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Sage Smeltz, jr., K, Williams Valley: When the pressure was on, Sage Smeltz came through in the clutch for the Vikings, nailing a 21-yard field goal for the game-winning score. She also was a perfect 4-for-4 in extra points in her team’s 31-28 victory against Minersville.
Danny Darno, sr., QB, Notre Dame-Green Pond: The Crusaders made quick work of Salisbury Township and Darno played a key role. The senior threw just 13 passes on the evening, but he completed nine of them for 192 yards and three scores. He added another score on the ground in his team’s 51-7 victory.
Hunter Reitz, sr., RB, Catasauqua: The senior running back was the bell cow for his troops Friday night against Mahanoy Area, rushing for 154 stripes on 24 carries. He also reached pay dirt once in his team’s 35-14 victory.
Matthew Machalik, sr., RB, Palmerton: Whenever you are able to set up camp in the end zone as Machalik did Friday night, you make this list. Just call it a new rule. All Machalik did Friday night was rush for 319 yards on 15 carries. He found himself in the end zone a staggering five times as a rusher. He also threw for another 121 yards and a touchdown. Not a bad night’s work in a 41-31 victory against Jim Thorpe.
Caden Mengel, so., QB, North Schuylkill: The sophomore gunslinger led North Schuylkill to a 38-15 victory Friday night on 16-of-24 (66 percent completion percentage) passing. He racked up 208 stripes, adding a pair of touchdowns to senior wideout Joey Flail.
Alex Achenbach, sr., RB, Williams Valley: Don’t worry, Alex. We kept your spot on this weekly poll warm for you. Achenbach was his usual dominant self with 255 yards on 31 carries. He added three scores on a night when teammate Sage Smeltz played hero with the game-winning field goal in a 31-28 victory over Minersville.
Luke Stevenosky, RB, sr., Minersville: Let’s stay with the Williams Valley v Minersville game for one more nominee. We knew this running back match up was going to be one to watch—and neither Achenbach or Stevenosky disappointed. Stevenosky rushed for 224 yards on 25 carries. He added two scores and nine tackles on defense in a 31-28 loss to Williams Valley.
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Jason Burney, sr., QB, Milton Hershey: Consider this a nod for receivers Angel Roberts (four catches, 86 yards and four TDs) and Mohamed Koroma (16 grabs, 200 yards), as well. It’s impossible to disentangle the trio’s performances in a 36-20 win. But Burney finished 30 of 37 for 369 yards and five TD passes.
Eddie Corkery, jr., QB, State College: The Little Lions steamrolled Altoona 49-7 thanks in part to Corkery slicing up the Mountain Lions’ defense. The junior threw just 14 passes, completing 12 of them, for 302 yards and four scores of 7, 51, 77 and 73 yards.
Mateo Crummel, sr., WR/DB, Central Dauphin: The Rams didn’t need to do much through the air in a 35-7 rout of Chambersburg, but Crummel maximized his opportunities with nine catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns (33 and 27 yards, from Key’Ron Plummer). He also had a 15-yard TD run and finished with two carries for 20 stripes.
Brandon Fritz, jr., WR/DB/K, Lower Dauphin: Fritz drilled 25- and 40-yard field goals, finished 2 for 2 on PATs and added a pair of interceptions in the Falcons’ 20-14 win over Mifflin County. He was also credited with two tackles, caught two passes for 10 yards and had a 6-yard carry.
Trey Good, sr., WR/DB/P, East Pennsboro: Good was the top target Friday night during a statement-making 42-24 win over Gettysburg. He snagged five passes for 187 yards and scored three times, from 55, 80 and 22 yards out. Good also had a tackle, interception and averaged 39.8 yards on four punts.
Connor Green, sr., RB, Big Spring: Green had a career night in one of the biggest upsets of the weekend. The senior scored the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime to give the Bulldogs a 29-28 win and finished with 224 yards and three TDs on 22 carries. He also had three tackles and a pick on defense.
Derek Guzman, sr., WR/KR, Hershey: Despite a 41-21 loss to Cedar Cliff, Guzman more than did his part. The senior caught seven passes for 195 stripes and a pair of second-half touchdowns (81 and 23 yards) and added five carries for 34 yards. Plus, he averaged 35.3 yards on four kick returns.
Nathan Lusk, sr., RB/LB, Cedar Cliff: A few Colts could get a nod after Friday’s 41-21 win over Hershey, but we’ll give it to Lusk after he had one of two pick-6’s on the night. He returned it 37 yards and gave CC a 21-7 halftime lead. He also scored on a 35-yard run in the first quarter and finished with two carries, 39 yards and a 2-yard reception.
Ari’Tiyan Neal, sr., WR, CD East: Despite falling to Cumberland Valley 31-24 in overtime, Neal shined, catching 10 balls for 191 yards and scoring on an 83-yard catch-and-run late in the fourth quarter that put the Panthers up 24-17.
Henry Notarfranceso, sr., WR/DB, Mechanicsburg: There were some bigger numbers this week around the Mid-Penn, but Notarfranceso had an outsized impact on the Wildcats’ impressive 14-13 win over Susquehanna Township. His 46-yard touchdown catch ended up being the decisive blow, and he finished with four catches for 94 stripes.
Keith Oates III, sr., QB/LB, East Pennsboro: We have assigned parking for Oates in this list every week. The senior shredded Gettysburg in a 42-24 win for 347 yards and five touchdowns (on 10-of-20 passing), including three TD connections with Trey Good. Oates also ran in a TD, finishing with five carries for 13 yards, and led the undefeated Panthers with nine tackles (seven solo).
Marcus Quaker, sr., QB, West Perry: Quaker’s 1-yard quarterback sneak into the end zone with 1:17 left to play won one of the best and highest-stakes games of the young season, 19-16 over Trinity. The dual-threat senior finished with a game-high 18 carries, 130 yards, the winning TD and was 5 of 8 for 64 yards passing.
Xzavier Ramsey, sr., RB, Greencastle-Antrim: Ramsey didn’t score, but everyone one of his carries was crucial in the Blue Raiders’ tight 17-10 win over Waynesboro. He finished with 19 touches for 175 yards, helping set up G-A’s 17-point outburst in the third quarter to take the lead.
Jasper Shepps, so., WR, Juniata: Shepps scored on half of his receptions Friday night during a 33-6 blowout of Newport, taking three passes to the house from 26, 49 and 44 yards out. The sophomore finished with six catches for 177 yards, a 34-yard run and three tackles on defense (two solo).
Bryce Staretz, sr., RB/LB, Cumberland Valley: The Eagles won their first game of the season in dramatic fashion thanks to Staretz, who scored the game-winning TD in overtime for a 31-24 victory over CD East on a 2-yard plunge. That gave him 31 hard-earned carries for 143 stripes, including a 20-yard score in the third quarter.
Time to shift the spotlight to the teams who are still undefeated after a month of the regular season, and caught us by surprise or have been a mild eye- popper.
There’s a quartet of unbeatens that make the grade (in alphabetical order): Cedar Cliff, East Pennsboro, Greencastle-Antrim and West Perry. The Mustangs are probably the least surprising of the quartet, but West Perry belongs and we’ll dive into those details in a bit.
Two other unbeatens, Bishop McDevitt and Steel-High, are defending PIAA champions who were expected to be 4-0. In fairness, neither side has enjoyed a show-up-and-win ride during the first month. The Rollers were tested once by West Catholic last week, and McDevitt has a pair of fourth-quarter come-from-behind wins to its credit. So it hasn’t been an easy street, but 4-0 for these two frontrunners ranks low on the surprise meter.
Let’s break down the four biggest surprises:
Greencastle-Antrim: The jaw dropper
Greencastle-Antrim is the jaw-dropping shocker with its unbeaten blitz heading into Week 5. Head coach Devin McCauley’s group was coming off a 5-7 season where it went 1-6 in the Colonial Division, and they lost Colonial Offensive Player of the Year Tavon Cooper.
Any success was going to be built around outstanding line play, where there was a wealth of experience, good defense and another level of progression by quarterback Logan Alvey. There’s simplicity to the Blue Devils’ plan, but the execution has been well above expectations. Two victories where the offense scored only 17 points says a lot. The start has been outstanding, the question is can the crew from Franklin County make some waves in the wide open Colonial?
Remember, 1-6 a year ago with some brutal one-score losses is still 1-6.
East Pennsboro: Powered by Oates & Co.
Just so happens the Blue Devils’ next game is against another 4-0 resident of the Colonial Division — the Panthers from East Pennsboro. The Panthers outscored Gettysburg Friday night to win the 1,000th game played in program history. Make no mistake, the Panthers are built on firepower and already have a come-from-behind win over Milton Hershey in Week 3.
Quarterback Keith Oates III is the ringleader on both sides of the ball, doubling as a linebacker and leading the team in tackles. There’s just something beautiful about a quarterback in the modern game also being your hammer on defense.
Oates has some partners in crime, and they are zippy and elusive receivers Trey Good and Breckin Swope, who combined already have 700 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Each is capable of turning a short, simple pass into a big play with little or no warning. Good had 187 yards and three touchdowns Friday night on five catches. Hello, impact.
The Panthers aren’t all flash. They can run the ball when needed, and all these points and yards don’t happen without at least above-average play up front. East Penn will give up some points on defense, and shoring that up week-to-week will serve them well. Are the Panthers the favorite in the Colonial? It’s a valid question.
Cedar Cliff: A solid unit
You know what to expect from a squad coached by Colin Gillen. When there’s more talent, it can be next-level good. But even solid football talent is pulled together to produce a solid product.
This team is about a defense that isn’t splashy but simply wears on you because they do a lot of little things really well. Only 49 points surrendered, but we know that will change next week against McDevitt. And nobody will care. The Colts will be competitive.
RB Erik Schriver is sneaky good. He averages nearly 6 yards a carry, 100-plus yards a game and has six touchdowns. He goes about his business quietly and efficiently without jumping out at you. The offense is super balanced and has three solid playmakers.
And you can see brick by brick this team gets better on a weekly basis. It’s not a stretch to say with the way this club has started, the Colts could be 9-1 at the end of the regular season.
West Perry: Respect this magical run
The Mustangs are state-ranked and coming off a down-to-the-wire victory over Trinity Friday night to keep their magical start going.
How the Mustangs outlasted Trinity is why West Perry is such a surprise.
Instead of trying to go up and down the field with the Shamrocks — and trust us, the Mustangs are comfortable playing home-run ball — West Perry pounded the ball on the ground and played rock-solid defense.
They went a little outside their own box to post a 19-16 victory. You have to respect that in a big game. And over the course of 48 minutes West Perry was the better team. Even when expectations are high — and they were rightfully sky high for this team heading into 2023 — validating it with a gritty road win that required the best you have speaks volumes.
The schedule lightens for a couple weeks, but the Capital Division features a ton of depth this season and Week 10 vs. Steel-High looks like a thriller that could decide the division.
Made some of their own luck in a three-point victory over Trinity, but also needed some help. This is a special team that is improving beyond the known talents.
10.
Steel-High
4-0
10
Against a defense that has struggled all season, the Rollers put up 55 on Boiling Springs and cruised.
9.
Wyomissing
3-0
9
Solid win over Berks Catholic by four touchdowns. Surrendering only seven points to the Saints was a very good Saturday afternoon for the Spartans defense. Not really a surprise, though.
8.
Manheim Central
3-1
7
Bounced back from getting roughed up by No. 6 Cocalico last week, taking out Susquehannock 28-7. Solid but not impressive victory.
7.
Exeter Township
4-0
8
What is starting to stand out about this Eagles squad is their defense is becoming a calling card. Surrendered only one touchdown to Governor Mifflin in a 31-10 victory.
6.
Cocalico
3-1
6
Kind of curious now what was going on in the opener against Warwick when the Eagles scored only 14 points. Last three games Cocalico has scored 146 points (48.6 ppg). Easy win over Octorara.
5.
State College
2-1
5
After two weeks off, the Little Lions came back and blew the doors off Altoona, roughing up the Mountain Lions 49-7 on the strength of a 27-point second quarter.
4.
Central York
4-0
4
Who didn’t see the Panthers beating winless Spring Grove 56-7? It’s exactly what was expected. This team won’t be pushed very hard the rest of the way. But they know the drill.
3.
Harrisburg
3-1
3
Pretty sure Carlisle was the recipient of some football frustration from the Cougars after Harrisburg dropped 60 at home on the Thundering Herd Saturday afternoon.
2.
Manheim Township
4-0
2
All I’m going to say is Spring-Ford was 3-0 entering this game and the Blue Streaks went out and dropped a 63-burger on the Rams. This team is lethal.
1.
Bishop McDevitt
4-0
1
Now that the Crusaders are into division play, expect several more less-than-competitive scores the rest of the way. Wide receivers Rico Scott and Chase Regan combined for five catches totaling 231 yards (46.2 yards per catch), and all five grabs went for touchdowns. Not sure the Crusaders are pushed again until the postseason.
When Trinity went for the win Friday night in the dying seconds from the West Perry 1-yard line on fourth down, the Mustangs were ready for an outside-the-box game-deciding play.
Conventional wisdom said Shamrocks running back Messiah Mickens, severely limited by injury, would get the ball. The sophomore Penn State recruit was handed the rock the previous play from the 2-yard line on a toss left and nearly squeezed through for the winning touchdown.
Mickens’ number wasn’t called on fourth down, though. Instead Trinity quarterback Caleb Wray took the snap and rolled out to his right hoping to catch the West Perry defense off guard.
The Mustangs were ready, and Wray saw nothing but a sea of white shirts in the end zone. His desperation pass was knocked down to secure West Perry’s gritty 19-16 Mid-Penn Capital Division victory at COBO Field.
West Perry stayed unbeaten and moved to 4-0 overall by rallying from behind in the fourth quarter of a game it largely controlled against a clearly sluggish Shamrocks squad. Trinity grabbed its only lead early in the fourth quarter on a Christian Joy 34-yard touchdown run that put the Shamrocks in front 16-13.
The Mustangs’ response was a well-orchestrated and statement-making 93-yard march that drained almost nine minutes off the clock.
Time to hand out some grades.
WEST PERRY MUSTANGS
Quarterback: The plan wasn’t to use veteran Marcus Quaker and the passing game as an integral part of the game plan. The quick and elusive Quaker was a master with his legs and converted a handful of third downs that way. On the winning touchdown drive he got away with a horrendous throw from his own end zone that should have been intercepted. He turned that break into a sneak for the winning touchdown. Grade: B-
Running back: Junior Brad Hockenberry hit the holes with authority all game. While he’s not a burner in the open field, he knows how to find space and add 2 or 3 yards to a carry. Caleb Gutshall did most of the heavy lifting in between the tackles and also slammed into holes with authority. That stood out about this duo more than anything. Gutshall did have a critical fumble, but otherwise this tandem carried the load. Grade: B+
Wide receivers: We all know Ian Goodling is the star of this corps, but on this night the plan was to pound the rock with an inside-outside combination until the Shamrocks made throwing the ball a necessity. And that never really happened as West Perry played with the lead almost the entire way. I was impressed with the receivers blocking downfield on outside runs. It made the ground game that much more effective. Grade: B
Offensive line: This group won the night in my book. The holes in the first half were massive, and the plan of going up the middle and then using traps on the outside to get the backs into space was executed to near perfection. Trinity adjusted and took away the outside edge in the second half, but the inside game was very much alive and kicking. West Perry won the battle of the line of scrimmage over the course of 48 minutes. Grade: A
Defensive line: It was a pretty even battle with the Trinity o-line, but on several key third downs early and that critical third down with its back against the goal line, the combination of Quade Boden and Kaleb Cordell made a couple simple but critical plays to hold their ground. Grade: B+
Linebackers: Plenty of two-way players for the Mustangs and the RB duo mentioned above also did some grinding on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker. The real key for me was the way Hockenberry and Gutshall handled their duties when going side-to-side and closing down those lanes in the open field. That was a game changer. Grade: B
Secondary: The number of balls actually thrown downfield by Trinity was maybe a handful. Most of the pass defense was based on getting off blocks to make tackles in space on short throws around the line of scrimmage. Only two or three big plays, and by my count that was better than average. And on that last play they were not fooled at all. That’s experience right there. Goodling was all over the field on defense. This group tackled extremely well in space. Grade: B
Special teams: Again we mention Goodling and Quaker because they also handle all the kicking and punting duties. The fake punt was not a good choice. It handed momentum to the Shamrocks when they couldn’t find any on their own accord. No need for that. Goodling’s kickoff variations of pooch, short pooch and squib were executed to perfection. Plus, he kicked a couple field goals in the first quarter to put points on the board. Grade: A-
TRINITY SHAMROCKS
Quarterback: I will say this about Wray: he makes the short throws along the line of scrimmage look easy. When he goes down the field, though, it becomes a box of chocolates. He didn’t have a say in that final throw, so no judgment there. The receiver was blanketed, and the element of surprise the call needed to make it work never materialized. Missed two wide open receivers on easy 20-yard throws, and one would have been for a touchdown. Gotta work on hitting those when the receiver is wide open. Grade: C
Running back: Mickens is an FBS recruit as a sophomore for a reason. Whatever the injury he suffered in the Wyomissing game last week was clearly still having an impact on him. Mickens was limping noticeably and clearly struggled to cut off what appeared to be an ankle or lower leg injury. Still ran wicked hard, but if I had to guess I would put his healthy percentage at maybe 60% at best. He didn’t have the ability to use his combination of speed and power. Joy is a nice second gear for the T-Rocks, but he can’t carry the load. He is massively effective in his role and made several big plays. Grade: A-
Wide receivers: Tough night for this group overall. They struggled to break tackles on receptions along the line of scrimmage in space, and they didn’t block that well for each other. Ran a couple nice deepish routes to get open but the throw let them down. Grade: C
Offensive line: Simply put, there were not many holes of any kind in the first half, and the Mustangs’ thirst for the game was clearly stronger. Now this group did find its way as the game progressed, but in the first half there literally was no room to roam inside the tackles. A limited star RB needed some help at the point of attack, but it wasn’t there on a consistent basis. And when they needed 2 yards to win the game, there wasn’t a hole for Mickens on a toss. Grade: C
Defensive line: The group was getting pushed around like a blocking sled most of the first half. They did adjust to what West Perry was doing and improved as the game went along. But when it mattered, the other team literally ran the ball almost exclusively down the field to post the eventual winning touchdown. Grade: C-
Linebackers: All I know was if it wasn’t for a very good night from this group, Trinity would not have had a chance to win this game. They cleaned up a lot of messes by making tackle after tackle to limit the damage. Jacob Ness was all over the place, and Hayden Johnson became more noticeable with each passing quarter. Grade: B
Secondary: Senior Collin Morrow had an interception in his hands early on that final West Perry drive, but instead of catching it he somehow tipped the ball up and the receiver came down with the grab. The Mustangs drove downt he field for the winning touchdown. That was a huge missed opportunity. Overall, this group was asked to do more in run support than they probably expected and did OK. Too many times the corners were getting tossed around on outside quarterback runs that went for 10-15 yards a pop. Grade: C
Special teams: The return game brought nothing to the table, but that’s because West Perry’s kicking game eliminated that possibility. No fault there. Kieran Finegan made a 42-yard field goal, but he also missed an extra point and was wide right on a 34-yard field goal attempt, both of those coming in the fourth quarter. Trinity lost by three, that’s some tough math. Those lost points had an impact. Grade: B-
We’re nearly a third of the way through the Pennsylvania high school football season, and that means one thing: Mid-Penn Conference play. Perhaps the third best time of the season (first is the start of the season, second is the start of the postseason).
All five divisions dive head first into league play this week, giving us our first taste of how some of these wide open races will shake out. Four of the divisions — sorry Keystone, Bishop McDevitt owns you this season — have no clear-cut favorites, and some have as many as three or four teams who can right now claim a legitimate shot at the title.
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, and you can follow our Twitter feed below for minute-by-minute updates.
PIAA football: Week 4 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 4 of the PIAA high school football season:
It’s Week 4 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 4 — Overall — Perfect Picks
Andy Sandrik: 19-3 — 92-24 — 0
Adam Kulikowski: 17-5— 86-30 — 0
Andy Shay: 16-6— 81-35 — 0
* Records in parentheses after school name; District and seed in parentheses before school name.
Watch the latest edition of 4th & Goal with Andy Shay and Jake Adams. This week, we chat with East Pennsboro quarterback/linebacker Keith Oates III, breakdown what to expect as division play kicks off, preview a few key games and more!
THURSDAY, SEPT. 14
Bishop McDevitt 68, Palmyra 7:
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 49, Palmyra 7: The Cougars’ defense has been solid thus far, only five touchdowns allowed. Anything short of that number being doubled over the upcoming four quarters will be considered successful.
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 55, Palmyra 7: Bishop McDevitt played a star-studded out-of-conference schedule and came out with three wins in three tries. That’s not good news at all for a Keystone Division already facing an uphill battle against the Crusaders.
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 51, Palmyra 7: Cougars have to feel good about themselves heading into division play. That said, these are two teams in a very different place.
Cedar Cliff 41, Hershey 21:
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 28, Hershey 21: Trojans are well equipped for this matchup on many fronts and will look to keep the game inside their comfort zone. Colts strike a wee bit more balance on offense and present a stiffer challenge defensively.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 23, Hershey 21: The Trojans are quickly rising up the ranks, but safe money is on the consistent Colts. And when you’re leading the pick ‘em standings by four games, there’s nothing better than safe money.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 28, Hershey 17: Hershey is clearly trending in the right direction. Is there enough balance in the Trojan attack to add a signature victory to their 2023 résumé?
Milton Hershey 36, Red Land 20
Andy Shay: Milton Hershey 42, Red Land 14: The margin between the Spartans being 3-0 and/or 1-2 instead of 2-1 is razor thin. Their superior firepower offensively will show up here in a major way.
Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 38, Red Land 21: Give the Patriots credit, they have been hanging in games for longer than many would have thought. But I just can’t envision a scenario Thursday that doesn’t involve Milton Hershey eventually pulling away for a comfortable win.
Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 34, Red Land 14: The Spartans sure have a knack for the dramatic this year being a part of two last-second outcomes in their first three games.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 15
State College 49, Altoona 7:
Andy Shay: State College 42, Altoona 21: I could see the Mountain Lions hanging around for longer than the Little Lions might like, but in the end State College has more options at its disposal.
Andy Sandrik: State College 43, Altoona 20: Anyone remember that year when Bishop McDevitt had to wear Altoona’s uniforms in a playoff game? That’s a possible way to explain what happened last week when Altoona beat the living daylights out of Mifflin County in a game we thought the Mountain Lions would lose. Of course none of that matters this week, as State College is a different animal altogether.
Adam Kulikowski: State College 45, Altoona 23: Last week, Altoona proved our gang of experts wrong in commanding fashion. If they do it again this week, my wife — an Altoona grad — may make nothing but crow for me to eat for the next month.
Central Dauphin 35, Chambersburg 7:
Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 38, Chambersburg 7: What I see from this Rams team is a group growing in confidence and playing football fast on both sides of the ball. Trojans’ only shot is to make CD uncomfortable.
Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 30, Chambersburg 12: I like the direction these Trojans are heading, but it seems like the CD machine is once again up and running at full capacity.
Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 34, Chambersburg 14: The Rams are back. There, I said it. What Glen McNamee’s crew did to a quality Coatesville team last week should have opened eyes across District 3.
Cumberland Valley 31, CD East 24 (OT):
Andy Shay: CD East 35, Cumberland Valley 14: When the Panthers get rolling, scoring points is not a problem. Getting the scoreboard rolling is a struggle for the Eagles.
Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 21, CD East 20: This is an upset pick that depends on the Eagles growing — not shrinking — as a result of a brutal non-conference schedule against teams sporting a combined 9-0 record.
Adam Kulikowski: CD East 50, Cumberland Valley 14: One team bombed its opponent with a 60-spot while the other, well … coughed up 63. Panthers are a tough out for the Eagles right now.
Lower Dauphin 20, Mifflin County 14:
Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 28, Mifflin County 7: Falcons’ defense has already pitched two shutouts, and the Huskies’ offense is slowly tailing off and faces an uphill battle.
Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 35, Mifflin County 14: It’s really, really hard to just bounce back from a 35-0 loss, especially when you have to face a Lower Dauphin squad that is starting to build momentum on both sides of the ball.
Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 26, Mifflin County 13: The Falcons found themselves a nice back in Dakota Sary, who is averaging a hefty 9.3 yards per carry (35 carries, 335 yards) through three games.
East Pennsboro 42, Gettysburg 24:
Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 26, Gettysburg 24: Expect plenty of drama and back-and-forth in a matchup that appears fairly even on many levels. Big plays from the Panthers will be the difference-maker if they prevail.
Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 30, Gettysburg 21: I can’t even call this a “trap” game for the unbeaten Panthers, because I think they’re expecting a war from the defending division champs, no matter their record.
Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 27, Gettysburg 24: Make no mistake, this is a dangerous Warriors team regardless of what their record says. It will take a full four quarters, plus maybe a little more Keith Oates III magic, for the Panthers to improve to 4-0.
Greencastle-Antrim 17, Waynesboro 10:
Andy Shay: Greencastle-Antrim 28, Waynesboro 7: Throw the Blue Devils’ hat into the ring of Colonial contenders after a 3-0 start. This feels like a grind game, and G-A is all about embracing the grind and playing its style to win.
Andy Sandrik: Greencastle-Antrim 28, Waynesboro 20: Blue Devils definitely deserve to be favored here, but Waynesboro has shown itself to be much more capable than most would think for a squad bearing a “rebuilding” label.
Adam Kulikowski: Greencastle-Antrim 31, Waynesboro 17: The Blue Devils have quietly been one of the top teams in the Colonial Division. Trend continues against the rebuilding Indians.
Mechanicsburg 14, Susquehanna Township 13:
Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 28, Mechanicsburg 21: This is what I call a volatile matchup at this juncture. Indians have some advantages, but Wildcats are dangerous when they are in the right slot. Could be a close one, but I see several scenarios where a blowout is possible. Volatile!
Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 27, Mechanicsburg 19: I took ‘Hanna to win the Colonial, and I’m not going to back off on that just because Mechanicsburg’s stock is rising. Still see this being a close game, though.
Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 30, Mechanicsburg 27: Wildcats’ biggest question marks are on defense, where Anthony Rose’s crew has yielded at least 27 points in each of its three games in 2023.
Shippensburg 12, Northern 6:
Andy Shay: Shippensburg 21, Northern 14: This a pretty intense rivalry, and don’t expect any less from these two teams. They enjoy playing and beating each other and the respectful disdain is a two-way street. I expect a little of the unexpected.
Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 9, Northern 7: A battle between two teams trying to find any kind of traction on offense. It’s also a make-or-break game for both teams, which each come into this contest with a 1-2 record.
Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 24, Northern 20: This is one of those games you annually circle on your calendar as a must-see matchup. This year, however, the luster seems just a shade or two duller on both sides.
Big Spring 29, Camp Hill 28 (OT):
Andy Shay: Camp Hill 30, Big Spring 20: Lions have found a variety of ways to win games, and their defense has been a quiet force to date. This a full-metal-jacket test against a Bulldogs RB duo that gets downhill and is relentless.
Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 35, Camp Hill 28: Big Spring has a big advantage in the running game that it will be looking to exploit. Camp Hill, however, has home-run potential with its passing game. Take the “over” this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 34, Camp Hill 32: Bulldogs are clicking on all cylinders as they head into this matchup against the Lions. Biggest question for the Lions? How to stop the Bulldog’s duo of Connor Green and Grant Hall. This pair of backs combined for 566 yards through Big Spring’s first three contests.
Steel-High 55, Boiling Springs 7:
Andy Shay: Steel-High 53, Boiling Springs 14: The Rollers are exactly who you thought they were and are proving that on a weekly basis. The Bubblers are still searching for answers to a few questions, and Steel-High isn’t a squad you find answers against.
Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 58, Boiling Springs 7: This could get ugly in a hurry. That’s not a slight on the Bubblers, rather a nod to just how loaded the Rollers are for division play this fall.
Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 55, Boiling Springs 20: The Rollers set themselves up with some early tests and passed with flying colors. Division play opens as heavy favorites against the Bubblers.
West Perry 19, Trinity 16:
Andy Shay: Trinity 32, West Perry 27: One big key for me is Wyomissing exacts an ounce or two extra out of a team — will that be a factor for the T-Rocks in this game? Plenty of paths to victories can be found for either squad. The best players for each team have to perform at their top level, otherwise this could be one-sided.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 35, Trinity 21: Trinity has more pop than it’s had in years, but I think West Perry’s team defense has what it takes to rise up to the challenge that is Shamrocks star RB Messiah Mickens (13.7 ypc).
Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 33, Trinity 32: This might be the most intriguing game on the docket in Week 4. The merits to pick either team can be fully justified. I’m giving a razor-thin edge to the Mustangs simply based on the experience of their dynamic duo in QB Marcus Quaker and wideout Ian Goodling.
Line Mountain 14, Middletown 7:
Andy Shay: Line Mountain 42, Middletown 14: There’s an element to this Line Mountain team that the Blue Raiders maybe haven’t seen yet.
Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 21, Middletown 14: I’ll give some respect to the Middletown team that played within two scores of Susquehanna Township last week. If the Blue Raiders keep taking steps forward, this one could be within striking distance in the final quarter.
Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 38, Middletown 6: The Blue Raiders are finding their first season back from the sidelines to be quite challenging. It doesn’t get easier against an up-start Line Mountain club.
Halifax 43, James Buchanan 6:
Andy Shay: James Buchanan 30, Halifax 29: I’m staying on the picks-the-Wildcats-to-lose train, and then they go out and win. Can the Rockets buck the trend?
Andy Sandrik: Halifax 44, James Buchanan 7: Am I the only one who doesn’t think this will be a close game? Wildcats will launch the Rockets into outer space, bank it.
Adam Kulikowski: Halifax 35, James Buchanan 28: The Halifax faithful let us have it after our crew predicted a Wildcats loss last week. We won’t make the same mistake twice.
Juniata 33, Newport 6:
Andy Shay: Juniata 42, Newport 6: All the dog in the fight the Indians showed against a clearly stronger West Perry team a week ago will serve them well when they get to enjoy having most of the advantages.
Andy Sandrik: Juniata 49, Newport 7: Not one of my opposing pickers believes that Newport’s kicker can convert the PAT, but I believe.
Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 44, Newport 6: Points are tough to come by for the boys in blue, while the Indians gave West Perry its best challenge of the season last week.
Upper Dauphin 44, Susquenita 27:
Andy Shay: Susquenita 29, Upper Dauphin 23: Something tells me this game could be a right-down-to-the-wire affair to determine a winner. Firepower in terms of explosiveness and big plays rests with the Blackhawks.
Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 28, Susquenita 19: Upper Dauphin is 1-2, yes, but the Trojans have cultivated some promising talent on both sides of the ball that could break out sooner rather than later.
Adam Kulikowski: Susquenita 23, Upper Dauphin 21: Blackhawks avenge their 30-7 loss last season thanks to a nice core group of skill position players returning to the fold.
Schuylkill Haven 27, Tri-Valley 21:
Andy Shay: Schuylkill Haven 20, Tri-Valley 14: All I know is the Hurricanes’ defense can slow down a hammer running back to tilt a game in their favor. Don’t expect that trend to abate here.
Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 21, Schuylkill Haven 14: The Tri-Valley defense just put the clamps down on a Line Mountain team that was favored to win the Liberty Division. The ‘Dawgs have a good chance, especially if they can keep getting outstanding efforts from sophomore OLB Cole Gemberling, who is averaging 8.3 tackles per game and has already racked up 2.5 sacks.
Adam Kulikowski: Schuylkill Haven 28, Tri-Valley 26: The Hurricanes limited Williams Valley’s Alex Achenbach to just 145 yards rushing a week ago to knock off the Vikings. They face another top back in Noah Porter this week.
Williams Valley 31, Minersville 28:
Andy Shay: Williams Valley 36, Minersville 34: I’m putting the over-under for the hammer running backs on each squad at a combined 419 yards on the ground. Taking a flier on the Vikings.
Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 38, Minersville 28: I’m just poaching the research posted on Twitter by former WV coach Tim Savage, but only one RB in the state — Windber’s Luke Hostetler — has more rushing yards than the Vikes’ Alex Achenbach this season.
Adam Kulikowski: Minersville 48, Williams Valley 45: Both clubs possess backs that are capable of carrying their team on their backs. Fully expect this one to be a classic slobberknocker.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16
Harrisburg 60, Carlisle 7:
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 50, Carlisle 14: Time for the Cougars to pick up the pieces and march forward. Break from the schedule for what’s been a tough slate so far, as the Thundering Herd have the potential to create some early problems but aren’t built to flourish in this matchup.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 44, Carlisle 28: The Herd would love to turn this into a shootout where their quick-strike offense can put up a lot of points in a hurry. I think Harrisburg is still one step ahead, but Carlisle could make this game interesting.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 55, Carlisle 23: Cougars use last week’s thumping at the hands of Manheim Township as a challenge to rise above. Consider it a set back, not an indication of trouble ahead.
Northern Lehigh at Pine Grove, 7 p.m.
Andy Shay: Northern Lehigh 19, Pine Grove 15: Neither defense has “helped the ball club” much this season. Time for them to step up and be heard.
Andy Sandrik: Pine Grove 24, Northern Lehigh 21: Pine Grove RB Lane Lehman has been grinding for quality yards, even as his team has taken some beatings in recent weeks. If the Cardinals can shore up their defense, which is allowing 37.6 points per game, Lehman will give his team a chance to win.
Adam Kulikowski: Pine Grove 13, Northern Lehigh 6: In a battle of two teams still searching for a way out of first gear, I’ll take the Cardinals in a toss-up.
Dakota Sary nearly had his first 200-yard game in Week 3, and that was cause enough for Lower Dauphin fans to reward him by voting the senior the Week 3 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week Sponsored by Vertical Raise PA.
Sary rushed for 195 yards, scoring on a 72-yard sprint, on just eight carries in the Falcons’ 30-0 whitewash of Elizabethtown, their second shutout of the season. The senior has put up some of the best rushing numbers of the young season in the Mid-Penn, with 335 yards and four touchdowns on 35 touches (9.6 yards per carry) as the Falcons are seeking to finish with a winning record for the second time in the last three seasons.
He picked up 1,842 votes out of 4,333 total cast, enough to beat Big Spring back Grant Hall, who finished with 1,101 votes.
Sary and the Falcons visit Mifflin County on Friday to open Mid-Penn Keystone action.
Four touchdowns was more than enough for Mahanoy Area’s Colm McGroarty to earn the Week 3 4th Down Magazine Player Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week.
Fans voted for the senior running back 1,043 times after he ran for 85 yards and earned 100 receiving yards on 17 total touches, leading the Golden Bears to a 40-0 shutout of Panther Valley, their first win of the season.
McGroarty is second on the team in receiving yards (118) and rushing yards (174) and is tops with six TDs.
There were 1,762 votes cast this week, and McGroarty beat Pen Argyl receiver Damian Tyminski (664) for the nod. He and Mahanoy face Catasauqua on Friday.
