The Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division, already regarded as one of the most rugged divisions in the state, is about to get even tougher.
Thanks to division re-alignments from the Mid-Penn, Bishop McDevitt and Cedar Cliff join a group of Commonwealth mainstays that include Harrisburg, State College, Cumberland Valley, CD East, Carlisle, Central Dauphin, Chambersburg, and Altoona.
Only the strongest will survive the season-long grind in a physical division known for monsters in the trenches and superstars at the skill positions. As we scanned over the division’s 10-team roster, we found ourselves saying “This team could win it all” over and over again.
After careful evaluation, we’re taking Harrisburg to repeat as Commonwealth champion. The Cougars may or may not have the services of all-state QB Shawn Lee Jr., who will be facing a PIAA eligibility hearing, but Harrisburg has more than enough top-shelf talent elsewhere to be considered the favorite in every regular-season game it plays this fall.
State College brings back most of the pieces from its high-flying offense and we like the Little Lions to claim the runner-up spot over division newcomer Bishop McDevitt, a team that has holes to fill but is still as star-studded as any Commonwealth team. Cumberland Valley, Cedar Cliff, CD East, and Carlisle all have the rosters to finish higher than their predicted finish, while we anticipate Central Dauphin, Chambersburg, and Altoona will have to play catch-up in a brutal division.
Look forward to a divisional season where nearly every game will be a must-watch.
Projected division standings: Harrisburg, State College, Bishop McDevitt, Cumberland Valley, Cedar Cliff, CD East, Carlisle, Central Dauphin, Chambersburg, Altoona
Harrisburg Cougars
Predicted finish: 1st
Coach: Calvin Everett
Record last season: 12-2, 7-0 Commonwealth (1st place)
Team outlook: We’d be lying if we said it was a quiet offseason for the Harrisburg Cougars. The team has imported more than 4,000 career rushing yards and 67 TDs in the form of transfers D’Antae Sheffey (State College) and Messiah Mickens (Trinity), while its star QB Shawn Lee Jr. is set to face a PIAA hearing to determine if he’s eligible to play this season. Combine these factors with a Commonwealth Division that has expanded and it’s hard for even the most accurate crystal ball to predict what’s going to happen for the Cougars this fall. Assuming Lee returns to guide the offense, the 5-foot-11 signal caller will give Harrisburg a major dual threat on offense after a junior season where he threw for nearly 2,300 yards and 26 TDs, while also rushing for more than 1,400 yards with 19 TDs. All-star receivers Elias Coke (45-843-12) and Quincy Brannon (40-633-9) will fill their share of highlight tapes, while RBs Sheffey and Mickens could each be primed for career seasons. Trench warriors Kevin Brown (6-5, 250), Tayvon Williamson (6-0, 265), and Jyrell Britton (6-0, 210) — all returning all-stars — will allow Harrisburg to dictate the pace of games on an almost weekly basis. Good luck trying to move the ball against the Cougars daunting defense, led by DLs Brown and Britton (66 tackles, 7 sacks), DBs Lee (47 tackles, 4 INTs, 7 PDs), Brannon (49 tackles, 6 INTs, 21 pass defenses), and Kymir Williams (66 tackles, 4 INTs, 5 pass defenses, 3 caused fumbles). The Cougars have a million questions to answer this season, but even if they answer only half of those questions, they still have an excellent chance to repeat as Commonwealth champs.
One player to watch: Kevin Brown. All it took was a monster sophomore season from Brown — a 6-foot-5, 250-pound powerhouse of a lineman — to catch the attention of Penn State, a school where he is currently committed. We don’t always recommend keeping your eyes on a specific offensive lineman, especially when considering the explosive playmakers on this Harrisburg suad, but it’s worth it to witness Brown put in a day’s work. He is strong, almost to the point of hilarity, and can be frequently found driving helpless defenders 20, even 30 yards down the field. We’re not exaggerating. Brown pancakes defensive ends and linebackers with regularity, so good luck if you’re the poor defensive back who has to stand in Brown’s way as he lead blocks for a screen play. Every way we described Brown as an offensive lineman can also be applied to the other side of the ball, whereas a DE he accumulated 58 tackles, 22 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 10 hurries, one pass defense, and one caused fumble. So grab your popcorn, and maybe say a prayer for those opposing linemen, as we believe Brown will be locked in for another dominant fall.
State College Little Lions
Predicted finish: 2nd
Coach: Matt Lintal
Record last season: 7-4, 6-2 Commonwealth (3rd place)
Team outlook: The big news in the offseason was the transfer of nationally-ranked RB D’Antae Sheffey from State College to Harrisburg, but we don’t believe that will be a distraction for a loaded Little Lions squad that is primed to make a run for the Commonwealth Division. Yes, State College will need to find a replacement for Steffey in the running game, but the Little Lions bring back most of the pieces from an offense that generated 32 points per game in the Mid-Penn’s toughest division last fall. State College will count on senior QB Eddie Corkery (6-2, 195) to once again lead the offense after throwing for more than 2,000 yards and 20 TDs last season. Corkery has at his disposal a 1,000-yard receiver in Ty Salazer (5-11, 173), and a gifted supporting cast of pass catchers that includes Michael Gaul (26-383-5), Cooper Brushwood (11-251-3), and Daimear Coad (15-225-2). The Little Lions are even more terrifying on defense, a unit which will be led by a pair of First Team Commonwealth selections in LB Gaul (107 tackles, 10 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 2 INTs) and DB Salazar (47 tackles, 3 INTs, 3 passes defended). Up front, all-star DLs Sam Mayer (6-1, 250) and Nathan Haas will set the table for an experienced group of returners that includes DE Thomas Keller (6-5, 225), OLB Peyton Crane (5-10, 170), MLB Trayce Brennan (6-0, 205), and SS Robert Strayer (6-0, 185). On special teams, State College will need to replace all-star kicker/punter John Zipf, but the unit does return a capable returner in Brushwood, who averages 13.8 yards on kickoff returns and 8.5 yards on punt returns. State College is a powerful team with depth for days. We fully expect the Little Lions to finish in the Top 3 in the Commonwealth, at the very least.
One player to watch: Ty Salazer. It takes a heck of a player to nail down First Team Commonwealth honors on both sides of the ball, but Salazer — a 5-foot-11, 173-pound WR/DB — did just that as a junior last fall. Salazer brings both speed and quickness to the table and uses those gifts to run slick routes and easily get wide open. An elusive ballcarrier in the open field, with the toughness to win 50-50 balls, Salazer totaled 66 catches for 1,079 yards and nine TDs last season. In the secondary, Salazer showcased a great nose for the ball and a knack for sniffing out plays, leading to a season where he totaled 47 tackles, three INTs, three pass defenses, and one caused fumble. With men like Salazer and fellow senior leader Michael Gaul, leading State College, it’s hard to imagine the Little Lions being counted out of any game this fall.
Bishop McDevitt Crusaders
Predicted finish: 3rd
Coach: Jeff Weachter
Record last season: 13-1, 7-0 Keystone (1st place)
Team outlook: Thanks to re-alignment in the Mid-Penn Conference, the King of the Keystone is now a Contender in the Commonwealth. Bishop McDevitt’s arrival in the Mid-Penn’s big-boy division is exciting news for all, including the juggernauts of the Commonwealth who intend to make the Crusaders work for every inch. Senior QB Stone Saunders (6-2, 200) will have to show his mettle as he works with a receiving corps that has lost its top playmakers. His top returning WRs are Jontai Quick (5-10, 150) and Gage Ruth (6-3, 175), two guys who combined for nearly 600 receiving yards and 10 TDs. Returning RB Nazir Jones-Davis (6-0, 180), who brings back nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 10 TDs, will have plenty of holes through with the return of towering all-star OLs Landon Blauch (6-4, 240), Ja’Kye Logan (6-2, 290), and JJ Torres (6-6, 300). Also keep an eye on freshman RB Jerome Larue Jr. (5-9, 160), a verbal commit to Virginia Tech. Defensively, the Crusaders have to plug holes all over the field, most notably on the defensive line. McDevitt will lean on a core group of returners to carry the load: LBs Maurice Barnes (6-2, 205) and Venny Brooks (6-0, 210), DL Lucas Lawler (6-2, 215), and DB Leon Parson (5-8, 170). With the graduation losses sustained by the Crusaders, we can’t call them the favorites to win the Commonwealth, yet when we look at their schedule and roster, there isn’t a game they can’t win.
One player to watch: Stone Saunders. By the time Bishop McDevitt’s PA Class 4A Player of the Year leaves the campus, he just may end his high school career as the best high school QB this state has ever seen. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound touchdown-slinging Saunders is coming off a junior season where he completed 213 of 329 passes for 3,522 yards, 56 TDs, and 5 INTs. The Kentucky commit makes big throws look effortless, and he puts the ball where he wants with pinpoint accuracy. Under pressure, Saunders has strong pocket awareness and can make throws on the run. Competing in the Commonwealth Division this fall will give Saunders a chance to showcase his talents against some of the toughest teams in the state. If all goes well, he has a chance to re-write the record books, one year after Steel-High’s Alex Erby did so last fall. Saunders needs 12 TD passes to break Erby’s career record of 167, and less than 3,000 yards to break the passing mark of 12,998 yards, a record also set by the Rollers’ legend. Another Erby record — 61 TDs in a season — is also up for grabs.
Cumberland Valley Eagles
Predicted finish: 4th
Coach: Josh Oswalt
Record last season: 7-5, 6-1 Commonwealth (2nd place)
Team outlook: The Eagles became the darlings of the Mid-Penn last season when they overcame a 1-4 start to qualify for the District 3-6A dance, an improbable run that saw the team take down Wilson before being knocked out by Manheim Township. But after soaring to a runner-up finish in the Commonwealth last fall, Cumberland Valley graduated nine all-star selections, and will now have to defend itself in one of the scariest divisions in the state. Junior OL Tyler Merill (6-5, 315) has become one of the most sought-after prospects in the nation, and he will have to elevate his game even more this season to account for the loss of three graduated trench mates. The offense is slated to be run led by QB Grant Shepley (6-0, 190), who threw for more than 700 yards and 5 TDs last fall. Shepley will have some nice targets in TE Nolan Buzalka (15-233-1) and WRs Brody Pines (17-118-1) and Ke’aune Green (13-214-1), but finding an RB to replace the graduated Bryce Staretz will need to happen sooner rather than later. Senior Caden Lloyd (6-0, 190) is CV’s top returning rusher. Points may come at a premium for this offense, but the same can be said for the Eagles’ defense, which returns plenty of seasoned players in DEs Buzalka (28 tackles, 9 sacks) and Brady Hubbard (45 tackles, 2 sacks), LBs Brady Hockenberry (98 tackles) and Jaydin Holmes (25 tackles, 3 TFLs), and DBs Gavin Kendrick (66 tackles, 3 INTs) and Ryan Hunter (31 tackles, 1 INT), SS Pines (45 tackles, 4 TFLs). Look for the Eagles to get an edge on opponents with a top-flight special teams group that includes a pair of sharp kick returners in Green (25.6 yards per return) and Elijah Sherman (23.2 yards per return), as well as two capable players who can play both the kicker and punter positions: Andrew Rice and Jackson Waggoner. Overall, CV has the roster to be competitive on a weekly basis, but wins and losses will come down to how much each “next man up” can adjust to life as a starter in the Commonwealth.
One player to watch: Tyler Merrill. If you can’t already tell, this preview is being written by a former offensive lineman, but we’re not the only ones with eyes on CV’s 6-foot-5, 315-pound right tackle. More than 25 college programs have made offers to Merrill, including Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Penn State. Merrill is imposing in the trenches, and with his churning legs generating power, he can overwhelm almost any Commonwealth defender in a one-on-one matchup. Merrill is a superb run blocker who collects pancake blocks in bunches and can shut down an entire defensive line when he blocks his man to the inside and knocks over other defenders like dominoes. Merrill doesn’t lose any strength when he takes a defensive stance for pass blocking and can be seen dropping lesser defensive ends with just one touch. Even the premier pass-rushers in the Commonwealth struggle against Merrill, whose chopping feet and pumping arms will eventually serve him well at the college level. As the season kicks off, we don’t even know who will be running the ball for CV, but we can say with certainty that the player will be successful running behind the blocks of Merrill.
Cedar Cliff Colts
Predicted finish: 5th
Coach: Colin Gillen
Record last season: 10-2, 6-1 Keystone (2nd place)
Team outlook: With eight returning all-stars and a group of monsters in the trenches that could move a semi-trailer truck, Cedar Cliff possesses a team that we’d be calling a favorite to win the division IF the Colts were still in the Keystone. But now that Cedar Cliff is in the Commonwealth, the best we can call them is a big fish in a big pond. There’s plenty of talent on this Colts roster — six returners on offense and seven on defense — but it’s going to take a full season of play on the field to see how that translates in one of the state’s toughest divisions. Our guess is that Cedar Cliff will, at the very least, be competitive against the giants of the Commonwealth, and that’s because they have a few giants of their own: OL/DL Guner Hiller (6-3, 305), Josh Gillen (6-1, 250), Hezikyah Latini (6-5, 320), and Blake Secrest (6-2, 220). With that kind of support up front, look for senior QB Bennett Secrest, who passed for nearly 1,400 yards and 16 TDs last fall, to have the time to pinpoint returning WRs Julius Tirado (6-0, 160), Owen Anastasi (6-0, 170), and Kade Finkboner (5-9, 180). The top returning rusher on the Colts is the quarterback so they will need to develop a supporting running game to keep opposing defenses honest. Defensively, again look for Cedar Cliff to at least hold its own on the line of scrimmage, with guys like Blake Secrest, Hiller, Latini setting the tone. With those blokes chewing up blocks, look for a well-seasoned defense to make plays, led by returners DBs Tirado (27 tackles, 3 INTs) and Anastasi (17 tackles, 1 INT), LBs Kade Finkboner (24 tackles, 1 INT) and Will Kocher (45 tackles, 9 TFLs). Cedar Cliff has the potential for a big season in the Commonwealth, but they’re going to have to prove it.
One player to watch: Bennett Secrest. You can’t ask for a better QB to guide Cedar Cliff on its maiden voyage through the Commonwealth than three-year starter Secrest. The 6-foot gunslinger has a nice, big right arm that can stretch the field and a stable of receivers who are all capable of making big plays. Secrest would probably prefer to comfortably pile up video-game passing numbers, but he has the legs to impact the game as a runner, like last year when he rushed 82 times for 486 yards and seven TDs. Those quick legs and sharp, technical footwork make Secrest a tough man to tackle for opposing pass rushers. Perhaps Secrest’s biggest asset is his mind: He will be counted on to make reads and adjustments that most high school QBs are not asked to make. With Secrest at the helm, look for Cedar Cliff’s offense to rack up big plays with regularity against the studs of the Commonwealth.
CD East Panthers
Predicted finish: 6th
Coach: Lance Deane
Record last season: 4-6, 2-5 Commonwealth (6th place)
Team outlook: Outside of high school football, coach Deane is known for his prowess as a personal trainer, where his clients include Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons, among others. CD East will need all the training it can get from its coach as it once again enters the fall season as an underdog in the Commonwealth Division. The Panthers return two exciting all-stars in RB/DB Jared Porter (5-9, 170) and WR/OLB Zach Brown (6-2, 220), but will otherwise be fighting an uphill battle against opponents boasting both depth and top-shelf talent. Porter is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball, and should help take the pressure off senior QB Demaj Jalloh (6-0, 180), while Brown is a hard-hitting hustle player. These players alone aren’t enough, so the maturation of young prospects is a must if CD East hopes to stay competitive this fall. If the Panthers can keep games close, they have a trusted kicker and punter in senior Kyle Bloss (6-0, 150) who can deliver points and field position in nip-and-tuck battles.
One player to watch: Jared Porter. This 5-foot-9, 170-pound speedster just might be the fastest football player in the Mid-Penn. A two-way Commonwealth all-star at RB and DB, Porter is electric-in-a-bottle personified and colleges took notice, with Porter choosing to play for Delaware next season. But before he packs his bags and leaves Harrisburg, Porter still has some highlight tapes to fill in his senior season for East. As an RB, Porter can run between the tackles or bounce to the outside, and if he makes it past the first level, it’s off to the races against LBs and DBs who simply can’t match his speed. Tackling a blur is not easy and opponents who are able to make contact can usually only grab a leg or an arm, allowing the elusive Porter to gain bonus yards with frequency. Last season Porter exploded for 1,807 yards on 198 rushes, an average of 9.1 yards per carry. Porter’s speed also translates to the defensive side, where he totaled 53 tackles and 2 INTs last fall. While we can’t forecast an abundance of wins for CD East in 2024, we can guarantee fans will get their money’s worth with Porter on the field.
Carlisle Thundering Herd
Predicted finish: 7th
Coach: Brandon Cook
Record last season: 1-9, 0-7 Commonwealth (8th place)
Team outlook: Despite losing all five of its Commonwealth all-star selections from last fall, Carlisle is optimistic for a solid year in a rough and tumble division. Junior Curtis Stroud (5-11, 170) is slated to take over at QB after previously standing out at WR and CB. Stroud will turn to an experienced receiving corps that includes Devin Vasquez (5-10, 165), Xavier Campbell (5-11, 148), and Mickel Hakim (5-9, 165). With the return of Ryan Wolaver (6-3, 250) and Nathan Carothers (6-2, 288), look for the offensive line to be a strength for Carlisle and open plenty of holes for returning RB Chase Bonner (5-11, 204). Defensively, Carlisle has a scrappy group that is led by SS Vasquez, CBs Stroud, Campbell, and Hakim, DTs Wolaver and Carothers, MLB Bonner, and DE Joshua Smith (5-11, 195). If you haven’t noticed, that’s quite a few Herd players who will be counted on to play two ways. We expect Carlisle to be competitive on the Mid-Penn’s biggest stage, but conditioning and maintained health will be crucial as they navigate through the Commonwealth gauntlet.
One player to watch: Curtis Stroud. After establishing himself as a varsity-caliber WR and CB as a sophomore, Stroud will be counted on to lead Carlisle’s offense as the QB this fall. There is no film of Stroud playing QB, but we can say he has experience slinging a ball as a pitcher for the Herd’s baseball squad. Boasting a 40-yard dash time of 4.3 seconds, we expect Stroud to be able to scramble away from defenders and factor as a threat in the running game. All of the pieces — a quality group of receivers, an effective offensive line, and a solid RB — are there for Carlisle to make a smooth transition at QB, it’s just up to Stroud to do his part.
Central Dauphin Rams
Predicted finish: 8th
Coach: Glen McNamee
Record last season: 6-5, 4-3 Commonwealth (4th place)
Team outlook: Central Dauphin opens this fall with an unproven roster after graduating nearly all of its top players from last season’s winning campaign. The QB is gone, as are the Rams’ Top 5 receivers. Five of the Top 6 runners on CD have departed, as have two all-star interior linemen. To make coach McNamee’s job even harder, the Rams have also graduated their punter and kicker, and the defense will have to make do without six of its Top 7 tacklers. Ouch. And while there’s no such thing as an “empty cupboard” at a proud football program like Central Dauphin, it’s going to be difficult for the new-look Rams to gain traction in a Commonwealth Division against opponents who are already built to win championships. Central Dauphin will lean on senior DL/OL Zack Coleman (6-2, 270), a two-way Commonwealth all-star, to set the tone at the line of scrimmage. Another returning all-star, junior LB Mason Wydra (5-11, 175), could be primed for a big season after establishing himself as a sophomore with 83 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 INTs, one QB hurry, one pass breakup, and one caused fumble. Drew Kurtz, 5-foot-11, 180-pound DB, returns 58 tackles for the Rams. Offensively, look for Central Dauphin to discover its identity behind a beefy offensive line that includes Coleman, Kolton Sheeler (6-0, 268), Elijah McDonald (6-1, 275), and TE Collier Book (6-5, 230). Senior John Harris III is the top returning skill player for the Rams after totaling 168 rushing yards on 41 carries last fall.
One player to watch: Mason Wydra. With the strength of a lineman and the swiftness of a DB, Wydra established himself as quite the prospect as Central Dauphin’s full-time sophomore OLB last fall. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Wydra is a hard tackler, and those hits sting a little bit more when he comes charging in on a perfectly-timed blitz. Teams that like to pick on LBs in the passing game might want to rethink that strategy against Wydra, who runs a 4.65 40-yard dash and picked off three passes last season. He closes in fast on receivers and uses his athleticism to win his share of 50-50 balls. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a receiver that can generate a good block on Wydra, a 27-match winner as a wrestler last winter. Central Dauphin is known for its strength and conditioning program, and we’re eager to see what Wydra brings this fall following a full offseason of training.
Chambersburg Trojans
Predicted finish: 9th
Coach: Mark Luther
Record last season: 4-6, 2-5 Commonwealth (5th place)
Team outlook: Chambersburg comes into this season with a solid senior class prepared to give the unforgiving Commonwealth Division one last go-around. Two of those seniors are a couple of RBs with incendiary speed, Imari Watson (5-6, 160) and Antonio Harrison (5-9, 175), who will be running behind the blocks of returning OLs Dominick Curtis (6-1, 280) and Cole Edwards (6-1, 265), as well as TE Kevin Demory (6-3, 230). Chambersburg will be young at QB, but the signal-caller will have a couple of experienced pass-catchers in Trever Luther (5-11, 175) and Evan Brown (6-0, 180). The Trojans are highlighted on defense by a linebacking corps that includes Commonwealth all-star Stanley Lozius (5-11, 195) and Dylan Panfili (5-9, 190), who combined for nearly 180 tackles and 5 INTs last fall. Joining Lozius and Panfili on the defensive side are CBs Watson, Luther, and Brown, FS Jason Chambers (5-9, 180), and DE Demory. It’s going to be an uphill battle for the Trojans in the Commonwealth, but a big surge from a strong senior class will go a long way in earning respect for Chambersburg’s football program and setting the tone for seasons to come.
One player to watch: Stanley Lozius. This 5-foot-11, 195-pound senior is Chambersburg’s only returning all-star this fall. He earned Commonwealth Honorable Mention honors as an MLB after grinding to a season where he totaled 85 tackles, 10 TFLs, 2 INTs, and a sack. Lozius has good vision of the backfield and has a strong sense of where the ball is going to go. Lozius sets the example with hustle and solid fundamental tackling and is strong enough to shed blockers who get in his way. He knows how to time a blitz, and uses explosive acceleration to reach his destination. With these attributes, there’s a good chance we’ll also see Lozius take on an increased role as an RB this fall.
Altoona Mountain Lions
Predicted finish: 10th
Coach: Vince Nedimyer
Record last season: 5-7, 2-6 Commonwealth
Team outlook: The road through the Commonwealth will always be a tough one, but that’s not news to the Mountain Lions, who have been an underdog in the division since they joined in 2018. This fall will be no exception for Altoona, as it enters the season with just three returning all-stars: OL Calvin Troutamn, P/MLB Mark Harrington, and LB Logan Wukovich. Troutman will help pave the way up front for a group of RBs that include Amar Emeigh-Ballos (25-155-0), Julian Hazelwood (19-125-1), and Zion Patterson (34-107-0). Those players will need to increase their production to support the offense as it looks to replace graduated QB Brennan Freiwald. On the other side of the ball, look for the Mountain Lions to lean on a core group of defenders that includes Wukovich (6-1, 210), Harrington (6-3, 225), and Wes Baumgartner (6-1, 235). Big special teams play from junior KR Julian Hazlewood (23.9 average) could also make a difference as Altoona navigates through another black & blue season in the Commonwealth.
One player to watch: Mark Harrington. The football future of Harrington — a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior — could very well be as a punter, a position that saw him nail down Second Team Commonwealth honors last fall. But for his final season of high school ball, we’re just going to enjoy watching the big man play the more fun positions. Harrington certainly left his stamp on defense as an MLB last season, filling the entire stat sheet with 62 tackles, two sacks, 12 QB hurries, two INTs, two pass defenses, two fumble recoveries, one caused fumble, and one blocked field goal. He plays an exciting and violent brand of defense, often overwhelming solo blockers in the process. Harrington also plays a little bit of receiver (11-62-0) and has a booming leg for kickoffs, where he averages 52.3 yards per kick. We haven’t even talked about Harrington as a punter, where he averaged 39.0 yards per punt and landed 13 punts inside of the 20-yard line. Altoona is going to need all the help it can get in a loaded Commonwealth, and with Harrington helping to control the field position battle as both a defender and a punter, the Mountain Lions have an even better chance of playing competitive football.
