PIAA Class A Playoff Home

ALTOONA – Then there were eight. Call them the "Elite Eight" if you would like.

Eight Class A teams in the state of Pennsylvania are still playing in the 13^th week of the 2002 season including two – Clarion-Limestone and Bishop Carroll – who will meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Altoona’s Mansion Park.

C-L (12-0) is ranked sixth in the state in Class A by the Pennsylvania Football News, while Bishop Carroll (11-1) is ranked fourth in the state by PFN.

This is the deepest C-L, the District 9 champion, who defeated West Middlesex 40-7 in the opening round of the PIAA Playoffs, has ever gone in the state playoffs. Bishop Carroll, who won the District 5-6 title last week with a 13-10 overtime win over Windber, has made the Round of Eight twice before beating Sharpsville 24-13 last season and topping Cameron County 35-34 in double overtime in 1999. In both of those seasons the Huskies fell in the Western Finals.

C-L has used a balanced offense and a stingy defense to reach the Western semifinals. The Lions are averaging 38.8 ppg, the ninth best mark in the state, while allowing 7.5 ppg, the 19^th best mark in the state.

The Lions are averaging 265 yards per game on the ground and 73 yards per game in the air.

Sophomore quarterback Hayden Johnston in the catalyst of the Lions offense.

Johnston is 52-for-111 passing for 852 yards and 16 touchdowns while throwing seven interceptions.

A great runner as well, Johnston has rushed 145 times for 782 yards (5.4 ypc) and 11 touchdowns. With a receiving touchdown, he has accounted for 45 percent of the Lions touchdown.

Johnston isn’t the only weapon for the Lions.

Two other backs – running back Brendan Huwar and fullback Ben Brooks – are each averaging over 75 yards rushing per game.

Huwar is C-L’s leading rusher having toted the ball 178 times for 996 yards (5.6 ypc) and team-high 23 touchdowns.

Brooks has carried the ball 104 times for 931 yards (9.0 ypc) and five touchdowns.

As a team, the Lions are averaging 6.0 yards per carry thanks to their experienced yet young offensive line that is anchored by senior Jordan Johnston at guard. The other lineman include Dan Jeannerat at center, David Ferguson at the other guard and Matt Steele and Dave Eggleton at the tackles. Only Johnston and Steele are seniors.

When the Lions go to the air, wide receiver Brad Beggs and tight end Harley Doane are Hayden Johnston’s main targets.

Beggs has 28 catches for 481 yards and nine touchdowns, while Doane has grabbed 12 balls for 153 yards and three scores.

Another offensive weapon for C-L is freshman David Brooks. He has carried the ball 43 times for 234 yards and two touchdowns while catching two passes for 64 yards and a score.

On defense the Lions have been allowing 67.1 yards per game and 2.0 yards per carry on the ground and 79.8 yards per game in the air. C-L has picked off 13.

The defense is anchored by Jordan Johnston, Eggleton, Ferguson, Huwar and Jeaneratt on the line, Hayden Johnston, Ron Frances and Ben Brooks at linebacker and David Brooks, Erik White and Beggs in the secondary.

On special teams the Lions are led by place kicker Rocky Davis who has hit four field goals this season including two in the West Middlesex game and punters Hayden Johnston and David Ferguson, both of whom are capable of averaging 35 yards per kick or more.

Bishop Carroll, whose only loss was an 18-12 setback to District 5-6 Class AA champion Forest Hills, is averaging 24.7 ppg while allowing 9.3 ppg, the 37^th best mark in the state.

The Huskies have thrown for an average of 71.6 yards per game while running for 213.1 yards per game.

Quarterback Nate Crookshank has accounted for 1,785 of Bishop Carroll’s 3,416 yards or 52.3% of the total Huskie offense.

Crookshank is 53-for-138 (38.4 percent) passing for 834 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has also thrown nine interceptions. The Huskies leading rusher he has toted the ball a team leading 181 times for 937 yards (5.2 ypc) and 12 touchdowns. He has been involved 26 of the 42 offense touchdowns scored by Bishop Carroll.

Complementing Crookshank are running backs Paul Forcellini (94 carries, 446 yards and 5 touchdowns) and Todd Koenig (109 carries, 653 yards, 6 touchdowns). Forcellini is only a freshman.

The top receivers for the Huskies are Landon Day (9 catches, 153 yards, 2 touchdowns), Joel Lauer (19 catches, 343 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Koenig (12 catches, 175 yards, 2 touchdowns).

On defense, Bishop Carroll has allowed only 12 touchdowns – 6 rushing, 6 receiving – while allowing 60.8 yards per game and 2.1 yards per carry on the ground and 82.6 yards per game through the air. The Huskies have picked off 14 passes.

Friday's winner advances to the Western Region finals next week against the WPIAL champion -- Duquesne or Rochester.