PIAA Finals: 

6A:  

St. Joseph’s Prep vs. Central Catholic

at Cumberland Valley High School December 7 at 7 p.m.

Andy Shay: St. Joseph’s Prep 38, Central Catholic 27: The kingpin of Class 6A is here again to announce its presence with authority. SJP is always the heavy favorite in this game.

Andy Sandrik: St. Joseph’s Prep 32, Central Catholic 25: Is there a three-peat in store for the Hawks? I think so, but Central Catholic will have a say in this outcome.

Adam Kulikowski:  St. Joseph’s Prep 35, Central Catholic 24:  Prep has appeared in every Class 6A Championship bout since the class was established in 2016, winning six of eight titles along the way.  Some say this team is ‘more beatable’ than in years past, but that doesn’t mean the road will be easy for Central. 

5A: 

Roman Catholic vs. Bishop McDevitt

at Cumberland Valley High School December 6 at 7 p.m.

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 28, Roman Catholic 21: Love the quarterback matchup in this one. However the hidden key for me is the play of each defense. Where I think the Crusaders have the slightest of edge.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 24, Roman Catholic 21: I think there were a lot of folks expecting Pine-Richland to be here, but McDevitt did a convincing job of dispatching the Rams and now finds itself as a favorite in the state championship game, at least in my book.

Adam Kulikowski:  Bishop McDevitt 34, Roman Catholic 31: For the third time in four years, Bishop McDevitt will play for a PIAA championship—this time against the District 12 champion Cahillites. Junior QB Semaj Beals has carved up opponents all season with more than 4,000 passing yards and 48 touchdowns. 

4A: 

Bonner Prendergast vs. Lampeter Strasburg

at Cumberland Valley High School December 5 at 7 p.m.

Andy Shay: Lampeter-Strasburg 24, Bonner Prendergast 21: Call this my homer pick all the way. It’s a slim path to victory for the Pioneers, but this season they have answered every question asked. BP will ask some new ones, though.

Andy Sandrik: Lampeter-Strasburg 28, Bonner Prendergast 21: You just never know what’s going to happen in a state title game, but the Pioneers have slayed dragon after dragon to get here. I think they can do it one more time to complete their undefeated season.

Adam Kulikowski:  Bonner Prendergast 45, Lampeter Strasburg 30: Both teams will play for their first state championship December 5. Bonner enters this bout with just two losses on the season–against 6A powerhouses St. Joseph’s Prep and La Salle College. For the undefeated Pioneers, they must find a way to slow down a Bonner offense that averages more than 38 points per game and features a high-powered air attack. 

3A: 

Northwestern Lehigh vs. Avonworth

at Cumberland Valley High School December 7 at 1 p.m.

Andy Shay: Northwestern Lehigh 35, Avonworth 14: The Tigers have carved up anybody and everybody this season. Nothing changes in the highest stakes game of the season. NOTHING!

Andy Sandrik: Northwestern Lehigh 31, Avonworth 24: One of these programs will win a first state title. Odds certainly favor the unbeaten Tigers, who have absolutely demolished the competition this season.

Adam Kulikowski: Northwestern Lehigh 34, Avonworth 21: Lehigh enters this battle as the heavy favorites and for good reason. Here’s just a few… the Tigers are winners of 30 of their last 31 games and have outscored their opponents 634-93 this season. Running back Eli Zimmerman is one of the slickest cats in the Commonwealth, rushing for more than 2,500 yards and 35 touchdowns. 

2A: 

Troy vs. Central Clarion

at Cumberland Valley High School December 6 at 1 p.m.

Andy Shay: Troy 34, Central Clarion 31: Something tells me Troy is built to handle what Central Clarion is going to throw at them. If the game gets sideways and becomes a tight squeeze Troy will know exactly what to do.

Andy Sandrik: Central Clarion 27, Troy 18: Not only will Wildcats senior QB Jase Ferguson be seeking his 50th TD pass on Friday, but Central Clarion could very well be gunning for District 9’s first-ever state title, assuming Port Allegany doesn’t beat them to the punch in Thursday’s 1A final.

Adam Kulikowski:  Central Clarion 45, Troy 21: Central Clarion has imposed the mercy rule in 12 of its 14 wins this season. In its three state playoff games, they outpaced opponents by a combined 145-12 score. Yep, the Wildcats are an imposing obstacle to say the least.  

1A: 

Bishop Guilfoyle vs. Port Allegany

at Cumberland Valley High School December 5 at 1 p.m.

Andy Shay: Bishop Guilfoyle 28, Port Allegany 14: There’s just something about the way BG sucks the life out of the opposition that is kinda boring to watch, but very enjoyable from a football geek perspective. District 6 raw power will be on display.

Andy Sandrik: Port Allegany 35, Bishop Guilfoyle 28: My gut was originally telling me to go with Bishop Guilfoyle, but it’s really hard to ignore the high-powered Gators, who have beaten every one of their postseason opponents by at least three scores.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop Guilfoyle 27, Port Allegany 21: Experience matters when the pressure is at its peak–and the Marauders have plenty when it comes to playing for a PIAA title.

PIAA 6A Semifinal: 

Harrisburg vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic

November 30 at 1 p.m. at Mansion Park in Altoona

Andy Shay: Pittsburgh Central Catholic 35, Harrisburg 19: The last time PCC had a legitimate competitive game that pushed them to the limit was in late September. Fewest points by the Vikings their last seven games is 38 twice. FEWEST points. Cougars aren’t equipped to handle this much two-way horsepower over 48 minutes.

Andy Sandrik: Pittsburgh Central Catholic 32, Harrisburg 23: The Cougars are going to need to play at a level we haven’t yet seen to survive this assignment.

Adam Kulikowski: Pittsburgh Central Catholic 37, Harrisburg 28:  Harrisburg has been here before. Four straight PIAA 6A semifinal appearances give this crew plenty of experience in big moments. But taking down a PCC team that plays with a pace the Cougars haven’t seen all season will be a mighty challenge. 

PIAA 5A Semifinal: 

Bishop McDevitt vs. Pine-Richland

November 29 at 7 p.m. at Mansion Park in Altoona

Andy Shay: Pine-Richland 28, Bishop McDevitt 20: Among a litany of impressive victories, the Rams have taken out Class 6A semifinalist Pittsburgh Central Catholic. The schedule has prepared McD for this type of matchup, just not sure they have all the prerequisite parts to knock off this hammer squad.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 28, Pine-Richland 20: This Crusaders’ defense has solved plenty of tough riddles this season, and I think they have the personnel to combat this balanced Rams attack.

Adam Kulikowski: Pine-Richland 31, Bishop McDevitt 30: In three WPIAL playoff games, the vaunted Pine-Richland defense allowed just 16 total points. It’s safe to say the Rams won’t be intimidated by the playmakers Bishop McDevitt trots onto the field.

Standings:

Name: Last Week; Overall

Andy Sandrik: 6-4; 189-53

Andy Shay: 6-4; 186-56

Adam Kulikowski: 5-5; 179-63

District 3-6A Championship

Harrisburg (4) vs. Wilson (2)

at Exeter Township, Saturday, November 23 at 1 p.m.

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 21, Wilson 14: Defense seems to be the key right now for both clubs. When it comes to the second season, is it me or do the Cougars resemble a certain professional football team from Kansas City? Just asking.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 27, Wilson 14: Picking Harrisburg to beat No. 1 Manheim Township last week felt more like a leap of faith than anything else, but after the way the Cougars roughed up the Blue Streaks, I’m much more confident in this pick. 

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 35, Wilson 31:  Harrisburg running back Messiah Mickens is playing his best football in the biggest moments–just what you hope for from one of your blue chip players. Cougars will need another big performance from this lad and his crew to get past a resurgent Bulldogs squad. 

District 3-5A Championship

Bishop McDevitt (6) vs. Exeter Township (8)

at ELCO, Friday, November 22 at 7 p.m.

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 33, Exeter Township 27: Something tells me each offense will get some in this matchup. The better balance and more diversity on that side of the ball gives McD a slight edge. Very slight. 

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 36, Exeter Township 18: Exeter Township has been nothing short of locked in this postseason, but if there was ever a team equipped with the big-game experience to finally put the Eagles to bed, it’s McDevitt.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 34, Exeter Township 21: If Bishop McDevitt can find a way to keep dynamic running back Jayden Zandier under wraps, hoisting another District championship is well within reach. Zandier carved up opponents all season en route to nearly 2,100 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns. 

District 3-4A Championship

Wyomissing vs. Lampeter-Strasburg

at Warwick, Friday, November 22 at 7 p.m.

Andy Shay: Lampeter-Strasburg 28, Wyomissing 14: What the Spartans tend to do to clubs this time of year is EXACTLY the Pioneers’ strength as well. The over under for pass attempts combined is 20 and the brute force of L-S is a tall ask to stop.

Andy Sandrik: Lampeter-Strasburg 24, Wyomissing 17: With two 1,200-yard rushers in the backfield — QB Caileb Howse and RB Dominic Brown — it’s no surprise Lampeter-Strasburg has beaten every it’s faced this season, including Wyomissing. No reason to pick any differently this week. 

Adam Kulikowski: Lampeter-Strasburg 21, Wyomissing 14: Just three weeks ago, the Pioneers handed Wyomissing its second loss of the season. While I normally am hard-pressed to pick against Ross Tucker’s Spartans, the path for the Pioneers to advance is attainable. 

PIAA 6A Quarterfinal:

State College vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic

at Mansion Park in Altoona, November 22 at 7 p.m.

Andy Shay: Pittsburgh Central Catholic 40, State College 38: This is the matchup where the opposition has just as much horsepower and firepower as the Little Lions. I went back and forth on this one and PCC gets the call in a wild guess.

Andy Sandrik: State College 42, Pittsburgh Central Catholic 36: My understanding is that Pittsburgh Central Catholic has a superb squad, but it’s hard to pick against an SC squad that has dudes like Eddie Corkery, Ty Salazer, and Michael Gaul in the lineup. 

Adam Kulikowski:  Pittsburgh Central Catholic 41, State College 38: Airing it out won’t be an issue for either of these two high-powered offenses–each of which has a more-than-capable QB1.  An off-the-radar X-factor to me is sophomore Pitt linebacker Roman Thomson who leads his crew in tackles with 73 tackles and 14 tackles for loss and four sacks.  

PIAA 4A Quarterfinal:

Juniata vs. Southern Lehigh

at Shamokin, November 22 at 7 p.m.

Andy Shay: Juniata 20, Southern Lehigh 14: I’m not going to pick against the Indians and that defense again when all the indicators are Juniata is up against it. SL clearly has to go out and take the game from these Indians because they don’t surrender much.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 24, Southern Lehigh 20: I’m leaning on a Juniata defense that is allowing 6.5 points per game this postseason. The Indians’ 27-7 spanking over previously-unbeaten Shamokin Area was a surprise.

Adam Kulikowski: Southern Lehigh 24, Juniata 21: The Indians continue to defy the odds as their playoff run continues another week. Southern Lehigh packs a punch with a four-star tight end and a 2,400 yard passer to get him the rock posing the biggest threats to a Thanksgiving holiday without meaningful football practices.

District 3-6A

Harrisburg (4) at Manheim Township (1)

Andy Shay: Manheim Township 20, Harrisburg 14: Body of work wins the day for me in this game. The Blue Streaks have been the more stable squad. The Cougars are the more volatile squad on any given day.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 32, Manheim Township 27: Manheim Township deserves to be the favorite, here, but Harrisburg has a tendency to play its best football in the postseason. The Blue Streaks will have to up their productivity from last week’s nail-biter over Cumberland Valley to avoid the upset.

Adam Kulikowski: Manheim Township 28, Harrisburg 27: If you’re a fanatic of high school football, this one is a must-see among two of the class goliaths. Give the edge to the Blue Streaks and that stifling defense. 

Central York (3) at Wilson West Lawn (2)

Andy Shay: Wilson West Lawn 28, Central York 21: The more week-to-week battle test side are those Bulldogs, who also happen to be red hot and believe they will win this game. That matters.

Andy Sandrik: Central York 28, Wilson West Lawn 21: How will Wilson’s defense stack up against Central York QB Brooklyn Nace? Dude has thrown for 27 TDs and just three INTs.

Adam Kulikowski: Wilson West Lawn 31, Central York 24:  Wilson enters this bout riding an eight-game winning streak thanks to the strong play of senior quarterback Madyx Gruber who has compiled more than 1,700 yards through the air. 

District 3-5A

Exeter Township (8) at Conestoga Valley (4)

Andy Shay: Exeter Township 31, Conestoga Valley 28: In a rematch where the margins were razor thin the first time around, give me the losing side from the regular season game in this one. Always hard to beat an equal twice. These teams are air-tight equal in my book.

Andy Sandrik: Conestoga Valley 28, Exeter Township 24: This game is a rematch of a Week 9 contest that saw the Buckskins edge the Eagles by one point. This Friday’s game is a coin flip all the way.

Adam Kulikowski: Conestoga Valley 31, Exeter Township 28: These two teams—a combined 22-1 this season—squared off in October in a one-point thriller. It’s difficult to beat the same team twice, but I like the Buckskin’s chances.

Bishop McDevitt (6) at Mechanicsburg (2)

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 34, Mechanicsburg 28: Something tells me the Wildcats will come flying out of the gate … well because that’s what they do. And nobody has been able to track them down. McD is fully capable of tracking them down.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 28, Mechanicsburg 21: I think the overall star power of McDevitt will carry the day, but Mechanicsburg has the weapons to turn this game into a drag-out battle.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 41, Mechanicsburg 24: The Wildcats might be using the words of local pundits for motivation—and that’s fine by me if that’s what it takes to pull off an upset.

District 3-4A

Twin Valley (5) at Lampeter-Strasburg (1)

Andy Shay: Lampeter-Strasburg 35, Twin Valley 21: Man that sandbox the Pioneers get you into must feel like quicksand to an opposition that wants to get out and go. L-S grinds better than most and that’s hard to beat.

Andy Sandrik: Lampeter-Strasburg 35, Twin Valley 27: Led by a couple of 1,000-yard rushers in Dominic Brown and Caileb Howse, Lampeter-Strasburg has a lineup that can dictate the pace of this game. 

Adam Kulikowski: Lampeter-Strasburg 34, Twin Valley 21: You know Brett Myers’s Twin Valley squad will bring a physical, well-disciplined attack to this one. I just don’t know if they have enough weapons to hang in for the full metal test.

West York (3) at Wyomissing (2)

Andy Shay: Wyomissing 35, West York 14: Is there some special energy drink or something the Spartans consume when the second season starts? They obliterate good teams with alarming consistency.

Andy Sandrik: Wyomissing 35, West York 14: For those wondering if Wyomissing was ready for the postseason after losing its Week 10 game, the answer was a resounding yes, as the Spartans pounded East Pennsboro. It could be more of the same this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Wyomissing 41, West York 20: Betting against the Spartans is rarely a wise choice.

District 3-3A

Trinity (2) vs. Bermudian Springs (1)

at Boiling Springs

Andy Shay: Trinity 28, Bermudian Springs 24: Everything football-wise about this matchup points to the Eagles holding serve as the No. 1 seed. The house money that is the 2024 T-Rocks season reaches an apex in a wild and wacky way is my call.

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 24, Bermudian Springs 21: Christian Joy was held under 100 yards rushing for just the third time this season, but Trinity still found a way to win over a hard-nosed Schuylkill Valley squad. Look for Joy to get back on track in a big way against Bermudian Springs this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 28, Bermudian Springs 24:  Both teams have been on a Cinderella run of sorts all season. While a compelling case might be made for either team, I’ll side with the Shamrocks who have arguably the best athlete on the field in back Christian Joy.

PIAA-2A

Steelton-Highspire vs. Bedford

at Claysburg-Kimmel 

Andy Shay: Steel-High 35, Bedford 21: It’s those 5-6 plays that turn into explosive game changers that will propel the Rollers past a game and capable Bedford squad. If they find them harder than normal to find, it will be a dog fight of the highest caliber.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 33, Bedford 28: You know, if you just casually followed high school football, you’d look at Steel-High’s body of work this season and just assume the Rollers possess the same core of players they always have. That’s a huge compliment to coach Andrew Erby’s new-look team, who have more than earned their stripes this fall.

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 28, Bedford 23: You get the sense that this Rollers club has a bit of a chip on their shoulder after many wrote them off heading into the 2024 circuit. From my seat, that fuel has paid huge dividends.

PIAA-4A

Juniata vs. Shamokin Area

Andy Shay: Shamokin Area 28, Juniata 14: There is a balance to Shamokin that is just good enough to stretch the Indians’ defense a little thin that your average week-to-week team. The difference on the scoreboard comes into play late, though.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 21, Shamokin Area 14: I’ve been preaching about Juniata’s defensive prowess all season, and that unit will be needed more than ever against a balanced Shamokin side.

Adam Kulikowski: Shamokin Area 31, Juniata 28: Shamokin Area enters this battle of the Indians with plenty of firepower, including a 1,600-yard passer in sophomore Logan Steele and a 1,200-yard back in junior Jayce Ginck.

PIAA-6A

State College vs. Williamsport

Andy Shay: State College 45, Williamsport 20: What I love about the Little Lions is they can play any style of game and win. If they get their foot on the gas first, it’s lights out. And SC has been finding the gas early and often for a couple months now, right?

Andy Sandrik: State College 43, Williamsport 21: Little Lions QB Eddie Corkery hit 30 passing TDs for the season after connecting on three scoring strikes against McDowell last week. Corkery and State College should get the job done this Friday, as well.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 33, Williamsport 24: Expect the newest member of the 100-win club, State College coach Matt Lintal, to add another Dub to his tally.

Standings:

Name: Week 11; Overall

Andy Sandrik: 13-1; 167-47

Andy Shay: 13-1; 166-48

Adam Kulikowski: 13-1; 159-55

District 3-6A

Manheim Township (1) 14, Cumberland Valley (8) 7

Andy Shay: Manheim Township 35, Cumberland Valley 21: There was a clear cut advantage up front on both sides of the ball for the Blue Streaks in that Week 1 tussle. How do you change that?

Andy Sandrik: Manheim Township 35, Cumberland Valley 14: While Manheim Township’s Week 10 loss to Wilson caught me a little off guard, I’ll go with the collective body of work put together by the Blue Streaks and confidently take them over the Eagles this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Manheim Township 38, Cumberland Valley 24: Way back on Week 1, Manheim Township knocked off the Eagles easily. This is not the same Cumberland Valley squad, but completely closing the gap is still a tall task. 

Dallastown (5) at Harrisburg (4) 

Saturday, November 9 at 1 p.m.

Andy Shay: Andy Shay: Harrisburg 34, Dallastown 20: The journey that has been the 2024 Harrisburg season has been a roller coaster. Cougars have big game second season pedigree, though. And they will need it. For if they leave the door ajar this Dallastown will kick said door down.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 42, Dallastown 21: Harrisburg 34, Dallastown 20: We talk a lot about what Messiah Mickens means to Harrisburg as a running back, but did you know he’s stacked up 12 sacks and 18 QB hurries from the defensive side of the ball? 

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg  28, Dallastown 21:  Harrisburg is the more battle tested team as we head into the second week of postseason play. That pays dividends in the biggest moments. 

Wilson (2) 28, Cedar Crest (7) 3

Andy Shay: Wilson 31, Cedar Crest 14: I like this Falcons squad and know they are a couple players short of the next level. Wilson is that next level and the Bulldogs defense is running the show.

Andy Sandrik: Wilson 21, Cedar Crest 7: It’s tough to beat a team twice in a season, but Wilson seems poised to do just that this weekend.

Adam Kulikowski: Wilson 33, Cedar Crest 17:  The Bulldogs sure do seem like they are back to the perennial powerhouse that we are used to seeing. Doug Dahm’s troops are riding a seven-game heater heading into this matchup with the Eagles. Credit its stingy defense which has yielded just over 13 points per game.

Central York (3) 47, Central Dauphin East (6) 14

Andy Shay: Central York 42, Central Dauphin East 21: If nothing else the Panthers are going to take their shots and go all out. Just not sure the CDE defense can stand up. Look, neither defense in this one is all that and a box of chocolates so could get crazy.

Andy Sandrik: Central York 38, Central Dauphin East 21: In a different week I’d call this a toss-up, but East High is limping in with three-straight losses, while Central York has gotten in the habit of blowing teams out.

Adam Kulikowski: Central York 41, Central Dauphin East 31: I fully expect this one to be a wild shootout as both teams are capable of playing a wideout style of play. Difference to me is Brooklyn Nace, the CY junior quarterback with 2,000 passing yards and just three picks to his name.

District 3-5A

Exeter Township (8) 24, New Oxford (1) 21

Andy Shay: New Oxford 28, Exeter Township 20: Man, how would you like to be the No. 1 seed and see this outfit as the No. 8 you get in the second round. The bye matters, though.

Andy Sandrik: New Oxford 27, Exeter Township 24: This doesn’t have the feel of a typical 1 vs. 8 matchup. I’m expecting a battle from beginning to end.

Adam Kulikowski: Exeter Township 24, New Oxford 21: If you love defense, this just might be the match up to punch a ticket to as neither team is yielding more than 10 points per game heading into this fray. 

Conestoga Valley (4) 35, Shippensburg (5) 24

Andy Shay: Conestoga Valley 30, Shippensburg 14: I don’t think the Greyhounds are overmatched decisively here, just not sure if they way they are built that Ship can keep pace with the Buckskins. If it becomes a game in a sandbox, advantage Hounds.

Andy Sandrik: Conestoga Valley 21, Shippensburg 14: Judging from the stats, this game appears to be a battle of contrasting styles between the Greyhounds, who like to pound the ball, and the Buckskins, who like to sling the ball around a little bit with QB Sawyer Esbenshade.

Adam Kulikowski: Conestoga Valley 34, Shippensburg 28: Tough matchup for Shippensburg who must game plan for a gunslinger with seven legit weapons for QB Sawyer Esbenshade to target. 

Mechanicsburg (2) 42, Cocalico (7) 3

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 38, Cocalico 28: How do the Wildcats respond when they get a full metal jacket test at the next level. This will be new territory for them. They LOVE to dictate the pace and outcome. Eagles will make it more difficult.

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 42, Cocalico 27: The Mechanicsburg train has to come to a stop some time, right? Just don’t think it’s this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 34, Cocalico 24:  Mechanicsburg has the ability to force the ground-centric Cocalico Eagles out of its comfort zone early with a quick start. But if this one is close heading into the fourth quarter, that makes Cocalico much more lethal with its pair of 1,000-yard rushers. 

Bishop McDevitt (6) 42, Conrad Weiser (3) 7

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 35, Conrad Weiser 20: I feel confident the Crusaders can win this matchup. And they possibly might blow the Scouts out of the water. Just not sure how this plays out other than the final result.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 42, Conrad Weiser 24: I’m excited to see how McDevitt can fare in the postseason after navigating an unforgiving regular season schedule in the Commonwealth. 

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 45, Conrad Weiser 20: The Crusaders might be the lower seed, but they certainly are not the underdogs in this matchup. 

District 3-4A

Lampeter-Strasburg (1) 42, ELCO (8) 7

Andy Shay: Lampeter-Strasburg 44, ELCO 7: OMGOSH did Andy S. and I just pick the identical score. That was not intentional. Guess we kinda see this one the same.

Andy Sandrik: Lampeter-Strasburg 44, ELCO 7: The Pioneers have too many big wins, including a Week 10 scalp over Wyomissing, for me to consider any result other than a blowout.

Adam Kulikowski: Lampeter-Strasburg 43, ELCO 14:  If you’re looking for an X-factor in this matchup, look no further than Pioneers dual-threat QB Caileb Howse who has run and thrown for nearly 2,400 combined yards. 

Twin Valley (5) 47, Susquehanna Twp. (4) 19

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 34, Twin Valley 28: A few cracks in the defensive seam were revealed later in the TV season and The Tribe know where to go to find what they are looking for. This is still a dangerous game for both clubs.

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Twp. 32, Twin Valley 24: Because of that Week 3 forfeit Boiling Springs, Hanna comes into the playoffs a little bit under-seeded. The Tribe have all of the pieces of a team that could go on a postseason run.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Twp. 43, Twin Valley 30: Both teams possess an 8-2 record heading into this matchup, but the strength of the Indians schedule should ensure this team is ready for the intensity of playoff football.

East Pennsboro (7) at Wyomissing (2)

Andy Shay: Wyomissing 35, East Pennsboro 17: This is the second season and Wyo gets busy making hopeful teams with some quality to them look rather silly. Not sure the Panthers have all the requisite parts to make this a 48 minute affair.

Andy Sandrik: Wyomissing 38, East Pennsboro 14: The Panthers have earned so much respect over the course of the season, but will have their hands more than full against a Wyomissing program that has been dismantling opposing District 3 programs for years.

Adam Kulikowski: Wyomissing 41, East Pennsboro 17:  The Spartans have seemed a little more vulnerable this year. But I’m not sure they aren’t still the District 3-4A favorite. 

West York (3) 5, Eastern York (6) 3

Andy Shay: Eastern York 23, West York 21: I’m taking the underdog in the rematch between the York Geography Lesson schools.

Andy Sandrik: West York 24, Eastern York 18: Everything about this game suggests it will be a coin-flip contest, much like it was in Week 6, when the Bulldogs secured a 20-18 win over the Golden Knights.

Adam Kulikowski: Eastern York 28, West York 14: In their Week 6 match up, Eastern York limited West York to less that 100 total yards of offense. Do that again and the scoreboard should light up in their favor. 

District 3-3A

Bermudian Springs (1) 42, Berks Catholic (5) 25

Andy Shay: Andy Shay: Berks Catholic 24, Bermudian Springs 22: Taking the more battle tested squad in a next level game in an upset of the top seed.

Andy Sandrik: Bermudian Springs 24, Berks Catholic 21: I like what I see on both sides of the ball from Eagles RB/LB Eddie Sebright. Mark Bermudian Springs down for its 10th-straight win. 

Adam Kulikowski: Bermudian Springs 31, Berks Catholic 28: Bermudian Springs is enjoying its best campaign since 2018. Keeping the good times rolling this week will take their best effort.

Trinity (2) 20, Schuylkill Valley (3) 17

Andy Shay: Trinity 31, Schuylkill Valley 24: Going with the Shamrocks because for them this will be just another game where they get to prove themselves, right?

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 28, Schuylkill Valley 21: When you look at this battle-hardened Trinity squad, it’s hard to believe most media outlets had the Shamrocks program left for dead before the season even started. 

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 34, Schuylkill Valley 28: Trinity shined when no one else thought they could. Can they carry that chip on their shoulder throughout this playoff run? 

District 3-2A

Steelton-Highspire (1) 36, Lancaster Catholic (2) 7

Andy Shay: Steelton-Highspire 28, Lancaster Catholic 20: Until somebody knocks off the Rollers in the second season, I’m riding the Rollers train. This is sticky wicket game, though.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 35, Lancaster Catholic 21: This young group of Rollers has a golden opportunity to defend at least one of the program’s championships on Friday. 

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 28, Lancaster Catholic 20: In a rebuilding year, the Rollers are still prepping to defend its District 3 championship. Well done, lads. 

District 4-1A

Muncy (1) 42, Line Mountain (2) 6

Andy Shay: Muncy 34, Line Mountain 21: This is a tough road for LM to navigate. This Muncy squad doesn’t get tested much, but they have been methodic and consistent in their dismantling of opponents.

Andy Sandrik: Muncy 33, Line Mountain 26: According to MaxPreps, Muncy is averaging 37.5 points in the first half of its games and just 3.5 points in the second half. That tells me that the Indians are beating their opponents so convincingly, they have to call off the dogs before things get ugly. Tough matchup for LM, for sure. 

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 34, Muncy 31: The Eagles have scored more than 40 points in five of its last six games. They’ll need to keep the offense rolling against a stout Muncy squad.

District 6-6A

State College (1) 35, McDowell 7

Andy Shay: State College 45, McDowell 20: Something tells me this one could be a done deal by halftime. Little Lions are sitting on a big run I suspect.

Andy Sandrik: State College 42, McDowell 14: State College will be scouting McDowell this week, but I haven’t been. That’s how good the Little Lions were in the Commonwealth Division this fall. 

Adam Kulikowski: State College 48, McDowell 20: State College wideout Ty Salazar has wreaked havoc on opponents all season, racking up more than 1,100 yards on 59 receptions. Can McDowell find an answer to slow down Eddit Corkery’s favorite target? 

District 6-4A

Bellefonte (2) vs. Juniata (1) at Altoona’s Mansion Park

Andy Shay: Juniata 28, Bellefonte 14: All aboard the Juniata defense shows up big time in a playoff game train. I got my ticket. Make sure you get yours.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 24, Bellefonte 17: With a defense that boasts 14 interceptions — including six from Jasper Shepps and four from Connor Boreman — Juniata could very well turn this into a one-dimensional game for Bellefonte.

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 31, Bellefonte 24: Bellefonte possesses a balanced offensive attack with a 1,000-yard passer and three running backs who each have rushed for more than 400 yards. Juniata’s calling-card defense will need to hold true to keep this one close.

Name: Week 10; Overall

Andy Sandrik: 13-6; 154-46

Andy Shay: 13-6; 153-49

Adam Kulikowski: 12-7; 146-56

District 3-6A

Cumberland Valley (8) 44, Governor Mifflin (9) 12

Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 20, Governor Mifflin 14: Something tells me the Eagles are a little better prepared to succeed right now on this stage.

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 21, Governor Mifflin 13: The Eagles seem to have found their mojo just in time for the postseason. 

Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 28, Governor Mifflin 21: What I know is that you never know what you will get from CV on any given night. Potential is there for the home crowd to see those flashy red touchdown strobes go off just enough to live another week. 

Cedar Crest (7) 49, Hempfield (10) 29

Andy Shay: Cedar Crest 21, Hempfield 14: Always a tall order to beat the same team twice. Even tougher when the games are only a couple weeks apart. Still, give me the Falcons.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Crest 28, Hempfield 21: These teams battled it out in a tight Week 9 game, with the Falcons prevailing. Another close contest?

Adam Kulikowski: Hempfield 31, Cedar Crest 28:  In Week 9, Cedar Crest got the best of Hempfield. But this is a new week with everything on the line for a pair of evenly matched squads.

District 3-5A

Exeter Township (8) 53, South Western (9) 6

Andy Shay: Exeter Township 35, South Western 27: I expect points to be fairly easy to come by because each offense is the fuel that ignites both squads. Turnovers and stops will be the difference, though.

Andy Sandrik: Exeter Township 32, South Western 21: The Mustangs would be wise to keep an eye on Exeter Township RB Jayden Zandier, who’s averaging nearly 150 yards per contest.

Adam Kulikowski: Exeter Township 38, South Western 31: The Mustangs can sling it with senior QB Bryce Graham who is over the 1,800-yard mark on the season. Question is can SW get a few key stops on the defensive side of the ball?

Shippensburg (5) 20, Warwick 13

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 28, Warwick 7: This is assuming the Greyhounds get their QB1 back and under center. If not this could be a tighter squeeze.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 35, Warwick 14: Assuming the Greyhounds have a short memory, this is a game they should be able to control from start to finish. It will be even smoother sailing for Ship if it can get its starting QB back in the lineup. 

Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 31, Warwick 21:  Look, Mechanicsburg flexed a bit on the Greyhounds last week, but the Greyhounds mentality under veteran coach Eric Foust has always been to turn the page quickly on adversity. 

Cocalico (7) 42, Hershey 21

Andy Shay: Cocalico 34, Hershey 14: On so many fronts I see this an uphill climb all the way for the Trojans. And that’s because Cocalico is the opposition. Eagles are a handful for a No. 7 seed.

Andy Sandrik: Cocalico 31, Hershey 17: The Trojans are a good team that deserves to be here, but they’ll be facing an uphill battle against this well-seasoned Cocalico squad.

Adam Kulikowski: Cocalico 38, Hershey 28: Cocalico does the bulk of its damage behind a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in senior Josh Myers and junior Dane Horning. It’s a tall task ahead for the Trojans to stop this pair from causing havoc. 

Bishop McDevitt (6) 42, Lower Dauphin (11) 7

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 47, Lower Dauphin 13: Crusaders simply have too many weapons for the Falcons to hold down for four quarters.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 42, Lower Dauphin 14: Tough draw for the Falcons. McDevitt should like its chances in the playoffs after a grueling ride through the Commonwealth Division.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 48, Lower Dauphin 7:  Falcons should be proud of the season they put together, but this draw in round 1 for LD is brutal. McDevitt is fully prepared to make their annual postseason ascent. 

District 3-4A

ELCO (8) 31, Octorara (9) 6

Andy Shay: ELCO 33, Octorara 20: Why do I think this one could be even tighter than my score? ELCO already owns a W over its opponent, but getting No. 2 will take a more complete effort.

Andy Sandrik: ELCO 27, Octorara 14: I’d call this a coin-flip game if the Raiders didn’t have the advantage of already owning a win over Octorara. 

Adam Kulikowski: ELCO 28, Octorara 21: Octorara has played its best football away from its home confines, going 4-1 on the road this season. ELCO still possesses the edge in this one, however. 

East Pennsboro (7) 42, Susquehannock (10) 14

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 35, Susquehannock 14: Two teams that collide going in opposite directions. All arrows point to Panthers making it four straight wins and handing the Warriors L No. 4 in a row to end their season.

Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 33, Susquehannock 14: The Panthers are riding a three-game winning streak, while the Warriors limp into the postseason with three losses in a row. Make it four wins in a row for EP.

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 43, Susquehannock 21: The Panthers have lost just once since August.  Safe to say East Pennsboro is playing its best as we head into postseason play. 

District 3-3A

Berks Catholic (5) 48, Biglerville (4) 7

Andy Shay: Berks Catholic 45, Biglerville 13: Whatever BC was looking for out of its offense when the season started they found it in the last month. Too much firepower for the Canners.

Andy Sandrik: Berks Catholic 42, Biglerville 14: Saints QB Zach Suski has found a groove in the back half of the season, throwing two or more TDs in four straight games, including four in last week’s rout over Annville-Cleona. If that trend continues this week, BC wins big.

Adam Kulikowski: Berks Catholic 48, Biglerville 20: After a 3-7 campaign last year, the Canners turned around the program with a 7-3 regular season. Tip of the cap, lads on a job well done.

Schuylkill Valley (3) 55, Littlestown (6) 13

Andy Shay: Schuylkill Valley 36, Littlestown 13: True Littlestown closed out strong, I just think what SV went through to get this point as the No. 3 seed required more out of them and that will show up here.

Andy Sandrik: Schuylkill Valley 42, Littlestown 12: The last time I gave Littlestown a good look was in Week 1 when one of our MPC squads going through a down year — Boiling Springs — handed the Bolts a blowout loss. Kudos to Littlestown for bouncing back to qualify for the postseason, but the ride ends here. 

Adam Kulikowski: Schuylkill Valley 38, Littlestown 14:  Points are always a premium in the postseason which makes siding with a Littlestown team who has not crossed the 28-point mark all season a tough ask. 

District 3-2A

Steelton-Highspire (1) 34, Upper Dauphin (4) 14

Andy Shay: Steelton-Highspire 35, Upper Dauphin 20: This is a tasty matchup. In terms of football quality, the Rollers and Trojans are riding high at the same time. Flip the coin and let’s GO!!! I like the Steel-High defense to be the difference maker in the second half.

Andy Sandrik: Steelton-Highspire 28, Upper Dauphin 19: Both teams are playing their best football right now. Rollers defense is just a little more locked in, though, and that could be the difference in what should be a close matchup. 

Adam Kulikowski: Steelton-Highspire 31, Upper Dauphin 21:  Against a tough Juniata defense last week, the Trojans struggled to find its offensive footing. Rollers’ D can cause similar havoc in what many called a rebuilding year in Steelton. 

Lancaster Catholic (2) 27, Camp Hill (3) 20

Andy Shay: Camp Hill 28, Lancaster Catholic 21: What a journey this has been for the Lions in 2024. Wasn’t always smooth, but they seem to have found that little something extra they are looking for. All I know is if they are anything other than their best, LC will win and could even win going away. 

Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 30, Lancaster Catholic 28: The Lions were on shaky ground for a hot minute, but they’ve regrouped and come into the playoffs on a two-game winning streak. Camp Hill should have the confidence, and firepower, to compete with the team that handed it an overtime loss in Week 1.

Adam Kulikowski: Lancaster Catholic 28, Camp Hill 21:  A few weeks ago, I would have flipped the outcome of this one, but the Lions have faced their share of adversity recently shaking this pronosticator’s confidence. 

District 3-1A

Delone Catholic (1) 37, York Catholic (2) 14

Andy Shay: Delone Catholic 35, York Catholic 7: Roll it back for the second time in as many weeks, lads. They know each other well and prep for this one in practice wasn’t a stretch at all. When the gap is 21 points or more, what changes in a week. Not much.

Andy Sandrik: Delone Catholic 35, York Catholic 21: It’s hard to beat the same opponent twice in the same season, but it’s hard to see this contest going any other way after DC dispatched YC by a 37-14 score in Week 10.

Adam Kulikowski: Delone Catholic 42, York Catholic 28: Unless York Catholic was holding back significantly, this match up should go just as it did a week ago when Delone Catholic easily handed its Catholic foe to wrap up the regular season. 

Saturday, November 2

District 4- 1A

Montgomery (3) at Line Mountain (2)

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 38, Montgomery 35: Give me the over in this one. I just see a couple offenses that have been putting up points recently. If this is a defensive struggle, Montgomery has the advantage I think.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 21, Montgomery 20: These Red Raiders from Montgomery are in the postseason after an 0-2 start. It’s going to take a full effort over four quarters for LM to take care of business. 

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 24, Montgomery 17: Montgomery’s offense goes as its 5-9 senior running back Coy Bryson goes. The senior enters this postseason fray with 1,200 rushing yards– a 7.4-yard-per-rush average.  Call him the X-factor in Line Mountain’s hopes to advance.

Entering the final week of the season, there still seems like so much to play for despite only four regular-season quarters remaining.

Once the first season is officially over, though, the attention span of fans is like that of a gnat. Playoffs. Playoffs. Playoffs.

Let’s be honest, that’s all anyone is thinking about today, right? Me too. Before we move on, though, let’s grab a few championship notes and recognize those accomplishments.

State College secured the big-school Commonwealth Division title in stunning fashion by outlasting Bishop McDevitt by a field goal in a game that featured 113 total points and nearly 1,100 yards of total offense. So much for defense winning championships, eh?

The 58-55 final, only that close because the Crusaders scored a pair of touchdowns in the final six minutes, saw quarterbacks Eddie Corkery (State College) and Stone Saunders (McDevitt) throw for 395 and 439 yards, respectively with eight combined TD passes.

State College finished the regular season 9-1 overall, losing only to Harrisburg 7-6 in Week 3 at Severance Field. The 58 points against McDevitt marked the third consecutive outing where the Little Lions scored at least 55 points.

No worries about the loss for McDevitt. They are the District 3 Class 5A favorites no matter what seed they are awarded.

The Keystone Division crown came down to a winner-take-all affair at Shippensburg between the Greyhounds and Mechanicsburg. Both teams have dealt with tragedy this season yet reached this showdown unbeaten.

Like every other Wildcats game this season, Mechanicsburg won going away scoring 35 of the first 42 points to take complete control.

Josh Smith was once again at the center of the storm. The WR-DB amassed 205 total yards of offense, scored twice and locked down his second consecutive 1,000 receiving yard season. He also had an INT on defense.

Trinity head coach Kevin Yarnevich is the Mid-Penn Conference Coach Of The Year. There is no debate. The Shamrocks wrapped up the Colonial title by drubbing Middletown to finish the conference slate 7-1. Trinity will make a strong case in Class AAA in the upcoming District 3 playoffs. Everyone talks about the players and coaches that left this program prior to the 2024 season. I’m thinking it’s more about who stayed that mattered more than anything.

Steel-High and Juniata will share the Capital Division crown with one loss each. The Indians nudged past a game Upper Dauphin outfit in Week 10 to secure a share of the crown, while as expected the Rollers had no problems overpowering Newport.

For the Rollers this should be properly celebrated. For the previous four years winning MPC titles was an afterthought as the program was at small-school state championship level. This team was always going to take a step back, but yet in many ways it didn’t.

PLAYOFF 2 CENTS

No fewer than 15 teams from the MPC have qualified for the second season. I’ll start with teams that just made it across the finish line. Milton Hershey finished 5-5 but grabbed the 10th and final spot in Class 4A. Lower Dauphin had a rough first half of the year, but closed strong to finish 11th in Class 5A. Cumberland Valley was all over the map this season, beating Harrisburg then losing to Chambersburg for example, but the Eagles finished 5-5 overall and are the No. 8 seed in Class 6A. … I think Steel-High (2A), Trinity (3A) and Bishop McDevitt (5A) have legitimate District 3 title shots. I actually see all three as the team to beat in their respective classifications. Class 6A is my box of chocolates. Who knows what you are going to get. Wilson rose up and stunned previously unbeaten and top dog Manheim Township to claim L-L Section I title in convincing fashion. Are the Bulldogs now the team to beat. What about Central York? Is Harrisburg a player? All I know is these games are going to be intriguing at the highest level. 

Name: Week 9; Overall

Andy Sandrik: 14-5; 141-42

Andy Shay: 15-4; 140-43

Adam Kulikowski: 14-5; 134-49

Friday, Oct. 25

Non-League

Boiling Springs 42, Halifax 7

Andy Shay: Boiling Springs 20, Halifax 13: Been a long season for these programs, Bubblers get to end the year on a good note in this one.

Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 28, Halifax 14: Tough year for both teams, but knowing what it’s like to win, which Boiling Springs has done twice this year, makes a real difference.

Adam Kulikowski: Boiling Springs 24, Halifax 13:  Ending the season with a win would be a nice way for the Bubblers to enter an offseason with a little momentum. 

Commonwealth

Carlisle 19, Altoona 9

Andy Shay: Altoona 28, Carlisle 7: Combined these squads have one victory this season and that belongs to Altoona. Mountain Lions get No. 2 here.

Andy Sandrik: Altoona 21, Carlisle 6: I’d love to give my backyard team the benefit of the doubt here, but Carlisle is averaging 5.67 points per game. 

Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 34, Carlisle 13: Mountain Lions have shown steady improvement throughout the season. Give them the nod for win No. 2.

State College 58, Bishop McDevitt 55

Andy Shay: State College 28, Bishop McDevitt 14: On average the Little Lions surrender roughly one touchdown per game. Against this schedule that speaks volumes and will show up in this matchup.

Andy Sandrik: State College 24, Bishop McDevitt 17: You’ve got to respect the way State College finds a way to successfully navigate the Commonwealth year after year. A win here should get the Little Lions at least a share of the division.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 28, State College 24: If the Crusaders are to win this game, they will need a huge performance from their D-1 quarterback against a stringy defense. 

Cumberland Valley 38, Cedar Cliff 14

Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 21, Cedar Cliff 17: Because the rollercoaster ride that has been the CV season continues. The Eagles still have a shot at making the postseason and that means something.

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 24, Cedar Cliff 21: A 5-5 record just might be enough to get either of these teams into the district dance. Expect a battle.

Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 28, Cedar Cliff 21: A tough loss last week against Chambersburg makes this a must-win moment for the Eagles if they expect to play an 11th game. 

Central Dauphin 28, Chambersburg 21

Andy Shay: Chambersburg 17, Central Dauphin 14: If there was ever a way to secure any shot at a postseason berth, beating the struggling Rams and taking care of your business is the best way to go.

Andy Sandrik: Chambersburg 21, Central Dauphin 14: It certainly seems this is a win-and-you’re-in game for Chambersburg. The Trojans have the tools to get the job done, but CD will be ready for the challenge. 

Adam Kulikowski: Chambersburg 28, Central Dauphin 7: Rams are on a five-game skid in which they’ve scored more than 10 points just once. 

Keystone

Lower Dauphin 35, Gettysburg 31

Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 28, Gettysburg 14: All I know is the Falcons found what they spent more than half the season looking for and they are playing their best football right now.

Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 21, Gettysburg 17: The Falcons defense, led by LB Hunter Strohm (88 tackles, 17 TFLs), has allowed just seven points over LD’s three-game winning streak. 

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 24, Gettysburg 21: Falcons currently hold the No. 12 seed in the District 3-AAAAA playoffs. A win against the Warriors would help to solidify their postseason aspirations. 

Hershey 35, Waynesboro 31

Andy Shay: Hershey 27, Waynesboro 14: Trojans ran into an emotional buzzsaw last week and are really no worse for it. Waynesboro has lost its way and Hershey will see that that continues.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 28, Waynesboro 10: Momentum, both positive and negative, can impact a team. Just ask the Tribe, who have struggled to gain any footing since a Week 6 loss to Northern. 

Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 31, Waynesboro 14: Hershey turns the page quickly after last week’s loss to the red-hot Mechanicsburg Wildcats. 

Mechanicsburg 42, Shippensburg 21

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 35, Shippensburg 21: Still a very emotionally raw ship for the Wildcats, but they have passed every test with flying colors. If they are pushed to the limit what does that look like. Shippensburg will look to keep the game in a box for as long as possible to have a shot.

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 28, Shippensburg 21: Wildcats QB Eli Reider and WR Josh Smith will be testing the Shippensburg secondary early and often. If the Hounds can weather that storm, this could be anyone’s game.

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 31, Shippensburg 24: Greyhounds will face their toughest test of the season when they roll into Mechanicsburg for this Week 10 bout. Finding a way to force a turnover or two would be a huge if Shippensburg is going to take down Mechanicsburg. 

Mifflin County 21, Red Land 18

Andy Shay: Red Land 20, Mifflin County 13: Keep the clock grinding and the possessions limited and the Patriots can close the season winning three of their final four games.

Andy Sandrik: Red Land 24, Mifflin County 20: Believe it or not, Red Land has won two of its last three contests. Make it 3 for 4 for the Patriots. 

Adam Kulikowski: Red Land 31, Mifflin County 21: For some, the last few weeks would hardly resonate as impactful, but for a Red Land program that has struggled to find its footing, winning two of its last three is a huge step forward for this program. 

Northern York 48, Palmyra 14

Andy Shay: Northern York 28, Palmyra 7: It’s been a real struggle defensively for the Cougars and the Polar Bears will squeeze just enough juice out of their offense to win comfortably.

Andy Sandrik: Northern York 34, Palmyra 7: It’s been a tough season for both teams, but Northern seems to have enough pop to end its campaign with fireworks.

Adam Kulikowski: Northern York 31, Palmyra 6: Polar Bears simply have a few more weapons at their disposal in a match up where the first to top 20 points will likely earn the victory. 

Capital

James Buchanan 17, Camp Hill 7

Andy Shay: Camp Hill 34, James Buchanan 7: More than any other team in the MPC, the Lions are a week-to-week proposition. Would be nice to string together two wins entering the second season.

Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 28, James Buchanan 7: You never know what’s going to happen on Friday nights with this Camp Hill squad, but the Lions seem to be trending upward after a big win over Line Mountain. 

Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 21, James Buchanan 13: I see this as a closer match-up than my fellow prognosticators, but finding that fifth win for the Rockets still seems unlikely. 

Juniata 21, Upper Dauphin 13

Andy Shay: Juniata 28, Upper Dauphin 14: Rubber meets the road when the UDA offense is on the field against the Juniata defense. How that matchup shakes out will set the tone.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 33, Upper Dauphin 24: I may sound like a broken record at this point in Week 10, but Juniata’s defense has been a difference-maker all season. The Indians will need all hands on deck to shutter the UD offense, which is averaging 28.2 points per contest this fall.

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 31, Upper Dauphin 28:  We all know about the the vaunted Indians defense, but their offense has topped 33 points in five of its last six games.  

Line Mountain 44, Susquenita 6

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 35, Susquenita 13: Pretty sure the Eagles are still stinging a bit from the Week 9 setback, but this is a prime matchup to shake that off and start looking forward.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 33, Susquenita 9: The Eagles are in great position to end their Mid-Penn schedule with a win, before they venture off to postseason play in District 4.

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 45, Susquenita 13: Eagles get a final tune up game before the stakes are raised in the District 4 playoffs. 

Newport 16, Steelton-Highspire 14

Andy Shay: Steel-High 49, Newport 6: Rollers are on fire and Newport struggles to hold teams out of the end zone. Bad equation all around means this score is more likely than not.

Andy Sandrik: Steelton-Highspire 45, Newport 6: Newport has earned the respect of its opponents this fall, but the Buffs will have a hard time holding serve with the Rollers, who have clocked their last three opponents by a combined 141-14 score. 

Adam Kulikowski: Steelton-Highspire 42, Newport 13: While this isn’t the finish the Buffaloes would like, they have plenty of reason to enter the offseason with a renewed enthusiasm thanks to their late-season surge. 

Colonial

East Pennsboro 24, Big Spring 21

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 28, Big Spring 14: Bulldogs will test the Panthers, but what they bring to the table isn’t anything EP hasn’t already powered through.

Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 28, Big Spring 21: Hanging on that sixth and final spot in the District 3-3A field, Big Spring is a team that needs this win much more than East Pennsboro. Problem is, the Panthers haven’t really been losing to anybody, lately. 

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 24, Big Spring 13: The Panthers defense has found its stride in the second half of the season, fueling the Panthers as winners of six of seven.  

Greencastle-Antrim 48, West Perry 35

Andy Shay: West Perry 29, Greencastle-Antrim 20: Yeah the apple cart went sideways in 2024 for these squads. The one who still wants to put the full dog in them into a fight will come out on top.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 25, Greencastle-Antrim 21: This season has played out like a Greek tragedy for both teams, but at least one of these squads gets to close out with a win.

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 31, Greencastle-Antrim 21: Mustangs enter this Week 10 match up on a five-game skid ending just about any chance at a postseason berth. Winning this one for both squads is all about pride. 

Trinity 56, Middletown 21

Andy Shay: Trinity 28, Middletown 20: Can the Blue Raiders fire up enough horsepower offensively to give the Shamrocks a run for their money? T-Rocks defense has been leaking oil the second half of the season, but their offense is still full throttle.

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 33, Middletown 27: The Shamrocks could really use a nice bounce back win, but I get the sense Middletown is going to provide some heavy resistance.

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 34, Middletown 21: Shamrocks faced the full test last week and nearly walked away for an overtime victory against Township. Blue Devils are no easy out, but this team has shown the prowess to outgun just about anyone. 

Susquehanna Township 35, Milton Hershey 21

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 37, Milton Hershey 26: Been a brutal week for Hanna with the forfeit news breaking. Spartans are on fire and do not care one little bit. Expect some fireworks, and in a track meet give me the Tribe to survive.

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 42, Milton Hershey 25: It’s been a wild week for the Tribe, who seemingly earned a share of the Colonial Division by knocking off Trinity, only to lose it days later after being made to forfeit a Week 3 win over Boiling Springs. Milton Hershey has been red hot, and will be looking to capitalize on the chaos. 

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 42, Milton Hershey 14: Tribe’s chances at the division title took a hit this week, but what we know about any Joe Headen club is that resilience is always fortified through adversity.

Saturday:

Harrisburg at Central Dauphin East

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 34, Central Dauphin East 21: Something tells me Harrisburg puts its best foot forward here. For if they don’t, the Panthers are just dangerous enough to knock off the Cougars.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 27, Central Dauphin East 21: The Panthers haven’t beaten the Cougars since 2015. They will have their best chance in years on Friday, but will still be underdogs.

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 45, Central Dauphin East 28:  State College found success aggressively attacking the East secondary last week. I see a  similar path for the Cougars in Week 10. 

Life and tragedy sometimes intersect. We all know that is part of this journey during our time here.

That doesn’t make it easy at all.

Friday morning life tragedy rocked the undefeated Mechanicsburg football squad with a Week 9 home game with Hershey on deck.

Star running back Isaac Dollman’s father, Andrew, passed away suddenly Friday morning. I’m sure head coach Dave Heckard and his staff had a lot of choices and decisions to make in a short window.

This was not anything close to resembling a normal game day Friday.

The Wildcats played Hershey at John H. Frederick Field without Dollman and exploded for 35 first-half points on their way to a comfortable 42-21 victory that wasn’t as close as the final score.

Raw emotion and pain for a hurting teammate can go either way, and in this case the Wildcats used it as fuel to dominate a Trojans team that could never prepare for the scenario that unfolded.

After the game the entire Wildcats team and coaches went over to Dollman’s house and presented their grieving teammate with the game ball. It’s a memory that will stick with the young men and the adult men who were part of the experience.

Prayers for the Dollman family as they navigate this sudden and unexpected loss.

EXPLOSION AT COBO FIELD

The Colonial showdown between top dogs Trinity (still the best story of 2024 season) and Susquehanna Township lived up to the billing in every way and shape imaginable.

All I know is both clubs are playoff bound and will remember the ins and outs of this one come the second season because by all indicators this was a playoff game wrapped up in a regular season box.

Anyway, the final score was 40-34 Hanna Tribe coming out on top in double overtime. The lids came off this one the final 15 minutes and it was a heart attack waiting to happen for both teams during that wild final ride. Because late in the third quarter Trinity held a 19-7 lead. Nearly combined points later the Indians were celebrating.

You know it’s a great game when the biggest stars on each team showed up and made their star power known.

Hanna QB Torin Evans threw for nearly 200 yards and a couple scores plus pitched in a couple rushing TD’s. Tribe WR Lex Cyrus had five grabs for 80 yards and a TD. Trinity RB Christian Joy rushed for 162 yards and four touchdowns. You can’t ask for anything more than that.

As you put the final touches on the regular season and get ready for the playoff party, everything points to these clubs playing some of their best football right now. The outcome of this one mattered. I just have a hard time seeing how the T-Rocks really lost anything based on their performance.

MY 2 CENTS

Week 9 provided plenty of crazy results. For starters, how about one week after handing Harrisburg its first Commonwealth Division loss of the season, Cumberland Valley turns around and gets upset by Chambersburg. That is one wild six-day swing. … Camp Hill has been all over the map this season for a variety of good reasons. With only one win in its last four games, the Lions go out and edge Line Mountain 21-19 to restore a little order. Look, the Lions are capable of beating anybody on their schedule in a given week. And sometimes they feel like they could lose any given week. Why do I find that appealing? … Don’t look now but Milton Hershey has won three in a row to creep one game above .500 and travel to Roscoe Warner for a Week 10 clash with the Hanna Tribe. The Spartans dropped 58 on West Perry Friday night, and have scored a staggering 150 points over the last 12 quarters. A playoff spot will be on the line for Milton Hershey in the final regular season game. … Lower Dauphin has enjoyed an October pushback after a September swoon that saw the Falcons lose three consecutive games last month. LD has won three in a row and surrendered only one touchdown over its last 12 quarters with two shutouts – including 31-0 over Waynesboro in Week 9. They are squarely on the playoff bubble in Class 5A. Always helps when you get 198 yards and three touchdowns on the ground from your Homecoming King/RB.