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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.
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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.
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.
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.
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-
And that means we’re a little more than a month away from crowning six new PIAA high school football champions.
This weekend marks the start of that journey, with all but the Class 6A tournament underway in District 3. While 6A has an off week, 1A will crown a champion (see: Steel-High) and 2A through 5A will give us some interesting matchups as they inch toward crowning champions of their own.
4th Down’s coverage area also includes the District 4, 6 and 11 tournaments, and we’ll be following those games closely as well.
As always, bookmark this page on your phone, laptop or tablet to follow every matchup and see every highlight from the Mid-Penn and some of the teams in the Colonial-Schuylkill League. We’ll update scores throughout the night on this page (refresh the page to see new updates), and you can follow our Twitter feed below for minute-by-minute updates.
PIAA football playoffs: District 3 football championships analysis, staff picks and previews
Each week 4th Down Magazine will preview the weekend slate, predict the winners and provide extra analysis. Here’s everything to get you ready for the District 3 Class 1A championship game, Class 2A semifinals and first-round games in 3A through 5A (enjoy your bye week, 6A):
EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: The PIAA district football playoffs are upon us. And after an entertaining regular season in the Mid-Penn Conference and Colonial-Schuylkill League, the 4th Down Magazine team is here to take its best cracks at the winners from Round 1 through the championships.
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 when the playoffs kick off Friday night. Stick with us all the way through the PIAA state championships in December.
* Records in parentheses after school name; District and seed in parentheses before school name.
In this edition of our weekly 4th & Goal podcast with Jake Adams and Andy Shay, we’re diving into the brackets; identifying which lower seeds might make some noise; who has the toughest road ahead; which matchups are the best this week and more. Plus we are joined by Big Spring’s Zachary Mell.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 5A FIRST ROUND
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
No. 8 Hershey 28, No. 9 Exeter Township 27
Andy Shay: Exeter Township 35, Hershey 21: The Eagles are a running team that thrives on also pulling off a couple big hits in the passing game. Lots of pressure on a Trojans’ defense that has been much better the second half of the season. Not sure Hershey has the firepower to keep pace.
Andy Sandrik: Exeter Township 33, Hershey 24: Exeter Township would have been a much higher seed if it hadn’t ended its regular season with two losses after starting 8-0. Hershey will certainly be the underdog here, but the Trojans have the pieces to make this a competitive contest.
Adam Kulikowski: Exeter Township 28, Hershey 24: This is a tricky matchup for the Trojans, who will have to contend with a club surrendering just 16.9 points per game.
No. 5 Ephrata 14, No. 12 Lower Dauphin 13
Andy Shay: Ephrata 34, Lower Dauphin 20: Was a rough final month for the Falcons, dropping three of the final four games, and that lone win came in overtime. Ephrata has too much balance and firepower for the Falcons to hold at bay over four quarters. Mountaineers averaged nearly 400 yards a game offensively against a quality schedule.
Andy Sandrik: Ephrata 30, Lower Dauphin 21: This is one of those games where Lower Dauphin will need a near-perfect effort just to hold serve with Ephrata. Maintaining that pace for four quarters is going to be hard to do, especially against a Mountaineers squad that does nothing except stack up yards and points.
Adam Kulikowski: Ephrata 28, Lower Dauphin 14: The balanced attack of the one-loss Mountaineers will present a stiff challenge to the Falcons, who are making their first playoff appearance since the Tommy Klock-era in 2015.
No. 7 South Western 21, No. 10 Greencastle-Antrim 3
Andy Shay: South Western 30, Greencastle-Antrim 21: What it took for the Mustangs to get from where they were, 2-3 at the halfway point and riding a three-game losing streak, to the No. 7 seed will help them tremendously here. The Blue Devils might be here a year early, but they earned this shot.
Andy Sandrik: South Western 33, Greencastle-Antrim 21: This game is a big ask for the Blue Devils, who will be challenged with stopping Mustangs’ RB Austin Rollman, who needs less than 60 yards to hit 1,000 for the season.
Adam Kulikowski: South Western 33, Greencastle-Antrim 28: The Blue Devils have not won back-to-back games since Week 4. The chalk is on South Western’s side, but an X-factor like wideout Carter McCauley, who has the ability to blow the top off a defense, can push the underdog Blue Devils into the next round.
No. 6 Conestoga Valley 40, No. 11 Dover 9
Andy Shay: Conestoga Valley 34, Dover 20: The Buckskins have played only three teams that finished above .500, and they were 1-2 in those games. So they haven’t exactly played a “testy” schedule. The only three quality teams on Dover’s schedule — South Western, New Oxford and Dallastown — were all losses for the Eagles. This is a real toss-up game.
Andy Sandrik: Conestoga Valley 35, Dover 28: A matchup between two teams each averaging more than 30 points. If you’re struggling to pick a winner, you should at least be able to take the “over” with confidence.
Adam Kulikowski: Conestoga Valley 41, Dover 21: Jayden Johnson will have a huge say in the outcome of this tilt. The versatile running back sits just shy of 1,000 stripes on the season and also is a weapon in the passing game with nearly 400 more yards. If, and it is a big if, Dover can slow him down, its odds of victory improve. Smart money is on CV.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 4A FIRST ROUND
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
No. 8 Milton Hershey 29, No. 9 Eastern York 23
Andy Shay: Milton Hershey 39, Eastern York 26: The firepower the Spartans can unleash when they are hitting on all cylinders is more than the Golden Knights, who have been pretty solid defensively, bring to the table. Milton Hershey wants to play a shootout and make Eastern York try and keep up. A tight, low-scoring affair favors the Golden Knights.
Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 36, Eastern York 21: There are few teams in this postseason with more dark-horse potential than Milton Hershey. Spartans have all the tools they need to make a big run. Or they could get knocked out this week, you just never know.
Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 34, Eastern York 20: Siding with the more battle-tested gents. Last-second victories like the ones against Susquehanna Township and Lower Dauphin tell me this group won’t be rattled in high-pressure moments.
No. 7 Elco 34, No. 10 Big Spring 7
Andy Shay: Elco 30, Big Spring 27: Couple of teams who will do all their damage on the ground and stick to their plan. Both teams have played a schedule with some superior squads at the top end, so neither has a real advantage. One of those “who wants it more” kinda games.
Andy Sandrik: Elco 28, Big Spring 25: I think the Raiders deserve to be slight favorites, but there’s nothing more scary than a team like Big Spring — who just barely got here — that has nothing to lose.
Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 34, Elco 32: The Bulldogs just squeaked into the postseason, but take them lightly at your own risk. This is a feisty group that has the makeup to pull off a mild upset in Round 1.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 3A QUARTERFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
No. 4 Schuylkill Valley 45, No. 5 Littlestown 21
Andy Shay: Schuylkill Valley 27, Littlestown 21: Taking the chalk here in a game where the differences between the two clubs is marginal at best. They have won and lost in very similar fashion. Maybe favoring the L-L League a little here?
Andy Sandrik: Schuylkill Valley 24, Littlestown 17: There aren’t many games that will make me stare blankly at my laptop screen for a half hour, but this is turning out to be one of them. This is the epitome of a matchup between four- and five-seeds.
Adam Kulikowski: Schuylkill Valley 35, Littlestown 14: Prior to last week’s loss to Lancaster Catholic, the Panthers were riding an eight-game winning streak.
No. 3 West Perry 42, No. 6 Bermudian Springs 21
Andy Shay: West Perry 42, Bermudian Springs 20: The Mustangs could have used a week off with all their injuries, but fate was not kind to them. But I actually think getting back on the field after Week 10’s adversity is what they need. Did West Perry have its eye on the wrong prize? This game will reveal a telling answer because the Mustangs are a solid two- or three-touchdown favorite here.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 40, Bermudian Springs 21: The Eagles has evolved since starting the season 0-3, and they bring a steady senior QB to the table in Tyson Carpenter. This won’t be an easy game for the Mustangs, but that’s something they should get used to in these playoffs.
Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 38, Bermudian Springs 24: A stellar season earned the boys in green a home playoff game. We’re about to find out how much is left in the tank after a physical battle for the Capital Division crown in Week 10 against Steel-High.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 2A SEMIFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
No. 4 Camp Hill 35, No. 1 Annville-Cleona 14
Andy Shay: Annville-Cleona 35, Camp Hill 20: The Dutchmen average 52 running plays and five passing attempts per game, so the Lions know what will be coming. But after a long season, stopping a shove-it-right-at-you running offense is not in their wheelhouse. If they get the lead and make A-C chase, it could be interesting.
Andy Sandrik: Annville-Cleona 30, Camp Hill 21: As much as I like to pick Camp Hill to spring upsets, the Dutchmen present a very real matchup problem for the Lions.
Adam Kulikowski: Annville-Cleona 28, Camp Hill 21: Lions will bring plenty of fight to this battle. Stopping the Dutchmen’s three-headed rushing attack is a tall task for any team, however.
No. 2 Trinity 28, No. 3 Delone Catholic 3
Andy Shay: Trinity 49, Delone Catholic 14: I’m not sure how much has changed for both teams since they shared the same turf 10 weeks ago. The T-Rocks have been building for a second season run, and the adversity of the regular season will be a huge benefit.
Andy Sandrik: Trinity 38, Delone Catholic 21: The Shamrocks have been a tough team to predict at times, but I think their schedule has them more than ready for this moment.
Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 45, Delone Catholic 20: It feels like the Shamrocks have been steadily building toward this moment for weeks. It’s here, and Trinity is ready to rise the occasion against a club they handled easily (49-12) in Week 1.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY, NOV. 4
No. 2 Halifax at No. 1 Steel-High, 1 p.m.
Andy Shay: Steel-High 55, Halifax 0: I hope the Rollers respect that the Wildcats are going to show up and take on this zero-chance-of-a-win game. At least work on cleaning up some of those sloppy penalties, right? Only identifiable weakness Steel-High has.
Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 56, Halifax 0: Congrats to Alex Erby on his commitment to Navy. That’s the biggest news in what should otherwise be a week without surprises for the Rollers.
Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 55, Halifax 6: The Wildcats produced their best season in years. Their reward? A Saturday thumping by the defending state champions.
DISTRICT 4 CLASS 2A QUARTERFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
No. 4 Line Mountain 42, No. 5 Towanda 23
Andy Shay: Line Mountain 34, Towanda 21: This one comes down to depth at the skill positions, and I think there’s a lot of equality at the QB position. I think the depth at RB and WR belongs to the Eagles, and that will be enough to overtake Towanda.
Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 35, Towanda 20: The Eagles have come a long way since their 1-2 start, rattling off seven straight wins. Make that eight, after this weekend.
Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 28, Towanda 14: Versatile dual-threat QB Rylie Vanderpool poses the biggest challenge to the Eagles’ aspirations to advance, but it’s one Line Mountain should be equipped to handle.
DISTRICT 6 CLASS 6A SEMIFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
No. 3 Altoona 26, at No. 2 Mifflin County 8
Andy Shay: Altoona 28, Mifflin County 0: Mountain Lions have been pushed harder in the Commonwealth, and that takes its toll. Still, when the playing field has been fairly level talent-wise, they have performed. Was an easy W over the Huskies earlier this year, and that won’t change here.
Andy Sandrik: Altoona 32, Mifflin County 7: Did you know Mifflin County is 1-4 in home games this fall, including a 35-0 loss to Altoona in Week 3? All signs point to a comfortable win for the Mountain Lions.
Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 28, Mifflin County 7: The Mountain Lions easily handled Mifflin County earlier this season. While I don’t see the Huskies getting shut out in this postseason rematch, closing the gap on a 35-0 whipping is a tall task.
DISTRICT 6 CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIP
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
No. 1 Juniata 37, No. 2 Bellefonte 0
Andy Shay: Juniata 41, Bellefonte 14: Combined, these two small schools are 7-13 overall entering this battle for a trophy. Each has played a quality schedule, but a pair of one-point victories is all 2-8 Bellefonte brings to the table. Is that enough to win this game? Doesn’t seem so, but who the heck knows, right?
Andy Sandrik: Juniata 36, Bellefonte 19: If there’s one thing Juniata has taught us this season, it’s to never count a team out, even if it’s down. The Indians would also be wise to heed this message when facing the two-win Raiders.
Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 34, Bellefonte 14: While the Indians enter this postseason frey on a two-game skid, they are by far the more battle-tested squad. That pays dividends in the postseason.
DISTRICT 11 CLASS 2A SEMIFINALS
SATURDAY, NOV. 4
No. 3 Catasauqua at No. 2 Williams Valley, 7 p.m.
Andy Shay: Williams Valley 40, Catasauqua 34: This feels like a very close game all the way in my book. The Vikings have the best player on the field, but the Rough Riders have much more diversity and depth in what they do offensively. Vikings are the pick, but I think Catty has more avenues to victory.
Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 42, Catasauqua 32: We’re not really allowed to root for teams, but I will certainly cheer for the historical career of Alex Achenbach to continue for at least one more game. What a ride it’s been for this kid and this team.
Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 45, Catasauqua 24: We write about Achenbach nearly every week in some fashion, but this lad ranks in the top five in rushing yards in all of Pennsylvania this year. As he goes, so do the Vikings.
DISTRICT 11 CLASS 1A SEMIFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
No. 2 Marian Catholic 14, No. 3 Tri-Valley 6
Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 9, Marian Catholic 8: Bulldogs enter the playoffs with only one win in their last four games. That lone victory, however, was a 16-6 triumph over Marian Catholic. Don’t expect much to change in such a short period of time, and I think points will be even more difficult to come by. I could see a field goal deciding this one. If you like your football old school, this is going to be pure nirvana. Love this matchup!
Andy Sandrik: Marian Catholic 23, Tri-Valley 16: The Colts have to like their chances of scoring a revenge victory, and home-field advantage has to give them an advantage in what I see as a 50-50 game.
Adam Kulikowski: Tri-Valley 20, Marian Catholic 14: We had a sneak preview of this matchup back in Week 9, a 16-6 Bulldogs victory. Who makes the best adjustments in a tilt that figures to be a tight battle to the final whistle?
Zachary Mell saved his best for last, and that earned him Week 10 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week honors.
Mell, a senior lineman for Big Spring, had arguably his best performance of the season when the Bulldogs needed it most. His 12-tackle, two-sack performance against Middletown helped Big Spring clinch a District 3 Class 4A playoff berth with a 21-7 victory.
It’s not often a defensive showing of this sort earns POTW odds, but Mell, who has 84 tackles and seven sacks this season, deserves it. Bulldog Nation handed him 3,633 votes this week, easily beating second-place Caiden Pines of Cumberland Valley (2,640 votes). There were 7,343 total votes cast this week.
Mell and No. 10 Big Spring (6-4) are back in the playoffs for the first time in two years and play No. 7 Elco in the first round Friday at 7 p.m.
Alex Achenbach is back at it, named once again the 4th Down Magazine Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week for Week 10.
The senior Williams Valley running back put up monster numbers in the regular-season finale, shredding Tri-Valley for 201 yards and a touchdown on the ground in a 49-14 victory. He also had a 45-yard TD grab. Achenbach has been one of the best running backs in Pennsylvania this season. He has 2,338 yards and 25 touchdowns on just 278 carries, equaling averages of 8.4 yards per carry and 233.8 per game. He’s produced six straight 200-yard games, has eight on the season and has eclipsed 300 twice.
Achenbach ran away with the polling numbers, too, with 2,090 votes to beat Marian Catholic junior receiver Michael Gelatko’s 1,104. There were 3,609 total votes cast this week.
Achenbach and the No. 3 Vikings (8-2) visit No. 2 Marian Catholic in the District 11 Class 1A semifinals Friday at 7 p.m.
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Alex Achenbach, sr., RB, Williams Valley: Achenbach finished the regular season with another stellar game against Tri-Valley. The senior Swiss Army knife totalled 201 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 49-14 victory against the Bulldogs.
James Bassininsky, sr., OL/DL, Schuylkill Haven: When Schuylkill Haven needed a big stop, more often than not Bassininsky was involved in the play. The senior notched a team-high nine tackles and a sack in a 37-14 loss to Blue Mountain.
Michael Gelatko, jr., WR, Marian Catholic: Gelatko hauled in a team-high three receptions for 71 stripes and a touchdown to help fuel Marian Catholic past Pine Grove 20-7.
Matthew Machalik, sr., QB, Palmerton: Machalik helped Palmerton cap an undefeated regular season with 244 total yards including 176 on the ground and another 68 through the air in a 47-13 victory against Northern Lehigh. Machalik became the first player in Pennsylvania high school football history to reach 5,000 yards as a passer and a runner in his career.
Luke Stevenosky, sr., RB, Minersville: Stevenosky and the Battlin’ Miners made quick work of Nativity BVM in a 42-12 victory Friday night. Stevenosky, as he usually does, racked up big numbers on the ground, finishing the evening with 234 stripes on just nine carries. He padded his stats with two more touchdowns.
