Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week Sponsored by Vertical Raise PA: Angel Cabrera
Angel Cabrera has a knack for the big game, and that earned him 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week honors after the first round of the District 3 playoffs.
Cabrera had what we’ll gladly call his best game as a running back, carrying the rock a carry high 37 times and scoring a personal best four touchdowns in an epic 28-27 comeback victory over Exeter Township in the District 3 Class 5A first round Friday night. His 183 yards are third most in his career behind his two 200-yard performances, but Friday’s showing helped the Trojans erase a 27-0 halftime deficit. Big-time stuff.
Cabrera now has 1,591 yards and 24 TDs on 270 carries, among the best in the Mid-Penn Conference.
He won a tight poll this week with 542 votes cast, edging out Juniata sophomore receiver Jasper Shepps for his second POTW nod this season. There were 1,049 total votes cast this week.
Cabrera and Hershey now visit 5A top-seed New Oxford on Friday in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m.
Week 11 Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week: Kash Tobin
Tri-Valley’s football season ended last weekend, but Kash Tobin had a heckuva performance to earn the 4th Down Magazine Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week for the first week of the playoffs
The senior linebacker was flying around the ball in a defensive slugfest that Marian Catholic eked out 14-6 in the District 11 Class 1A semifinals, recording a game-high 16 tackles (nine solo) and a sack of quarterback Bruce Hopeck. It wrapped up a menacing season for Tobin, who finished with 103 tackles, including 71 in the final five games, four sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. He was also the Bulldogs’ second-leading rusher with 97 carries, 506 yards and six touchdowns.
Tobin was rewarded by Tri-Valley fans with 1,730 votes this week, easily besting POTW regular Alex Achenbach (William Valley), who had 659. There were 2,248 total votes cast this week.
The Bulldogs’ season came to an end with a 5-6 record.
Playoff Picks and Predictions for November 10-11
EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: It’s the second week of the PIAA district football playoffs, and a week before the state tournaments begin. And the 4th Down Magazine team is here to tell you who will win the District 3, 4, 6 and 11 playoff games this weekend, most of which kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
This year’s group of experts includes veteran reporters Andy Shay and Andy Sandrik, as well as 4th Down owner and manager Adam Kulikowski.
Here’s who we think will win each game and why, with the kind of analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Stick with us all the way through the PIAA state championships in December.
Watch: This weeks edition of 4th & Goal with Andy Shay and Jake Adams features Trinity star running back and Penn State recruit Messiah Mickens. Plus we break down what to expect in this week’s playoff battles.
2023 Standings
* Records in parentheses after school name; District and seed in parentheses before school name.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 6A QUARTERFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 1 Manheim Township 44, No. 8 York 8
Andy Shay: Manheim Township 45, York 14: It has been easier than expected from start to finish for the Blue Streaks. That’s not an accident, either. Because the Township schedule had some solid meat on the bone. Complementary football has been an asset since the opening quarter of the season.
Andy Sandrik: Manheim Township 44, York 17: For being a high school team, Manheim Township has more of a grown-man roster than might seem fair. I expect the Blue Streaks to overwhelm the Bearcats this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Manheim Township 47, York 20: Blue Streaks quarterback Hayden Johnson has thrown a staggering 40 touchdowns without a single interception. His unmatched precision should position Manheim Township for a deep run throughout the postseason.
No. 4 Cumberland Valley 20, No. 5 Wilson 14
Andy Shay: Wilson 21, Cumberland Valley 17: This is just a hunch pick. Something just tells me that top to bottom the Bulldogs have a couple slight advantages that will tip the game in their favor.
Andy Sandrik: Wilson 28, Cumberland Valley 21: There’s a saying that you’re only as good as your last game, and if that adage is to be believed, then it’s really hard to pick against a Wilson team that in Week 10 played to within two scores of a Manheim Township team that just may end up winning a state title.
Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 27, Wilson 26: Can it be called an upset if the higher-seeded team wins? Probably not, but it will feel that way if the Eagles pull off this dub.
No. 3 Central York 42, No. 6 Central Dauphin 34
Andy Shay: Central York 27, Central Dauphin 24: Already played once this season, so they will know what to expect. Here’s the deal for me: the Panthers have an FBS recruit at running back who impacted the Week 1 contest greatly. CD does not have that type of weapon at its disposal.
Andy Sandrik: Central York 24, Central Dauphin 17: Defense always seems to factor in the most in November playoff games, and both of these teams possess solid defensive units. With that said, I think CY’s edge on offense will make the difference in this game.
Adam Kulikowski: Central York 35, Central Dauphin 21: The Rams are probably at least a year away from being able to go toe-to-toe with Central York and other top-tier teams with X-factor players.
SATURDAY, NOV. 11
No. 7 Cedar Crest at No. 2 Harrisburg, 1 p.m.
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 49, Cedar Crest 7: The Falcons earned their spot by winning eight games and just enough power rankings points to make the cutoff. The kicker to that is Cedar Crest beat exactly one team that finished with a winning record. That will show up Saturday at Severance Field.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 52, Cedar Crest 14: I expect Harrisburg to be well-rested this week, and if the Cougars are also focused, I don’t expect this game to be close.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 49, Cedar Crest 14: The Cougars are playing their best football when it matters most. Good for the Harrisburg faithful, but a scary proposition for the Falcons.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 5A QUARTERFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 8 Hershey 34, No. 1 New Oxford 28
Andy Shay: New Oxford 31, Hershey 27: Took a lot for the Trojans to rally and get their first playoff victory in more than a decade with a furious fourth-quarter comeback. And No. 1-seed New Oxford was enjoying a bye week. See where am I going with this? That bye week matters a lot.
Andy Sandrik: New Oxford 32, Hershey 24: The Trojans are coming off a storybook-ending kind of victory that was generated by all hands on deck working double-time. Unconscious efforts like that are a spectacle to behold, but they can come at a cost. If New Oxford gets ahead early, I’m not entirely sure Hershey has enough in the tank to mount another big comeback.
Adam Kulikowski: New Oxford 34, Hershey 27: Many left Hershey for dead at halftime last week against Exeter Township, but the Trojans found answers at halftime and never lost their will to fight. Beating No. 1-seed New Oxford will take an epic effort for a full four quarters.
No. 5 Ephrata 31, No. 4 Garden Spot 10
Andy Shay: Garden Spot 42, Ephrata 14: Rematch alert. And the first meeting wasn’t close as Garden Spot claimed a three-touchdown victory. Plus, the No. 4 seed is coming off a bye and Ephrata had to grind out a tough win over Lower Dauphin.
Andy Sandrik: Garden Spot 42, Ephrata 28: Ephrata left a piece of itself on the field last week just to survive against Lower Dauphin, and now it faces an even taller mountain to scale in Garden Spot.
Adam Kulikowski: Garden Spot 27, Ephrata 21: This is already a historic season for Ephrata after reaching the postseason the first time since 1987. An upset of Garden Spot would be icing on the cake.
No. 2 Cedar Cliff 31, No. 7 South Western 7
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 34, South Western 21: I like everything about where this Colts team is right now. Only loss was to Bishop McDevitt, and they have more balance on offense than you might expect. Sneaky good is what I call them.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 33, South Western 24: Colts vs. Mustangs isn’t just an equestrian fantasy matchup, it’s a high-powered district playoff game that could result in a whole lot of TDs being scored.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 42, South Western 14: In a wide open District 3 Class 5A bracket, the Colts have the right mix of firepower and steady defense needed to vie for a title.
No. 3 Cocalico 42, No. 6 Conestoga Valley 10
Andy Shay: Cocalico 42, Conestoga Valley 7: Only one team, Manheim Central, has scored more than two touchdowns in a game against the Eagles’ defense. And the Cocalico offense averages nearly 38 points a game. Too much for CV to handle.
Andy Sandrik: Cocalico 35, Conestoga Valley 14: Cocalico has a really nice two-way player in RB/DB Aaryn Longenecker, who is just one of many weapons that could make life hard for Conestoga Valley on Friday.
Adam Kulikowski: Cocalico 47, Conestoga Valley 20: Cocalico is riding a nine-game winning streak heading into its first playoff bout. Ride the hot hand.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 4A QUARTERFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 1 Bishop McDevitt 54, No. 8 Milton Hershey 14
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 55, Milton Hershey 13: This starts the time of year when the Crusaders don’t ease off the gas quite so early. Did you know the Spartans are the only Keystone Division team to score two touchdowns against the Crusaders?
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 55, Milton Hershey 7: It’s the playoffs now, so expect the Crusaders to strive to be even better than they were in a 55-14 win over Milton Hershey in Week 6.
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 49, Milton Hershey 14: The Crusaders are planning for a long journey through the playoffs. This is simply another step on the path to Cumberland Valley High School.
No. 5 Lampeter-Strasburg 23, No. 4 East Pennsboro 20 (2OT)
Andy Shay: Lampeter-Strasburg 42, East Pennsboro 14: This just feels like a bad matchup for the Panthers. Pioneers are run heavy with some pop in the passing game and have a defense that doesn’t have many weaknesses. Losses for L-S are to Wyomissing and Cocalico. East Pennsboro has to have a very special outing to pull off the upset.
Andy Sandrik: Lampeter-Strasburg 38, East Pennsboro 21: Over the years, I’ve seen so many Mid-Penn postseason dreams crushed by the Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers. This is East Penn’s best team in several seasons, but even so, the Panthers seem like heavy underdogs here.
Adam Kulikowski: Lampeter-Strasburg 43, East Pennsboro 20: When you have two dynamic receivers and a QB who can throw it to both regularly, an upset is never off the table. Panthers will need their stars to be at their best and the supporting cast to play above their weights to have a say in this battle.
No. 2 Twin Valley 35, No. 7 Elco 7
Andy Shay: Twin Valley 29, Elco 27: Raiders have three wins by three or fewer points, so they know how to get across the finish line in a tight squeeze. And this game feels like a tight squeeze all the way. Twin Valley defense has to come up big for this win to be anything but a grinder.
Andy Sandrik: Twin Valley 30, Elco 21: I like Twin Valley’s overall résumé just a little more, but Elco certainly has the tools to make this a slugfest until the final whistle.
Adam Kulikowski: Twin Valley 45, Elco 30: Both teams have some firepower to put up points, but the difference to me is the chops Twin Valley has on defense.
No. 3 Manheim Central 49, No. 6 Susquehanna Township 19
Andy Shay: Manheim Central 34, Susquehanna Township 14: Not exactly the smoothest trip across the regular-season finish line for the ‘Hanna Tribe. Meanwhile, the Barons spent the last month finding their next level with a couple drubbings of playoff squads down the stretch.
Andy Sandrik: Manheim Central 39, Susquehanna Township 21: Manheim Central has done some bad things to some really good opponents. It’s going to take ‘Hanna’s most complete effort of the season to even keep this game within striking distance.
Adam Kulikowski: Manheim Central 42, Susquehanna Township 20: In high-pressure moments, can the Tribe keep focus and play through adversity? In a playoff battle, the answer to that question will determine how close this battle is in the final stanza.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 3A SEMIFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 3 West Perry 49, No. 2 Lancaster Catholic 20
Andy Shay: West Perry 35, Lancaster Catholic 28: Time for the quality of what it took for the Mustangs to reach 10-1 to shine through. Lancaster Catholic will demand West Perry’s best, otherwise the Crusaders will have no trouble taking this one. West Perry has more high-end weapons but will need a better effort defensively than a week ago.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 33, Lancaster Catholic 28: It feels like we in the media have been speculating about a potential West Perry-Wyomissing district title rematch since midseason, but if the Mustangs are thinking about anything other than the Crusaders this week, they could end up watching the championship game from home.
Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 37, Lancaster Catholic 34: Time for the Mustangs to cash in on the mettle they have built through a challenging Mid-Penn Conference schedule. The leg of Ian Goodling could be an X-factor in what our crew believes will be a high-scoring affair.
SATURDAY, NOV. 11
No. 4 Schuylkill Valley at No. 1 Wyomissing, 7 p.m.
Andy Shay: Wyomissing 49, Schuylkill Valley 7: Spartans are simply too big, too strong and too fast for SV. Of course that’s the case most weeks.
Andy Sandrik: Wyomissing 42, Schuylkill Valley 17: No offense to the nine-win Panthers, but some games are just easier to pick than others. I expect the Spartans to roll.
Adam Kulikowski: Wyomissing 45, Schuylkill Valley 14: Visiting Wyomissing on a Saturday afternoon in postseason play should strike fear in just about any team. Wyo handles its work in a business-man like fashion.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 4 Camp Hill 20, No. 2 Trinity 13:
Andy Shay: Trinity 34, Camp Hill 21: Nobody posted a more impressive Week 1 playoff victory than the Lions. The reward is a rematch with their neighbor/rival whose school is just 1.9 miles away. The FBS recruit at running back will play this time. That’s a game changer.
Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 24, Trinity 21: I remember last week we were all writing Camp Hill’s obituary in anticipation of their matchup against the feared Annville-Cleona rushing attack. And then the Lions won a blowout. Camp Hill has to like its chances this week, even if Messiah Mickens is in the Trinity backfield.
Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 45, Camp Hill 31: Camp Hill pulled off the Cinderella upset last week, and frankly they’ve shown plenty of fight all season. If the Lions win this week, it would be the biggest upset of them all.
DISTRICT 4 CLASS 2A SEMIFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 1 Troy 44, No. 4 Line Mountain 0
Andy Shay: Troy 28, Line Mountain 7: Defense travels, and Troy has a defense that travels better than most. Eagles’ offense has to have a special outing to pull off the upset.
Andy Sandrik: Troy 21, Line Mountain 7: I’d love to pick the Eagles because they’ve had an excellent season and have found their offensive groove in recent weeks. But then I look at this Troy team that has overpowered opponents on both ends of the ball with frightening consistency, and it’s obvious that Line Mountain is going to need a superhuman effort to overcome the Trojan machine.
Adam Kulikowski: Troy 24, Line Mountain 7: The 11-0 Troy Trojans have surrendered just 37 points since Sept. 15 and 68 points this season. To say reaching paydirt will be difficult for the Eagles is a serious understatement.
DISTRICT 6 CLASS 6A CHAMPIONSHIP
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 1 State College 16, No. 3 Altoona 6
Andy Shay: State College 28, Altoona 14: Rough last month for the Little Lions in the Commonwealth Division. Mountain Lions are better, but they aren’t five touchdowns better — State College’s margin of victory in the first meeting. State College will be looking to rekindle some fire on offense because it was MIA the final three games.
Andy Sandrik: State College 24, Altoona 13: After an offensively challenged October, something tells me State College will need to rely on its defense to scrape past Altoona.
Adam Kulikowski: State College 34, Altoona 17: The Little Lions certainly would have liked to come into postseason play with more momentum, but a week off might be just what this squad needed.
DISTRICT 11 CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY, NOV. 11
No. 2 Williams Valley at No. 1 Schuylkill Haven, 6 p.m.
Andy Shay: Schuylkill Haven 28, Williams Valley 26: Was a crazy game the first meeting back in early September, and I expect more of the same even with the stakes being higher. Hurricanes’ defense came up huge the first time around. Counting on that to be the case again.
Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 33, Schuylkill Haven 28: No better time for the Vikings to avenge a Week 3 loss than in the district title game. Can’t say it’s going to be easy, though, as these Hurricanes have been the only team that has been able to keep Alex Achenbach under 150 yards this season.Adam Kulikowski:
Williams Valley 34, Schuylkill Haven 27: Do teams that play Williams Valley even need to watch film? The key to beating the Vikings is about as simple as it comes: limit the damage Alex Achenbach can cause. However, most teams have struggled mightily to even come close to executing that plan.
Eric F. Epler’s State High School Football Rankings after Week 1 of the Postseason
For more content from Eric Epler, visit Pennlive.
CLASS 6A
Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous
1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12) — 8-1 – 1
2. Parkland (11) — 11-0 – 2
3. Central Bucks West (1) — 11-0 – 3
4. Manheim Township (3) — 10-0 – 4
5. Central York (3) — 10-0 – 5
6. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) — 9-1 – 6
7. Downingtown East (1) — 10-0 – 7
8. North Allegheny (7) — 9-1 – 8
9. Nazareth (11) – 10-1 – 9
10. Harrisburg (3) — 9-1 – 10
Teams to watch: Central Bucks South (1) 10-1, Cumberland Valley (3) 6-4, Souderton (1) 11-0,
Spring-Ford (1) 9-2, Wilson-West Lawn (3) 7-3.
CLASS 5A
Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous
1. Imhotep Charter (12) — 10-0 – 1
2. Peters Township (7) — 11-0 – 2
3. Cocalico (3) — 9-1 – 3
4. Roman Catholic (12) – 8-2 – 4
5. West Chester Rustin (1) — 9-1 – 5
6. Springfield-Delco (1) — 10-1 – 6
7. Chester (1) — 10-1 – 7
8. Cedar Cliff (3) — 9-1 – 8
9. Penn Hills (7) — 9-2 – 9
10. Cathedral Prep (10) — 6-3 – 10
Teams to watch: Ephrata (3) 10-1, Garden Spot (3) 9-1, New Oxford (3) 9-1, Pine-Richland (7) 8-3, Southern Lehigh (11) 10-1, Strath Haven (1) 10-1.
CLASS 4A
Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous
1. Bishop McDevitt (3) – 10-0 – 1
2. Aliquippa (7) – 9-0 – 2
3. Pope John Paul II (1) – 11-0 – 3
4. Jersey Shore (4) – 10-0-1 – 4
5. Selinsgrove (4) – 10-0-1 – 5
6. Allentown C.C. (11) – 9-2 – 6
7. McKeesport (7) – 9-1 – 7
8. Manheim Central (3) — 9-1 – 8
9. Dallas (2) — 11-0 – 9
10. Montour (7) — 9-1 – 10
Teams to watch: East Pennsboro (3) 9-1, Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 8-2, Thomas Jefferson (7) 9-2, Twin Valley (3) 9-1, Wyoming Area (2) 10-1.
CLASS 3A
Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous
1. Belle Vernon (7) – 8-1 – 1
2. Wyomissing (3) – 9-1 – 2
3. Avonworth (7) – 10-0 – 3
4. Neumann-Goretti (12) – 9-1 – 4
5. Danville (4) — 10-1 – 5
6. Northwestern Lehigh (11) — 11-0 – 6
7. Palmerton (11) — 11-0 – 7
8. Central (6) — 10-0 – 8
9. Elizabeth-Forward (7) — 9-1 – 9
10. West Perry (3) — 10-1 – 10
Teams to watch: East Allegheny (7) 8-2, Lancaster Catholic (3) 9-1, Loyalsock (4) 8-3, North Schuylkill (11) 9-2, Scranton Prep (2) 10-1, Sharon (10) 8-2.
CLASS 2A
Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous
1. Farrell (10) – 9-1 – 1
2. Westinghouse (8) – 9-0 – 2
3. Central Clarion (9) — 10-0 – 3
4. Southern Columbia (4) – 10-1 – 4
5. Mount Carmel (4) — 9-2 – 5
6. Troy (4) — 11-0 – 6
7. Steel Valley (7) — 8-1 – 7
8. Richland (6) – 10-1 – 8
9. Mercyhurst Prep (10) — 9-0 – 9
10. Neshannock (7) — 9-1 – 10
Teams to watch: Bald Eagle Area (6) 10-1, Berlin Brothersvalley (5) 10-1, Line Mountain (4) 9-2, Trinity (3) 8-3, Washington (7) 10-1,Williams Valley (11) 9-2.
CLASS 1A
Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous
1. Steelton-Highspire (3) — 11-0 – 1
2. Lackawanna Trail (2) – 11-0 – 2
3. Northern Bedford (5) — 11-0 – 3
4. Fort Cherry (7) — 11-0 – 4
5. Bishop Canevin (7) — 9-1 – 5
6. South Side (7) — 11-0 – 6
7. Muncy (4) — 9-1 – 7
8. Clairton (7) — 9-2 – 8
9. Cambridge Springs (10) — 10-1 – 9
10. Redbank Valley (9) — 9-1 – 10
Teams to watch: California (7) 10-1, Canton (4) 8-2, Minersville (11) 9-2, Northern Cambria (6) 10-1, South Williamsport (4) 8-2.
Vote Now: Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week for November 2-4
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Bruce Hopeck, jr., QB, Marian Catholic: In a rematch from Week 9, Marian Catholic turned the tables on Tri-Valley thanks to a strong performance from Hopeck and the MC offense. Hopeck threw for a pair of touchdowns while completing 61 percent of his passes for 159 yards in a 14-6 victory.
Kash Tobin, sr., LB, Tri-Valley: In a defensive battle, every stop matters. And Kash Tobin made plenty of stops to keep the Bulldogs in the fight Friday night against Marian Catholic. While Tri-Valley fell short in a 14-6 loss to Marian Catholic, Tobin came up big in his final high school tilt with a game-high 16 tackles. He also sacked Hopeck once.
Alex Achenbach, sr., RB, Williams Valley: Achenbach carried the load again for Williams Valley Friday night when the bright lights of the playoffs were shining. The senior ran, tossed and caught a touchdown on a night when he broke the school career rushing and touchdown record. He also had an interception on defense in his team’s 34-20 victory over Catasauqua.
Cade Sawyers, sr., RB, Southern Lehigh: Sawyers had himself a night Friday against East Stroudsburg South. The senior toted the rock 33 times for 220 stripes and five touchdowns in a 56-19 victory in the District 11 Class 5A semifinal.
Bryce Marino, sr., WR, Palmerton: Marino hauled in a team-high three receptions for 115 yards Thursday evening to help cruise past Jim Thorpe in the District 11 3A quarterfinal.
Vote Now: Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week for November 3-4 Sponsored by Vertical Raise PA
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Put those Candy Boxes Away; No more Sub Sales; Retire from Washing Cars! And elevate your team’s fundraising this season with Vertical Raise!
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Nolan Baumert, sr., RB, Line Mountain: While the Eagles’ waltzed to a 46-23 District 4 Class 2A victory over Towanda, Baumert chugged along. He carried the ball 15 times for 75 yards and a score, and he returned the opening kickoff 92 yards to paydirt to kickstart the rout.
Drew Branstetter, jr., QB, Camp Hill: Throwing four touchdown passes and rushing for another score is one way to exorcize some playoff demons. That’s what Branstetter did in a 35-14 rout of Annville-Cleona in the District 3-2A semifinals Friday, finishing 23 of 33 for 299 yards (and a pick). His TD run covered 31 yards to ice the game.
Jason Burney, jr., QB, Milton Hershey: Burney drove the Spartans to a 29-23 District 3-4A first-round win over Eastern York with a solid 228 yards and three touchdowns (plus an interception). Burney hit Parris Blackston twice for TDs and Mohamed Koroma for another score.
Carter Burton, sr., QB, Lower Dauphin: Burton nearly led the Falcons to victory in the District 3-5A first round, contributing both second-quarter touchdowns in a 14-13 loss to Ephrata. Burton’s 17-yard TD pass and 1-yard run six minutes later put LD ahead 13-8 at halftime. Burton finished 7 of 18 for 138 yards and rushed 13 times for 41 stripes.
Angel Cabrera, sr., RB/LB, Hershey: One of the Mid-Penn’s toughest backs to bring down led the Trojans like a battering ram to a thrilling 28-27 comeback victory over Exeter Township in the District 3-5A first round. The senior bludgeoned his way to 175 yards and all four Hershey scores in the second half (1, 7, 2 and 1 yards) on 35 carries.
Durrell Ceasar Jr., sr., WR/DB, Steel-High: Ceasar had his hands all over the Rollers’ fourth straight District 3 Class 1A championship, a 56-22 win over Halifax. He started with a pick on defense on the first drive of the game that set up a Steel-High TD. Then he caught three straight TDs of 27, 5 and 17 yards in the second quarter. And he finished with a fourth TD and a final stat line of six catches and 120 yards.
Alex Erby, sr., QB, Steel-High: Fresh off his verbal commitment to play for Navy next season, Erby cruised at the wheel of Steel-High’s fourth straight district title. The state’s all-time passing yards and touchdowns leader went 10 of 11 for 223 yards and six touchdowns, four to a previously mentioned Roller.
Derek Guzman, sr., WR/DB, Hershey: Guzman was a crucial piece on a night when Hershey rushed for 289 stripes on 46 carries, led by the aforementioned Cabrera. Guzman carried the rock six times for 113 stripes and added four receptions for 114 yards, an incredible 22.7 yards per touch.
Brad Hockenberry, jr., RB, West Perry: Hockenberry ran in two touchdowns, covering 6 and 15 yards, and finished with 10 carries for 119 yards in the Mustangs’ 42-21 win over the Eagles. The junior also caught two passes for 22 yards.
Jenson Hockenberry-Folk, jr., RB/LB, West Perry: Enough about that West Perry offense! Take a look at Hockenberry-Folk’s defensive stats from Friday’s 42-21 thumping of Bermudian Springs in the District 3-3A quarterfinals: 15 tackles, two tackles for loss, an 88-yard pick-six, a sack and a blocked extra point. He also had two carries for 10 yards.
Logan Lesh, sr., OL/DL, Milton Hershey: While their quarterback spared the Spartans’ 29-23 District 3-4A playoff win over Eastern York, Lesh was a menace on defense. The senior recorded nine tackles, a sack and recovered two fumbles for a defense that hounded the Golden Knights all night.
Messiah Mickens, so., RB, Trinity: Mickens has been limited much of the season with a leg injury. But the star recruit announced himself to District 3 again with 22 carries for 176 yards (plus an 8-yard reception) and TD runs of 2 and 57 yards in a 28-3 win over Delone Catholic in the 2A semifinals. He had multiple key fourth-down conversions to extend drives that led to points on the board.
Kobe Moore, sr., RB/LB, Camp Hill: One of four receivers to haul in a touchdown in the Lions’ 35-14 win over Annville-Cleona, Moore finished with 95 total yards (72 rushing, 23 on three grabs) and was a monster on defense with 14 tackles, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
Bron Mosley, sr., RB, Altoona: Mosley likes facing Mifflin County. He eclipsed 100 yards for the second time against the Huskies this season, this time rushing for 126 yards and four scores (1, 7, 4 and 5 yards) on 26 carries in a 26-8 District 6 Class 6A semifinal win.
Jasper Shepps, so., WR/DB, Juniata: Shepps was stellar in Juniata’s 37-0 rout of Bellefonte in the District 6 Class 4A championship game, hauling in seven passes for 137 yards and a touchdown from Will Ehrenzeller (12 of 19, 237 yards). Shepps also had two tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup on defense.
Sunday Morning QB: Mid-Penn teams turn in strong performances in Week 1 of the postseason including upsets by Hershey, Camp Hill and Milton Hersey
This was nothing short of a job well done by the Mid-Penn Conference squads in the opening weekend of the second season.
A rock solid 9-5 overall record included six victories that were expected and comfortable. West Perry, Trinity, Line Mountain, Juniata, Altoona and District 3 Class 1A champion Steel-High were all solid favorites to win and performed at a level comfortable enough to advance.
You could have made a case going into the weekend for one-loss West Perry having the least comfortable path to victory, as the Mustangs were likely a little hazy after suffering their first defeat of the season to Steel-High a week earlier. Nothing to worry about in a 21-point victory, though. Expect the lads from Elliottsburg to be back in top form next week.
It was good to see Trinity all-around weapon Messiah Mickens have a big game in the convincing 28-3 triumph over Delone Catholic. The sophomore had been dogged by lower-body injuries most of the season that limited his production. His 178 total yards and two touchdowns is a welcome sight.
The victories by Camp Hill, Milton Hershey and Hershey all qualify as upsets for sure. As the No. 4 seed in Class 2A, Camp Hill took top seed Annville-Cleona out behind the woodshed in a 35-14 victory. Really the win by the Lions isn’t a big-time shocker, but the utter domination was the upset.
Playing against the Capital Division showed up in this one for sure, as the battle-tested Lions used 299 passing yards and four touchdowns from QB Drew Brandstetter to power the offense. And Camp Hill can play some defense. Neighbor and Capital Division mate Trinity awaits in the Class 2A final.
Hershey was staring at a 21-0 halftime hole Friday night. It was hard to see an avenue to success for the home squad in the final 24 minutes. Honestly, it looked like a game waiting to go to mercy rule at the break more than anything.
Read our full breakdown of Hershey’s victory.
Hershey helped dig its own halftime grave with a pair of turnovers in the Exeter Township red zone. But the Eagles returned the favor in the second half, turning the ball over three times, and Hershey’s offense had enough short fields and built momentum behind four Angel Cabrera touchdown runs to post an improbable 28-27 victory.
Yes, Cabrera was a beast, as expected. He carried 35 times for 175 yards, and his last 10 carries he was running dudes over at his leisure. The difference-maker for Hershey overall was senior Derek Guzman. He made five or six impact plays that had me shaking my head. And he made plays on both sides of the ball. He finished with more than 100 yards receiving and rushing, had an interception and recovered a fumble. Go watch the highlights. He wrecked this game.
Milton Hershey came out like a flamethrower at home in the always popular 8-9 seed contest and flashed to a 22-0 halftime lead behind three touchdown passes from QB Jason Burney. That was just enough cushion for the Spartans against Eastern York. The visitors rallied and made it a one-score game before Angel Roberts returned a kick 79 yards for a score in the fourth quarter to earn the Spartans another date with Class 4A No. 1-seed Bishop McDevitt.
Making the Grade: Hershey 28, Exeter Township 27
Hershey made sure its first playoff appearance in a decade was something special.
A furious second-half comeback from a three-touchdown deficit at halftime gave the Trojans an improbable 28-27 victory over Exeter Township Friday night in the District 3 Class 5A opening round at the Concrete Palace.
It was the first playoff victory for the Trojans since 2010. And it was one of those games where the highlights don’t do it justice. You had to see it unfold layer by layer in order to fully appreciate the rally from a 21-0 abyss at intermission.
Hershey moved the ball successfully in the first half but twice turned it over in the red zone, and the Eagles’ combination of quarterback Riley Martinez and wide receiver Carter Redding made Hershey pay with a pair of touchdowns covering 22 and 58 yards.
The clock was quickly becoming Hershey’s enemy as the third quarter melted away, but at least the Trojans threw their hat in the ring on the first of what would eventually become four Angel Cabrera touchdown runs at the 3:24 mark.
One snap after the ensuing kickoff Exeter RB Jayden Zandier, who finished with more than 200 yards rushing, raced 69 yards to restore the Eagles’ three-score cushion. Interesting, though, was the Eagles going for two after lining up for the extra point. The pass failed, and it was 27-7 late in the third quarter.
The final 15 minutes of this game belonged to senior Derek Guzman and the Trojans. Guzman literally wrecked this game on both sides of the ball with an interception, fumble recovery, a 53-yard run on a jet sweep, and a 34-yard reception on a ball where it looked like the defender made the catch in the air but lost the battle on the way down to Guzman.
Hershey scored the final 21 points on Cabrera touchdowns covering 7, 1 and 1 yards — the final TD coming with 2:36 to play, and Cole Goodman’s kick was true to give Hershey its only lead of the night.
Exeter helped out the Trojans by turning the ball over three times in the final 15 minutes on a muffed punt, a fumble late in the fourth quarter and an interception after Hershey took the lead.
Time to hand out some postseason grades.
EXETER TOWNSHIP EAGLES
Quarterback: Sophomore Riley Martinez guided this offense to the brink of success by using his legs to create space in the pocket and picking out the open receiver to make the safe throw. He was also a big help in the running game as a second option. He missed one throw, maybe, on a fourth down to his tight end in the end zone at full stretch. It was still a good throw. The ask to rally this offense with a 70-yard, two-minute drill in the dying seconds was too much for the sophomore. The interception he threw was not a surprise. Grade: B+
Running back: Junior Jayden Zandier literally carved up the Trojans’ defense most of the night, eclipsing 200 yards on the ground and using his speed and tenacity to hit the hole for a half dozen big runs covering 15-plus yards. When he ripped off that 69-yard scamper when nobody touched him at all with 3:00 remaining in the fourth quarter to make it 27-7, it sure looked and smelled like the Eagles were in complete control. His late fumble was his only mistake, but in the fourth quarter it was a killer miscue. Grade: A
Wide receivers: Drew Thomas ran some nifty routes and made a couple sensational grabs in space on his way to a 100-plus yard night with a couple touchdowns. Didn’t really have a wrong step all game. Grade: B+
Offensive line: They took complete control of this game in the second quarter and continued to own the line of scrimmage well into the fourth quarter. Pass blocking was exceptional as well, and they had only one holding penalty. Very few mistakes, really. Grade: A-
Defensive line: They got worn down as the pressure of the game became more intense in the fourth quarter. Hershey did what it wanted to do offensively in the first half, they just turned it over. Pressure on the QB was outstanding, run defense was below average at best. Grade: C+
Linebackers: They were jumping all over the place in the first half, making plays and causing some serious havoc with run blitzes. And in the second half you could hardly find them on the field. The adjustments by Hershey eliminated them the final 24 minutes. Grade: C
Secondary: I feel like they played well and did a good job in run support for the most part. But a few of those big plays were game changers, and they were nowhere to be found or were losing those 50-50 battles. Overall, I still think they did their job. Grade: B
Special teams: Not sure if that was a bad snap on the extra point that turned into a failed two-point conversion. Didn’t look like a bad snap from my chair, looked like an intentional fake to make it 29-7 late in the third quarter. Good defense by Hershey kept it 27-7, and that point would become huge later. The muffed punt and recovery by Hershey was the slippery slope to defeat. Kick return game was excellent, and kicking game was solid. Grade: C+
HERSHEY TROJANS
Quarterback: Wasn’t sure if sophomore Cameron Sweeney was going to make it all 48 minutes. He took a beating at times when he dropped back to pass. He showed more guts than most, made plays with his arms and legs at the exact right time and knew how to get 32 the ball in crunch time. I enjoyed his willingness to keep digging and asking more of himself. Grade: B+
Running back: Angel Cabrera is a 225-pound horse who has a certain style that fits this offense perfectly. Scored all four Trojans touchdowns, had more than 30 carries, eclipsed 100 yards again and in the fourth quarter it took two or more Eagles to bring him down. He was a wrecking ball rolling downhill the final 15 minutes. Grade: A
Wide receivers: Derek Guzman was the best player on the field, refused to let his team lose and never quit making plays. More than 100 receiving and rushing yards, his interception in the end zone was textbook coverage, that 50-50 catch in the fourth quarter was a battle of wills Guzman won and of course he recovered the fumble that led to the winning touchdown drive. It was a special, all-around game you don’t get to witness very often. It was a joy to watch it unfold. I’ll say it again, Guzman wrecked this game on his own. Grade: A+
Offensive line: So when the momentum started rolling downhill, they really did some serious damage. Run blocking was pretty good all night and is their strength. Pass blocking was simply atrocious, and they nearly got their quarterback knocked out of the game. Grade: C+
Defensive line: For most of this game they were getting pushed all over the lot by the Eagles’ offensive line. There was not much on the pass rush front either, as they were getting stood up most of the game. In the dying minutes they produced some pressure and came up with a couple stops that were important. Overall, though, it was a rough night. Grade: C+
Linebackers: Yeah they didn’t make every tackle and were blocked a few times, but without Sean Elliott and Cabrera at linebacker Hershey doesn’t have a chance to score the final 21 points and rally for an improbable victory. When it was looking bleak and Exeter was looking to land knockout punches, Elliott and Cabrera stood tall. Grade: A
Secondary: Derek Guzman plays defensive back, too. That’s all I have to say. Grade: A+
Special teams: On the first drive the Trojans are about to kick a field goal from 27 yards, then the quarter expires and the kick is now into a pretty strong wind. The Trojans went for it, and the Eagles came up with an interception. I understood the decision. Also liked the onsides and short kicks the entire second half. Fumble recovery on the muffed punt by Cory Schaffer Jr. is a hustle play. And he clobbered the kick returner. Cole Goodman was under some serious heat for his PAT attempts and drilled them all. Grade: A-