High School Football: Andy Shay’s Elite 11 Rankings After Week 9

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11. Conestoga Valley7-2NR
Welcome, Buckskins, the first new addition to the Elite 11 in weeks. The upset of previously unbeaten Exeter Township is a big reason why. A one-point loss to Garden Spot isn’t a bad loss, but getting rolled by Manheim Central the previous week was. The response, though, was something worthy of joining the ranks.
10. West Perry9-011
Time for the Mustangs to head to the season finale with No. 9 Steel-High still unbeaten after doubling up Camp Hill 48-24.
9. Steel-High9-010
Taking the best shot Trinity had, the Rollers needed all their weapons firing to hold off the Shamrocks 43-37. This one definitely goes down as a quality win.
8.Wyomissing8-19
No problems at home for the Spartans Saturday afternoon, racing to a 41-0 lead after three quarters in a result that was exactly as expected.
7. Exeter Township8-17
Fair to say the Eagles were upset victims and fell from the ranks of the unbeaten by getting edged out by Conestoga Valley 34-27.
6. Manheim Central8-17
As the weather turns cooler, the Barons are marching toward second-season mode after thrashing Governor Mifflin 48-0. The shutout is noteworthy.
5. Cocalico8-16
Only one team, Manheim Central, has scored more than two touchdowns on the Eagles. And that came in a loss to Cocalico. Thrashed Berks Catholic and rolling along nicely.
4. Central York9-04
Was always going to beat one-win Reading; the 39-0 final score means they took care of business efficiently and did what needed to be done.
3. Harrisburg8-13
For the second time this season the Cougars put up 60, this time hanging nine touchdowns on Chambersburg in a 60-14 Saturday afternoon victory. Eight of those touchdowns came in the first three quarters.
2. Manheim Township9-02
The last time somebody scored on the Blue Streaks, it was September. Wow. Three shutouts in a row, including the 59-0 thrashing of Penn Manor.
1. Bishop McDevitt9-01
Before this contest with Mifflin County was four minutes old, the Crusaders already had 21 points on their way to a comfortable 42-0 victory.

Making the Grade: East Pennsboro 31, Susquehanna Twp. 28

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East Pennsboro saw its hopes for a Colonial Division title slipping away in the second half Friday night at Susquehanna Township’s Roscoe Warner Field.

The Panthers trailed by 12 points, and their quarterback, Keith Oates III, was sitting on the bench after he suffered an injury on defense in the third quarter. It could not have looked more bleak, really.

Then the Indians started to self-destruct, robbing them of all their intensity and focus via an avalanche of penalties. It was the help East Pennsboro needed to have a faint heartbeat in the game.

Oates returned under center, and at linebacker where he had at least a dozen tackles, and East Pennsboro owned the fourth quarter.

A pair of short touchdowns runs by Oates and JJ Gossard in the final six minutes pushed the inspired Panthers across the finish line for a stunning 31-28 come-from-behind victory over the shell-shocked Indians.

Susquehanna Township has only itself to blame for this loss. In the end, the Indians finished with 17 penalties accepted for a staggering 147 yards. And there were another handful of penalties declined.

Full credit to the Panthers, who, when the door swung open and opportunity presented itself, played their best two-way football of the night.

Time to hand out some grades.

EAST PENNSBORO PANTHERS

Quarterback: After struggling to find any sort of rhythm in the passing game the first half, Oates was on fire down the stretch. He finished 12 of 22 for 206 yards with a pair of touchdowns and a bad-decision interception late that looked more costly to the Panthers than it ended up being. His return from injury to play that well was the spark that ignited the fire. Grade: A-

Running back: Still a junior with one more year left, Gossard is the perfect feature back for this offense. He’s faster in space than you think and hit the hole really hard and with authority. He helped keep the offense moving when the passing game was riding the struggle bus. His 4.3 yards per carry was earned the hard way. Grade: B+

Wide receivers: The ball was going Breckin Swope’s way a lot early, and he was doing OK with five grabs. But Trey Good is the one who changes the game even though he was not targeted much early. But during the frenzy down the stretch he showed up with two big grabs. The speed of the ‘Hanna corners was an issue, but when it counted these two won those critical 1-on-1 battles. Do not underestimate the value of the three catches by tight end Paul Sanderson for 30 yards. Grade: B

Offensive line: Rough start for this group as the speed and strength of the Indians up front was giving it fits. In the middle of the first half the Panthers switched to a more run-based offense to get something going, and slowly this group started to make waves. The blocking on the power traps off tackle was exceptional all game. They protected their QB admirably and overall they had a pretty good, but not great, night. Grade: B

Defensive line: Like their counterparts on offense in the trenches, a slow start defined the d-line. But with each possession you could see this group climbing off the deck and starting to make plays. Senior Ahmar Lumbard made several strong stops at the point of attack, and late in the game when the Indians needed 50 yards to claim victory, this unit came up with a couple big QB stops. Grade: B

Linebackers: As much as he brings to the table as the QB, Oates is a better pure linebacker. He is strong, physical and finds his way to the football. Officially, he finished with eight tackles, but after they review the tape I think that number goes up. He was all over the field. And despite missing the better part of a quarter he was still the leading tackler. Grade: A

Secondary: No real big plays for the Indians in terms of broken coverages or anything along those lines. And they tackled well in space, which is a must against an Indians offense that thrives on green grass. Gossard and Good had a fantastic night at the safety position. Only 204 passing yards allowed is a very respectable number. When it really mattered, they locked this game down defensively. Grade: A

Special teams: I agree on the short kickoffs, although ‘Hanna’s returner managed to cause mayhem when he did get his mitts on the ball. That 10-yard punt early didn’t help, but overall the kicking game was good. Ali Alami might have missed his first PAT, but he more than made up for it by banging home a 37-yard field goal. Grade: B

SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP INDIANS

Quarterback: Only a sophomore, Torin Evans has some serious tools. He gets the ball out really quick, and the offense is clearly designed so he doesn’t have to make many second and third reads. He throws to his first option almost every time. The lefty can spin a ball, though. He made a couple midrange throws that caught your attention. When the game went sideways in the second half for the Indians, he struggled as well. That’s not his fault. Grade: B-

Running back: Dorian Smith is a weapon for this team. What I like most about him is he has speed on the edge, and inside the tackles his vision and twitch are next level. He is not easy to corral in tight spaces. He did his job with 134 yards on 27 carries with a couple touchdowns. Grade: A

Wide receivers: There’s a reason Lex Cyrus is an FBS prospect as a junior. Sure, everyone knows he’s fast. But he’s a better route runner than he probably gets credit for, and what really stands out is he wins more than not on contested catches. He had 13 catches, on 14 targets, for 110 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Jarrett Kern is going to be special, too. He gets open a lot, and that’s not an accident. Grade: B+

Offensive line: They opened some big holes early, and overall they had a pretty good night. Pass blocking was excellent until the last drive. But as the game wore on they were creating less and less space for Smith to operate. The playing field leveled after halftime, and they didn’t find another gear. Grade: B-

Defensive line: Most of the first half they were the Indians’ most dominant group on the field. They were creating all kinds of problems. But they went quiet after halftime and struggled to have any impact down the stretch when the Indians needed something to go their way. They are aggressive, though, and East Pennsboro took advantage of that in the run game when it mattered. Grade: B

Linebackers: This is where the Indians struggled to get any traction overall defensively, outside of a few splash plays here and there. They were gashed on the edges in the run game when the Panthers switched their offensive focus and were late on short coverages down the stretch. Grade: C

Secondary: For most of the game this group was fantastic, up in the face of the Panthers’ receivers and aggressive. When it mattered most, though, they were in off coverage and had backed off the receivers. Not sure why, but they clearly struggled in the less aggressive posture and got beat soundly a couple times. Grade: B

Special teams: Penalties on special teams didn’t cost the Indians any points, but a too-many-men-on-the-field penalty and a false start on extra points early were a sign of what would come later. The short punts and kickoffs gave the Panthers several positive field-position advantages. The return game when Cyrus found the ball was electric. Overall, though, it was a glaring struggle. Grade: C

Pennsylvania high school football: Scores, highlights from Week 9 in Mid-Penn Conference and midstate

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Two (co-)division champions could be crowned by the end of this week. The rest of the titles in the Mid-Penn Conference likely have to wait until Week 10, making for a fun finale before the postseason.

Here’s how things look right now:

  • Harrisburg (7-1, 5-0 Commonwealth) can clinch at least a share of the Mid-Penn Commonwealth title with a win over Chambersburg on Saturday. The Cougars are heavily favored. State College and Cumberland Valley both trail by a game.
  • Bishop McDevitt (8-0, 5-0 Keystone) faces 4-4 Mifflin County and can claim a share of the division in what is expected to be a blowout victory. Outright titles for McDevitt and Harrisburg likely have to wait until Week 10, but each feels like a foregone conclusion at this point.
  • We almost get a Liberty Division championship game with Juniata (5-3, 4-0) visiting Line Mountain (6-2, 4-0). The winner is a game up on the lose, and likely Upper Dauphin (5-3, 4-1).
  • Same in the Colonial Division, which has suddenly gotten juicy with East Pennsboro’s shocking Week 7 loss. The Panthers (7-1, 4-1) now visit surging, and likely slight favorite, Susquehanna Township (5-3, 4-1) in a game that will almost certainly decide the division.
  • And the best race of them all will have to wait one more week. Steel-High and West Perry, both undefeated, won’t face off until Week 10. As long as the Mustangs don’t stumble over Camp Hill and the Rollers over Trinity this week, we know where all eyes will be a week from now.

So buckle up. The penultimate week of the Pennsylvania high school football season looks like a dandy.

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: Week 9 Mid-Penn 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 Week 9 of the PIAA high school football season:

Mid-Penn Conference football schedule and scores: Week 9

Looking for the latest updates and final scores from this weekend’s games around the Harrisburg area? We have you covered:

Friday, Oct. 20

  • Altoona 28, Carlisle 19 Final
  • Central Dauphin 49, CD East 20 Final
  • Cumberland Valley 17, State College 10 Final
  • Bishop McDevitt 42, Mifflin County 0 Final
  • Cedar Cliff 41, Red Land 7 Final
  • Lower Dauphin 21, Hershey 14 Final (OT)
  • Milton Hershey 41, Palmyra 6 Final
  • East Pennsboro 31, Susquehanna Township 28 Final
  • Northern 63, Gettysburg 42 Final
  • Mechanicsburg 34, Greencastle-Antrim 22 Final
  • Shippensburg 27, Waynesboro 0 Final
  • Boiling Springs 6, Middletown 5 Final
  • West Perry 48, Camp Hill 24 Final
  • Big Spring 42, Upper Dauphin 14 Final
  • Halifax 46, Newport 22 Final
  • Susquenita 48, James Buchanan 6 Final
  • Line Mountain 40, Juniata 30 Final
  • Tri-Valley 16, Marian Catholic 6 Final
  • Notre Dame Green Pond 56, Pine Grove 6 Final
  • Williams Valley 54, Shenandoah Valley 0 Final

Saturday, Oct. 21

  • Chambersburg at Harrisburg, 1 p.m.
  • Trinity at Steel-High, 4 p.m.

Pennsylvania high school football live updates and highlights

Click on this Twitter/X list link to follow updates from area teams and reporters from tonight’s games.

Week 8 Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week Sponsored by Vertical Raise PA: Bennett Secrest

Cedar Cliff quarterback Bennett Secrest’s arms and legs propelled him to Week 8 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week honors.

The Colts junior did a little bit of everything in a 55-18 blowout of Keystone Division rival Palmyra. Through the air, he completed 10 of 15 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. And on the ground he shredded the Cougars for 144 stripes and three TDs on just 14 carries.

Some 3,249 Colts fans lifted Secrest to POTW status, besting Cumberland Valley senior running back Bryce Staretz (2,837 votes). There were 6,713 total votes cast this week.

Secrest and the Colts (7-1, 4-1) host backyard arch rival Red Land (2-6) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Week 8 Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week: Luke Stevenosky

Minersville running back Luke Stevenosky sprinted his way to Week 8 4th Down Magazine Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week honors.

The senior blitzed Palisades for 233 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries, averaging nearly 8 yards a touch, in a 38-12 rout. 

Minersville fans lifted Stevenosky to POTW with 2,684, nearly doubling second-place nominee Ethan Manley (1,436), the senior Mahanoy receiver. There were 6,083 total votes cast.

Stevenosky and the Battlin’ Miners (7-1, 2-0) visit another 7-1 team, Schuylkill Haven, on Friday at 7 p.m.

High School Football: Results: Week 9 Picks and Predictions

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EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: It’s Week 9 of the Pennsylvania high school football season, and the 4th Down Magazine team is here to tell you who’s going to win every game involving Mid-Penn Conference teams, as well as Schuylkill-Colonial League games featuring former members of the now-defunct Tri-Valley League.

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 this week.

2023 Standings

Picker: Week 8 — Overall — Perfect Picks

Andy Sandrik: 17-5 — 159-45 — 0

Adam Kulikowski: 15-7 — 156-48 — 1

Andy Shay: 15-7 — 150-54 — 1

* Records in parentheses after school name; District and seed in parentheses before school name.

This week’s episode of 4th and Goal features an interview with Cumberland Valley’s Bryce Staretz plus Andy Shay and Jake Adams break down the division battles in the Mid-Penn Conference and look back on what stood out in Week 8.

FRIDAY, OCT. 20

Altoona 28, Carlisle 19

Andy Shay: Altoona 30, Carlisle 21: Rough ride for both clubs navigating the Commonwealth Division schedule this season. Just feels like the Mountain Lions are the pick here.

Andy Sandrik: Altoona 32, Carlisle 20: Mrs. 4th Down will be happy that all three of us went with her alma mater this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 34, Carlisle 28: Both teams have found the conference schedule perilous, but the Mountain Lions seem to have more fight left in the tank as we enter Week 9. 

Central Dauphin 49, CD East 20

Andy Shay: CD East 28, Central Dauphin 24: If nothing else, neither squad has displayed a high level of consistency week-to-week this season. The Panthers’ offense has been playing well enough to win, but the defense struggles. Rams are better equipped to win here, but I’m taking the upset.

Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 21, CD East 18: Anyone remember when CD East hammered their rivals by a 35-0 score last fall? I’ll bet the Rams remember. 

Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 28, CD East 26: Which Panthers team will take the field in this matchup? The one that took Harrisburg to the wire or the crew that lost to Chambersburg? The variable is far too great in my eyes to bank on. Give me the Rams! 

Cumberland Valley 17, State College 10

Andy Shay: State College 21, Cumberland Valley 14: I like what the Eagles have accomplished this season on so many fronts, but they lack the offensive balance to spring an upset at this level.

Andy Sandrik: State College 28, Cumberland Valley 14: No matchup in the Commonwealth is an easy one, but this week seems to be a tall order for a CV team squaring off against a State College team that has to be hopping mad after getting shut out at home. 

Adam Kulikowski: State College 28, Cumberland Valley 20: The outcome of State College’s game might not be a shock, but the way in which the Cougars held the Little Lions in check sure was. Have to love the signs of life shown by oach Josh Oswalt’s crew in the second half of the season, just not sure it is enough to knock off an angry State College.

Bishop McDevitt 42, Mifflin County 0

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 54, Mifflin County 0: Same as it ever was, right?

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 56, Mifflin County 0: If McDevitt needed 20 yards instead of 10 for a first down, and made Stone Saunders throw with his opposite arm, would that be enough for the Keystone Division to have a chance against the Crusaders? 

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 55, Mifflin County 6: Another week, another tune-up game for the Crusaders. 

Cedar Cliff 41, Red Land 7

Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 49, Red Land 14: Never pick against the Colts when they are stacking wins like this, and right now Cedar Cliff is arguably playing its best football of the season. West Shore School District battle doesn’t feel like a level playing field.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 45, Red Land 14: I know this is a rivalry game, where they throw win-loss records out the window and all that good stuff, but this contest has “one-way ticket to blowout city” written all over it.

Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 48, Red Land 20: The only blemish on the Colts’ record is an understandable loss to Bishop McDevitt. The 1,000-yard rushing mark is within striking distance for the Colts’ Erik Schriver, now just 162 stripes short as we approach Week 9.

Lower Dauphin 21, Hershey 14 (OT)

Andy Shay: Hershey 34, Lower Dauphin 27: This is a very intriguing matchup on many fronts, but for me the bottom line is the Falcons are riding the struggle bus and this Trojans team requires more than nearly your best to knock them off. Falcons’ offense presents some challenges.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 32, Lower Dauphin 26: Falcons have been right there with some good competition in recent weeks. I expect nothing less in this backyard brawl at the Concrete Palace.

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 24, Hershey 21: If you like old-fashion, win-it-in-the-trenches, ground-and-pound football, this is the game for you. Two quality clubs who will simply line up and see who is the toughest group of young men.

Milton Hershey 41, Palmyra 6

Andy Shay: Milton Hershey 41, Palmyra 20: When the Spartans’ offense hits full speed, there is very little anybody can do to slow them down. They have trouble, though, creating space on the scoreboard because they give up a ton of points. Cougars aren’t equipped for a high-octane affair.

Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 35, Palmyra 14: In a perfect world where all else is equal, the Spartans still have a clear offensive edge over Palmyra. I expect that difference to show up Friday night. 

Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 33, Palmyra 20: Spartans have proven time and again they are ready to battle to the final whistle. That pays dividends coming down the stretch. 

East Pennsboro 31, Susquehanna Township 28

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 34, East Pennsboro 30: Marquee matchup for the Colonial Division crown catbird seat. Expect some points to be scored and each offense to land a few big blows. Indians just have that in-the-groove feeling right now. That’s all I see in this one.

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 28, East Pennsboro 21: Every time I look at this ‘Hanna team, it is a little better than the last time I saw it. They’ll still need a clear-eyes, full-heart kind of game to outlast the upstart East Penn Panthers.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 31, East Pennsboro 28: Indians seem to have hit their stride heading down the stretch, while the Panthers have stumbled. Give the edge to Joe Headen’s troops. 

Northern 63, Gettysburg 42

Andy Shay: Gettysburg 27, Northern 21: Since the Warriors still have a second season berth to play for, that’s enough for me to call their number here. Otherwise, this is a 50-50 game all the way.

Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 28, Northern 20: It’s desperation mode for Gettysburg, which saw its playoff chances take a hit with a loss to Greencastle-Antrim. This is a game the Warriors need to win if they want any shot at the postseason. 

Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 41, Northern 20: Anyone who comes in sleeping on the Polar Bears does so at their own peril — just ask East Pennsboro. With their playoff chances on the line, the Warriors should be fully charged and ready to go. 

Mechanicsburg 34, Greencastle-Antrim 22

Andy Shay: Greencastle-Antrim 28, Mechanicsburg 21: Playoffs are on the horizon for the Blue Devils, but the Wildcats can be a dicey out if they find the game to their liking, especially on offense. G-A defense has to be on point.

Andy Sandrik: Greencastle-Antrim 21, Mechanicsburg 14: The Blue Devils have clinched their first winning campaign since the 2015 season. Can they take care of business down the stretch and slide into the Class 5A dance?

Adam Kulikowski: Greencastle-Antrim 31, Mechanicsburg 24: Blue Devils are getting contributions from a wide array of dudes. The inability to key in on one playmaker should pay dividends against the Wildcats. 

Shippensburg 27, Waynesboro 0

Andy Shay: Waynesboro 33, Shippensburg 20: When you score enough points to win on a weekly basis, and the other team has trouble scoring points with any consistency, take the team who can roll over the scoreboard numbers. That’s the Indians here.

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 31, Shippensburg 21: While wins have been slightly easier to come by for Shippensburg, Waynesboro has had no problem finding the end zone this fall, even in defeat. If the Indians turn this into a high-scoring game, that could be a big problem for the ‘Hounds, who are averaging 11.6 points per contest. 

Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 23, Waynesboro 21: Greyhounds will need to play their best on defense to limit the Indians and keep the score within reach for an offense that lacks the dynamic firepower of recent years. 

Boiling Springs 6, Middletown 5

Andy Shay: Middletown 27, Boiling Springs 14: Both teams are having a tough campaign, but the Blue Raiders have been more competitive overall. That’s enough.

Andy Sandrik: Middletown 28, Boiling Springs 14: I think Middletown may have a slight size advantage in a game where all else seems about equal. Give me the Blue Raiders in the battle of one-win teams. 

Adam Kulikowski: Middletown 24, Boiling Springs 14: Notching a second win in Week 9 can do wonders to fuel an offseason program that will need to reestablish a winning formula. 

West Perry 48, Camp Hill 24

Andy Shay: West Perry 35, Camp Hill 14: In Marcus Quaker the Mustangs trust. He’s earned all the accolades he gets, and he will make sure West Perry gets across the 9-0 finish line.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 36, Camp Hill 10: Camp Hill has had a way of being sneakily good in games where it is not favored. The Mustangs, however, have way too much leadership, not to mention talent, to let the Lions steal an upset.

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 45, Camp Hill 32: Give the Lions some credit. They are a feisty group even when they are undermanned for the battle at hand, as they are in this tussle. 

Big Spring 42, Upper Dauphin 14

Andy Shay: Big Spring 34, Upper Dauphin 14: There is a lean that the Bulldogs bring to the table with their running game that the Trojans won’t be able to counter. Big Spring is hunting down a postseason invite as well. 

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 38, Upper Dauphin 14: High-powered matchups with Steel-High, Trinity and West Perry, followed by a rivalry win over Boiling Springs, have the Bulldogs beyond ready for everything UD has to offer.

Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 28, Upper Dauphin 20: The Bulldogs’ 4-4 record doesn’t do justice for the quality of this team. Big Spring gets rewarded in the win column Friday. 

Halifax 46, Newport 22

Andy Shay: Halifax 28, Newport 14: Simply put, the Buffaloes don’t score enough points to keep up with Wildcats, who when the playing field is level have shown plenty of offensive firepower.

Andy Sandrik: Halifax 21, Newport 6: This is a game where I see Newport needing about three TDs to have a chance at an upset. Easier said than done for a Buffs squad that has scored 45 points all season and maxed out at 14 points in a game. 

Adam Kulikowski: Halifax 33, Newport 20: Chalk this one up as win No. 4 for the Wildcats, a feat that hasn’t occurred since that magical 2018 season. 

Susquenita 48, James Buchanan 6

Andy Shay: Susquenita 42, James Buchanan 7: Blackhawks will make it three straight wins against a Rockets squad where points are awfully hard to come by.

Andy Sandrik: Susquenita 36, James Buchanan 12: A hard-earned win over Halifax has ‘Nita on a two-game victory streak. Make that three wins after the ‘Hawks host Jimmy Buck.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquenita 48, James Buchanan 6: Five of the Rockets’ eight games have ended with seven or less points on the board. Not the recipe for success.

Line Mountain 40, Juniata 30

Andy Shay: Juniata 28, Line Mountain 21: Did you see what the Indians did to UDA last week? If not, check out their schedule. I’m not picking against Juniata in this game no matter what Line Mountain brings to the table.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 28, Line Mountain 14: It’s never a smart idea to pick against the team Michael Bullock predicted to win the Liberty, but Juniata seems to have hit a late-season level up. The Indians also have a pretty nice sophomore receiver in Jasper Shepps, who has hauled in 46 catches, including 11 TDs, and is averaging 19.7 yards per reception. 

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 33, Juniata 31: The contrarian pick among our group, the Eagles will need to play their best football to beat an Indians club riding a five-game winning streak. 

Tri-Valley 16, Marian Catholic 6

Andy Shay: Marian Catholic 23, Tri-Valley 14: Been a grind for the Bulldogs lately, and Marian has a defense that is driving the train. Tough matchup.

Andy Sandrik: Marian Catholic 23, Tri-Valley 17: It’s been a couple of mentally exhausting weeks for the Bulldogs, who have fallen just short in losses to Nativity BVM and Mahanoy. Meanwhile, Marian Catholic’s defense hasn’t allowed more than two TDs in a game since Sept. 8.

Adam Kulikowski: Tri-Valley 26, Marian Catholic 17: Bulldogs may be considered the underdogs in this tilt, but this crew has the ability to stymie an opponent. 

Notre Dame-Green Pond 56, Pine Grove 6

Andy Shay: Notre Dame-Green Pond 42, Pine Grove 7: The Crusaders have the best player on the field playing quarterback and posting spiffy dual-threat numbers. The Cardinals are not equipped for this in 2023.

Andy Sandrik: Notre Dame-Green Pond 38, Pine Grove 13: If the Cardinals want to have a prayer against the Crusaders, they’re going to have to find an answer for QB Danny Darno, who is not only dangerous in the air, but also leads his team in rushing.

Adam Kulikowski: Notre Dame-Green Pond 45, Pine Grove 6: Two-way weapon Darno garners a lot of attention when folks talk about the Crusaders, but take away one blowout loss to Southern Lehigh (8-0) and this is a defense that will present serious problems for the Cardinals. 

Williams Valley 54, Shenandoah Valley 0

Andy Shay: Williams Valley 40, Shenandoah Valley 13: The A-Train is coming down the tracks and SV won’t have the answers to slow him down.

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 33, Shenandoah Valley 14: In an effort to take a break from talking about Vikings RB Alex Achenbach every single week, I scanned the defensive stats to find a standout, and the man I’ve turned up is, of course, Alex Achenbach. The dude has 53 tackles, 10 pass defenses, four INTs, two fumble recoveries and one caused fumble.

Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 45, Shenandoah Valley 12: Blue Devils lack the big-play stars to hang with the Vikings, but senior wideout Nick Ryan has quietly put together a nice season hauling in 37 receptions for 673 yards through eight games. 

SATURDAY, OCT. 21

Chambersburg at Harrisburg, 1 p.m.

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 42, Chambersburg 0: A focused and maturing Harrisburg team will make sure to keep moving the needle forward. The Trojans aren’t built for a battle at this level in Week 9.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 38, Chambersburg 7: The Cougars showed last week at State College that when they’re on their game, they can beat anybody. That’s not good news for Chambersburg.

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 45, Chambersburg 14: When you get to Week 9, you know the time is coming to play your best football. That close win to CD East earlier in October just might have been the final punch the Cougars needed to round into playoff form. 

Trinity at Steel-High, 4 p.m.

Andy Shay: Steel-High 42, Trinity 21: The best player for the Shamrocks will be limited at best, and the Rollers will be at full firepower. That’s the mismatch here.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 44, Trinity 12: Without Messiah Mickens at full health, I’m not sure how Trinity plans on keeping this game within reach.

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 48, Trinity 20: This one loses a bit of its luster with Trinity’s key weapon struggling to regain his health. 

High School Football: Eric F. Epler’s State High School Football Rankings after Week 8

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For more content from Eric F. Epler, visit Pennlive.com.

CLASS 6A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12)          — 6-1 – 1 

2. Parkland (11)                       — 8-0 – 2 

3. Central Bucks West (1)        — 8-0 – 3 

4. Manheim Township (3)       — 8-0 – 4 

5. Central York (3)                   — 8-0 – 5 

6. Pittsburgh C.C. (7)               — 7-1 – 6 

7. Downingtown East (1)        — 7-0 – 7 

8. North Allegheny (7)            — 7-1 – 8 

9. Nazareth (11)                      – 7-1 – 9 

10. Harrisburg (3)                    — 7-1 – NR 

Teams to watch: Central Bucks South (1) 8-0, Northampton (11) 7-1, Souderton (1) 8-0, Spring-Ford (1) 7-1. 

CLASS 5A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. Imhotep Charter (12)          — 8-0 – 1 

2. Peters Township (7)            — 8-0 – 2 

3. Exeter Township (3)            — 8-0 – 3 

4. Roman Catholic (12)           – 6-1 – 4 

5. Southern Lehigh (11)          — 8-0 – 6 

6. Cocalico (3)                         — 7-1 – 8 

7. West Chester Rustin (1)      — 6-1 – 9 

8. Springfield-Delco (1)           — 7-1 – 10 

9. Chester (1)                          — 7-1 – NR 

10. Cedar Cliff (3)                    — 7-1 – NR 

Teams to watch: Cathedral Prep (10) 4-3, Ephrata (3) 7-1, Marple-Newtown (1) 7-1, Penn Hills (7) 6-2, Pine-Richland (7) 5-3, Strath Haven (1) 7-1. 

CLASS 4A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. Bishop McDevitt (3)            – 8-0 – 1 

2. Aliquippa (7)                       – 7-0 – 2 

3. Pope John Paul II (1)           – 8-0 – 3 

4. Jersey Shore (4)                   – 7-0-1 – 4 

5. Selinsgrove (4)                    – 7-0-1 – 5 

6. Allentown C.C. (11)             – 6-2 – 6 

7. McKeesport (7)                   – 7-1 – 7 

8. Manheim Central (3)          — 7-1 – 8 

9. Thomas Jefferson (7)          – 7-1 – 9 

10. Lampeter-Strasburg (3)     — 7-1 – NR 

Teams to watch: Dallas (2) 8-0, East Pennsboro (3) 7-1, Montour (7) 7-1, Twin Valley (3) 7-1, Wyoming Area (2) 8-0. 

CLASS 3A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. Belle Vernon (7)                  – 6-1 – 1 

2. Wyomissing (3)                   – 7-1 – 2 

3. Avonworth (7)                     – 8-0 – 3 

4. Neumann-Goretti (12)        – 6-1 – 4 

5. West Perry (3)                     — 8-0 – 6 

6. Danville (4)                          — 7-1 – 7 

7. Northwestern Lehigh (11)  — 8-0 – 8 

8. Palmerton (11)                    — 8-0 – NR 

9. Central (6)                           — 8-0 – 9 

10. Elizabeth-Forward (7)       — 8-0 – 10 

Teams to watch: Knoch (7) 7-1, Loyalsock (4) 6-2, North Schuylkill (11) 6-2, Schuylkill Valley (3) 7-1, Scranton Prep (2) 7-1. 

CLASS 2A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. Farrell (10)                           – 8-0 – 2 

2. Westinghouse (8)                – 7-0 – 3 

3. Richland (6)                         – 8-0 – 4 

4. Central Clarion (9)               — 8-0 – 5 

5. Washington (7)                   — 8-0 – 6 

6. Southern Columbia (4)        – 7-1 – 1 

7. Mount Carmel (4)               — 6-2 – NR 

8. Troy (4)                                — 8-0 – 7 

9. Trinity (3)                             – 6-2 – 8 

10. Mercyhurst Prep (10)        — 8-0 – 9 

Teams to watch: Bald Eagle Area (6) 7-1, Berlin Brothersvalley (5) 7-1, Chestnut Ridge (5) 7-1, Steel Valley (7) 6-1, United Valley (6) 8-0. 

CLASS 1A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. Steelton-Highspire (3)         — 8-0 – 1 

2. Canton (4)                           — 8-0 – 2 

3. Northern Bedford (5)          — 8-0 – 3 

4. Lackawanna Trail (2)           – 8-0 – 4 

5. Fort Cherry (7)                    — 8-0 – 5 

6. Bishop Canevin (7)              — 6-1 – 6 

7. Redbank Valley (9)              — 8-0 – 7 

8. South Side (7)                     — 8-0 – 9 

9. Muncy (4)                            — 7-1 – 10 

10. Union Area (7)                  — 7-1 – NR 

Teams to watch: Clairton (7) 6-2, Lakeview (10) 7-1, Minersville (11) 7-1, Northern Cambria (6) 7-1, South Williamsport (4) 6-2. 

Vote now: Week 8 Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week

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Alex Achenbach, sr., RB, Williams Valley:  Another ho-hum performance for Achenbach–how crazy is it to even jokingly say that? That’s what happens when a 33-carry, 228-yard performance becomes mundane. He also only reached paydirt once in a 13-6 victory against Marion Catholic. 

Luke Stevenosky, sr, RB, Minersville: All Stevenosky did this week was average eight yards per carry en route to 233 stripes on 29 carries. He reached paydirt three times to propel Minersville to a 38-12 victory against Palisades. 

Devon Hildebrand, sr., WR, Northwestern Lehigh: Hildebrand hauled in a game-high seven receptions for 96 stripes and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 35-6 victory against Bangor. 

Ethan Manley, sr., WR, Mahanoy Area: Manley hauled in a game-high four receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in Mahanoy Area’s 27-20 victory against Tri-Valley Friday night. 

Cole Gemberling, so., RB, Tri-Valley: The sophomore continues to impress for Tri-Valley. Gemberling racked up 168 yards on 28 carries–a six-yards-per-carry average –in the Bulldog’s 27-20 loss to Mahanoy Area. He added one score to his resume.

This poll has ended (since 1 year).
Luke Stevenosky, sr, RB, Minersville:
44.12%
Ethan Manley, sr., WR, Mahanoy Area:
23.61%
Alex Achenbach, sr., RB, Williams Valley:
19.63%
Cole Gemberling, so., RB, Tri-Valley:
12.56%
Devon Hildebrand, sr., WR, Northwestern Lehigh:
0.08%

Vote Now: Week 8 Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week 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!

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.

Jason Burney, sr., QB, Milton Hershey: A few Spartans could get the nod after a wild 47-44 win over Lower Dauphin, but we’ll go with Burney, who was 23 of 36 for 386 yards and ran seven times for 39 yards (and an 8-yard score). His five TD passes to five different receivers covered 35, 73, 16, 73 and 12 yards. He also threw a two-point conversion.

Elias Coke, so., WR/DB, Harrisburg: Coke caught six passes for 157 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown reception, to propel the Commonwealth-leading Cougars to a 20-0 win over State College. The victory likely hands Harrisburg the division title, barring an upset.

Mateo Crummel, sr., WR, Central Dauphin: It was all air, all night in the Rams’ 48-14 rout of Altoona, and Crummel was one of those flying all over the field. The senior shredded the Mountain Lions for 188 receiving yards (plus three carries for 19 rushing) and two touchdowns, which went for 65 and 62 yards, on seven receptions.

Alex Erby, sr., QB, Steel-High: Erby broke yet another Pennsylvania high school football record. Six days after breaking the career passing yards record, he reset the passing TDs mark with his 147th career TD on a night when he threw for 435 yards and seven scores (17 of 21 passing) in a 67-12 blowout of Newport. He passed Central Martinsburg QB Jeff Hoenstine’s mark of 146 set last season.

Torin Evans, so., QB, Susquehanna Township: Evans helped ‘Hanna extend its winning streak to four, going 14 of 18 for 235 yards and three TDs to three different receivers in a 42-16 win over Northern. Evans hit Jarrett Kern (9 yards), Lex Cyrus (18) and Zikhere Leaks (84) for scores, plus punched in a 1-yard TD run of his own.

Ben Fickel, sr., WR/DB, Big Spring: The Bulldogs decided to go to the air quite a bit in a 30-13 win over Boiling Springs on Thursday night, and Fickel shined. He caught four passes for 82 yards and secured a 24-yard touchdown reception. He also had four tackles and an interception on defense and returned three kickoffs 69 yards.

Elijah Johnson, sr., RB/LB, Milton Hershey: In a 47-44 barnburner to beat Lower Dauphin, Johnson recorded 192 total yards and a pair of touchdowns. He did that with 13 carries for 119 yards on the ground, scoring from 40 yards out, and was on the receiving end of a 73-yard scoring strike.

Christian Joy, jr., RB, Trinity: With star running back Messiah Mickens again out due to injury, Joy stepped in admirably in a thrilling 14-13 win over Camp Hill that ended with Trinity stifling a late two-point conversion. Joy scored both Shamrocks TDs (28-yard reception, 4-yard run), finishing with 178 rushing yards on 28 carries and 23 receiving yards on two grabs.

Keith Oates III, sr., QB/LB, East Pennsboro: Oates got the Panthers back in the win column after a stunning loss the week before, going 17 of 24 for 228 yards and touchdown passes to Breckin Swope (28 yards) and Trey Good (30) to topple Shippensburg 34-14. The multitalented Oates also ran five times for 24 stripes.

Rhaigeon Parker, sr., WR/DB, Chambersburg: Parker made two huge plays in one of the most thrilling and tightest games of the season, a 34-33 overtime victory over CD East for the Trojans. Parker picked off Demaj Jalloh on a two-point conversion attempt in OT that denied the Panthers a win. Parker also added 3 catches for 66 yards, including a 2-yard TD before halftime.

Marcus Quaker, sr., QB, West Perry: Quaker’s accolades continued to grow Friday night in a 31-6 win over Middletown. The senior broke 5,000 career passing yards in the win, finishing with 360 total yards (233 passing, 127 rushing) and four scores. He ran two in from 6, 5 and 62 yards out and hit Ian Goodling (eight catches, 136 yards) for a 30-yard strike.

Xzavier Ramsey, sr., RB, Greencastle-Antrim: The Blue Devils bounced back after a shutout loss to beat Gettysburg 37-20 on Friday night. Ramsey was a big reason why, with 142 stripes and TD runs of 24, 6 and 3 yards on 21 carries. 

Stone Saunders, jr., QB, Bishop McDevitt: The Kentucky verbal commit lit up yet another team, this time Red Land, for 253 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-0 blowout. Saunders went 13 of 19 passing and hit Alabama commit Rico Scott seven times for 168 yards and two TDs.

Bennett Secrest, jr., QB, Cedar Cliff: The Colts stampeded Palmyra 55-18 thanks to the arm and legs of Secrest. The junior did most of his damage on the ground, rushing 14 times for a career high 144 yards and three TDs. But he was efficient through the air, finishing 10 of 15 for 111 yards and another score.

Bryce Staretz, sr., RB, Cumberland Valley: Staretz to churn out massive yardage in grinding fashion. This time he was called upon 35 times in a 30-8 rout of Carlisle on Friday, turning those opportunities into 242 yards and four touchdowns of 3, 5, 20 and 2 yards. He ran for 137 stripes in the second half.

This poll has ended (since 1 year).
Bennett Secrest, jr., QB, Cedar Cliff:
48.40%
Bryce Staretz, sr., RB, Cumberland Valley:
43.16%
Ben Fickel, sr., WR/DB, Big Spring:
4.31%
Keith Oates III, sr., QB/LB, East Pennsboro:
3.66%
Alex Erby, sr., QB, Steel-High:
0.10%
Marcus Quaker, sr., QB, West Perry:
0.09%
Christian Joy, jr., RB, Trinity:
0.09%
Torin Evans, so., QB, Susquehanna Township:
0.06%
Stone Saunders, jr., QB, Bishop McDevitt:
0.04%
Elias Coke, so., WR/DB, Harrisburg:
0.03%
Jason Burney, sr., QB, Milton Hershey:
0.03%
Rhaigeon Parker, sr., WR/DB, Chambersburg:
0.01%
Mateo Crummel, sr., WR, Central Dauphin:
0.01%
Xzavier Ramsey, sr., RB, Greencastle-Antrim:
0.00%
Elijah Johnson, sr., RB/LB, Milton Hershey:
0.00%

Sunday Morning QB: Harrisburg’s defense up to the challenge; Trinity finding new ways to win and a look at the playoff picture

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Down the stretch they come in the 2023 high school football season, and Harrisburg grabbed the Mid-Penn Conference spotlight in Week 8 with a stunning road victory.

The one-loss Cougars going on the road to State College and winning does not qualify as stunning. What makes the result coach Calvin Everett’s troops posted Friday night stunning was the manner in which it was accomplished.

Harrisburg dominated the Little Lions from start to finish in a 20-0 victory where the only close element of the game was the scoreboard.

Defensively, a week after getting run over and around by CD East’s ground game in a wire-job victory over the Panthers, the Cougars’ defense responded by pitching a shutout against an offense that came in averaging 42.1 points a game.

I’m becoming a bigger and bigger fan of Cougars quarterback Shawn Lee Jr. The lethal dual-threat signal caller’s game is reaching new levels with each passing week it seems this past month. Lee powered an offense that rolled up nearly 500 total yards, throwing for 193 yards and piling up an additional 153 on the ground.

Harrisburg is in the driver’s seat to add another Mid-Penn Commonwealth championship banner to its ledger with this victory. More lofty goals and aspirations for this team are legitimate, but stacking up the small victories like this one matters in that process.

Trinity’s defense stepping up for offense

It has been a grind for coach Jordan Hill and the Trinity Shamrocks since losing those back-to-back heartbreakers early in the season.

Star running back Messiah Mickens has been limited since suffering an injury in Week 3 against Wyomissing. The sophomore Penn State recruit continued to play most weeks, but it was clear he was operating in a massively limited capacity.

The rubber met the road this week, and the T-Rocks sat Mickens out for rival Camp Hill. Looking at the big picture, getting Mickens healthy is the only chance Trinity has of making a postseason run.

Because of all the noise surrounding the injury to Mickens and how it will impact Trinity, what’s been lost in that shuffle is what the Shamrocks’ defense is doing to help this team stack wins.

Friday night was another example of a wild finish for Trinity, its third game in eight weeks decided inside the final minute. And this time it was the Shamrocks who came out on top.

Camp Hill appeared to take the lead 15-14 on a two-point conversion with 44 seconds left, but it was flagged for ineligible man downfield on the play. Given a second chance, the Trinity defense went on the attack and Lions QB Drew Branstetter’s desperation heave under pressure into the end zone didn’t connect.

With an offense struggling to provide the balance coach Hill is looking for because of Mickens’ injury, this Trinity defense has been the workhorse —︱surrendering only 68 points the last five games. Allowing fewer than 14 points per game makes it more difficult to lose.

And remember the formula for postseason success in Pennsylvania is the ability to run the ball consistently for balance and have a defense that travels and can limit points on the board.

Resting Mickens as much as is needed down the stretch is a necessary and gutsy call by Hill. It’s clear, though, the bigger picture is what Hill has his eye on.

Susquehanna’s growth during season means division is in play

Susquehanna Township might have struggled out of the gate this season, but veteran coach Joe Headen’s gang is on fire right now. As I watched them a week ago, you could see the progress this team had made from even two weeks prior.

Northern had every right to be feeling frisky despite its 2-5 record when it welcomed the Indians to Bostic Field in Week 8. The Polar Bears knocked East Pennsboro from the ranks of the unbeaten last week.

The Indians made sure Northern didn’t have a chance to make it two upset victories in a row by dominating pretty much from start to finish in a 42-10 victory.

What is striking about where the Indians have come is they are playing complementary football. The offense has evolved into an explosive juggernaut, and defensively they are making it difficult to operate in tight spaces and force teams to be one dimensional.

And remember, the 6-2 Indians are nearly 8-0 with a pair of one-point setbacks on their ledger.

Winning the Colonial Division outright is now possible for two reasons. First, the Polar Bears helped the cause by knocking off East Pennsboro; and second, the Indians will welcome the Panthers to Roscoe Warner Field for a Week 9 winner-take-all game.

District 3 playoffs: Where Mid-Penn contenders stand

With the postseason only two weeks away, time to dig into the District 3 Power Rankings and see what it looks like for the Mid-Penn Conference.

As of today, the Mid-Penn would have almost half of its 32 members — 15 across the six PIAA classifications — receive an invitation to the postseason party. That’s an impressive number in my book.

Three of those — Steel-High, West Perry and Bishop McDevitt — are currently No. 1 seeds. McDevitt and Steel-High are no surprise, but the unbeaten Mustangs checking in as the Class 3A No. 1 seed is unexpected.

There are a few bubble teams to keep an eye on in the next couple weeks. Big Spring is just outside of the Class 4A cut line at No. 11 with a 4-4 record. The Bulldogs probably need to win out to assure receiving an invitation.

Lower Dauphin is just inside the Class 5A cut line at No. 10 but has dropped back-to-back games and is trending in the wrong direction. One win for the Falcons might be enough, but it’s a dicey proposition. Gettysburg is the first team out in Class 5A and most likely needs two wins to make it. And the Warriors still have to play previously mentioned Susquehanna Township.

Cumberland Valley, despite all its struggles offensively this season, has found more offense the last couple weeks and currently sits at No. 8, the final spot, in Class 6A. If the Eagles make the postseason — CV plays State College and Altoona to close out the regular season — it would be a monumental accomplishment for coach Josh Oswalt’s young squad.