Upper Dublin forfeits PIAA-5A semifinal vs. Cathedral Prep

The Upper Dublin football team’s run at a state championship ended Thursday as the PIAA announced in a tweet that the Cardinals were unable to play Friday night’s Class 5A semifinal against Cathedral Prep.

Per the PIAA’s twitter account @PIAASports, “PIAA has been informed by the Upper Dublin administration that they are unable to play the 5A game versus Cathedral Prep. Cathedral Prep will be advanced to the 5A Championship game scheduled for next weekend.”

Upper Dublin was set to travel out to Hollidaysburg High School — just south of Altoona — to face the District 10 champ Ramblers 7 p.m. Friday but instead the Cards’ season ends with a forfeit and Cathedral Prep moves onto the state final on Friday, Nov. 27 at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey.

The other PIAA-5A semifinal is still scheduled and has District 7 champ Pine-Richland facing District 3 champ Governor Mifflin 1 p.m. Saturday at Hollidaysburg.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday Upper Dublin had been cleared to practice that day after missing the previous two as a precautionary measure due to COVID-19 concerns.

For the Ramblers, it is their second-straight forfeit victory in the state tournament as Wyoming Valley West could not play their quarterfinal contest due to COVID.

Upper Dublin won its third District 1 championship since 2015 last Friday as the Cardinals topped West Chester Rustin 29-8 in the Class 5A title game. The win improved the Cards to 6-1 overall and put them in their first state semifinal since 2018.

Upper Dublin had advanced to the District 1-5A final after Kennett forfeited their semifinal matchup set for Nov. 6 due to COVID-19.

The Cardinals were looking to reach the state championship game for the first time after reaching the PIAA semifinals in both 2015 and 2018. UD lost to Parkland in the 2015 4A semis 30-14 and in 2018 fell to Manheim Central 34-12.

For Cathedral Prep, it will be making its ninth PIAA final appearance in program history with five of those coming in the last six seasons. The Rambler have won state crowns in 2000 – ending Central Bucks West’s 59-game win streak in the 4A final – 2012 (3A), 2016 (4A, 2017 (4A) and 2018 (4A).