Penn-Trafford wins first-ever Pennsylvania high school football championship by knocking-off No. 59 Imhotep Charter

Twitter photo by @PTWarriors
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Penn-Trafford entered Friday night’s Pennsylvania 5A championship game a huge underdog, according to the High School Football America algorithm that creates our national rankings. At game time, Imhotep Charter was ranked No. 59 in the latest High School Football America 100, powered by NFL Play Football. P-T entered the game ranked No. 327.

Related: High School Football America 100

When the lights went-out at HersheyPark Stadium, after four quarters and an overtime period, Penn-Trafford was a first-time Pennsylvania high school football champ. The Warriors’ 17-14 win capped a season that saw the team start 2-2, but end with the ultimate trophy.

“We were 2-2 at one point this year, and I remember I came home one day and I was really frustrated, and I was getting no sleep. I knew what we had. It just wasn’t clicking for us. All of a sudden, we went back to practice, I talked to my coaches, I talked to my team, and stuff started clicking. And then some more, and some more. We kept getting better every week.

This program is also built on being the underdog. Finally, we win something, and finally, people give us credit. They have D-I guys, and people have to start respecting this program and this is my last game, unfortunately, and of course, this is satisfaction and clarity.”

Cade Yacamelli, Penn-Trafford running back via EasternPAFootball.com

This one was close throughout. Imhotep took the early lead at 6-0 on the first of two touchdowns for RRahmire Stewart/

P-T scored late in the first half to give the Warriors a 7-6 halftime lead.

Stewart’s second touchdown and a two-point conversion gave the Panthers the lead at 14-7.

Penn-Trafford forced overtime when Conlan Green and Jack Jollie connected with :34 second to go in regulation.

Nate Schlesinger’s field goal on the first possession in overtime proved to be the game-winner.

However, the P-T defense needed a stop an they got it on a fourth-and-goal at the 26.

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.