Sunday, November 30, 2014

PIAA Class A Eastern Final Preview: South Williamsport vs. Bishop Guilfoyle

Bishop Guilfoyle enters this game with an unblemished 14-0 record, and have been dominant in all 14 contests. The Marauders have been exceptional on defense and explosive on offense. They used their same recipe for a 62-21 thrashing of District 3 champion, Camp Hill. BG got down early 21-7 on some uncharacteristic mistakes, but from there Guilfoyle rolled with 55 unanswered points to punch their first ever ticket to the state's final four.

Camp Hill boasted one of the better passing games in the state and were coming off a 63 point output the previous week, but they managed just two touchdowns on offense. Bishop Guilfoyle's powerful and imposing defensive line put Camp Hill under constant pressure and turned in six sacks for their effort. Owen Wolf, Matt Gormley, Andrew Berger, and Dakota Leamer all posted sacks, and the experienced line is one of the strong points for this Bishop Guilfoyle team, and they will need it this week going up against a very prolific rushing attack. Bishop Guilfoyle's defense is one very distinct advantage in this game, as they have been down right suffocating this year.

Dominick Bragalone is one of the more prolific backs in state history, and he is the focal point for the 13-1 District 4 champions. The senior for South Williamsport rushed for 443 yards and six touchdowns last week and led his team to a 69-41 victory over Pius X.  Bragalone is now over the 3,000 yard mark this season to go along with 46 total touchdowns. At 5'11" 210 pounds, he is a bruising back for the single A level, and with a line that averages 263 pounds, it's a perfect storm for an incredibly successful running game.

As good as South Williamsport has been on the offense, they have certainly had a few times where they have allowed points on defense, like last week giving up 41 to Pius X. They aren;t a bad defense, but far from dominant.  Fortunately for Bishop Guilfoyle, they have one of the more explosive offenses you will see at the single A level.  The Marauders' attack starts with their dominant senior running back, Sam McCloskey. The Lehigh recruit went for an impressive performance himself in the state quarterfinals with 291 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and he also caught a 59 yard score. He is explosive, and has a different style that his counterpart, Bragalone. BG also boasts another impressive offensive player in senior quarterback, Brandon Chadbourn, He rushed for 100 yards last week and a touchdown, threw for two scores, and returned an interception 90 yards for another one. Not many players can provide the versatility Chadbourn can.

Bishop Guilfoyle and Camp Hill both rely heavily on the running games, they just go about it in different ways.  The Marauders use a blend of speed and power, where South Williamsport is going to come right at you with their strength and power.  This is the type of games where both teams will find ways to score, but it is where the defense will need to make an extra stop or two to come away victorious.  It is an unstoppable force going up against an immovable object, and it should make for an excellent state semifinal game.

5 comments:

  1. Bad info. Bragalone now has well over 4,000 yards and 60 TDs. SW is not one dimensional but has not had to use other weapons because no one has stopped the run. SW gives up points because starters rarely play more than a half and other teams let starters in. Pius X scored 20 points in the 4th quarter, starters vs JVs. It should be quite a game.

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  2. BISHOP GUILFOYLE HAS A MUCH BETTER TEAM CONCEPT. THEY WILL HOLD BRAGALONE UNDER 200 YARDS. AND THEY WILL WIN. NO DOUBT

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  3. Bishop Guilfoyle has an outstanding defense, and an very potent offense. The LHAC is a very physical conference. And BG did the impossible this year by mercy ruling the whole conference with the exception of Somerset. I believe that was a 21-3 win and let's all keep in mind that Somerset is still in the runnings as well In AAA as they take on Archbishop Wood this week. So this team is not one to be taken lightly. I don't care how many yards a running back has if his lin can't make holes he's not going anywhere and so far I haven't seem a te truly open up the BG defense consistently. My moneys on BG good luck guys

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  4. I think it will be one heck of a game, I think BG has more weapons.

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  5. Bragalone is going to get 300 yards, the key will be whether or not he can get into the endzone.

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