10. Well, now his name can be found in the No. 2 slot and five times total in what has been expanded to a Top 15 (17, actually, due to a three-way tie at 15). Congrats on everything, Peoples peeps!    

DEC. 8
TEDBIT
  Here's Part 3 of the look at performers for state champs -- receivers. This nugget looks a shade different because some champs did not have pass-catchers with outrageous numbers. It lists the Top 15 guys based on total receptions. Pretty cool: exactly 500 catches and just a shade short of 100 TDs. West Catholic's Jaelen Strong-Rankin, who now goes by Strong, advanced to the NFL . . . Good luck to Wood (tonight at 7) and SJ Prep (tomorrow night at 6)!

DEC. 7
TEDBIT
  Below are rushing leaders for state champs. I included multiple guys for some teams because their yardage total was higher than the number for SJ Prep's 2013 leader, Olamide Zaccheaus. How 'bout this one: West's 2010 squad featured three guys with at least 924 yards. Nasir Peoples, Wood's current franchise rusher, is the brother of Brandon and cousin of Desmon. On the Vikings' back-to-back champs in 2013-14, Jarrett McClenton rushed for 3,896 yards and 65 TDs. Not bad, eh?

DEC. 6
TEDBIT
  No Catholic League guy can make this statement . . . yet. "I quarterbacked my school to two state championships." By around 9 o'clock Saturday night, two guys could be able to say that. In the 2016 season, junior Marquez McCray (St. Joseph's Prep) and soph Jack Colyar (Archbishop Wood) steered their schools to Pennsylvania crowns in Class 6A and 5A, respectively. They're still around and their attempts at a repeat will take place Saturday night for Marquez and Friday night for Jack. Over the entire seasons, QBs for the nine state winners have combined to pass for 16,718 yards and 194 TDs. The 2017 combo total for Marquez and Jack stands at 2,566 and 23. Imagine if they win and combine to throw for 716 yards. 

DEC. 5
TEDBIT
  Did you notice? In consecutive weeks, Catholic League champs surrendered an outrageous amount of points in state playoffs. A week ago, Neumann-Goretti (Blue) was scorched for 45 in a Class 2A quarterfinal loss to Southern Columbia and this past week St. Joseph's Prep (Red) was sliced and diced for 49 in a 6A semifinal . . . victory! That's right. The Hawks dropped a 53-point bomb on Coatesville. Anyway, this is just the third time (all in the last five years) that CL champs in the same season have been burned for at least 45 points in any game. In 2013, West Catholic was the first and only team to "accomplish" that feat by itself. The Burrs, the CL's 2A kingpin, gave up 54 points to Wood in a non-league game and 48 to Imhotep in the City Title. Through various setups, the Catholic League has crowned 126 champions since making its debut in 1920. In what I like to call the Overall Era (through 1998), just one CL champ was burned for at least 45 points in any game. In its 1994 opener Bonner was scorched for 52 points by Bethlehem Catholic. No sweat. Bonner shook it off and regrouped. Greg "Bubba" Bernhardt, then a starting wideout/d-back, the Friars' coach for four seasons (2012-15) and now the coach at Sun Valley, missed that BC game with an injury (as well as the Game 2 loss to Upper Darby) and he likes to joke that his absence caused the debacle (smile). Then, on the turning-serious trail, he likes to note that Game 3, a 19-18 win over Glen Mills (yes, Bubba played), was extremely important. In that one, future NFLer Anthony Becht made five catches for 94 yards. That victory sent the Friars on their way to an 11-game winning streak through the end of the season. "Winning that 3rd game against Glen Mills was a huge boost of confidence for us," Bubba noted. "Back then Glen Mills was awesome and we had never beaten them." GM had captured the '92 and '93 meetings by a combined score of 55-16 . . . One note: Conwell-Egan gave up 49 points in its 3A semifinal loss to Middletown this past weekend. That setback is not included on the list below because the Eagles are not CL champs. The Red/Blue kingpins, as in 2016, were determined by the regular season results.

DEC. 4
TEDBIT
  Final stats for the Little Quakers' 65th season (3-1 record) . . .

DEC. 3
KEVBIT
Report by Kevin Burke on the Little Quakers' final game of 2017; Season No. 65 in team history
  Franklin, TN - The 65th season ended successfully for the Little Quakers in greater Nashville as they extended their all-time record to 257-40-7. They finished the season at 3-1-0.
  The LQ brought their own brand of Philly music to Nashville as they strutted to a 46-0 win over the Tennessee Tigers All-Stars.
  In a game that featured 6 TDs by as many players (4 in the 1st half), every score produced highlight material. QB Colin Schumm orchestrated the win mainly by placing the ball in his stable of stellar RBs and only needed to throw sparingly.
  Sam Brown (93 yds, 1 TD) ripped off 18 yds in the first two plays of the game to get the game rolling. Next play - BAM - Andre O'Neal broke free for a 41 yd TD scamper and it was game on! John Westfield added the first of 5 successful PAT kicks for the 2-point conversion (youth rules) and a 8-0 lead before barely one-minute evaporated.
  After the LQ KO, on the Tigers very first down a rampaging Dave Rosania announced it would be a long afternoon for the Tigers when he stormed up the middle, forcing a fumble that was recovered by an alert Tommy Batson. Back to work for the O!
  Two more runs by "Take-It-To-Town" Brown for 28 yards and the ball was on the 8 yard line.
  Next up - Maurice "Reece" Clark - with an acrobatic one-hand snag that any college (let alone high school) athlete would die to have on his highlight reel! It was a quick slant to the endzone, thrown very high and slightly behind the streaking Clark, who with maximum elevation, twisted his body backward, suctioned in the ball with only his right paw and crashed forward into paydirt. TD! The kick by Westfield was true, and just like that, it was 16-0.
  O'Neal was also spectacular on D with 3 TFL (-5 yds) on the next series, creating a 4-and-out punt for 12 yds.
  Next up was Akire Lilley, who ripped 24 a yard trip to the endzone. Another perfect boot by the triumphant triumvirate of Westfield (kicker), Nick Marricone(snapper) and sure -handed holder Ryan Moore and the 1st Quarter was sealed at 24-0.
  To put an exclamation point on the last 2 plays of the 1st period, DL Coulton Grasela bestowed 2 Back-To-Back Sacks (for -5 TFL yds.) on his team's dominant effort.
  RB James Richard, Jr. exploded for runs of 18 and 4 yds to set up another Aikire Lilley TD scamper (26 yds). Another boot to split the uprights notche dthe Quakers at 32-0 and the running clock was now on. Rosania and Scott Belveal teamed up for a -5 yd TFL and Shane Hartman stonewalled for another TFL of - 6 yds.
  In one of the few LQ mishaps, the ball was coughed up at the 6 yd line on a drive capped by 30 yds(16 + 14) rushing by Sam Brown. A ishandled snap was the snafu and the Tigers only managed 2 yards on 2 plays beofore intermission with tackles by Batson, Dumond and Shane Collier, who provided solid support at DB all afternoon.
  To start the 2nd half, the Tigers returned the KO 10 yds to the 50. On the 1st play, the QB threw to the LQ sideline and with feline quickness, Ryan Woertz pillfered the pass in front of the LQ bench, tip-toed sideways for 10 yards barely inside the sideline, then raced for his life to secure the Quakers 5th TD. This time the PAT was blocked and the score now stood at 38-0. After a -4 TFL by Matt DuMond and -5 TFL by O'Neal and a 4th down long pass smartly knocked down by DB Sam Gerber who covered receivers all day like sticky rice.
  Back on the attack with the ball, "Reese" Clark went for 12 yds and James Jr. gained 3. And then it was "Take-It-To-Town" Brown for a 17 yd beast feast in the endzone.
  Kick was good and the score stood at 46-0 until the final whistle blew.
  Yeomen on the D-Line: Collier, Daniel Ford, Zack Bayer, Rosania, Grasela, Cole Hunter, Dumond and Hartman.
  Stalwarts on the O-line: TE Hunter, Declan Smith, Anthony Moorehead, Marricone, Donald Lattanze, Ty Needham
  Notes: The fan/parent turnout was perhaps the best ever for a road trip. Estimated percentage was 75% of parents attending, game crowd of 175. Impressive for a plane travel trip!
  Seamus McCain represented the next generation of the McCain-Loughery-Ryan tradition of Little Quakers, all related.
  #20 Sam Gerber was supported by the surprise last-minute arrival of his Big Bro Ben Gerber LQ'15 (QB Haverford School) and Grandpop. Great effort, fellas!
  #44 Third-generation Tommy Batson had an Uncle and Grandfather play for LQ!
  Star RB for Middle Tennessee State Yeedee Thaenrat, LQ'13, drove in from campus to address the boys 2 days before the game. His message was both impressive and endearing.
  President Bob Rosania declared the trip one of the most successful endeavors in recent memory, with visits for the 35 LQ boys to Vanderbilt University, The Tennessee Titans Stadium, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Titans Practice Facility, and a recording session at the famed RCA B studio.
  Weather: 64 degrees at KO, sunny, no wind, no clouds.
  Duration: 2 hrs., 10 mins.
  Location: Ensworth School, Franklin, TN.

Little Quakers              24    8    6    8 --  46
Tennessee Tigers           0     0    0    0 --    0
  LQ: Andre O'Neal 42 run (John Westfield kick)
  LQ: Maurice Clark 7 pass from Colin Schumm (Westfield kick)
  LQ: Akire Lilley 43 run (Westfield kick)
  LQ: Lilley 31 run (Westfield kick)
  LQ: Ryan Woertz 52 interception return (kick blocked)
  LQ: Sam Brown 18 run (Westfield kick)
LQ STATISTICS
  RUSHING -- Akire Lilley 5-92, Sam Brown 7-91, Andre' O'Neal 1-42,
Rick James 4-34, Maurice Clark 1-11, center snaps 2-(-13).
  PASSING -- Colin Schumm 1-1-0 -- 7.
  RECEIVING -- Clark 1-7.
  RETURNS -- Ryan Woertz 1-52, Lilley 1-12.
  INTERCEPTIONS -- Woertz.
  BROKEN UP PASSES -- Sam Gerber.
  RECOVERIES OF OPPONENT'S FUMBLES -- Tommy Batson.
  FORCED RECOVERED FUMBLES -- None.
  SACKS -- Coulton Gracela/Matt DuMond, Grasela.
  OTHER TFL -- O'Neal 3, Shane Hartman 2, Dave Rosania, Daniel
Ford, Zachary Bayer/Batson, Cole Hunter/Lilley, DuMond/Shane
Collier.

DEC. 2
TEDBIT
  Defense wins championships is one sports phrase that has always driven me nuts. Yes, defense is important, but name me the last team that won a championship without having scored a point . . . Still waiting . . . Still waiting. Meanwhile, many points cause excitement and that was certainly the case last night as St. Joseph's Prep battled Coatesville in a PIAA Class 6A semifinal. The Prep entered this tilt with 26 consecutive victories and the No. 2 ranking among the nation's Catholic schools. Also, it had allowed just 92 points in 12 games for a 7.7 average. Then, boom! Coatesville's offense exploded for 49 points and dealt the Hawks a stunning defeat. Oh, wait. Check that. More offense wins semifinals. The Hawks prevailed, 53-49. This is year No. 10 for Catholic League teams in the PIAA. In quarterfinals/semis/finals, games involving CL teams have produced at least 70 total points 10 times. This game was the cake-taker at 102. Ed "Huck" Palmer watched a livestream and tabulated the stats, then nearly jumped through his cellphone while passing them along because he was so excited. Ha, ha. The Prep's breakdown: 250 rushing yards, 203 passing yards, 234 return yards -- 687 all-purpose. Coatesville's breakdown: 85, 486 and 206 -- 777. So, there were 1,024 from scrimmage and 440 on returns for, ch-ching, 1,464 in all! For the Prep, Marquez McCray ran for four TDs and passed for two. The Prep's TEAM PAGE is here. For Coatesville, Ricky Ortega passed 25-for-38 for 442 yards and SIX TDs while Dapree Bryant made nine catches for 269 yards and three scores. They're sophomores. Two years ago, Ortega was playing QB for the nationally famous Little Quakers youth program. Also last night, the Wood-Unionville 5A semi produced 77 total points, so that's also on the list.

DEC. 1
TEDBIT
  Three Catholic League teams -- SJ Prep (12-0). Wood (10-2) and Neumann-Goretti (11-1; season finished) -- own at least 10 wins as we prepare for state semifinals in  Week 15 action. The list below shows the last time each CL school earned as many as 10 wins in a season. N-G (then St. John Neumann) hadn't done so since 1983. Six haven't done so ever and only Lansdale Catholic is still around. Well, Salesianum (DE) still exists, but ditched the CL MANY moons ago. We listed Kenrick and Kennedy-Kenrick because there was a gap in CL membership.

NOV. 30
TEDBIT
  After posting yesterday's item on Malvern product Alex Hornibrook, I decided to figure out combined high school/college totals for three other recent Inter-Ac QBing stars -- Paul Dooley, Mike "Neeko" Hnatkowsky and Kyle McCloskey -- and put the calculator through a stressful experience by adding up all the numbers. The numbers are quite outrageous. Wisconsin's season is still alive, so these numbers will rise some more soon and one can only imagine how high they'll soar over the next two-three seasons. By the way, the three guys aside from Dooley are lefties. Two other recent I-A QBs also had great high school careers. GA's Hayes Nolte (final season '13) has played tight end at Cornell. Haverford School's Tommy Toal (final season '16) is attending La Salle on a baseball scholarship.