Each week, we’ll take a look through the Mid-Penn Conference, highlighting notes that stood out to us and news you need to know.
Week 1 is in the books, kicking off what should be the makings of an entertaining 2023 season. A second week of non-conference games is upon us Thursday night. Here are five observations from the week that was and the weeks coming up.
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Week 1 moments to remember
Milton Hershey and Susquehanna Township provided plenty of dramatic moments in their season opener Friday night at Roscoe Warner Field. Susquehanna Township entered the year with high expectations under coach Joe Headen — tabbed by our own Andy Sandrik as the favorite to win the Mid-Penn Colonial Division. And for three-and-a-half quarters, the Indians looked the part.
Then Milton Hershey coach Jeff Boger opened up the offense. That’s when the fireworks exploded.
Moments after the Spartans took the lead, Indians QB TD Evans found Lex Cyrus for a 74-yard touchdown with just more than a minute left to play. Many on the Indians’ sidelines likely thought they had escaped with the win. But Boger’s crew wasn’t done. After a last-second touchdown pulled Milton Hershey to within a point, Boger gambled on a two-point conversion. Angel Roberts hauled in the game-winner from Jason Burney to ignite the celebration on the Spartan sidelines.
Arguably the best Week 1 tilt in the Mid-Penn.
Cheers to the boys at Palmyra
The Cougars earned a much-needed victory Friday night in their season opener against Lebanon. But it’s how they did it that perhaps raised some eyebrows — that’d be the 50-spot they laid on the Cedars.
After scoring just 82 points during the entire 2022 circuit, the Cougars flashed the potential for a much brighter campaign in 2023. A tough test awaits Chris Pavone’s squad Friday night, however, with East Pennsboro on the docket.
A tradition unlike any other
Shippensburg and Big Spring will battle for the Little Brown Jug Friday night in Newville. Can Big Spring break Shippensburg’s lock-tight grip on that jug? If they do, it will be quite the upset. Eric Foust’s gents have dominated the matchup since Big Spring last won in 2010.
The tradition of the Little Brown Jug dates all the way back to 1956 — you can read a recount of how the tradition began from the Shippensburg News-Chronicle.
Centennial celebration
The East Pennsboro Panthers will play their 1,000th game Sept. 15 when they face Gettysburg. This is also the centennial season for the boys in black and orange.
Zack Kuntz doesn’t make the 53-man, added to Jets practice squad
Former Camp Hill standout and Penn State recruit Zack Kuntz got the call no one in the NFL wants when the New York Jets released the seventh round (220th overall) pick Tuesday. He was added to the Jets practice squad Wednesday. The 6-foot-7, 255-pound former Penn State recruit hauled in a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 12. After transferring to Old Dominion in 2021, the Camp Hill star snagged 73 passes for 692 yards and five touchdowns. Kuntz’s preseason line included six receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown.
