Each week, we’re scouring the Mid-Penn, Lancaster-Lebanon, and York conferences to determine the top 11 teams in the area regardless of classification. Take a look at which teams made the cut after Week 6. Disagree, let us know on Twitter (@4thdownmag) and Facebook.
| 11. | Manhiem Township | 4-2 | 8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Posted a season-high 55 points against struggling J.P. McCaskey and has a fairly favorable rest of the regular season until a Week 10 meeting with Wilson. | ||||
| 10. | Lampeter-Strasburg | 5-1 | 10 | |
| The beat goes on for the Pioneers, who have scored 231 points in six games while surrendering fewer than 80 points. More tests coming with Berks Catholic (2-4) on deck this week and Wyomissing still lurking in Week 10. Big fan of the balance of this squad. | ||||
| 9. | Central York | 5-1 | 9 | |
| The road to victory hasn’t always been easy for the Panthers, but they keep getting those all-important results. Second week in a row a fellow YAIAA squad provided a true test — this time it was Dallastown. | ||||
| 8. | Hempfield | 5-1 | 8 | |
| Third consecutive win for the Black Knights after falling to Central York, and their key has been defense. Hempfield has surrendered only four touchdowns over the last 12 quarters. That’s a long-term winning formula. | ||||
| 7. | Wyomissing | 6-0 | 7 | |
| As expected, the Spartans continue to win their way and do it comfortably. Donegal became only the third team to actually score on the Wyomissing defense this season but still lost by five touchdowns. | ||||
| 6. | Solanco | 6-0 | 6 | |
| Hey look, another close game for the unbeaten Golden Mules. You get the feeling this outfit thrives in a tight spot. For the fourth time in six outings Solanco prevailed in a one-score game. There’s living on the edge and it can be dangerous, but it seems this group flourishes walking that thin line. | ||||
| 5. | Cumberland Valley | 5-1 | 5 | |
| No hangover from the Eagles after getting overtaken late by Harrisburg the week prior. CV comfortably put away Chambersburg in convincing fashion. There’s a message in this result. | ||||
| 4. | Manheim Central | 6-0 | 4 | |
| Third straight week scoring 47 or more for the Barons. This time it was 70 against a Muhlenberg team that came in sporting a 2-3 record. Can you say building on a weekly basis? That’s exactly what this MC offense is doing. | ||||
| 3. | Harrisburg | 4-1 | 3 | |
| When you see a final of Harrisburg 48, Altoona 0, it screams this Cougars squad is starting to put the puzzle pieces together. Mountain Lions brought only one loss to the table and had zero say in the outcome of this one. I see red warning lights for future opponents going off for a team whose talent was never a question mark. | ||||
| 2. | Exeter Township | 6-0 | 2 | |
| You could make a case the Eagles might be a little overrated based on their first-half schedule. And that’s fair. Then you see they drubbed Warwick by 40 and surrendered only one touchdown, and that should put that assertion to rest. Hempfield and Manheim Central are still on the docket. | ||||
| 1. | Bishop McDevitt | 4-1 | 1 | |
| I don’t have issues with a team scoring 10 touchdowns in a half. You have to get your work in. Whatever the opposition brings to the table is irrelevant until halftime. Crusaders are going to have a couple more of these. Let’s hope they get some more push-back down the stretch, but it might not happen. | ||||
