Dec 6, 2002 4 min read

HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) – In the age of fast-break football, spread offenses and one-back sets, Rochester and Hopewell are throwbacks. They want to run the ball first, second and last, which is exactly what they plan to do in Friday’s two PIAA football championship games at Hersheypark Stadium.

Rochester (12-2) will be going for its fourth PIAA Class A title in five years when it meets Southern Columbia (12-2) at 2 p.m. Strath Haven (14-0) tries for its third Class AAA title in four years when it takes on Hopewell (13-1) at 7 p.m.

The other championship weekend matchups Saturday find Mount Carmel (14-0) going for its fifth Class AA title in nine years against Seton-La Salle (14-0) and Woodland Hills (13-0) playing Parkland (13-1) and state single-season rushing record holder Austin Scott in Class AAAA.

Rochester can join Berwick and Central Bucks West as the only teams to win three consecutive titles since the PIAA playoffs began in 1988. Berwick won four consecutive Class AAA championships from 1994-97 and six overall. Central Bucks West won three straight Class AAAA titles from 1997-99 and four overall.

Strath Haven also is a regular finalist, beating West Allegheny in 1999 and 2000 before losing to the Indians last year. Only Berwick, Central Bucks West and Southern Columbia have made as many consecutive trips to the PIAA finals.

“We’ll be talking about last year all week,” Strath Haven fullback-linebacker Dan Connor said after a 38-13 semifinal victory over Lower Dauphin. “We lost our focus last year. That won’t happen again. We’ll be ready to get it done.”

Connor, a 6-3, 210-pound junior, has carried 188 times for 1,471 yards and has scored 29 touchdowns. Keith Davis has gained 1,277 yards on 129 carries. Rodney Turner has completed 54 of 86 passes for 1,096 yards.

Hopewell and Rochester are District PIAA 7 champions and are just 10 miles apart in Beaver County. But they are on the same field in terms of philosophy.

Rochester coach Dan Matsook and Hopewell coach Dave Vestal believe the way to success is grounded in a strong running game. Neither team’s quarterback has thrown for 1,000 yards. Rochester’s Jeff Peternal-Gitts has passed for 886 yards, while Hopewell’s Matt Fontana has thrown for 561 yards.

“We were on a radio show together and afterward I was talking to Dave about some of the things we do on offense and he’s nodding his head,” Matsook said. “He starts telling me those are the same things they do.”

Hopewell and Rochester both have talented running backs. Hopewell’s Paul Posluszny, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior and Penn State recruit, has rushed for 1,410 yards on 235 carries and scored 20 touchdowns.

Rochester’s Nate Waldron, a 6-0, 185-pound junior, has gained 1,599 yards on 259 attempts and scored 28 touchdowns.

The difference between the two teams is their basic offense. Both line up in the I formation, but Hopewell uses an option attack with Fontana as a fourth running back. He has more rushing yards (618) than passing yards.

“Some people have said that we’re boring to watch because of what we do,” Vestal said. “But we believe the best way for us to succeed is to possess the ball on offense and play good defense. It’s not that we can’t throw the ball, but why do something different when what you’re doing has been successful?”

This will be the third consecutive year Rochester will play Southern Columbia in the final, and the eighth time in nine years Southern Columbia has qualified.

The Tigers lost to Rochester 16-0 last year and 22-14 in 2000 and to another Beaver County team, South Side, by 27-21 in 1999. Southern Columbia has won only one title in its many trips, defeating Western Beaver in 1994. The Tigers also lost to Farrell in consecutive finals in 1995 (6-0) and 1996 (14-12).

Southern Columbia has a more balanced attack than in past years. Brandon Traugh has rushed for 1,077 yards on 161 carries. Mark Wojtowicz has completed 97-of-202 passes for 1,397 yards and 14 scores.