Know your opponent: Central York football faces high school 'all-star' team for state title

The Central York football team might have to pick up its slingshot. 

Goliath will look a lot like David this Saturday. 

The Central York football team has dominated opponents virtually all season, but will face the biggest test possible on the biggest stage. The Panthers face St. Joseph's Prep in the PIAA Class 6A championship game 8 p.m. Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium. 

Central York (10-0) is the first York County football team to reach a state title game. The Panthers have defied historical norms all postseason and have already scored one of the biggest upsets in local football history with a 42-15 win over Central Dauphin in the District 3 semifinals. 

But St. Joseph's Prep is an opponent like no other. The Hawks have won five state championships in the past seven seasons and have Division I talent throughout the roster. 

The Hawks have beaten District 3 opponents Central Dauphin (35-13) and Harrisburg (40-20) by 20 or more points for their past two state titles. 

"This is truly an all-star team (Central York) is about to face," said Ryan Snyder, a recruiting analyst with Blue White Illustrated. "They are truly on a different level than anything Central has seen.

"Really, they're on a different level than anything in Pennsylvania." 

More:Central York football becomes first county school to reach state title game with win over McDowell

More:Watch: Beau Pribula pulls off stunning 51-yard run in state semifinals

There are reasons to think Central York can compete Saturday. The Panthers feature quarterback and skill position players that might be able to withstand a shootout with the Hawks. They have an underrated offensive line and defensive front seven that have held up against physical opponents the past month. 

While it will be a tremendous challenge, the Panthers are looking forward to the opportunity. 

"You've got to want to beat the best and at least get a measurement of where you're at," Central York football coach Gerry Yonchiuk said. "Our guys are up for that part of it. They won't be intimidated. 

"We're the last game (of football) this season. Nobody plays after us. You throw everything at them like Rocky at Apollo. You've still got to play the game and that's what makes it exciting."

Saturday's championship will be televised and streamed by PCN. It will be broadcast on the radio by WOYK 98.9 F.M. and WOYK 1350 A.M. Central York announced Tuesday it has sold out its allotment of tickets. If any tickets from St. Joseph's allotment become available, they will be on sale Thursday at 8 a.m. 

A look at St. Joseph's Prep 

A private Catholic school located in Philadelphia, St. Joseph's Prep promotes itself as an "Academic All-Star Team" for the Delaware Valley on its website. Indeed, a number of the school's football players live outside of Pennsylvania in places such as southern New Jersey. 

The Hawks feature plenty of athletic all-stars, too. 

St. Joe's Prep is currently ranked No. 3 in the country by both MaxPreps and USA Today. Since the 6A classification was created in 2016, the Hawks have appeared in the title game every year with three victories. Only Pine-Richland beat the Hawks, 41-21, in 2017 championship game. 

Snyder said this year's Hawks squad is "par for the course" when compared to their previous championship teams. 

"From what I understand it's pretty much what they've always been: Three to five legitimate Division I prospects with Division II and Division I (FCS) guys surrounding them," Snyder said. "A good chunk of this team will play college football." 

St. Joseph's (5-0) has played half the number of games Central York has due to the Philadelphia Catholic League's late start to the season due to COVID. The Hawks had a bye in the PIAA quarterfinals and beat District 1 champ Souderton, 51-43, in the semifinals last weekend. The Hawks led 51-7 in the third quarter before putting in their substitutes. 

The Hawks are averaging 45 points per game and run a pass-first offense. 

St. Joseph's Prep is led by Ohio State commit and 4-star quarterback Kyle McCord. The 6-foot-3 senior has competed 62% of his passes for 1,246 yards and 17 touchdowns this season — an average of about 250 yards and three touchdowns per game. 

His top targets are Ohio State commit Marvin Harrison Jr. (son of the NFL Hall of Fame wideout), Temple commit Malik Cooper and Duke commit Sahmir Hagans. The 6-foot-3 Harrison Jr. is the most dangerous playmaker, with more than 500 receiving yards in five games. Yonchiuk called him a "Randy Moss type of guy."

"Of all their players, I think he's the best," Snyder said of Harrison Jr. "He's such a tactician and really polished for a high school player. With his length, it's like throwing it up for Keyshawn Johnson. 

"McCord can really rip it. You will see him fit some balls into tight windows and everyone's jaws will drop. He's just on a different level with his accuracy." 

The Hawks defense is led the linebacking brother duo of sophomore Josiah Trotter and Clemson commit and senior Jeremiah Trotter Jr. They are the sons of the former Philadelphia Eagle Pro Bowl linebacker. 

And the Central York passing attack will have to deal with a secondary led by junior corner Keenan Nelson, who has been offered scholarships by 20 Division I colleges, including Penn State. Last weekend, Central York quarterback and Penn State commit Beau Pribula said he texts Nelson from time to time. 

The matchup of Nelson vs. Central York star wideout Judah Tomb could determine the direction of Saturday's game, according to Snyder. 

"I'm very intrigued by that matchup and I think it will have a big impact of the result," said Snyder. "With Nelson, St. Joe's has speed in the secondary that McDowell just didn't have."

What Central York needs to do 

This hasn't been a normal football postseason. There have been a myriad of forfeits due to COVID-19 that have affected the brackets. Central York has played every week and beaten every opponent it has faced, but its path has been potentially altered. 

It's District 3 title opponent, York High, advanced by forfeit over top-seeded Harrisburg. It's state semifinal opponent, McDowell, advanced by forfeit two straight weeks, including against WPIAL (Pittsburgh) champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic. 

Snyder, a Central Dauphin grad who pays close attention to Mid-Penn and District 3 football, said it's fair to point out that the Panthers haven't played the same postseason schedule as previous state finalists from District 3.

However, he said the Panthers skill level is on par if not better than previous District 3 champs. He particularly complimented the offensive combination of Pribula, Tomb, wideout Taylor Wright-Rawls and running back Isaiah Sturgis. 

"The playoffs aren't as deep this year, but that's not Central York's fault," Snyder said. "With that said, (Central's) skill talent is incredible. Those four guys (Pribula, Tomb, Wright-Rawls, Sturgis) are up there with anything that's come out of the Mid-Penn recently. In that sense, they're better than what Central Dauphin was last year. Their explosiveness is great and their offensive line stands out and is polished." 

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After averaging 59 points during the regular season, the Panthers have averaged 44 during its four-game postseason run. Their 37-21 win over McDowell last week was their closest game all season. 

Pribula has been particularly dominant this postseason, averaging 206 passing yards, 106 rushing yards and four total touchdowns per game. He was recently bumped up to a 4-star recruit by ESPN and could be starting a future Big Ten rivalry with McCord this weekend. 

Synder said while McCord is still a little more "polished" than Pribula, the Central York signal caller has made major strides as a passer this season. He added he believes Pribula should be a 4-star recruit — which means roughly around a top 300 player in the country. 

He also added that while Pribula will be able to pick up some yardage on the ground against St. Joseph's, it will be "harder" to pull off plays like his stunning 51-yard run against McDowell. 

Tomb — who is averaging 119 receiving yards and two total touchdowns per game this postseason — might need to have a huge game for Central to swing the upset, according to Snyder. For local fans wondering why the electric Tomb doesn't have any Division I offers, Snyder said the offseason shutdown due to the pandemic likely cost him opportunities. 

"I feel like he would have been a guy who went to some school's camp and ran a great 40(-yard dash) and shuttle and blew up from that," Snyder said of Tomb. "I know Division I schools are interested and I see a player who can definitely play at the FCS (Division I-AA) level and might be able to play at the FBS (Division I) level."

According to Snyder, the Panthers could benefit from playing a similar up-tempo, past-first style to the Hawks, since they have the personnel to handle a shootout. 

Still, a fast start could be critical for Central York. Central Dauphin went into halftime down 21-0 to the Hawks last season. Harrisburg competed with the Hawks for three quarters in 2018, but still trailed 27-14 at half.

"That first quarter is so critical," Snyder said. "Yonchiuk is a good coach and they have a good system with the Air Raid. I like (Central's) system and their quarterback and if they stick with them early, it could be interesting." 

Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on Twitter at @bad2theallibone.