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High School Football: Results: Picks and Predictions for Week 3

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High School Football: Results: Picks and Predictions for Week 3

EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: It’s Week 3 of the Pennsylvania high school football season, and the 4th Down Magazine team is here to tell you who’s going to win every game involving Mid-Penn Conference teams, as well as Schuylkill-Colonial League games featuring former members of the now-defunct Twin Valley Conference.

This year’s group of experts includes veteran reporters Andy Shay and Andy Sandrick, as well as 4th Down owner and manager Adam Kulikowski.

Here’s who we think will win each game this week.

2023 Standings

Picker: Week 3 — Overall — Perfect Picks
Andy Sandrik: 22-8 — 73-21 — 0

Adam Kulikowski: 21-9— 69-25 — 0

Andy Shay: 19-11 — 65-29 — 0

* Records in parentheses after school name; District and seed in parentheses before school name.

View our new podcast, 4th and Goal with Jake Adams and Andy Shay. This week, we’re chatting with West Perry wide receiver Ian Goodling. We’re also digging into what stood out in Week 2 including Big Spring’s victory over Shippensburg to claim the Little Brown Jug; our surprise team–the Bishop McDevitt Crusaders; plus we highlight an athlete to watch and one must-see game in Week 3.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 8

Altoona 35, Mifflin County 0

Andy Shay: Mifflin County 34, Altoona 20: Pretty obvious what the Huskies’ recipe for success is built around. Powered by an offensive line that is on point, running back Deakon Schaeffer is averaging 200 yards a game. Not sure Altoona can force Mifflin Country out of its comfort zone.

Andy Sandrik: Mifflin County 32, Altoona 24: Altoona will present a challenge, but the Huskies have answered the bell on both sides of the ball so far this season and deserve to be the favorites.

Adam Kulikowski: Mifflin County 27, Altoona 23: The Huskies are clearly trending up, coming off a 6-5 season last year. If the good times are to continue in Huskie Country, the defense will play a key role. One player that’s stood out in the early polling on that unit? Senior Owen Gipe. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound linebacker has racked up team-high 31 tackles to help limit MIfflin County’s first two opponents to 12 total points. 

York 42, Carlisle 40

Andy Shay: York 42, Carlisle 21: Not sure either defense is going to have a lot of say in this outcome, and it appears as if the Bearcats have more firepower in their offensive arsenal right now.

Andy Sandrik: York 39, Carlisle 35: Kulikowski and Shay can pick against Carlisle without hearing about it from everyone in the drive-through elementary pickup. I don’t have that luxury. 

Adam Kulikowski: York 39, Carlisle 28: Fun fact: the Thundering Herd have scored exactly as many points as they have yielded — 56. The result is a 1-1 record. 

Central Dauphin 35, Coatesville 13

Andy Shay: Coatesville 35, Central Dauphin 14: This will be the Rams’ second opponent in three games ranked inside the Top 10 in the state. Red Raiders’ defense has been impressive through eight quarters and will provide the biggest challenge to date for the CD offense.

Andy Sandrik: Coatesville 33, Central Dauphin 17: Vibes are getting better in Rams’ country, but knocking off this tough Coatesville squad is much easier said than done.

Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 28, Coatesville 27: All signs say to go with the Red Raiders — 77 points scored versus just seven yielded; a victory last year against Central Dauphin; plenty of weapons in the cupboard. Yet, the vibe is back with the Rams and momentum can raise the tide to new heights. 

CD East 60, Northeastern 6

Andy Shay: CD East 35, Northeastern 7: There are huge matchup advantages all over the field for the Panthers in this one against a winless Bobcats squad.

Andy Sandrik: CD East 43, Northeastern 7: Even after a blowout loss, CD East is still about four steps ahead of Northeastern, in my book.

Adam Kulikowski: CD East 45, Northeastern 10: Losses to Red Land and Dover provide enough context to draw the conclusion that Northeastern doesn’t have the pieces in the proverbial cupboard to hang with the Panthers. 

Chambersburg 42, Waynesboro 20

Andy Shay: Chambersburg 42, Waynesboro 7: A friendly reminder the Trojans dropped half a century on the Northern Polar Bears a week ago. Enough said.

Andy Sandrik: Chambersburg 45, Waynesboro 10: I’m still stunned at how badly the Trojans gashed Northern last week. Something’s cooking in Chambersburg, and it would be unwise to pick against the Trojans right now. 

Adam Kulikowski: Chambersburg 34, Waynesboro 13: The Trojans have speed to burn, and that will provide plenty of trouble for a rebuilding Waynesboro squad. 

Spring-Ford 63, Cumberland Valley 17

Andy Shay: Spring-Ford 21, Cumberland Valley 17: Rams are 2-0 while the Eagles are winless after facing two high-quality opponents. This feels like a more level playing field despite the records. Path to success for CV lies in more help from the offense.

Andy Sandrik: Spring-Ford 24, Cumberland Valley 14: I know CV has played some really good programs these opening two weeks, but six points in eight quarters is still a red flag for me. The Eagles’ defense will keep this game close for as long as they can, but the offense is going to have to take that next step sooner rather than later.

Adam Kulikowski: Spring-Ford 17, Cumberland Valley 7: Coach Josh Oswalt’s offense scheme is not an easy one to run fluently on Day 1. That means there’s growing pains that come along with a new cast of characters — and the Eagles certainly have faced those pains, netting just six points in their first eight quarters of play. 

Manheim Township 38, Harrisburg 6

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 27, Manheim Township 24: Both squads have come out of the gates flying and executing at a very high level on both sides of the ball. The chess match between the Cougars’ defense and the Blue Streaks’ offense is going to be fascinating to watch play out.

Andy Sandrik: Manheim Township 30, Harrisburg 26: I get the sense that this won’t be the first time these behemoths square off this fall.

Adam Kulikowski: Manheim Township 31, Harrisburg 30: This one is worth the drive for Harrisburg football fans. My crystal ball says we might be getting a preview of a District 3 Class 6A title match later this year.

State College at Hollidaysburg, Canceled

Andy Shay: State College 34, Hollidaysburg 14: Pretty sure the Little Lions are going to be ready to go from the opening whistle this week and focused on getting back on track after watching a late rally fall just short a week ago.

Andy Sandrik: State College 45, Hollidaysburg 21: State College will be fully focused on getting ahead and staying ahead, which could snowball into a blowout loss for Hollidaysburg.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 45, Hollidaysburg 13: The loss to Downingtown East was a mild shock, but don’t let that fool you. The Little Lions are still a force to be reckoned with for any opponent. 

Mechanicsburg 49, Red Land 30

Andy Shay: Red Land 24, Mechanicsburg 21: Toss-up game for me. The Patriots’ run game is a formula for success against the Wildcats’ defense, plus they have a defense that has created some key turnovers. Mechanicsburg offense will be the difference-maker if the Wildcats take this one.

Andy Sandrik: Red Land 21, Mechanicsburg 14: Having that first win under your belt can make a world of difference. The Patriots’ confidence, combined with its running attack and a sprinkle of defense, could serve them well in a grind-it-out kind of game. 

Adam Kulikowski: Red Land 28, Mechanicsburg 20: If the Patriots watched the tape from Cedar Cliff’s victory against Mechanicsburg last Thursday, they likely saw a few tendencies in the passing game that can be exploited against the Wildcats. 

Bishop McDevitt 47, La Salle College 21

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 35, La Salle College 14: A pair of come-from-behind victories against next-level opponents should serve the Crusaders well in this one. I expect this to be close well into the second half before McD takes charge.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 35, La Salle College 10: The star-studded Crusaders have had to fight and claw for everything they’ve gotten in their 2-0 start. That experience will serve them well in this contest. 

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 41, La Salle College 20: Crusaders survived about 20 haymaker shots last week but never toppled. Consider this crew hardened and ready for the final test before division play begins next week. 

Cedar Cliff 43, McCaskey 6

Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 27, McCaskey 20: There’s a little bit more pop in the Colts’ offense that you might think. They are a patient and efficient unit that will test McCaskey’s defense over the course of 48 minutes.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 28, McCaskey 18: Cedar Cliff’s defense has been quietly having a nice little season, but I think they’ll be tested by a McCaskey squad that’s scored a point or two this season.

Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 41, McCaskey 17: The numbers Cedar Cliff has posted through Week 2 won’t wow you, but that’s just what’s scary about this team. They are getting solid contributions from a wide array of gents.

Hershey 35, Dallastown 19

Andy Shay: Dallastown 28, Hershey 21: Fully aware the Trojans are 2-0 and the Wildcats come into this one licking their wounds, sporting an 0-2 ledger. Who you play also matters, and Dallastown will have a say in the outcome of this game.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 28, Dallastown 21: Hershey’s been a nice surprise this fall, but sooner or later someone’s going to knock off the Trojans, right? This seems like another 50-50 game, but fortune has favored Hershey in those kinds of contests this fall.

Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 24, Dallastown 21: Wavered on this pick for a few minutes, but I’m settling with the dudes in our coverage area who sport a tidy 2-0 record and a rushing offense that’s averaged a healthy 6.1 yards per carry.

Lower Dauphin 30, Elizabethtown 0

Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 34, Elizabethtown 7: Bears have lost each of their first two games by 27 points and have struggled to be competitive. Fully healthy, the Falcons should have little trouble posting victory No. 2. 

Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 41, Elizabethtown 14: I’m having more difficulty trying to type “Elizabethtown” than I think LD will actually have with the Bears this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 41, Elizabethtown 13: Falcons have the firepower to get some of the youngsters varsity experience in the second half. 

Palmyra 21, at Donegal 14

Andy Shay: Palmyra 28, Donegal 21: At first glance this might appear to be an upset. Not sure I see it that way. The Cougars’ defense has played eight solid quarters, and despite Donegal’s 2-0 mark, I think the 1-1 Cougars are playing their best football.

Andy Sandrik: Donegal 21, Palmyra 14: This has the makings of a defensive-minded contest. Give the edge to the L-L outfit playing at home.

Adam Kulikowski: Donegal 24, Palmyra 14: Give the Cougars credit for hanging tough against an East Pennsboro crew that has had their number in recent seasons. Perhaps it is a bellwether for what is to come in Palmyra, but for me it’s a bit early to bank just yet. 

Susquehanna Township 28, Middletown 13

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 35, Middletown 14: This is still a very dangerous ‘Hanna Tribe offense, and the Blue Raiders have already surrendered 79 points this season.

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 48, Middletown 14: The Middletown rebuild continues, and with ‘Hanna on tap, there’s sure to be more growing pains this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 55, Middletown 6: The Indians would be a pristine 2-0 if not for the last-second heroics of Milton Hershey in the season opener. Middletown continues to look for footholds after an idle year on the sidelines. 

East Pennsboro 34, Milton Hershey 28

Andy Shay: Milton Hershey 26, East Pennsboro 21: Nearly half of the 44 meetings (19 to be exact) have been decided by eight or fewer points. All indicators are this battle of 2-0 clubs could be a tight squeeze, as well.

Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 28, East Pennsboro 21: I’d rather drink a Grimace Shake than try to figure out this puzzle of a game. I think the Spartans have an edge, but this seems like it could go either way.

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 24, Milton Hershey 21: Panthers have yet to be fully tested heading into Week 3, but that’s not their fault. The pieces are there with Keith Oates III and some supporting playmakers to challenge in the Colonial Division. And you know the Spartans will make it a grudge match for four quarters — just ask Susquehanna Township. 

Greencastle-Antrim 35, Delone Catholic 21

Andy Shay: Greencastle-Antrim 21, Delone Catholic 14: Blue Devils are a surprising 2-0, and the Squires are struggling defensively and have lost to a pair of quality opponents. This will be a test at the next level for G-A.

Andy Sandrik: Greencastle-Antrim 24, Delone Catholic 12: Greencastle’s stats aren’t completely up to date, but we know the Blue Devils have at least three players who each have at least two sacks. That tells me Greencastle is fully capable of wrecking this game. 

Adam Kulikowski: Greencastle-Antrim 26, Delone Catholic 20: Jury is deliberating just how good the Blue Devils can be in 2023, but let’s not overthink this one. 

Dover 39, Northern 14

Andy Shay: Dover 17, Northern 14: Couple of 1-1 teams that were rolled by big-school opponents a week ago. Big concern for Northern is only three touchdowns scored in eight quarters. Change that, and this contest could easily be a W.

Andy Sandrik: Northern 14, Dover 7: I’m giving Northern the benefit of the doubt, here, but I have some concerns.

Adam Kulikowski: Northern 21, Dover 14: This may have more the feel of a soccer game than football — a game that is likely decided by field position and a key turnover. Both teams have the ability to gain the advantage, but the Polar Bears have the pedigree in recent years. 

Shippensburg 14, Spring Grove 6

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 27, Spring Grove 7: Pretty sure the Greyhounds are less than pleased at having to surrender the Little Brown Jug. This is the right matchup for Ship to steer its season in a new direction. 

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 21, Spring Grove 14: The Greyhounds’ offense is still trying to find some traction, so this could be a closer contest than a lot of folks might think.

Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 31, Spring Grove 13: The troops from Spring Grove won’t be sending Big Spring party favors anytime soon after the Bulldogs shook the hornet’s nest last week en route to their first victory against Shippensburg in more than a decade. 

Big Spring 47, Newport 0

Andy Shay: Big Spring 26, Newport 7: Bulldogs are on a heater and understand they can’t let the hangover of claiming the Little Brown Jug for the first time since 2010 define their season. Buffaloes’ offensive woes are clear and obvious.

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 48, Newport 12: I can’t even imagine how big the bonfires were in Newville after Big Spring finally won the big game against the ‘Hounds. Even if the ‘Dogs are a little “hung over” from last week, I still think they have enough studs in the trenches to make life difficult for Newport.

Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 33, Newport 13: Is there a better feel-good story from Week 2 than the Bulldogs’ victory in the Little Brown Jug game? Those good vibes should continue against a Newport team that is enduring the pain of a rebuild. 

Gettysburg 50, Boiling Springs 14

Andy Shay: Gettysburg 32, Boiling Springs 20: If nothing else the Warriors’ offense has been good enough to be 2-0 instead of 0-2. This game will be determined by how much hay the Bubblers’ offense can make against a struggling Gettysburg defense.

Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 38, Boiling Springs 14: Boiling Springs would love to slow this game down with its defense and turn this into a low-scoring affair, but I think the Warriors have a little too much pop for that to happen.

Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 45, Boiling Springs 20: Gettysburg may be the most dangerous 0-2 team in District 3. But to make any ground in the Colonial, the Warriors are going to need to limit the defensive miscues.

Camp Hill 42, Upper Dauphin 20

Andy Shay: Camp Hill 28, Upper Dauphin 14: When the dust settles around this one, the bottom line is the defense will play a key role in guiding Camp Hill to a 3-0 start. 

Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 36, Upper Dauphin 21: Austin Duplessie has three sacks in two games for Upper Dauphin from his defensive tackle position. Can he disrupt the Camp Hill passing attack?

Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 35, Upper Dauphin 21: For a small school, the Lions always seem to find a young lad who can sling it. They have another in QB Drew Branstetter. The junior’s completion percentage is a hardy 69% (40 of 58 for 549 yards), and he has yet to toss a pick. 

Wyomissing 35, Trinity 34

Andy Shay: Wyomissing 31, Trinity 21: I’m fascinated by this matchup in so many ways. Spartans are the clear favorites, but the T-Rocks have some offensive firepower and the Wyo defense will present a challenge at another level. 

Andy Sandrik: Wyomissing 30, Trinity 21: This is one of those games where I think the Shamrocks need to force a turnover or two to stay within striking distance.

Adam Kulikowski: Wyomissing 38, Trinity 36: To me, this is the biggest prove-it game on the docket for the Shamrocks. We know they are good, but we don’t know yet if they can knock off a perennial District 3 superpower.

West Perry 39, Juniata 21

Andy Shay: West Perry 42, Juniata 7: The Indians have allowed nearly 100 points over eight quarters, and keeping the scoreboard rolling is not a problem at all for the high-octane Mustangs. 

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 51, Juniata 14: The Mustangs are the Perry County champs after routing Susquenita and Newport, and it doesn’t seem like anything is going to stop WP from taking over Juniata County next.

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 48, Juniata 13: The Mustangs are running like a finely tuned Cobra right now. It isn’t a matter of if they will win, but rather when will they let off the gas. 

Halifax 53, Hancock (Md.) 6

Andy Shay: Hancock 35, Halifax 31: Wildcats are riding high after a convincing 40-0 victory, and the Panthers were blown out in their season opener. Opportunity for Halifax to be 2-1 is right in front of them.

Andy Sandrik: Halifax 36, Hancock 20: It’s so nice to see the Wildcats showing a little pop this season. This is going to be a tough road test, but I’m riding with Halifax.

Adam Kulikowski: Hancock 45, Halifax 20: In my heart, I want to take the Wildcats. But my gut says don’t overvalue the offensive explosion displayed in Week 2.

James Buchanan 21, Biglerville 19

Andy Shay: Biglerville 21, James Buchanan 7: By a slim margin it feels like the Canners have a few more options in terms of offensive weapons. Will say the Rockets’ defense has been up to the task so far, though.

Andy Sandrik: Biglerville 28, James Buchanan 7: In a few months that fall drive through Adams County will be one of the most picturesque trips you can take on a budget. But I don’t think this ride home from Canner Country will be that fun for the Rockets.

Adam Kulikowski: Biglerville 21, James Buchanan 14: The Canners have scored just 21 points in their first eight quarters of play but have a 1-1 record to show for their efforts. Doubling the tally from the first two weeks should be enough to get the dub.

Tri-Valley 23, Line Mountain 14

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 38, Tri-Valley 28: Let the good times roll, right? This has all the ingredients of being a back-and-forth slugfest for a long time despite each squad checking in at 1-1. Throw the records out.

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 27, Line Mountain 24: Coin-flip game, in my mind, but I’ll take the scrappy Bulldogs. Any team whose QB doubles as a DE, like the Bulldogs’ Blake Schwartz (6-6, 190), deserves to be called scrappy. 

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 32, Tri-Valley 31: Last year, the Eagles nearly pulled off a huge upset when they took Tri-Valley to the wire. In some regards, it was the beginning of the awakening of LM. This year, I’m not even sure we would categorize a victory by the home squad as an upset.

Schuylkill Valley 48, Susquenita 14

Andy Shay: Susquenita 27, Schuylkill Valley 21: Give me 6-4, 230-pound Blackhawks QB Derek Gibney and his 500-plus passing yards, six touchdowns and one INT in eight quarters. Shots will be taken is all I know.

Andy Sandrik: Schuylkill Valley 28, Susquenita 20: As a West Perry grad, I’m obligated to pick against the ‘Hawks in a 50-50 game, right? 

Adam Kulikowski: Susquenita 34, Schuylkill Valley 31: The Gibney brothers, Derek and Drew, are taking the backyard pitch-and-catch to new heights this season, connecting 18 times for 236 of QB Derek Gibney’s 527 stripes to date. 

North Schuylkill 48, Pine Grove 0

Andy Shay: North Schuylkill 33, Pine Grove 14: Fully aware each squad is 1-1, just think the Spartans are going to ask some questions of the PG defense that haven’t been asked of them to date.

Andy Sandrik: North Schuylkill 32, Pine Grove 12: I’ve been on the wrong end of some of those 48-6 losses, like the one PG took last week. It’s remarkably hard to get back on track, even if you’re facing an opponent that may otherwise be an even match. 

Adam Kulikowski: North Schuylkill 37, Pine Grove 20: Coming off a week in which Williams Valley gashed the Pine Grove defense for 370 yards, the thought of NS senior running back Jaxson Chowansky and his 7.6 yards per carry (26 carries, 198 yards) likely is keeping the PG defensive coordinator up at night.

Schuylkill Haven 24, Williams Valley 21

Andy Shay: Williams Valley 35, Schuylkill Haven 20: When you have a dude who averages more than 280 yards a game on the ground, that will cover up for a lot of other gaps on your squad.

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 44, Schuylkill Haven 9: Folks are buying tickets just to see Alex Achenbach run the ball, and No. 5 is doing it so well that Williams Valley’s hustling defense — which has allowed six points all season — is still an afterthought.

Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 45, Schuylkill Haven 13: Last week, Vikings running back Alex Achenbach broke the school rushing record with 343 yards on just 14 carries. Whose record did he break, you might be wondering? His own — 321 yards against Panther Valley in 2021. 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 9

Steel-High 29, West Catholic (Philadelphia) 22

Andy Shay: Steel-High 46, West Catholic 19: While West Catholic is a known name brand in the state, not sure the Burrs have the firepower this season to hold serve against the Rollers. Steel-High is better at putting pressure on teams to play its style of game.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 50, West Catholic 13: Rollers are averaging 44 points per contest. I have a feeling that average rises a little bit after this weekend. 

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 55, West Catholic 14: West Catholic scored just six points in its season opener last week. That’s simply not enough offensive firepower to contend with Alex Erby and the gents in Steelton. 

Vote Now: Week 7 Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week

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Vote Now: Week 7 Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week

Vote now for our 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week. Our poll will remain open until Wednesday evening at 11 p.m. Voting is allowed once every 30 minutes.

Editor’s note: We have implemented safeguards to prevent voting which falls outside the spirit of the rules in place. We reserve the right to block users who cast fraudulent votes.

Daimear Coad, WR, State College:  The senior wideout led State College’s group of pass catchers Friday night against Cedar Cliff. In a 35-21 victory against Cedar Cliff, Coad hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass to highlight a 95-yard evening.

Carter Dreibelbis, RB, Upper Dauphin: The senior running back turned in a workhorse-like performance in the Trojans’ Week 7 victory against Camp Hill, 55-12. Dreibelbis logged a game-high 26 carries for 204 yards—an 7.8-yard-per-carry average. He also accounted for a pair of touchdowns.

Jasper Shepps, WR/DB, Juniata: Stop us if you heard this one before. Shepps is a game=changer.  All the senior standout did against Newport Friday night was pick off a pass, recover a fumble and haul in three receptions for 115 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Just another average day’s work.

Ryder Tobias, QB, Halifax: Tobias was a model of efficiency Friday night in a 27-2 victory against Susquenita. The senior gunslinger completed 85.7 percent of his passes—a smooth 12-of-14 passing—for 181 yards.

Rakhi Seville, RB, Susquehanna Twp.: Another day, another win for the Tribe. This week Joe Headen’s crew  got a big performance from Seville who rushed 19 times for 101 yards in a 28-21 victory against East Pennsboro.

Adam Yoder, RB, West Perry: In a game that could have playoff implications, Adam Yoder turned in a stellar performance in the Mustang’s 24-17 victory against Big Spring, rushing for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 17 carries on Friday night.

Week 6 Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week: Cohen Bechtel

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Cohen Bechtel led Halifax to a Week 65 victory against Camp Hill and the Halifax faithful delivered him our weekly player of the week honor. Bechtel posted a dizzying 184 yards on just 13 carries–including a 78-yard touchdown trot to fuel the Wildcat’s victory against Camp Hill.

Results: Week 7 Picks and Predictions

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Results: Week 7 Picks and Predictions

Name; Week 6; Overall

Andy Shay 13-6; 93-31

Andy Sandrik: 16-3; 91-33

Adam Kulikowski 13-6; 90-34

Susquehanna Twp. 28, East Pennsboro 21

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Twp. 46, East Pennsboro 20: That was a tough loss for the Panthers a week ago, but has no bearing on this matchup at all. Hanna Tribe are a solid four touchdown favorite every single day of the week.

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Twp. 42, East Pennsboro 24: Highly-touted ‘Hanna teams have had their hiccup games in past years, but I’ve seen nothing but laser focus from this particular group.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Twp. 45, East Pennsboro 30: For East Penn, there simply is no margin of error to compete in this match-up. Turn in the best performance of the season and you might have a chance in the fourth of being within striking distance. 

Steel-High 36, James Buchanan 8

Andy Shay: Steel-High 36, James Buchanan 14: Pretty sure there’s some heat ready to explode for the Rollers after back-to-back losses. Rockets have more dog to fight with, but not enough to keep pace.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 42, James Buchanan 7: James Buchanan’s last four games – all lost by an average of just 6.25 points – can wear on a team just like jabs in boxing. And now Steel-Here is ready to deliver the knockout punch.

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 38, James Buchanan 13: The good vibes of the first two weeks have faded for the Rockets who are winless in their last four games. 

Juniata 49, Newport 14

Andy Shay: Juniata 34, Newport 7: Despite these clubs being on level terms with 4-2 marks overall, the balance sheet deep dive reveals the Indians are a heavy favorite.

Andy Sandrik: Newport 23, Juniata 21: The Buffs have a chance if they can force someone other than Jasper Shepps to try to beat them. Shepps has accounted for nearly 40 percent of Juniata’s offense this season and has snared four interceptions.

Adam Kulikowski: Newport 28, Juniata 21: This group of seniors, led by Trevin Arnold, Dalton Kratzer and Zach Bates deserve a ton of credit for turning a Buffs program that struggled the last several years around. Knocking off the Indians would be a statement victory in a season that already is a success.

Greencastle-Antrim 41, Milton Hershey 21

Andy Shay: Milton Hershey 27, Greencastle-Antrim 21: The first one is always the hardest one and after getting that first W a week ago, riding the Spartans train this week in this tilt of one-win clubs.

Andy Sandrik: Greencastle-Antrim 34, Milton Hershey 26: The Blue Devils have been staying competitive with good teams, but losing, and the frustration finally bubbled over in a tough loss to Trinity. This is a golden opportunity for G-A to bounce back, but Milton Hershey has some pep in its step after nailing down its first victory a week ago.

Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 21, Greencastle-Antrim 20: In a battle of one-win teams, I’m giving a slight edge a Spartans team coming off a strong performance last week against Newport.

Bishop McDevitt 34, Cumberland Valley 13

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 27, Cumberland Valley 7: Combined these squads have teamed up to win six consecutive games. So those good vibes you get on the North Shore of Hawaii are in play here. Crusaders have been the more steady ship in the Pacific and that matters.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 21, Cumberland Valley 10: In a game where dominant defenses could potentially cancel each other out, CV will need to take another step forward offensively to keep this game within reach. 

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 24, Cumberland Valley 14: The Crusaders defense hasn’t been scored upon for 10 quarters now. While I don’t see the Eagles allowing that streak to continue, posting the numbers needed to pull off an upset seems daunting. 

Mifflin County 17, Waynesboro 6

Andy Shay: Waynesboro 14, Mifflin County 7: Since scoring 42 points in their opener, the Huskies have managed just 35 points over five games including only eight points last week in a victory. Love the MC defense, just feel it takes more than eight points to win this one.

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 20, Mifflin County 14: The Tribe got a big boost with the return of injured QB Rayshawn Frazier-Hewitt and scored a season-high 49 points in a rout over Northern York. Can they continue the momentum against a solid Mifflin County defense?

Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 28, Mifflin County 7: As the competition grew, Mifflin County’s offense stalled out. Indians don’t provide an easy out for the Huskies to get back on track. 

Shippensburg 47, Gettysburg 12

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 24, Gettysburg 14: Nobody in the MPC has managed the art of winning in a tight spot quite like the Greyhounds. They know what it takes to keep their surfboard on top of those big waves.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 30, Gettysburg 28: While the wins aren’t there, the Warriors have a potent offense and will be looking to score early and force Shippensburg into a game of catch-up. The Hounds will be aiming to slow the game down and dominate possession time.

Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 34, Gettysburg 31: It’s tempting to pick the Warriors in this one. Gettysburg has the offense to keep pace with just about anyone, but slowing opponents has been a struggle again this year. 

Central Dauphin 28, CD East 18

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 20, CD East 13: This tussle of the neighbors inside the same school district is a toss up all the way in my book. East offense has only one TD over the last eight quarters and that is a white caps surf red flag on the beach.

Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 21, CD East 7: Good defenses have given CD East fits all season, and while the unit possessed by Central Dauphin isn’t necessarily elite, it is plenty talented enough to give the Rams a great chance to win.

Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 28, CD East 7: Both teams are searching for answers to regain past glory, but the Rams have more solutions right now than their district counterparts.

State College 36, Cedar Cliff 21

Andy Shay: State College 41, Cedar Cliff 13: There is respect to be handed out to the Colts for being 3-3 overall at this point. However against the other two top dogs in the Commonwealth the Colts have been outscored 90-13. Little Lions are the other top dog.

Andy Sandrik: State College 35, Cedar Cliff 14: There were a lot of questions for the Little Lions about the QB position coming into the season, and sophomore signal caller Connor Kulka has answered most of them by delivering 16 TD passes against two interceptions.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 43, Cedar Cliff 10: Take away the slugfest against fellow Commonwealth powerhouse, Harrisburg, and the Little Lions haven’t yielded more than 14 points to any other opponent. That’s bad news for the Colts. 

Chambersburg 6, Carlisle 0

Andy Shay: Chambersburg 28, Carlisle 7: Been a rough ride for each of these clubs this season and anything can happen here. Trojans have more pieces, but have shattered a bit this season while the Herd have struggled to be competitive.

Andy Sandrik: Chambersburg 35, Carlisle 7: While I’d love to think that this rivalry game will be as heated and competitive as usual, it’s hard to take seriously a Carlisle team that’s totaled two TDs over six games.

Adam Kulikowski: Chambersburg 42, Carlisle 6: Will the Herd find motivation as we enter the final four-game stretch of a season that hasn’t produced a victory to date? 

Halifax 27, Susquenita 2

Andy Shay: Halifax 30, Susquenita 20: When the playing field in terms of talent on the roster has been more level, Halifax has put forth some solid efforts and played well. Blackhawks will need help from the Wildcats in this one.

Andy Sandrik: Halifax 28, Susquenita 7: The Wildcats have found a rhythm and a winning streak. Look for that to continue against a Blackhawks squad that’s been gouged for 153 points over their last three games.

Adam Kulikowski: Halifax 33, Susquenita 14: Part of the fun of writing our predictions each week is digging through the stats to find interesting nuggets. My favorite from Halifax: Teegan Carroll,  the senior linebacker for the Wildcats has 71 tackles including seven for loss. That’s nearly double the number (39) of the second highest Wildcat on the team. 

Trinity 36, Boiling Springs 3

Andy Shay: Trinity 35, Boiling Springs 0: Since that 0-2 start the T-Rocks have rattled off four wins in a row behind a defense that has surrendered only TWO touchdowns over the last 16 quarters. Bubblers don’t have the horses to run with a lock down D.

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 28, Boiling Springs 0: Can’t argue against the ‘Rocks defense, which has gotten eight TFLs and four sacks from Marcus Yeager.

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 39, Boiling Springs 6: Bubbles have averaged just 11 points per game coming into this Week 7 fray with Trinity. Busting out against a defense as rock-solid as the Shamrock is an awful lot to ask. 

West Perry 24, Big Spring 17

Andy Shay: Big Spring 27, West Perry 25: Game of the Week in the MPC from my vantage point on Waikiki Beach. When there’s nothing in it I always rely on what feels right and in this case to me the Bulldogs just know exactly who they are and aren’t phased by what the opponent does.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 32, Big Spring 24: Maybe the football gods are just favoring WP, a team that surgically snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to stun East Pennsboro one week ago. 

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 34, Big Spring 31: I envision a slugfest in this match-up, which likely means it’ll be a 14-13 defensive battle.  There’s just something about ’em Perry County boys that you know they will fight to the final second. 

Mechanicsburg 35, Northern York 7

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 42, Northern 7: This is a rivalry game so the Wildcats, who have shown their mettle the last eight quarters, will be gunning for the shutout against an offense that struggles on a weekly basis.

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 38, Northern 7: Following a close win over ex-division leader Red Land, the Wildcats will be aiming to make an example of backyard heated rival Northern.

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 45, Northern 6:  The Wildcats were tested last week against the up-start Red Land Patriots. Easier sledding this week between the hashes. 

Hershey 27, Red Land 17

Andy Shay: Red Land 27, Hershey 25: Marquee matchup and despite the Patriots dropping from the ranks of the unbeaten a week ago, they are still having a magical season and one loss will not derail their smooth ride on some tasty waves. And we all know Hershey could easily win this game.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 28, Red Land 24: The Mechanicsburg Wildcats poured cold water all over Red Land’s perfect season last week. I expect the Patriots will be ready to play, but they have a tough road assignment against a Hershey squad that can put up a lot of points in a hurry.

Adam Kulikowski: Red Land 24, Hershey 21: That Red Land defense held serve last week with Mechanicsburg. Another stout effort will be needed to keep the Patriots in this battle. 

Lower Dauphin 41, Palmyra 7

Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 20, Palmyra 6: All I know is the Cougars are a hard team to beat and you have to show up with your best stuff to take them down. Falcons have found their groove and are playing well.

Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 21, Palmyra 14: The Cougars have been competitive for several weeks running now, while the Falcons are no strangers to close games. I do expect this game at Buck Swank Stadium to come down to the wire.

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 28, Palmyra 7: Through six games this season, the Falcons have epitomized balance, sitting at .500 with 131 points scored and 131 allowed — a statistical deadlock that perfectly reflects their even record.

Saturday, October 4

Line Mountain 27, Middletown 26

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 21, Middletown 7: This won’t be easy on any level for the Eagles against a Blue Raiders outfit that makes you earn your first downs and points the hard way.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 24, Middletown 7: The Eagles rose to the occasion last week, beating Steel-High in a game that many picked them to lose. Now Line Mountain faces a bigger school in Middletown, while also bearing the label of favorites.

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 28, Middletown 14: Eagles have just eight turnovers all season. If you’re the Blue Raiders and can steal a possession or two, it could be the ticket to making your underdog card a winner.

Harrisburg 45, Altoona 7:

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 42, Altoona 0: Cougars are one of the more complete teams in the state at any level and that defense is locking down opponents where there playing field isn’t level. Mountain Lions have scored only 66 points to date and this will be the best defense they’ve faced.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 49, Altoona 7: Harrisburg’s defense – which has stacked up 18 sacks, 11 interceptions, and seven forced fumbles – could make life very hard for the visiting Mountain Lions.

Adam Kulikowski:Harrisburg 38, Altoona 7: Give Altoona credit, the Mountain Lions will battle you for a full four quarters. Find a path to victory against arguably the best team in the state is a different story. 

Upper Dauphin 55, Camp Hill 12

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 21, Camp Hill 20: Couple of teams on the famous Rainbow Diner in Honolulu VW struggle bus this season. Only one win between them, but the Trojans offense has shown more life the last eight quarters so that’s my benchmark.

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 28, Camp Hill 12: Both of these teams started the season in a bit of a freefall, but while Camp Hill continues to struggle, Upper Dauphin has found some traction, and its first win, in recent weeks.

Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 41, Camp Hill 14: First, anyone else wish they too were enjoying the Honolulu sunshine our dear friend, AShay is basking in right now?  OK, back to the game… Trojans found some footing on offense after spending the first four weeks of the season in neutral. If that trend continues, Upper Dauphin should have its second ‘Dub’ of the season. 

Vote Now: Week 6 Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week

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Vote Now: Week 6 Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week

Vote now for our 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week. Our poll will remain open until Wednesday evening at 11 p.m. Voting is allowed once every 30 minutes.

Editor’s note: We have implemented safeguards to prevent voting which falls outside the spirit of the rules in place. We reserve the right to block users who cast fraudulent votes.

Connor Kulka, QB, State College: The Little Lions gunslinger took care of business Friday night against Central Dauphin in a 41-13 victory. Kulka completed a tidy 71 percent of his passes—20-of-28 for 229 yards and three touchdowns.

Cameron Sweeney, QB, Hershey: When the Trojans found themselves in a shootdown against Gettysburg, they leaned on their sharpshooting quarterback. Sweeney had himself an evening in Hershey’s 48-31 victory against Gettysburg.  Sweeney ended a storybook evening with seven total touchdowns, five rushing and another pair through the air. The Warriors struggled all evening to limit Sweeney’s damage on the ground as the senior ripped off 199 yards on 16 carries—a per-carry average of 12.4 yards.

Jasper Shepps, WR, Juniata: On an evening when the Indians made quick work of Susquenita, Shepps hauled in a game-high five receptions for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 48-0 blanking of the Blackhawks.

Cohen Bechtel, RB, Halifax: The Wildcats as a team rushing for 322 yards against Camp Hill. So while Bechtel gets the nod for his individual performance, Carroll, Conrad, and their friends  also ate well. But Bechtel led the way with 184 stripes on 13 carries including a 78-yard touchdown scamper—one of two scores on the evening for the senior.

Jesse Binger and Jordan Myers, RBs, Big Spring: Typically, we nominate one player in each slot, but quite frankly we’re breaking our own rule here because these two gents shouldn’t be separated. Binger toted the rock 14 times for 157 yards and a touchdown while his compadre, Myers hit the hole 12 times for 179 yards and four scores in a 53-7 victory against Boiling Springs. Talk about 1-2 punch.

This poll has ended (since 4 days).
Cohen Bechtel, RB, Halifax: The
56.10%
Jasper Shepps, WR, Juniata:
17.07%
Jesse Binger and Jordan Myers, RBs, Big Spring: Typically
12.20%
Cameron Sweeney, QB, Hershey:
9.76%
Connor Kulka, QB, State College:
4.88%

Week 5 Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week: Carter Dreibelbis

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Week 5 Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week: Carter Dreibelbis

The Upper Dauphin fanbase turned out in droves to support their man in our Week 5 Player of the Week fan vote. Carter Dreibellbis earned our weekly honor, capturing 8,689 votes to edge Newport’s Dalton Kratzer.

While Upper Dauphin fell to Line Mountain 33-20, Dreibelbis racked up 117 yards on 18 carries and found the end zone twice to help the Trojans keep pace against the high-flying Eagles.

Results: Week 6 Picks and Predictions

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Results: Week 6 Picks and Predictions

Standings:

Name; Week 5; Overall

Andy Shay 14-5; 80-25

Adam Kulikowski 16-3; 77-28

Andy Sandrik: 17-2; 75-30

Upper Dauphin at. James Buchanan

Andy Shay: James Buchanan 20, Upper Dauphin 14: True the Trojans are winless at the halfway pole, and the Rockets are the favorite just thinking this game is going to be a tight squeeze all the way.

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 21, James Buchanan 14: If the Trojans could play within 13 points of mighty Line Mountain, they’ve got a chance to beat James Buchanan, right? 

Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 26, James Buchanan 14: The sample size is small, but after going toe-to-toe with Line Mountain last week, I believe the Trojans might be on the verge of turning the corner. 

Shippensburg 23, Lower Dauphin 20

Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 24, Shippensburg 21: Wins over Mechanicsburg and Hershey in back-to-back weeks has the Falcons flying high. Ship has the pieces to shorten this game and put LD on tilt, but jumping on the LD bus for this one.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 21, Lower Dauphin 18: The ‘Hounds haven’t allowed more than three scores in a game all season, and if that trend continues, Ship will have a great shot at improving to 5-1.

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 28, Shippensburg 21: The Falcons have found their identity over the last few weeks, relying on their ground attack and a steady defense to post back-to-back quality victories. 

Waynesboro 49, Northern York 14

Andy Shay: Waynesboro 26, Northern York 20: Couple of struggling programs in ‘25 with one victory combined. Coin flip in my book this one could go either way.

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 21, Northern York 14: Waynesboro only has one more victory than the winless Polar Bears, but the Tribe have been much more competitive in their time on the field.

Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 33, Northern York 21: Both teams likely view this as a winnable matchup in a season where little has gone right for either. 

Hershey 48, Gettysburg 31

Andy Shay: Hershey 30, Gettysburg 28: Here’s the thing about this matchup … Hershey is coming off an upset loss in overtime and the Warriors have scored points on pretty much everybody but struggle on defense.

Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 34, Hershey 27: If you’re the betting type, take the “over” this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 34, Gettysburg 27:  Trojans defense is allowing 16.4 points per game through the season’s mid-way point. Full metal test coming this week, however with the high-flying Warriors weaponry. 

Harrisburg 49, Carlisle 0

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 49, Carlisle 0: Anything other than a mercy rule victory by the Cougars will be a huge surprise.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 45, Carlisle 0: No reason to believe Harrisburg won’t continue rolling to 6-0 this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 55, Carlisle 0: Brutal back-to-back weeks for Carlisle coming off a blanking by Bishop McDevitt last week. The only thing that would prevent a Cougars victory Friday night is the rapture. 

Mifflin County 8, Palmyra 6

Andy Shay: Palmyra 13, Mifflin County 7: All I know is the Cougars lost to Shippensburg by a point two weeks ago and edged Waynesboro last week. Plus Palmyra defense has surrendered only 20 points the last eight quarters.

Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 21, Mifflin County 10: Take away a 42-point outburst against a winless Central Mountain squad, and Mifflin County’s offense is averaging just 6.75 points per game. The Huskies will need more than that against a Palmyra defense that has found a rhythm in recent weeks.

Adam Kulikowski: Palmyra 24, Mifflin County 7: Cougars haven’t won more than two games in a season since 2021. They have a very good chance to break that ugly streak this week. 

Cumberland Valley 24, CD East 6

Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 24, CD East 14: Five weeks and 20 quarters of football into the season and why do I feel I know less about these two clubs than when the season started. Sounds like a me problem for sure, though.

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 18, CD East 7: Thanks to an elite defense, the Eagles have the unique distinction of being a losing team that’s outscored their competition by more than 30 points. Look for CV to shake off that “losing” label this week and get back to .500.

Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 31, CD East 7: Eagles have more pathways to victory in this match up than I see for the Panthers. 

State College 41, Central Dauphin 13

Andy Shay: State College 30, Central Dauphin 14: It has been a more competitive Rams squad week in and week out, however the Little Lions demand next level and CD doesn’t have that answer.

Andy Sandrik: State College 36, Central Dauphin 10: The Rams will have competitive moments against the Little Lions, but sticking with SC for four full quarters is an awfully tall ask.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 31, Central Dauphin 21: Little Lions have yielded 14 or less points in four of their five match-ups this season. Good gauge for the Rams as we enter the second half.

Boiling Springs at Big Spring

Andy Shay: Big Spring 40, Boiling Springs 13: If nothing else the one-loss Bulldogs from Newville have been super consistent this season and you know what is coming at you. Bubblers defense has struggled to hold down the score and that’s the difference maker.

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 38, Boiling Springs 14: A steady dose of Grady Hope should be more than enough for the Bulldogs to overcome their rivals from Bubbletown.

Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 37, Boiling Springs 7: This has the makings of an early evening for some of the Bulldogs big dawgs ahead of a showdown next week against West Perry. 

Bishop McDevitt 38, Altoona 0

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 41, Altoona 7: These Mountain Lions have been somewhat inconsistent and sneaky at times as well this season. Crusaders are making a long road trip to test their new-found resolve and winning ways.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 42, Altoona 14: Full credit to the Mountain Lions for picking up two Commonwealth wins in three weeks, but they now face a McDevitt that is just starting to hit its stride.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 48, Altoona 14: The Crusaders possess a plethora of weapons to cut you at every turn. Getting a foothold against a team like that is no small feat. 

Cedar Cliff 35, Chambersburg 7

Andy Shay: Chambersburg 26, Cedar Cliff 21: How much gas is left in the tank for the Trojans after playing the trio of Commonwealth hammers in a row? When the playing field is more level Chambersburg has shown up. All about Cedar Cliff defense for them to snare a road win.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 28, Chambersburg 21: Both of these squads have taken their respective beatings from the monsters of the Commonwealth Division. And now that the Colts and Trojans are facing each other, both squads can see a potential light at the end of the tunnel. Expect a hard battle. 

Adam Kulikowski: Chambersburg 28, Cedar Cliff 24: The similarities of these two squads should make this a fair fight for a full four quarters. Winner will simply make fewer missteps along the way. 

Milton Hershey 26, Newport 21

Andy Shay: Newport 26, Milton Hershey 20: This is a step up in competition level for the Buffaloes despite the Trojans being winless. All about whether or not Milton Hershey defense can give their club a shot. Expect a tight one.

Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 26, Newport 17: The Buffs are a confident squad right now, but the Spartans will be their biggest challenge in weeks. Milton Hershey’s defense has been susceptible, but it took a step forward against Trinity last week. 

Adam Kulikowski: Newport 31, Milton Hershey 28: Newport has gashed its last three opponents on the ground for a combined 791 yards. Spartans’ defense will need to fill the box to slow the Buffs.

Susquehanna Twp. 21, Middletown 0

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 49, Middletown 14: Full props to the Blue Raiders defense for backstopping the program to a couple wins in the first month. West Perry lit up the scoreboard last week and this Hanna outfit has twice as much firepower.

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 44. Middletown 17: The Tribe present matchup problems all over the field on a weekly basis, and this Friday will be no exception.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 55, Middletown 21: Tribe’s bounty of weaponry presents huge match up issues for the Blue Raiders. 

Halifax 49, Camp Hill 13

Andy Shay: Halifax 27, Camp Hill 7: Tight squeeze here for the Wildcats despite Camp Hill being winless. Having to play all four quarters to get a W last week sets the table for Halifax to reach .500 after six weeks.

Andy Sandrik: Halifax 24, Camp Hill 17: You’ve gotta respect the hustle of the Wildcats’ Cohen Bechtel, a player who’s rolled up more than 500 combined rushing and passing yards this season.

Adam Kulikowski: Halifax 31, Camp Hill 14: Lions are averaging just 11 points per game this season. 

West Perry 28, East Pennsboro 27

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 27, West Perry 25: Couple of battle tested 4-1 teams that are rolling. Panthers level competition overall is just a notch or two better than the Mustangs and that will show up over the course of 48 minutes. Toss up game for sure, though.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 35, East Pennsboro 28: West Perry’s leading rusher, Evan Jutba, slid into the QB role last week. The man who replaced him at RB, Adam Yoder, piled up 254 yards and two TDs in an impressive win over Middletown.

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 24, West Perry 21: Hard not to love this even match-up. Both teams can gash you on the ground with explosive plays from multiple players.  Easily could see the Mustangs on top at the end of the night if they win the turnover battle.

Juniata 48, Susquenita 0

Andy Shay: Juniata 30, Susquenita 7: Three times this season Susquenita has allowed 48 or more points including the last weeks running. Indians are not overpowering, more like a slow burn that sucks the air out of your offense.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 34, Susquenita 12: After a 1-2 start, Juniata’s stock has been rising in recent weeks. Expect for that trend to continue against a Susquenita squad that has been allowing points in bunches.

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 41, Susquenita 7: Slowing opponents has been Susquenita’s achilles heal. Not sure that changes this week. 

Trinity 35, Greencastle-Antrim 0

Andy Shay: Trinity 21, Greencastle-Antrim 6: Never know how much productivity is going to come from the T-Rock offense on a weekly basis. 

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 17, Greencastle-Antrim 10: A win at COBO Field is possible for Greencastle, but it will require confidence and execution.

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 28, Greencastle-Antrim 14: After not posting a single sack in the first three weeks of the season, the Shamrocks have applied the pressure in back-to-back weeks with five total sacks. 

Line Mountain 36, Steel-High 34

Andy Shay: Steel-High 27, Line Mountain 26: Not sure whether this game will be a wild track meet or a defensive struggle that comes down to the wire. Both are very capable of happening. Both teams will believe they are the better team and have fewer holes. It will take 48 minutes to figure that out, but give me the Rollers.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 30, Steel-High 28: Max Johnson has always been a game-wrecker on defense, but now that he’s contributing as a running back, Line Mountain is putting up some superb numbers on the offensive side of the ball.

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 31, Line Mountain 28: Eagles had a let down game last week against Upper Dauphin but still came out on top. A sharper performance will be needed to earn a ‘W’.

Mechanicsburg 14, Red Land 7

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 27, Red Land 24: There is not a blemish on the Red Land dance card this season and the Wildcats have one speed bump to their credit in an upset loss to Lower Dauphin. First real big game for the Patriots in a long time. See how they handle the stage.

Andy Sandrik: Red Land 34, Mechanicsburg 28: A year ago this would be an easy game to pick. Not so much this season.

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 28, Red Land 27: Perhaps the most intriguing match up on the docket this week. Patriots have earned the right to be favored in this tussle, but the Wildcats have the experience winning close games. 

Andy Shay’s Elite 11 Rankings After Week 5

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Andy Shay’s Elite 11 Rankings After Week 5
11. Twin Valley5-0NR
Through the first half of the regular season the Raiders have outscored the opposition 284-46. On pace to score close to 600 points this season. That won’t happen, but 500-550 is realistic.
10. Manheim Township4-110
Something about this team that is very appealing as they post another impressive win by taking out Warwick by three touchdowns.
9. Exeter Township5-09
Cracked 60-plus for the second time this season and overall has outscored the opening half of its regular season opponents 241-38.
8.Conestoga Valley5-08
For CV to ring up 29 points against the Spring Grove defense says a lot about their offense because if nothing else SG has some defensive chops.
7. Wilson4-17
Was confident the Bulldogs would take care of a .500 Cedar Crest squad, but if you expected Wilson to roll up 62 points on the Falcons you would be “not truthful”.
6. Susquehanna Twp.5-06
Received a full test from Steel-High and passed with a two-touchdown victory. Also speaks well of the Rollers and their team, but Hanna Tribe needed this bench mark.
5. Wyomissing5-05
Hey at least ELCO scored a single touchdown, something that had not be accomplished against the Spartans since Week 2.
4. Bishop McDevitt3-24
Was always going to win easily against Carlisle, but sometimes it more about how you win that is revealing and the Crusaders appear to have found their stride.
3. State College4-13
First shutout of the season for the Little Lions defense in the easy and breezy win over Chambersburg.
2. Central York5-02
Thought maybe just maybe might get a bit of a test this week in the league from South Western and this simply wasn’t the case.
1. Harrisburg5-01
Start of a much lighter three-game stretch for the Cougars after that killer opening month and it was the exact result you would expect from this focused and talented group.

Vote Now: Mid-Penn Conference Week 5 Player of the Week

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Vote Now: Mid-Penn Conference Week 5 Player of the Week

Vote now for our 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week. Our poll will remain open until Wednesday evening at 11 p.m. Voting is allowed once every 30 minutes.

Editor’s note: We have implemented safeguards to prevent voting which falls outside the spirit of the rules in place. We reserve the right to block users who cast fraudulent votes.

Mikal Shank, QB, Harrisburg:  In a game that was never in doubt, Shank provided a steady hand en route to a 42-0 blanking of Commonwealth division foe Cedar Cliff. Shank capped a productive Saturday afternoon at Severance Field with 246 yards on 18-of-22 passing for three touchdowns.

Hank Lustig, WR, State College: Connor Kulka’s top target Friday night against Chambersburg was senior wide receiver Hank Lustig, who delivered a standout performance. Lustig caught a game-high seven passes for 123 yards and scored three touchdowns, helping lead the Little Lions to a dominant 40-0 victory.

Preston Burnett, RB, Mechanicsburg: The Wildcats took full advantage of their workhorse back Friday night against Gettysburg. Burnett toted the rock a game-high 24 times for 130 yards and a touchdown to help fuel Mechanicsburg to a 35-14 victory.

Carter Dreibelbis, RB, Upper Dauphin: Yes, the Trojans fell to Line Mountain Friday night, 33-20, but Dreibelbis shined in a game that was far closer than the final score indicates. Dreibelbin found plenty of space to rack up 117 yards on 18 carries. He score a pair of touchdowns.

Dalton Kratzer, RB, Newport: The Buffaloes didn’t have trouble scoring Friday night against Susquenita and Kratzer was a big reason why. The senior back carried the water for his comrades en route to a 57-12 victory. All he did was notch 27 carries for 186 stripes and a touchdown on the evening.

This poll has ended (since 11 days).
Carter Dreibelbis, RB, Upper Dauphin:
53.84%
Dalton Kratzer, RB, Newport:
45.61%
Hank Lustig, WR, State College:
0.46%
Preston Burnett, RB, Mechanicsburg:
0.05%
Mikal Shank, QB, Harrisburg:
0.05%

4th Down Magazine Week 4 Player of the Week: Grady Hope

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4th Down Magazine Week 4 Player of the Week: Grady Hope

When Big Spring needed a spark in Week 4 against Milton Hershey, Grady Hope delivered. The Bulldog’s running back ripped off a 51-yard touchdown run–one of three scores on the evening. His final line included a team-high 22 carries for 164 yards.

Hope edged Susquehanna Twp’s Torin Evins for the weekly award.

Results: Week 5 Picks and Predictions

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Results: Week 5 Picks and Predictions

As the leaves start to turn, the stakes rise across the Mid-Penn. Week 5 brings us grudge matches, revenge tours, and programs on the edge of breakout or breakdown. From Central Dauphin’s quest to snap a losing streak against Cumberland Valley to Steel-High trying to slow the high-flying Tribe, this slate is packed with storylines.

Thursday, September 18

Susquehanna Twp. 35, Steel-High 20

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Twp. 42, Steel-High 14: Feels very odd to say the Rollers don’t have the firepower on offense to keep pace. That is rare, indeed. However that is the case in this one with the electric and quick-strike Tribe and their offense. Hard to keep up. 

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Twp. 44, Steel-High 17: No offense to the unbeaten Rollers, but the average score of a ‘Hanna game this fall has been close to 54-7, in favor of the Tribe.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Twp. 55, Steel-High 21: Tribe continue to roll over formidable opponents–an attestment to the weaponry Coach Headen has at his disposal. 

Friday, September 19

Cumberland Valley 24, Central Dauphin 15

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 20, Cumberland Valley 13: CV Eagles are in a losing vortex that is hard to shake out of without help from the opposition. CD Rams are in a better spot it seems with two straight wins and feel good about where they are. That matters.

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 20, Central Dauphin 17: If Central Dauphin can break through that 21-point barrier against CV’s stout defense, the Rams have a good chance to beat the Eagles for the first time since the 2019 season.

Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 21, Cumberland Valley 20: Every time I think I know what to expect from the Eagles, they prove otherwise. Which CV team will host the Rams?

State College 40, Chambersburg 0

Andy Shay: State College 42, Chambersburg 7: Third hammer opponent in a row for the Trojans on the heels of games with McDevitt and Harrisburg. Just survive and move forward the schedule gets more balanced from here on in.

Andy Sandrik: State College 44, Chambersburg 14: How unforgiving is the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division? Just ask the Chambersburg Trojans.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 34, Chambersburg 14: You might not know it from the final scores, but this Chambersburg squad is not an easy out. 

Bishop McDevitt 49, Carlisle 0

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 42, Carlisle 6: The rebuild from that 0-2 start continues for the Crusaders as the Thundering Herd are not capable of matching wits with an opponent at this level in 2025.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 49, Carlisle 0: This is a contest where the Thundering Herd need to focus on the small victories within the game, instead of the big picture. 

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 55, Carlisle 6: Crusaders are simply playing for different reasons than the Thundering Herd at this point in the season. 

Altoona 14, CD East 0

Andy Shay: CD East 28, Altoona 24: This one is tricky because after getting drilled in its first two games the Mountain Lions have rallied and made some noise. CD East will get the best shot Altoona has and if they are ready, it’s their game to lose.

Andy Sandrik: Altoona 18, CD East 15: The Panthers are 0-2 in games decided by two scores or less. It’s not exactly the vote of confidence East High needs going into a game against Altoona that could very well go down to the wire.

Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 31, CD East 28: Mountain Lions are trending up after scoring just seven points in each of their first two games. Offense continues to take steps forward Friday night against the Panthers.

Red Land 47, Northern York 7

Andy Shay: Red Land 35, Northern York 0: Make it 5-for-5 for the undefeated Patriots who continue to soar and all systems are go against a winless Polar Bears squad. Red Land has scored more than 100 points over the last eight quarters.

Andy Sandrik: Red Land 28, Northern York 7: It’s been a cinderella season for the boys from Red Land, but this Friday the Patriots will be playing the role of Goliath against the winless Polar Bears.

Adam Kulikowski: Red Land 42, Northern York 6: Patriots have all the momentum going in their favor, yielding 14 or less points in three of their four victories this season.

Shippensburg 21, Mifflin County 6

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 20, Mifflin County 7: Certainly not a smooth ride for the Greyhounds but full credit to Ship for finding a way to still post victories. Neither offense has displayed much firepower so expect a defensive struggle.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 28, Mifflin County 7: Every single game has been a tooth-and-nail struggle for Shippensburg. Can the ‘Hounds find some relief against a Mifflin County squad that’s totaled seven points over its last eight quarters?

Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 34, Mifflin County 14: Greyhounds have found success leaning on their backs and a steady defense. That formula should prove successful in Week 5. 

Lower Dauphin 27, Hershey 24

Andy Shay: Hershey 28, Lower Dauphin 7: It would take another massive effort for the Falcons to pull off two shocking results in as many weeks. Hershey has the QB in Cam Sweeney who fully qualifies as a difference maker.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 24, Lower Dauphin 14: Just when we were ready to count LD out, the Falcons pulled off a stunner over Mechanicsburg. Hershey QB Cam Sweeney, a man closing in on 1,000 combined rushing and passing yards, presents a whole new challenge for the boys from Hummelstown.

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 28, Hershey 21: Falcons defense continues to make an impact in its opponent’s backfield, averaging just over seven tackles for loss a game. 

Palmyra 9, Waynesboro 7

Andy Shay: Waynesboro 21, Palmyra 7: Very similar teams in so many ways, the only difference being the Indians have just a little more firepower in the tank offensively to lean on and over 48 minutes that will show up.

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 25, Palmyra 14: Expect a close game from a couple of one-win squads looking to get back on track. Waynesboro has just a little bit more offensively and can pull away late with a steady effort.

Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 24, Palmyra 20: Both teams enter this fray reeling from three-game losing streaks. Indians have the tools to get back on the track this week.

Mechanicsburg 35, Gettysburg 14

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 24, Gettysburg 17: What we have here is a battle of wills. The Wildcats defense vs. Warriors offense and how that matchup plays out will reveal who comes out on top in the end. Strength vs. Strength is always super appealing.

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 28, Gettysburg 25: Mechanicsburg’s strength, its defense, will be tested by a Gettysburg side that excels in scoring points.

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 34, Gettysburg 14: Wildcats have the type of defense that can make a slip last week just a blip on the calendar.  

Line Mountain 33, Upper Dauphin 20

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 55, Upper Dauphin 0: Dealers choice for the Eagles as they still need to keep that edge and stay sharp. Trojans aren’t providing much resistance this season.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 48, Upper Dauphin 0: This game can get as ugly as unbeaten Line Mountain wants to make it. 

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 45, Upper Dauphin 6: Eagles can control the throttle in this one, getting reps to some of the youngsters. 

Newport 55, Susquenita 12

Andy Shay: Newport 30, Susquenita 7: When it comes to firepower the Buffs have the best player on the field and will be able to keep the scoreboard moving. Blackhawks aren’t built to run up and down the field.

Andy Sandrik: Newport 28, Susquenita 18: I actually think this Perry County scrap will be closer than most experts think, but Newport has a dynamic QB in Trevin Arnold who can carry the Buffs to the finish line.

Adam Kulikowski: Newport 33, Susquenita 6: Buffaloes have found a resilient element to their game that’s been lacking the last several seasons. Winning this Perry County tussle is a matter of pride. 

Juniata 27, Camp Hill 10

Andy Shay: Juniata 34, Camp Hill 0: Slow and steady has been a recipe for success for the Indians this season and this matchup provides an opening to break out of that grind-it-out pace. Camp Hill is battling uphill on many fronts this season including defensively.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 35, Camp Hill 7: The Indians have yet to score more than 19 points in a game this season. That should change on Friday against a Camp Hill side that’s struggled to be competitive this fall.

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 42, Camp Hill 13: Some weeks, it feels like a grind for the Indians, but this is not one of those weeks.

Halifax 14, James Buchanan 10

Andy Shay: Halifax 27, James Buchanan 25: I expect this one to go back and forth and enter the final four minutes with the outcome very much in doubt. Last big play wins, maybe?

Andy Sandrik: Halifax 28, James Buchanan 27: The win-loss record might not show it, but the Wildcats possess more offensive pop than they have in years.

Adam Kulikowski: James Buchanan 31, Halifax 24: Wildcats defense is susceptible to leaks. Rockets have enough in the cupboard to take advantage. 

East Pennsboro 35, Boiling Springs 10

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 27, Boiling Springs 7: Very quietly and a little below the radar the Panthers have become confident and comfortable in their own football skin and are on the same page on what it takes to get the job done.

Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 28, Boiling Springs 17: The Panthers have settled into a nice groove in recent weeks and have a good chance this week to roll off their fourth win in a row.

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 21, Boiling Springs 7: Bubblers have scored just six points over the last three weeks. Panthers won’t make life easy for the gents in Purple and Gold.

Trinity 17, Milton Hershey 6

Andy Shay: Trinity 28, Milton Hershey 7: There are issues with the T-Rocks offense and that isn’t likely to change. However, they are backstopped by a defense that is surrendering less than 11 points a game (one touchdown on average) and that will win you plenty of games. 

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 42, Milton Hershey 21: Until Milton Hershey can shore up a defense that’s allowing more than five TDs per game, it’s going to be hard to pick the Spartans to win.

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 48, Milton Hershey 28: If the Spartans are going to slow the Shamrocks, it starts with limiting the damage wideout Maddox Jarzynski can do downfield–tough task. 

Big Spring 27, Greencastle-Antrim 17

Andy Shay: Big Spring 20, Greencastle-Antrim 7: If you dig deep beyond the game with Hanna Tribe, the Bulldogs defense has been doing some of the heavy lifting to help Big Spring reach three wins in four games. Expect that trend to continue.

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 23, Greencastle-Antrim 17: The Bulldogs are 3-0 when RB Grady Hope goes over 100 rushing yards. Look for Hope to do just that against a Greencastle team that was subdued by East Penn’s running game last week.

Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 28, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Bulldogs have committed just two turnovers all season. Taking care of the rock will make this an uphill battle for G-A.

West Perry 38, Middletown 17

Andy Shay: Middletown 19, West Perry 14: In their three wins the Blue Raiders have surrendered only 21 total points. Heck, even in defeat they allowed only 19 points. Pretty clear why I picked Middletown in this one.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 28, Middletown 21: How soon can WP forget about the ‘Hanna game? If the Mustangs have a short memory, they’ve got a good shot to win this battle of 3-1 teams.

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 24, Middletown 21: This might just be one of the most intriguing match ups on the slate in Week 5. Mustangs look to avenge last season’s 14-9 loss to the Blue Raiders.

Saturday, September 20:

Harrisburg 42, Cedar Cliff 0

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 42, Cedar Cliff 7: Based on their schedule to date, more needs to be said about the Cougars defense this season. That will show up in spades in this matchup.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 44, Cedar Cliff 14: A portion of Harrisburg’s success this fall should be given to the Cougars’ leading rusher, PJ Dent, who transferred in from Cedar Cliff this season.

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 48, Cedar Cliff 14: How does one challenge a Lamborghini? That’s the task facing the Colts this week.  

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