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

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Stone Saunders, QB, Bishop McDevitt: Saunders etched his name into the Pennsylvania record books, setting a new record for career passing touchdowns. The Kentucky recruit tossed a pair of TDs and finished the evening with 153 yards as the Crusaders knocked off Altoona, 28-21 on Friday.

Aaron Angelo, WR-LB, East Pennsboro: East Pennsboro may have entered its match up again West Perry as an underdog, but they sure didn’t play like one. Angelo grabbed five passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns to fuel the Panther’s 35-14 victory. On defense, he captured an interception to help seal the victory.

Zach Bates, RB, Newport: A week ago, Bates nearly fueled the Buffaloes first victory of the season. This week, Bates and his mates in Newport got that coveted victory. Bates carried the rock 20 times for three touchdowns and 145 yards in a 20-18 victory against Milton Hershey.

Cooper Brushwood, WR, State College: When State College needed a big play, the Little Lions turned to Brushwood who hauled in seven receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown to push State College past Central Dauphin, 24-7.

Sean Elliott, RB-LB, Hershey: Hershey leaned heavily into its running attack and who could blame them. Sean Elliott had himself an evening with 26 carries, 134 yards, and two touchdowns in Hershey’s 41-35 win against Gettysburg.

Grant Hall, RB, Big Spring: Hall turned in another big time performance for the Bulldogs, rushing for 259 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-21 victory against Boiling Springs.

Name; Week 6; Overall: 

Andy Sandrik: 14-5; 98-28

Andy Shay: 13-6; 95-31

Adam Kulikowski: 13-6; 91-35 

Friday, Sept. 27

Non-League

Newport 20, Milton Hershey 18

Andy Shay: Milton Hershey 42, Newport 0: Both the Spartans wins have come against squads with sub-.500 records right now. Make is 3-0 and returns Milton Hershey to three up and three down after six games.

Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 45, Newport 6: That first win was so close, yet so far away for Newport last week. The Buffs won’t have that same opportunity this week against a heavily-favored Spartans team.

Adam Kulikowski:Milton Hershey 49, Newport 6: Spartans rebound from a narrow loss to Trinity last week against a undermanned Newport squad. 

Commonwealth

Bishop McDevitt 28, Altoona 21

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 49, Altoona 7: Should be what promises to be the first of many state passing records kind of night for QB Stone Saunders and an easy Crusaders victory.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 56, Altoona 7: Ever since the Crusaders’ loss to Harrisburg in Week 2, they’ve made a point of annihilating every Commonwealth team that lines up in front of them.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 55, Altoona 13: Did anyone seriously think McDevitt would not be a force in the Commonwealth? 

Chambersburg 38, Cedar Cliff 13

Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 35, Chambersburg 20: Colts are on a three-game Commonwealth slide. That’s about to end. Cedar Cliff three straight setbacks are against clubs who have a combined two losses. And the Colts have been right in two of those games down the stretch.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 38, Chambersburg 17: Despite the losses, Cedar Cliff will be the first team to say that it deserves to be in the Commonwealth Division. The Colts have a big opportunity to nail this point home against an offensively-challenged Chambersburg side.

Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 37, Chambersburg 14: Not letting recency bias warp the fact that the Colts are one of the best clubs in the Mid-Penn.

State College 24, Central Dauphin 7

Andy Shay: State College 20, Central Dauphin 7: Little Lions have a legit next level defense and the Rams are offensively challenged to push the envelope. Huge advantage for SC as they move to 5-1 overall.

Andy Sandrik: State College 24, Central Dauphin 7: Even in a down year this CD team has been a tough out. I respect the improvement the Rams have shown and think they’ll test the Little Lions for at least a half.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 33, Central Dauphin 14: The Rams will need to open up their typically conservative offense to hang in this one for four quarters. 

Cumberland Valley at Central Dauphin East 34, Cumberland Valley 28

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin East 29, Cumberland Valley 10: My concern here is the Eagles offense has scored more than two touchdowns in a game exactly once this season. Undefeated Panthers have found a way to keep the scoreboard ticking over on the points scored side of the ledger with regularity.

Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin East 20, Cumberland Valley 13: The defense of Cumberland Valley has been sensational on the road, and I think the Eagles will make it tough for for the favored Panthers to put points on the board. That said, where is CV going to find the points to outscore East?

Adam Kulikowski:Central Dauphin East 31, Cumberland Valley 21: A new quarterback under center last week provided a spark for the Eagles. Panthers provide a bigger test. 

Keystone

Hershey 41, Gettysburg 35

Andy Shay: Hershey 28, Gettysburg 7: Anybody get to 4-1 more quietly than the Trojans? Asking for a friend. NOBODY has scored 14 points on Hershey this season and Warriors are lacking depth in terms of weapons at the skill position.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 32, Gettysburg 13: There’s still a couple seats left on the Hershey bandwagon, but those will fill up fast if the Trojans put up a convincing win over a capable Gettysburg squad.

Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 33, Gettysburg 21: Warriors have the capability to light up the scoreboard, but the Trojans defense has been a key cog in their 4-1 start to the season. 

Shippensburg 24, Lower Dauphin 23 (OT)

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 34, Lower Dauphin 7: Points have dried up for the Falcons offense and the Greyhounds offense has been rock solid (and building) all season. Who had this score if the game is played Week 1?

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 28, Lower Dauphin 14: It’s tough to stop a team that’s rolling, when you’re reeling.

Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 27, Lower Dauphin 20: It’s quickly becoming a two-horse race for the Keystone division between the Greyhounds and Mechanicsburg. 

Mechanicsburg 35, Red Land 7

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 49, Red Land 7: Victories by the Wildcats this season have been by 28, 21, 34, 29 and 28 points. Mechanicsburg attacks from the opening whistle and only slows down when the outcome has been decided. Defense has been a hidden gem this season. That trend continues here.

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 52, Red Land 3: The Wildcats have been demolishing opponents in such a way that picking them to win in any manner other than blowout would be disrespectful.

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 41, Red Land 6: Wildcats take care of business with ease. 

Mifflin County 20, Palmyra 0

Andy Shay: Palmyra 27, Mifflin County 25: Couple of one-win teams who have similar issues they are working on and through. Cougars are at home so give me Palmyra in a coin flip game.

Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 28, Mifflin County 24: If you venture out to Buck Swank Stadium, I think you’ll see two feisty teams who both like their chances of getting that second victory.

Adam Kulikowski: Palmyra  21, Mifflin County 14: The Huskies offense has been stuck in first gear just about all season, scoring more than 13 points just once in the first half of the season. 

Northern York 30, Waynesboro 27

Andy Shay: Waynesboro 29, Northern York 14: Very few scenarios out there the Indians haven’t faced this season and they’ve managed to navigate their way to a 4-1 mark. That will come into play against the Polar Bears.

Andy Sandrik: Northern York 21, Waynesboro 14: This might be an out-of-pocket pick, but I get the sense that Northern has turned corner after its cold start to the season. Just a hunch, though, Waynesboro has been better than advertised.

Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 31, Northern York 20: The Polar Bears can be a dangerous out if they get moving downhill against you. Indian will have a say in that happening though. 

Capital

Steelton-Highspire 43, Line Mountain 40

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 32, Steel-High 20: Just not sure the Rollers have enough offense in the tank these days to keep pace with a LM squad that knows exactly who it is and has a wealth of experience to boot.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 28, Steel-High 20: The Eagles are more of a proven commodity at this point in the season, but I don’t think the “rebuilding” Rollers are all that far behind. 

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 34, Steel-High 21: The Eagles are in the midst of their most challenging stretch of games with Upper Dauphin in the rearview and Steel-High and a resurgent Middletown on deck.

Camp Hill 7, Halifax 0

Andy Shay: Camp Hill 48, Halifax 0: That was an old-school dose of humble pie the Lions were fed last week by Juniata. This is a good “bounce back” opponent on the heels of getting run over.

Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 35, Halifax 7: Camp Hill is rostered in such a way that the Lions can just as easily win or lose most of the games on their schedule. This is not one of those games.

Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 43, Halifax 7: Lions key playmakers find the sledding less challenging a week after being held to just seven points against Juniata.

Upper Dauphin 35, James Buchanan 24

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 34, James Buchanan 14: All I know is UDA is not your typical one-win team. Rockets are 4-1 and have earned those four victories. Trojans will ask some different questions, though.

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 37, James Buchanan 13: The Rockets have been perhaps the biggest surprise in all of the Mid-Penn Conference, but I would be shocked if they can stay competitive against an Upper Dauphin team that is worlds better than its record indicates.

Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 41, James Buchanan 14: Rockets are the feel-good story of the Mid-Penn Conference this year. That doesn’t change with this outcome.

Juniata 49, Susquenita 7

Andy Shay: Juniata 42, Susquenita 0: I’ll take the Juniata defense for $200, Alex, in this one. After last week’s performance, they sent a clear message for all to hear.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 38, Susquenita 7: Shoutout to the ‘Hawks for nailing down their first win last week. Getting another victory this week, however, seems much less realistic against a solid Juniata side. 

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 55, Susquenita 7: It will take a mighty effort from ‘Nita to tally points against a crew who has yielded just 55 points in five games this season. 

Colonial

Big Spring 48, Boiling Springs 21

Andy Shay: Big Spring 27, Boiling Springs 20: Neighbors but not official “rivals” this game still has plenty of bite for each program. Bulldogs have been the more consistent squad and that’s good enough for me.

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 24, Boiling Springs 21: The headline will read, “Bulldogs best Bubblers in backyard brawl, barely.”

Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 20, Boiling Springs 14: I can’t match the alliteration of my colleague above, but I can tell you the Bulldogs put forth their best effort of the season last week against Greencastle-Antrim. I have every reason to believe the Newville gang will build on that success.

East Pennsboro 35, West Perry 14

Andy Shay: West Perry 20, East Pennsboro 14: So how do the Mustangs respond after being massive upset victims. That is the only question that needs to be addressed early. Panthers are playing some of their best football right now and will have a say.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 24, East Pennsboro 21: A hobbled Brad Hockenberry missed the second half of last week’s upset loss to Middletown. His presence in the lineup, or lack thereof, will have a lasting impact on the outcome of Friday’s game. 

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 31, East Pennsboro 24: Pencil me in for a tentative selection of the Mustangs–Brad Hockenberry’s availability is key to the outcome of this tussle. 

Trinity 42, Greencastle-Antrim 13

Andy Shay: Trinity 28, Greencastle-Antrim 14: The records are Shamrocks 4-1 and Blue Devils 1-4. Trust me the difference between the two squads is nowhere close to that. This will be a tight squeeze most of the way.

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 35, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Trinity has scored at least 35 points in every game since being shut out in Week 1. Blue Devils have been competitive every week, but can’t let this turn into a shootout. 

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 36, Greencastle-Antrim 20: Shamrocks continue to prove the naysayers wrong each week. It’s time for last call on this bandwagon. 

Susquehanna Township 21, Middletown 14

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 30, Middletown 14: Can the Blue Raiders do it two weeks in a row. Maybe, but I’m pretty sure Middletown has the full and undivided attention of the Hanna Tribe after last week’s result.

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 32, Middletown 18: If ‘Hanna wasn’t playing Middletown, one would imagine the Tribe would be high-diving the Blue Raiders for knocking out West Perry last week.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 44, Middletown 20: Middletown raised eyebrows last week, knocking off West Perry in dramatic fashion. Indians, however, possess a much more diverse offensive onslaught. 

Saturday, Sept. 28

Commonwealth

Harrisburg 42, Carlisle 0

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 49, Carlisle 0: After weeks in a grinder, this is a chance for the Cougars to get some work done in a hurry against a Herd team that struggles to be competitive at this level. A fast start by Harrisburg is in order.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 52, Carlisle 7: I’m old enough to remember the last time Carlisle beat Harrisburg, but my kids aren’t. 

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 55, Carlisle 7:  Want a look at the future of Harrisburg football? Pop into this one after halftime to watch the youngbloods get some varsity action. 

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

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

Browser cookies must be accepted to vote.

Put those Candy Boxes Away; No more Sub Sales; Retire from Washing Cars! And elevate your team’s fundraising this season with Vertical Raise!

Vertical Raise is the premier online fundraising platform for organizations of all types and sizes. Vertical Raise provides solutions to the challenges of fundraising by utilizing its best-in-class software to create the easiest, most efficient and effective fundraising.

Brady Seyler, RB, Red Land: Seyler had himself an evening Friday night against Northern York, rushing for 175 yards on 21 carries. He added a touchdown in a 34-14 loss to the Polar Bears.

Torin Evans, QB Susquehanna Twp.:  Five touchdowns on an evening will garner some attention from our gang who identifies Player of the Week nominees. That’s just what Evans did against Steel-High, slinging it for 257 yards on 13-of-19 passing in a 41-20 victory against Steel-High.

Grant Hall, RB, Big Spring:  The Bulldogs would not be denied Friday night against Greencastle-Antrim. In a 20-16 victory against Blue Devils, Hall rushed for a game-high 232 yards on 27 rushing attempted. He logged three touchdowns on the evening.

Elias Coke, WR/S, Harrisburg: Coke did a little bit of everything against Cedar Cliff Friday night. His night included 104 receiving yards and a touchdown as well as a pick-6 on defense in a 28-20 victory against Cedar Cliff.

Zach Bates, RB/WR/K, Newport: In an overtime thriller Zach Bates did all he could to help Newport notch a victory Friday night against Susquenita. He ran for a touchdown, hauled in eight receptions for 109 yards and legged a pair of field goals in a 29-26 double-overtime loss to Susquenita.