HERSHEY, Pa. -- Central Catholic coach Terry Totten was handed a hat moments after last night's game. "Central Catholic 2007 State Champions" was on the front.

For Central Catholic, this championship thing is now a hat trick.

Central Catholic became only the second WPIAL team to win three PIAA titles when it blanked Parkland, 21-0, in the Class AAAA final in front of 4,524 fans at Hersheypark Stadium. The only other WPIAL school to win three PIAA titles is Rochester, which has won three in Class A.

"I'm just so proud of these kids. No, I should say men," said Totten. "They've overcome a lot. We lost five starters in the first two weeks of preseason this year."

Central Catholic's other championships came in 2004 and 1988. This team matched the 2004 team with a 16-0 record. The 2004 team is considered one of the best in the WPIAL the past few decades, but this team won the title in unheard of fashion. This is the 20th year of the PIAA playoffs, and Central Catholic became the first team to have a shutout in the Class AAAA final.

"I didn't know that," Totten said. "I guess that adds a little more to this."

Central Catholic's win also gave the WPIAL three champions for the second time in the past three years and only the third time overall. Central Catholic also continued the WPIAL's recent dominance in Class AAAA. The WPIAL has won an unprecedented four consecutive AAAA crowns and the combined score in those games is 166-37.

Central Catholic's defense limited Parkland, a District 11 school near Allentown, to 101 yards rushing. Linebacker Jon Petrigac had a team-high 11 tackles and defensive end Quentin Williams gave Parkland's offensive line fits.

"Williams was the best football player we saw all year," Parkland coach Jim Morgans said. "He's an unbelievable player and he changed this football game."

Totten, who played at Central Catholic in the mid 1970s, paid Williams a huge compliment, saying "I think he's the best position player to ever come out of the towers at Central Catholic."

Besides Williams and Central Catholic's defense, the other keys to the game were quarterback Tino Sunseri's hot hand in the first half, and the Vikings' ability to find a Friend.

Sunseri, who made a verbal commitment to Pitt earlier this week, finished 11 of 15 for 128 yards, but was 8 of 10 for 121 yards in the first half, helping Central Catholic take a 14-0 lead. Receiver Brian Friend finished with seven receptions for 104 yards and had six catches for 100 yards in the first half.

Friend, a 6-foot-2 senior, missed most of the season with a knee injury. He did not start playing much until the WPIAL semifinals in mid-November and came into the title game with just nine catches.

"Losing him in the preseason was a big hit to us," Sunseri said. "For him to battle back and enjoy a game like this is a big credit to him."

Central Catholic's first scoring drive lasted 16 plays, covered 80 yards, and Sunseri completed two passes to Friend in the march. The second time they hooked up, Sunseri scrambled and lofted a perfect touch pass to Friend near the left corner of the end zone from 3 yards out.

The touchdown came on third down, and the Vikings converted on four other third-down plays in the drive.

Late in the first half, Central Catholic moved 85 yards in five plays for a score. Sunseri hit Friend with three passes for 72 yards. Their 41-yard hookup put Central Catholic at the 12, and Andrew Taglianetti ran for a touchdown on the next play.

Parkland had a chance to score first, moving to the Central Catholic 24 in the first quarter. But an offensive pass-interference penalty pushed the Trojans back, and Robert Lawler missed a 37-yard field goal. Parkland also turned the ball over on downs at the Central Catholic 9 in the third quarter.

"We couldn't finish in the red zone, and that was a killer," Morgans said.

Central Catholic sophomore Jeff Knox closed out the scoring with a 75-yard touchdown run, in which the 6-foot-2 sophomore broke five tackles. Knox finished with 118 yards on 15 carries, and Taglianetti added 82 on 13 attempts.