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Alex Achenbach, sr., RB, Williams Valley: Achenbach keeps what is seemingly a weekly slot in our Player of the Week polls with another strong performance — this time rushing for 237 yards on 26 carries. He scored four times on the evening en route to a 54-0 shutout of Shenandoah Valley.
Matthew Machalik, sr., QB, Palmerton: It took Machalik just 16 carries to tally 196 stripes against Tamaqua Friday night in a 34-14 victory. The senior also added three touchdowns. On defense, he picked off Tamaqua’s Luke Kane.
Niko Carestia, so., RB, Schuylkill Haven: Carestia turned in his best statistical performance of the season Friday night when the sophomore diced up Minersville’s defense for 195 stripes on 24 carries (8.1 yards per carry). He reached paydirt four times to fuel his team’s 35-28 victory.
Kash Tobin, sr., LB, Tri-Valley: Tri-Valley notched a 16-6 victory against Marian Catholic. Leading the way for a stout defense was Tobin, who tallied 18 tackles, one sack, two pass breakups and also chipped in 30 yards rushing on the evening.
Dainn Vassallo, sr., LB, Notre Dame-Green Pond: Vassallo churned out a game-high 19 tackles Friday night in a 56-6 victory against Pine Grove. He also recorded an interception.
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Justin Bardo, jr., LB, Mechanicsburg: Bardo had an absurd 19 tackles in the Wildcats’ 34-22 win over Greencastle-Antrim. Mechanicsburg recorded three turnovers in its second straight win, with Bardo responsible for two interceptions.
Cole Bartram, sr., RB, Northern: We may never see another night like it. Bartram put up the kinds of numbers Friday night some players are lucky to have in an entire season, rushing for an insane 500 yards and nine touchdowns on an otherworldly 48 carries in a 63-42 victory over Gettysburg. He had 1,120 yards and 12 TDs entering Week 9.
Nolan Baumert, sr., RB, Line Mountain: Baumert capped a furious 40-30 comeback victory over Juniata with a 55-yard dash to the end zone with 25 seconds left, gifting the Eagles a share of the Liberty Division title. He finished with 185 yards on 17 carries, adding a third-quarter TD as well, and caught a 21-yard pass.
Teegan Carroll, so., QB/LB, Halifax: Carroll accounted for five touchdowns in a 46-22 victory over winless Newport, and he finished with 153 rushing yards and 118 passing to help the Wildcats snap a four-game losing streak.
Durrell Ceasar Jr., sr., WR/DB, Steel-High: Caesar’s 73-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown put the Rollers ahead in the second quarter, and his 77-yard touchdown reception in the third kept the game close before they finally pulled away from Trinity in a wild 42-37 victory. Caesar finished with four receptions and 77 yards.
Derek Gibney, sr., QB, Susquenita: Gibney overcame two interceptions to throw for 262 yards and three touchdowns on a tidy 17-of-26 passing in a 48-6 blowout of James Buchanan. Improving the Blackhawks to 4-5, he also rushed for 42 yards and a TD on two carries and had two tackles on defense.
Grant Hall, jr., RB, Big Spring: Hall averaged a whopping 15.3 yards on 14 carries, finishing with 214 yards and a couple of trips to the end zone in the Bulldogs’ 42-14 victory over Upper Dauphin. He also snagged three passes for 53 yards, including a go-ahead 45-yard TD grab.
Nijeer Kittrell, sr., RB, Milton Hershey: Subbing in for an injured Elijah Johnson, Kittrell performed admirably on both sides of the ball in a 41-6 rout of Palmyra. He rushed for 141 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown, doing most of his damage in the second half. And he returned an interception to the house.
Shawn Lee Jr., jr., QB, Harrisburg: Lee did plenty in a 60-14 blowout of Chambersburg, going 13 of 23 for 174 yards and a couple of touchdowns (22, 29 yards) and an additional 106 yards and two scores (10, 28 yards) on 11 rushes. And he chipped in a defensive interception for good measure.
Bron Mosley, sr., RB, Altoona: Mosley twice had to score go-ahead touchdowns, the second finally pushing the Mountain Lions ahead of Carlisle for good in a 28-19 victory. He finished with three TDs (2, 1 and 7 yards) and 162 stripes on a workmanlike 36 carries.
Keith Oates III, sr., QB, East Pennsboro: In a Colonial Division championship-winning performance, Oates’ threw for 206 yards (12 of 22 passing) and ran five times for 15 times in a 31-28 comeback win over Susquehanna Township. He threw two TDs and won the game with a 1-yard QB sneak and successful two-point conversion pass with 1:25 left to play.
Marcus Quaker, sr., QB, West Perry: On a night when the 9-0 Mustangs ran for 403 total yards in a 48-24 win over Camp Hill, Quaker churned out 111 of them. The dual-threat QB scored four times on nine carries, including a 44-yard dash in the first quarter, ahead of a mammoth Week 10 game against Steel-High.
Stone Saunders, jr., QB, Bishop McDevitt: Saunders, a Kentucky verbal commit, was again his efficient self in a 42-0 blowout of Mifflin County, finishing with 287 yards and four scores on 21-of-29 passing. He threw two TDs to Alabama commit Rico Scott.
Josh Smith, jr., WR/DB, Mechanicsburg: Smith caught 10 passes for 117 yards and fourth-quarter touchdowns of 32 and 8 yards in a 32-22 win over Greencastle-Antrim. He also, on a trick play that had him throwing, connected with Henry Notarfrancesco for a 67-yard TD.
Bryce Staretz, sr., RB, Cumberland Valley: Staretz scored two crucial touchdowns, a 6-yarder in the first quarter and game-winning 39-yard with 2:56 to play, in the Eagles’ stunning 17-10 upset over State College. He finished with 134 yards on 20 carries in the home win.
What a wild and crazy Week 9 in the Mid-Penn Conference, just what you want as the stakes in the chase for division crowns and postseason berths gets more intense.
A few of the clutch results include Line Mountain coming on like gangbusters in the second half to stake a claim to the Liberty Division crown by overpowering Juniata, East Pennsboro climbing off the deck to shock Susquehanna Township and Cumberland Valley holding off State College in the dying seconds to stun the Little Lions.
But the most wild showing Friday night was Northern running back Cole Bartram and his stunning performance against Gettysburg. The Polar Bears’ battering ram set the Mid-Penn Conference record for rushing yards in a single game with 500 stripes and nine touchdowns. His record performance came on 48 carries.
The 500 yards stands out because it’s a record, but I’m not sure the nine touchdowns and 48 carries aren’t more impressive. I remember former Cedar Cliff running back Coy Wire once notching 40-plus carries in a playoff game back in 1996. In more than three decades I can’t remember a running back approaching 50 carries, and I’ve never heard of one dude getting nine rushing touchdowns.
Bartram eclipsed the great LeSean McCoy from Bishop McDevitt, who had 404 yards against Red Land in 2003, as the No. 1 rushing performance by a Mid-Penn Conference RB. “Shady” needed only 31 carries and scored five touchdowns that day in a 48-27 victory. For those who saw Shady play in the early 2000s, his record performance felt like just another day at the office.
Bartram’s 500-yard performance places him tied for third in state history with Eastern York’s Alex Cooley (2012), a full 222 yards behind former Penn State standout Journey Brown’s 722 yards for Meadville in 2015.
Cumberland Valley’s turnaround nothing short of impressive
At the midway point of the season, Cumberland Valley was 1-4 and its 2023 rebuild was in shambles. Offensive challenges were going to front and center, and the Eagles still had Central Dauphin and State College on the schedule.
Today, the surging Eagles have stacked four consecutive victories to get to 5-4, and they’re on the cusp of making the District 3 Class 6A playoffs after a stunning goal-line stand by the CV defense preserved a 17-10 victory in a game where the Eagles never trailed.
It’s fitting the CV defense put this one away because the second half of this season has been carried by that unit. It only surrendered four touchdowns the last three games, and two of those opponents were Central Dauphin and State College. That’s next-level stuff.
State College was poised to forge a tie in this one late when the Little Lions cobbled together a drive and had first-and-goal at the CV 4-yard-line. CV stuffed the first two plays, and star linebacker Alex Sauve recovered a fumble on third down for the decisive nail in the coffin.
Cumberland Valley scored 19 points against Central Dauphin and 17 against State College, and the Eagles claimed victory on both those occasions. That’s all you really need to know.
Line Mountain takes Liberty driver’s seat
Congratulations to Line Mountain for rallying from behind to beat Juniata in a wild chase for the Liberty Division title. The Eagles are 5-0 in division play with a 40-30 victory that was nip-and-tuck all the way.
The 40 points scored by Line Mountain was its most this season and came at exactly the right time. LM needs to replicate that next week, though. Hey, winning division crowns isn’t always easy, right?
Four touchdown passes from QB Kaiden Maurer was much needed for this team. Toss in 185 rushing yards from RB Nolan Baumert, including a 55-yard TD scamper in the final minute to ice the victory, and the one-two punch was simply too much for the Juniata defense.
They still have to play 4-1 Upper Dauphin in Week 10 to make the title their own. Juniata is 4-1 and is still part of a three-way tie scenario should UDA bounce Line Mountain in the regular-season finale.
Upper Dauphin still has a say in this championship chase, but the upper hand clearly belongs to Line Mountain.
East Penn shows they’re Colonial’s best
As I sat in the press box at Roscoe Warner Field just off Progress Avenue Friday night, as the key Colonial Division showdown between East Pennsboro and Susquehanna Township trickled into the fourth quarter, I had this sense the Panthers were going to do it again.
In early September the Panthers trailed Milton Hershey on the road by a touchdown with less than seven minutes to play. There was no panic by the Panthers, they simply found another gear and scored twice down the stretch to subdue the Spartans 34-28 after trailing at halftime.
A similar scenario played out Friday night (READ MAKING THE GRADE HERE), only this time it was clear the Panthers needed some help to rally from two scores down.
The Indians provided the assistance by going silent offensively thanks to a bushel basket of penalties. Once East Pennsboro seized momentum, it was clear they would win. The Panthers scored twice in the final six minutes to seize a 31-28 victory.
Here’s the kicker: East Pennsboro could have easily scored a third touchdown during the onslaught but had a pass picked off in the end zone to end a drive.
When it mattered most, the potential Colonial Division champions believed they were the better team and went out and did the hard part — they showed it.
The Panthers can go 6-1 in the Colonial with a win over Waynesboro in Week 10.
Playoff picture analysis
Heading into Week 10, I always look for teams on the playoff bubble and see how much control they have of their own destiny. That’s how I define “fun” when it comes to the District 3 Power Rankings.
Let’s start in Class 2A where Camp Hill sits in the fourth and final spot. There’s really no drama here, as the 4-5 Lions will be No. 4 whether they win or lose. Moving to Class 4A, Big Spring is on the wrong side of the cutoff line at No. 11 and has some serious ground to make up to make the dance. It’s possible, but they are way behind No. 10 Susquehannock.
In Class 5A there’s 12 spots open for the taking and Hershey, Lower Dauphin, Greencastle-Antrim and Gettysburg are currently in the Nos. 9, 10, 12 and 13 spots, respectively. That’s going to be worth following as Week 10 plays out.There’s no real drama in Class 6A, to be honest. Cumberland Valley currently sits in the No. 8 spot and isn’t threatened by anyone below them. I’m just wondering if the Eagles can keep the train rolling and beat Altoona in Week 10 can they move up a spot to No. 7 or even No. 6 and somehow avoid playing either Manheim Township or Harrisburg in the first round — two squads they have already locked horns with and lost.
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 Perry
9-0
11
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-High
9-0
10
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.
Wyomissing
8-1
9
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 Township
8-1
7
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 Central
8-1
7
As the weather turns cooler, the Barons are marching toward second-season mode after thrashing Governor Mifflin 48-0. The shutout is noteworthy.
5.
Cocalico
8-1
6
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 York
9-0
4
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.
Harrisburg
8-1
3
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 Township
9-0
2
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 McDevitt
9-0
1
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.
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
* 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.
