The Reporter 2011 Best Sports Photos

With 2012 just a few days away, what better time to share some of the sights from last year's area sports scene.

From swim meets in January to American Legion baseball in the hot summer months to the North Penn football team reaching the state final in December, 2011 had its share of interesting and exciting moments. So, go ahead and look back at it in picture form.

Take Five: North Penn vs. Central Dauphin PIAA 4A Final

North Penn takes the field for their playoff contest against LaSalle. Photo by Mark C. Psoras

The North Penn football team looks for its second PIAA Class AAAA title in its history when it faces Central Dauphin in the state final 6 p.m. Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium. And if you're looking for a little info on both the Knights and Rams, you're in luck. Here's five facts on each team before their clash for the championship.

North Penn
1) North Penn is 13-2 and has won its last 12 games. The Knights have scored 32.6 points per game and have allowed 14.0 points per game. In its five postseason games, North Penn has scored 30.2 points per game and allowed 11.8 points per game.

2) This is Dick Beck’s 10th season as head coach of North Penn. He is 119-20 overall and 32-8 in the postseason.  The Knights have won six District One 4A titles under Beck – 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2011 – and one PIAA title (2003).

North Penn has reached double-digits in win totals in nine of Beck’s seasons. This is the fourth consecutive year the Knights have won at least 13 games.

3) The Knights are the first District One 4A team to reach the state final since Neshaminy lost to Pittsburgh Central Catholic 49-14 in 2004.

North Penn defeating Central Catholic 37-10 in the ’03 final was the last time a District One 4A school won states. The last time any district team won states was when Lansdale Catholic defeated Grove City 40-17 in the 2004 Class 2A final.

Garnet Valley is the last District One team to reach Hershey, the Jaguars fell to Thomas Jefferson 28-3 in the 2007 3A championship.

4) North Penn senior Ralph Reeves is scoring a touchdown on 37-percent of his runs this postseason, as the senior has found the end zone 10 times on 27 carries in the five playoffs games. The Knights’ defense, meanwhile, has allowed a total of eight touchdowns in the postseason.

5) North Penn is the third 4A team since 2005 to enter the state championship with two losses. In 2005, McKeesport entered the final 13-2 and defeated Bethlehem Liberty 49-10. State College went into the 2009 championship 12-2 and fell to La Salle 24-7.

Central Dauphin
1) Central Dauphin is 14-1 and has won its last 13 games. The Rams have scored 31.3 points per game and have allowed 14.4 points per game. In its five postseason games, Central Dauphin has scored 28.0 points per game and allowed 18.8 points per game.

2) The Rams’ only loss was to Bishop McDevitt of Harrisburg Week Two. McDevitt is playing Archbishop Wood in the state 3A final Friday.

3) This is Glen McNamee’s sixth season as coach of Central Dauphin. He is 57-18 overall and 10-5 in the postseason. The Rams’ District Three title this season was the first under McNamee and the first for the Rams since 2002.

Central Dauphin has improved on its win total in each of the last four seasons. The Rams went 7-4 in 2008, 9-3 in 2009, 10-3 last year and currently sits at 14-1 going into Saturday’s 4A final.

4) The Rams are the first District Three Class 4A team to make the state final since Lower Dauphin lost to Penn Hills 35-14 in 1995. The last 4A team from the district to win a state title was Cumberland Valley, who defeated Upper St. Clair in 28-12 in 1992.

5) Central Dauphin has won three of its past four games by three points. In the District Three quarters, the Rams beat Cedar Cliff 35-32, then topped Wilson-West Lawn in the district final 24-21. CD made it to Hershey by knocking off defending 4A champ North Allegheny 23-20 in the state semifinals.

High School Football Standings

Final
SUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE
CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE

Team	Conference	Overall	PF	PA
North Penn	7-0	13-3	496	210
Pennridge	5-2	7-5	230	189
Souderton	5-2	6-5	274	289
Central Bucks South	5-2	8-4	488	307
Central Bucks West	3-4	5-6	198	263
Central Bucks East	1-6	1-9	149	311
Hatboro-Horsham	1-6	5-7	252	271
Quakertown	1-6	5-7	277	299

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Team	Conference	Overall	PF	PA
Plymouth Whitemarsh	6-0	8-2	288	117
Upper Dublin	5-1	7-3	244	148
Wissahickon	4-2	7-3	240	161
Norristown	3-3	5-5	195	247
Cheltenham	2-4	5-7	211	260
Upper Moreland	1-5	2-10	162	421
Upper Merion	0-6	0-10	125	378

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Team	Conference	Overall	PF	PA
Abington	6-1	10-2	383	169
Council Rock South	6-1	12-2	387	218
Pennsbury	5-2	9-4	301	205
Council Rock North	4-3	5-5	147	183
Neshaminy	4-3	8-4	289	161
William Tennent	2-5	4-7	171	270
Bensalem	1-6	3-7	148	198
Truman	0-7	1-10	113	384

PHILADELPHIA CATHOLIC LEAGUE
CLASS AA

Team	Division	Overall	PF	PA
West Catholic	4-0	10-4	394	181
Bishop McDevitt	2-2	5-5	219	237
Lansdale Catholic	2-2	2-7	157	264
Neumann-Goretti	2-2	4-7	180	289
Conwell-Egan	0-4	0-10	89	428

CLASS AAA

Team	Division	Overall	PF	PA
Archbishop Wood	3-0	14-1	699	124
Monsignor Bonner	2-1	6-5	258	270
Cardinal O'Hara	1-2	6-4	289	173
Archbishop Carroll	0-3	1-9	158	407

CLASS AAAA

Team	Division	Overall	PF	PA
La Salle	4-0	12-2	428	231
St. Joseph's Prep	2-2	7-4	348	244
Roman Catholic	2-2	8-4	339	189
Father Judge	2-2	7-4	358	233
Archbishop Ryan	0-4	5-6	210	256

PAC-10

Team	Conference	Overall	PF	PA
Spring-Ford	9-0	10-2	448	252
Pottsgrove	8-1	11-3	491	270
Methacton	5-4	6-5	223	194
Perkiomien Valley	5-4	6-5	234	261
Phoenixville	5-4	9-5	350	329
Pope John Paul II	4-5	5-6	254	284
Boyertown	3-6	6-6	343	257
Pottstown	3-6	4-8	288	290
Upper Perkiomen	3-6	5-7	279	359
Owen J. Roberts	0-9	1-11	131	351