Area’s best football teams clash for decade honors

With the year down to its final 75 days, it's time to take a look at who's the best of the best among area football teams from 2000 to 2009.

In doing so, we've created a 16-team tournament to decide The Philadelphia Inquirer Southeastern Pennsylvania Team of the Decade.

It wasn't easy, of course. In seeding the teams and creating the bracket, we looked at a team's overall talent, strength of schedule, and post-season success, among other things. With such a large coverage area, some very good squads were left on the outside looking in.

We limited each participating school to two teams. Some easily could have had three or four squads vying for the crown. For example, North Penn had at least four contenders: 2003 (15-0), 2005 (12-2), 2008 (14-1), and this year's No. 1-ranked group that is 7-0 and has outscored foes by a combined 257-58.

Here are a few other high-caliber squads, ones unaffected by the two-per-school mandate, that did not hear their names called when the 16-team field was announced: 2006 La Salle (10-3 and Catholic League Red Division champ), 2002 Penn Charter (Matt Ryan sparked the Quakers to an 8-1 record), 2004 Lansdale Catholic (14-1 and PIAA Class AA state champion), and 2008 Archbishop Wood (12-3 and Class AAA state finalist).

The bracket and seedings were based on personal observations and insights from current and past area coaches.

First and quarterfinal-round games are played at the site of the higher seed. Coatesville High is the site of the semifinal doubleheader. And the championship is set for Villanova University.

Enjoy!

No. 16 seed, 2008 West Catholic (14-2), vs. No. 1 seed, 2003 North Penn (15-0). The electrifying Burrs come into Crawford Stadium averaging a whopping 48.4 points per game. But the bruising Knights, forcing four turnovers and rushing for 267 yards, send the Class AA state finalists packing. North Penn, 30-14.

No. 9, 2006 Pennsbury (13-2) at No. 8, 2007 Ridley (13-2). Talk about smash-mouth football! Bone-rattling tackles and high-impact collisions (Andrew Hodges vs. C.J. Marck) are everywhere. The difference is an 18-yard TD pass from Steve Egee to Rob Lamey with under a minute to play. Ridley, 27-26.

No. 13, 2001 Malvern Prep (9-0) at No. 4, 2001 Neshaminy (15-0). Gaspare "Gamp" Pellegrini's Inter-Ac League champions keep it close in the first half, but Jamar Brittingham (23 carries for 201 yards, 3 TDs) and company pull away in the second half at Heartbreak Ridge. Neshaminy, 31-13.

No. 12, 2004 Cardinal O'Hara (11-1) at. No. 5, 2000 Strath Haven (15-0). In this all-Delaware County matchup, Mike Connor throws for 176 yards and a pair of scores. Carl Schoenman adds three field goals, including a 50-yarder. The Lions are limited to John Dempsey's early TD run. Strath Haven, 23-7.

No. 15, 2001 Archbishop Carroll (13-0) at No. 2, 2000 Central Bucks West (14-1). Notre Dame-bound Maurice Stovall is held scoreless on six catches. With ample muscle, the Phil DiGiacomo-led Bucks total 288 yards and six scores on the ground. C.B. West, 49-14.

No. 10, 2005 North Penn (14-1) at No. 7, 2005 St. Joseph's Prep (10-2). With John Shaw and Charlie Noonan back from injuries, the Hawks give the Knights all they can handle at Plymouth Whitemarsh. Despite two second-half turnovers, Dick Beck's squad escapes on Tyrece Ervin's 33-yard burst with 2:12 to play. North Penn, 14-10.

No. 14, 2000 Downingtown (11-1) at No. 3, 2003 St. Joe's Prep (12-0). Mike Recchiuti proves to be a handful, with 199 yards and two TDs on 26 attempts, but Shaw and Danny Jones combine for 306 rushing yards and four scores to highlight an 18-point win. Prep, 41-23.

No. 11, 2002 Strath Haven (14-1) at No. 6, 2008 Malvern Prep (10-0). At muddy Quigley Field, Billy Connors overcomes a sloppy surface by running for two scores and firing a 53-yard scoring strike to Joe Price. In a losing cause, Dan Connor is involved in 17 tackles and runs for 118 yards. Malvern Prep, 26-19.

No. 8 Ridley at No. 1 North Penn. The Green Raiders, behind a pair of TD runs by Hodges, jump out to a surprising 14-0 lead. The Knights even things late in the second quarter. They win midway through the third, when Akins accepts a right-side toss and goes 44 yards to paydirt. North Penn, 21-14.

No. 5 Strath Haven at No. 4 Neshaminy. It takes three overtimes, but the visiting Panthers prevail in dramatic fashion, on the final OT possession, when Mike Connor hits Josh Hannum just inside the right pylon for a 7-yard TD. Strath Haven, 34-31.

No. 10 North Penn at No. 2 C.B. West. At jam-packed War Memorial Stadium, the run-oriented Bucks surprise the Knights with an aerial assault. Mike Orihel throws for three scores, including a 76-yard bomb to Gavin Potter on the opening play. C.B. West, 26-14.

No. 6 Malvern Prep at No. 3 St. Joe's Prep. Gamp Pellegini and Gil Brooks meet again. The Hawks, holding the Friars to 167 total yards and one TD, intercept Connors twice and capitalize on a fourth-quarter fumble recovery. Prep, 13-10.

No. 5 Strath Haven vs. No. 1 North Penn. The Panthers succeed at slowing down Akins (19 carries for 67 yards), but fullback Jim Casertano rumbles for two scores. In the final seconds, Deanco Oliver (seven catches for 103 yards) intercepts a Connor heave toward the end zone. North Penn, 24-19.

No. 3 St. Joe's Prep vs. No. 2 C.B. West. In a rock'em-sock'em nightcap at Coatesville, an overflow crowd watches a frigid thriller. Both defenses, as usual, sparkle. The Bucks rally with two late scores, including a 17-yard burst by James West with 1:19 to go, and barely advance. C.B. West, 21-17.

Championship

C.B. West vs. North Penn. Fittingly, it's No. 1 vs. No. 2 at the end. And the matchup at wind-swept Villanova between longtime and bitter Suburban One League National Conference rivals does not disappoint.

In a back-and-forth duel, the Bucks and Knights post 223 and 179 rushing yards, respectively.

The difference? A late West fumble (recovered by linebacker Jeff Ball with 3:14 left) that sets up a 12-yard, go-ahead scoring toss from Akins to Jim Laky with 46 ticks remaining. The smoke clears only after Bob Warden, returning the ensuing kickoff 52 yards, is dragged down from behind at the 9. North Penn, 23-21.