All times p.m. unless otherwise noted.

*Region 6 games

–Tom Reisenweber

Foster, a wide receiver who recently signed with national champion Alabama, claimed the Class AAA-AAAA award. Cathedral Prep quarterback Damion Terry had been one of five finalists for the honor. North Allegheny’s Mack Leftwich and Patrick Kugler, and Pennridge’s Michael Class were the other finalists.

Boyd, a running back/defensive back who signed with Pitt last week, won the Class A-AA Mr. PA Football award. Port Allegany’s Matt Bodamer, Old Forge’s Brian Tomasetti, Williams Valley’s Owen Daniel and Imhotep Charter’s David Williams were the other finalists.

The end of the video features MSU head coach Mark Dantonio talking via conference call with Cathedral Prep’s Damion Terry and Delton Williams, who signed with the Spartans. Williams shared an extra message of thanks with Dantonio. It’s an interesting inside look at the day.

McDowell running back/outside linebacker James Conner signs his National Letter of Intent with Pitt Wednesday at the McDowell's lirbary. MATT MEAD/Erie Times-News

Today is National Letter of Intent Day, and many area football players and other athletes are set to sign with Division I and Division II schools or commit to program at other levels.

The Erie Times-News took a look at the area football players expected to sign today. Read a short bio on each player. Here’s the list:

Following are the athletes from other sports who plan to sign today. Read a short bio on each athlete.

Note: Coaches are encouraged to notify the Times-News if an athlete plans to commit to a college.

Shay ranks Central Valley wide receiver Robert Foster as the No. 1 recruit in Pennsylvania. Foster, an Alabama recruit, has made several All-America teams.

Check out the top 50 list. Here’s how District 10 players rank, along with their college choices:

9. Damion Terry, Cathedral Prep quarterback, Michigan State
12. Delton Williams, Cathedral Prep defensive back, Michigan State
16. DeShawn Coleman, Hickory RB, West Virginia
17. James Conner, McDowell RB/OLB, Pitt
38. Artrel Foster, Meadville DB, Temple

Pennlive.com is providing a countdown of the top 20 leading up to the Feb. 6. signing day. James Conner is featured today.

The event is free and open to the public.

The Ramblers went 15-0 and won the school’s second PIAA title by beating Archbishop Wood 24-14 in the Class AAA final Dec. 14 in Hershey.

USA Today ranked Prep No. 17 in its national poll after the season.

In online voting conducted by fans, media and coaches, Terry advanced through three rounds of balloting into the Tremendous Twenty, Top Ten and Final Five.

Terry is a finalist for the big-school award, which features players from Class AAA and AAAA. (Prep is in Class AAA.) A Final Five also was picked for Class A and AA.

Terry is joined in the Final Five by North Allegheny quarterback Mack Leftwich, North Allegheny lineman Patrick Kugler, Central Valley wide receiver Robert Foster and Pennridge running back Michael Class. Class is the only junior who advanced.

The Class A-AA Final Five includes Port Allegany quarterback Matt Bodamer, Clairton running back Tyler Boyd, Old Forge running back Brian Tomasetti, Williams Valley wide receiver Owen Daniel and Imhotep Charter running back David Williams.

Each of the Final Five in both divisions will be invited to the Mr. PA Football Awards Program Feb. 9 at Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. The winners will be selected by a panel of coaches and media.

For more, check out the MrPAFootball website.

Cathedral Prep graduate and former NFL standout center Mark Stepnoski was selected as an offensive lineman to a team that included such stars as Emmitt Smith, Thurman Thomas, Adrian Peterson and Randy Moss.

Stepnoski made the 1984 All-USA team as a senior at Prep.

USA Today noted that Stepnoski was a “five-time Pro Bowler who won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.”

After graduating from Prep, Stepnoski starred at the University of Pittsburgh. He started his NFL career with the Cowboys from 1989-94 before playing for the Houston Oilers (1995-96) and Tennessee Titans (1997-98). He closed his career with the Cowboys (1999-2001). Stepnoski made five straight Pro Bowls from 1992-96.

In 2004, the Erie Times-News selected Stepnoski to the City of Erie All-Time Team.

Check out the entire All-USA Team.

The Ramblers claimed another national honor from maxpreps.com recently when the website ranked Prep as the No. 6 team in the final MaxPreps Medium Schools National Football Rankings.

The website classifies teams as a “medium school” if the school falls in “state enrollment divisions that generally have between 1,000 and 2,000 students.” The PIAA lists Prep with a total enrollment of 433 for the upper three grades. The national rankings were based on the MaxPreps Freeman Computer Rankings.

Bellevue (Wash.) claimed the top spot in the poll, while Washington (Miami) placed second.

USA Today ranked Prep as the No. 17 team in the country, regardless of class, recently in the final Super 25 standings.

Here’s the top 10 list from the MaxPreps rankings:

See the complete top 25 and the MaxPreps story.

Tom Reisenweber of the Times-News wrote the game story from Hershey. John Dudley used his column to share some thoughts about Damion Terry and his achievements. Reisenweber and Dudley also combined to write title game notebook. There’s also a photo gallery.

Kevin Cooney of Phillyburbs.com wrote about how Archbishop Wood was valiant in defeat against a powerful Prep team. Phillyburbs.com also had stories on Terry’s performance and Wood’s unsuccessful attempt to repeat as a state champion. Check out a photo gallery as well.

Montgomerynews.c0m also wrote a game story.

Scout.com talked to Damion Terry and Delton Williams this weekend, but both are premium subscription stories. PAPreps.com also wrote about Terry’s big night.

We’d like to thank Welders Supply for sponsoring the live blog tonight because the PIAA charges a fee for real-time web publishing at championship events. Welders Supply’s participation helps us bring fans full coverage of the game on the Varsity blog. (Their ads are at the top of the page and at right.)

Even if fans are watching the game on Pennsylvania Cable Network, listening to the game on the radio or attending the game, the Playoff Central live blog is a must.

Tom Reisenweber will provide play-by-play, statistics and analysis while also answering readers’ questions. Meanwhile, Andy Colwell will provide action photos on the blog.

The live blog is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

So join us for the Playoff Central live blog as we provide full coverage tonight when Prep takes on defending champion Archbishop Wood in the state title game.