It’s Cocoa Bean Bowl Week.

It’s also State College-Central Dauphin Week. And Steel-High vs. Big Spring Week (yes, you read that right).

Week 5 of the Mid-Penn Conference football slate has the makings of one of the most important of the season, with heated rivalries and some crucial matchups that will have outsized outcomes on several intriguing division races. So we’ve got you covered here for all the action.

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 5 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 5 of the PIAA high school football season:

• Who’s gonna win? The 4th Down crew picks Week 5’s matchups
• Mid-Penn notebook: Brothers reset Susquenita records, Harrisburg coaching milestone and more
• Elite 11: See Andy Shay’s District 3 power rankings after Week 4
• PIAA football rankings: See Eric Epler’s state rankings from Class 6A to 1A
• See who is the Week 4 Mid-Penn Player of the Week
• See who is the Week 4 Colonial-Schuylkill Player of the Week

Mid-Penn Conference football schedule and scores: Week 5

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

Thursday, Sept. 21

• Susquehanna Township 28, Shippensburg 19
• Gettysburg 41, Mechanicsburg 20
• Waynesboro 29, Northern 28

Friday, Sept. 22

• CD East 28, Altoona 7 Final
• Chambersburg 3, Carlisle 0 Final
• State College 31, Central Dauphin 13 Final
• Harrisburg 42, Cumberland Valley 7 Final
• Bishop McDevitt 48, Cedar Cliff 7 Final
• Lower Dauphin 35, Red Land 7 Final
• Mifflin County 20, Palmyra 10 Final
• East Pennsboro 24, Greencastle-Antrim 13 Final
• West Perry 47, James Buchanan 13 Final
• Steel-High 46, Big Spring 7 Final
• Trinity 48, Boiling Springs 14 Final
• Middletown 14, Camp Hill 7 Final
• Juniata 35, Halifax 14 Final
• Line Mountain 27, Susquenita 21 Final
• Upper Dauphin 30, Newport 6 Final
• Tri-Valley 21, Executive Education 8 Final
• Jim Thorpe 47, Pine Grove 7 Final
• Loyalsock Township 24, Williams Valley 7 Final

Saturday, Sept. 23

• Hershey at Milton Hershey, 1:30 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.

Tweets by 4thDownMag

EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: It’s Week 5 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 5 — Overall — Perfect Picks

Andy Sandrik: 13-9 — 105-33 — 0

Adam Kulikowski: 18-4 — 104-34 — 0

Andy Shay: 18-4 — 99-39 — 1

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

THURSDAY, SEPT. 21

Susquehanna Township 28, Shippensburg 19:

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 20, Shippensburg 14: There is a certain style the Greyhounds need to play in order to win games. It starts with defense. The ‘Hanna Tribe are 2-2 but both losses are by a point.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 17, Susquehanna Township 14: Ship is 2-0 in one-score games, while ‘Hanna is 0-2. Use that information however you’d like, but the only thing I can say with confidence is this could very well be a one-score game.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 33, Shippensburg 20: Perennially a division favorite, the Greyhounds seem vulnerable this year. Can the Indians take advantage?

Gettysburg 41, Mechanicsburg 20

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 28, Gettysburg 26: Wildcats have rebounded nicely from an 0-2 start and have moved the needle forward on many fronts. Warriors will find their points, but have also surrendered 130 points in four games.

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 33, Gettysburg 24: I like the game-to-game improvement I’m seeing from this Mechanicsburg squad. With that said, the Wildcats will be facing a desperate 1-3 Warriors team and could have their hands full. 

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 38, Gettysburg 28: The Warriors’ defense is suspect, and the Wildcats have enough firepower to take advantage. Look for this one to be a high-scoring affair. 

Waynesboro 29, Northern 28:

Andy Shay: Northern 20, Waynesboro 7: Couple of 1-3 teams who have identical struggles to put points on the board. Defense has kept the Indians and Polar Bears in games. Only a combined 105 points scored in eight games.

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 13, Northern 7: Something tells me the first team to score a TD in this game will be the winner. 

Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 14, Northern 7: Can’t argue with the logic of my crony pickers. Winner just might be the team whose defense or special teams finds a way to put points on the board.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 22

CD East 28, Altoona 7

Andy Shay: CD East 27, Altoona 24: At times through the first month each team has shown some firepower against lesser opponents. Feels like a level playing field on many fronts, but that extra gear slightly favors the Panthers. Tough road game for them.

Andy Sandrik: Altoona 24, CD East 20: This is one of those coin-flip games that is going to come down to which team can scrap harder. I’ll take the Mountain Lions and the consistent running of Bron Mosley, who’s averaging 117 yards per contest.

Adam Kulikowski: CD East 34, Altoona 30: Picking against the Mountain Lions always seems to get me in trouble with my wife, a proud graduate of Altoona, but here we are. 

Chambersburg 3, Carlisle 0

Andy Shay: Carlisle 29, Chambersburg 26: This game has so many box-of-chocolates elements for me that it creates a fascinating matchup. Trojans have the better record, but Thundering Herd have a couple one-score losses and have shown more consistency on offense.

Andy Sandrik: Carlisle 28, Chambersburg 18: Nothing like watching my kids’ school, Carlisle, go to battle against Chambersburg, my wife’s alma mater. Give me the Herd with a rebound win. 

Adam Kulikowski: Chambersburg 26, Carlisle 21: Call it an upset if you’d like, but the Trojans have some serious speed which could present matchup problems for a Carlisle club coming off a physical tussle with Harrisburg. 

State College 31, Central Dauphin 13

Andy Shay: State College 31, Central Dauphin 27: Feel comfortable saying the Little Lions deserve to be the favorite here and are built for games like this one. However, if the Rams team that slayed Coatesville shows up and plays at that level, not sure State College has any say in the outcome.

Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 28, State College 21: I’m trying to hold off on the “CD is back!” stuff for at least a few more weeks, but if the Rams pull off this win, you’ll know they are for real.

Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 27, State College 26: Watching the Rams’ defense dominate Coatesville earlier this season told me what my compadre is not yet ready to admit. Rams are back and again a force. 

Harrisburg 42, Cumberland Valley 7

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 42, Cumberland Valley 7: Just where these two teams are this year. Anything other than a result that looks like this will be a mild surprise.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 49, Cumberland Valley 14: Stuck in standstill traffic on I-83 en route to the Orioles game, I listened in as Harrisburg absolutely dismantled a decent Carlisle squad. I’m feeling those same vibes as the young Cougars march into Chapman Field, gaining confidence with each game. 

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 55, Cumberland Valley 13: The Eagles found a way to score last week in a thrilling victory against CD East, but the Cougars present a very different challenge.

Bishop McDevitt 48, Cedar Cliff 7

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 42, Cedar Cliff 7: This has nothing to do with the Colts and what they are accomplishing this season. The gap in critical spots is simply that big.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 44, Cedar Cliff 21: Cedar Cliff is as good as it has been in years. Can the Colts hang with the overpowered Crusaders for one quarter? Two? 

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 45, Cedar Cliff 20: There have been years when this matchup was closer than any of the experts predicted — and that’s a credit to the always well-coached and talented Colts squads. This year just doesn’t feel like that is a likely scenario.

Lower Dauphin 35, Red Land 7

Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 30, Red Land 14: Quietly, Lower Dauphin has gone about its business and won three of its four games playing its style of football. The Patriots have allowed 85 points over the last eight quarters and are struggling to keep their offense in the game.

Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 33, Red Land 16: I’m still eagerly awaiting the season debut of Falcons’ stud Ty Millhimes, who will hopefully return from an injury, but in his place LD has gotten a steady effort from senior RB Dakota Sary, who is giving the Falcons more than 100 yards per game. 

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 35, Red Land 10: The Falcons have yielded just 38 points through their first four games while the Patriots are allowing nearly 30 ticks a game. 

Mifflin County 20, Palmyra 10

Andy Shay: Mifflin County 21, Palmyra 17: I expect points to come slowly and will take solid execution to crack the opposition’s defense in this one. Slow and steady wins the race, and the Huskies are comfortable playing that game from in front.

Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 23, Mifflin County 17: One big play or turnover could make the difference in what I see as a game between two evenly matched teams.

Adam Kulikowski: Mifflin County 26, Palmyra 24: There’s no doubt the Cougars are a much-improved squad from a year ago. A win against Mifflin County would be the club’s signature victory as we reach the midway point of the regular season. I’m just not sure they are ready. 

East Pennsboro 24, Greencastle-Antrim 13

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 27, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Nobody has been able to get a handle on this Panthers offense to date, and that’s for a reason. The Blue Devils can’t let East Penn make this game a chase for points to the finish. The Panthers will look to do just that.

Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 28, Greencastle-Antrim 21: I love the tension and excitement that comes when two undefeated teams meet on the field. No reason to believe this won’t be a thriller, as well. 

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 34, Greencastle-Antrim 20: The Panthers will pose serious problems for any club with their dynamic duo of wideouts. Keeping pace for 48 minutes will be a challenge for the Blue Devils. 

West Perry 47, James Buchanan 13

Andy Shay: West Perry 49, James Buchanan 0: Mustangs are legitimate contenders for the Capital Division crown. This won’t be a test, and it comes at the right time.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 55, James Buchanan 0: If you’re that JV player busting your tail on the scout team, you’ve got to be looking forward to playing at least a full half of varsity football, if not more. 

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 58, James Buchanan 6: We already know the outcome of this one. The only question is just when do the Mustangs get their starters a rest and some of the young lads an opportunity to see the Friday night lights. 

Steel-High 46, Big Spring 7

Andy Shay: Steel-High 42, Big Spring 14: Just want to point out Big Spring is 3-1 after a thrilling OT win over Camp Hill last week, and the Bulldogs only loss was by three points. They might not be a pushover for the Rollers, but hard to see the lads from Newville keeping pace over 48 minutes.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 50, Big Spring 25: Steel-High has Big Spring outclassed across the board, but don’t think these Bulldogs are going to go down without giving the Rollers their best shot. 

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 45, Big Spring 20: This has been a resurgent season for the Bulldogs. Consider this just a bump in the road against a team that has all the pieces to raise another state championship banner. 

Trinity 48, Boiling Springs 14

Andy Shay: Trinity 28, Boiling Springs 7: Pretty sure the T-Rocks’ star RB will see little or no action in this one. Couple of tough last-play losses for Trinity, and how you respond matters more than the setbacks.

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 45, Boiling Springs 7: A big win in this rivalry game would put Trinity right back on track in Capital Division play. 

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 38, Boiling Springs 13: Shamrocks are primed to release some frustration out on the Bubblers after back-to-back losses in tight contests against top-notch opponents.

Middletown 14, Camp Hill 7

Andy Shay: Camp Hill 28, Middletown 7: Nothing for the Lions to be upset about when your first loss comes in overtime. Confident this group will rebound against a Blue Raiders team that has trouble keeping up.

Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 21, Middletown 7: My newest landscaping customer, renowned PA football expert Eric Epler, agreed with me when I said Middletown had the size to make life a challenge for Line Mountain last week. I feel the same way this week, but what do I know, I’m just some guy with cordless hedge trimmers.

Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 31, Middletown 20: For all the struggles the Blue Raiders have endured in their comeback season, they may make this closer than some expect. 

Juniata 35, Halifax 14

Andy Shay: Juniata 33, Halifax 14: So Halifax is 3-1 and Juniata is 1-3 and this is not considered an upset. Indians ran an opening killer three-game gauntlet and are better for it. That will show up.

Andy Sandrik: Halifax 28, Juniata 14: This is my “I should know better” pick. Juniata has been much more tested than Halifax this season, but I’ll stay on the Wildcats hype train for one more week. 

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 26, Halifax 20: This is no disrespect to the Wildcats, whose fans have taken to Sandrik’s bullish Halifax picks. 

Line Mountain 27, Susquenita 21

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 29, Susquenita 20: Starting to have some concerns about the Eagles’ offense after back-to-back 14-point outings. The Blackhawks surrender 36 points a game, so points can be had.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 28, Susquenita 14: Two straight weeks of blowout losses isn’t the way Susquenita wanted to come into this match against the preseason Liberty Division favorite.

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 35, Susquenita 24: Congrats to the Gibney brothers, who set new career records at their respective positions last week. As for what to expect from their team on any given week, I just don’t have a pulse.

Upper Dauphin 30, Newport 6

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 41, Newport 14: The winless Buffaloes are struggling to compete, and the Trojans don’t play very nice when they can dictate the tempo of a game.

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 43, Newport 7: Tough matchup for a Newport team that’s averaging 3.25 points per game. 

Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 45, Newport 6: It’s never fun picking a team to lose in the fashion that our crew has for Newport. Buffaloes simply are out-gunned in this matchup. 

Tri-Valley 21, Executive Education 8

Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 23, Executive Education 21: I could see this one going either way, but the path the Bulldogs have navigated to 2-2 seems like a road that will serve them well in this game.

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 27, Executive Education 20: Nothing about this will be easy, but Tri-Valley’s defense, which can apply pressure in the backfield and force turnovers, has me convinced the Bulldogs have a chance.

Adam Kulikowski: Tri-Valley 21, Executive Education 14: Give some props to Tri-Valley sophomore linebacker Cole Gemberling. This lad has racked up 36 tackles and 2.5 sacks, emerging as a force on defense for the Bulldogs through their first four games. 

Jim Thorpe 47, Pine Grove 7

Andy Shay: Jim Thorpe 31, Pine Grove 14: A couple of one-win teams that have lost by pretty big margins. Difference here is Jim Thorpe has scored nearly twice as many points overall as the Cardinals.

Andy Sandrik: Jim Thorpe 39, Pine Grove 23: After starting the season slow, Jim Thorpe’s offense has piled up 79 points over its last two games. Pine Grove is also coming off a season-high in points scored, but the Cardinals can’t afford to let this turn into a shootout against the Olympians.

Adam Kulikowski: Jim Thorpe 45, Pine Grove 21: The Olympians have some nice pieces on offense — highlighted by 6-foot-2 junior wideout Justin Yescavage, who is averaging more than 20 yards per catch. 

Loyalsock Township 24, Williams Valley 7

Andy Shay: Loyalsock Township 26, Williams Valley 22: All I know is the Lancers have played back-to-back hammers in Southern Columbia and Danville. Both those squads are state ranked, and LT wasn’t rolled in either game. The Vikings’ defense needs to be a difference-maker to pull off this upset.

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 33, Loyalsock Township 32: This could very well be a lopsided loss for the Vikings, I have that much respect for this LT team that played within three points of state-ranked Danville. But this is a different game in a different week, and I’ll take my chances with Williams Valley pressing the Alex Achenbach button.

Adam Kulikowski: Loyalsock Township 31, Williams Valley 27: Stopping the Achenbach is never a small feat, and the Lancers have yielded nearly 7 yards per carry. Biggest question is whether Williams Valley has the troops to slow the Lancers’ air attack. 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 23

Hershey 33, Milton Hershey 22

Andy Shay: Hershey 27, Milton Hershey 20: Love the annual Bean Bowl matchup, and this year it could be a dandy. Spartans can be super explosive at times but have trouble holding teams down. The Trojans are built for close games and are comfortable in their own skin. This easily could be the other way.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 26, Milton Hershey 19: Tough call, but I’ll go with Hershey controlling the offensive flow with the hard running of Angel Cabrera and the accuracy of dual-threat QB Cameron Sweeney, who is completing 77% of his passes this fall. 

Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 28, Hershey 27: This has the makings of one of the best tilts on the docket in Week 5. Spartans, who have won six of the last 10 contests, look to regain the Bean after Hershey claimed bragging rights in 2022.

Each week, we’ll take a look through the Mid-Penn Conference, highlighting notes that stood out to us and news you need to know.

The first week of division play in the Mid-Penn Conference didn’t disappoint. We saw plenty of exciting match-ups and a few wrote their names into their school’s record books.  

Here are five observations from the week that was and the weeks coming up. To share updates on your team for a future edition of our News & Notes, email us at 4thdownmagazine@gmail.com. 

Gibney brothers reset Susquenita record book

The Gibney household had plenty to celebrate Friday night despite Susquenita’s 44-27 loss to Upper Dauphin. Quarterback-receiver pair Derek and Drew Gibney each broke Blackhawks records. Derek, the senior Blackhawks gunslinger, set a new high-water mark for career passing yards with 4,356, surpassing the previous mark of 4,327 set by Eric Mullen in 1987. His brother, Drew, set the mark for most career receiving yards with 1,318, breaking Evan Miller’s mark of 1,317 yards in 2013.

Harrisburg’s Calvin Everett reaches milestone

Harrisburg coach Calvin Everett reached a milestone Saturday in his team’s 60-7 victory against Carlisle. A week after a disappointing loss against Manheim Township, the Cougars notched a Commonwealth Division win that was also the 100^th career victory for Everett. The accomplishment comes in just his 13^th season as head coach of the storied program. Six of his 13 seasons surpassed 11 victories, and under his leadership the Cougars have reached the PIAA state championship tilt in 2016, 2018 and 2022. Everett is still searching for his first state title.

Hershey vs. Milton Hershey has extra luster

This year’s battle for the Cocoa Bean has a little extra luster with both Hershey based teams showing plenty of might. Milton Hershey (3-1) possesses the upper hand with six victories in the last 10 matchups while the Trojans (3-1), off to their best start since 2020, hold bragging rights after their 28-21 victory last year. You can learn more about the history of the Cocoa Bean game here. Watch Saturday’s game online here.

Mid-Penn grads key Lebanon Valley College win

A pair of former Mid-Penn Conference standouts made their mark for Lebanon Valley College in its 31-3 victory against Misericordia on Saturday. Chambersburg’s Malaki Blair hauled in four passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, while Milton Hershey grad Dion Bryant rushed for 44 yards and a touchdown in the victory.

CD East product Chase Edmonds injuried

Former CD East standout running back Chase Edmonds suffered a sprained knee in Tampa Bay’s victory Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Edmonds is expected to miss the next month of action and could land on the injured reserve. The Fordham product has 1,816 career rushing yards since entering the NFL in 2018.

For more content from Eric Epler, visit Pennlive.

CLASS 6A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12)          — 3-1 – 1 

2. Pittsburgh C.C. (7)               — 4-0 – 2 

3. North Allegheny (7)            — 4-0 – 3 

4. Parkland (11)                       — 4-0 – 4 

5. Central Bucks West (1)        — 4-0 – 5 

6. Central York (3)                   — 4-0 – 7 

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

8. Downingtown East (1)        — 4-0 – 9 

9. Nazareth (11)                      – 3-1 – 6 

10. Central Dauphin (3)          — 3-1 – NR 

Teams to watch: Downingtown West (1) 4-0, Garnet Valley (1) 3-1, Harrisburg (3) 3-1, State College (6) 2-1.  

CLASS 5A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. Imhotep Charter (12)          — 4-0 – 1 

2. West Chester Rustin (1)      – 3-0 – 2 

3. Cathedral Prep (10)             – 2-1 – 5 

4. Exeter Township (3)            — 4-0 – 6 

5. Roman Catholic (12)           – 3-1 – 4 

6. Peters Township (7)            — 4-0 – 9 

7. Strath Haven (1)                  – 4-0 – 8 

8. Upper St. Clair (7)               — 4-0 – NR 

9. Southern Lehigh (11)          — 4-0 – NR 

10. Penn Hills (7)                     – 3-1 – 3 

Teams to watch: Cedar Cliff (3) 4-0, Cocalico (3) 3-1, Pine-Richland (7) 2-2, Springfield-Delco (1) 3-1, Whitehall (11) 3-1. 

CLASS 4A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. Bishop McDevitt (3)            – 4-0 – 1 

2. Aliquippa (7)                       – 3-0 – 2 

3. Thomas Jefferson (7)          – 4-0 – 3 

4. Allentown C.C. (11)             – 4-0 – 4 

5. Pope John Paul II (1)           – 4-0 – 5 

6. Jersey Shore (4)                   – 3-0-1 – 6 

7. Selinsgrove (4)                    – 3-0-1 – 7 

8. McKeesport (7)                   – 3-1 – 8 

9. Manheim Central (3)          — 3-1 – 9 

10. Lampeter-Strasburg (3)     — 4-0 – 10 

Teams to watch: Armstrong (7) 3-1, Bethlehem Catholic (11) 4-0, Bonner-Prendergast (12) 2-1, Central Valley (7) 3-1, Twin Valley (3) 4-0. 

CLASS 3A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. Belle Vernon (7)                  – 3-0 – 1 

2. Wyomissing (3)                   – 4-0 – 2 

3. Avonworth (7)                     – 4-0 – 3 

4. Neumann-Goretti (12)        – 2-1 – 4 

5. Scranton Prep (2)                – 4-0 – 5 

6. Danville (4)                          — 4-0 – 8 

7. North Schuylkill (11)           – 3-1 – 7 

8. West Perry (3)                     — 4-0 – 9 

9. Loyalsock (4)                       – 2-2 – 6 

10. Central (6)                         — 4-0 – 10 

Teams to watch: Beaver Area (7) 4-0, Elizabeth-Forward (7) 4-0, Knoch (7) 4-0, Lancaster Catholic (3) 4-0, Northwestern Lehigh (11) 4-0. 

CLASS 2A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. Southern Columbia (4)        – 4-0 – 1 

2. Farrell (10)                           – 4-0 – 2 

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

4. Richland (6)                         – 4-0 – 5 

5. Bald Eagle Area (6)              — 4-0 – 8 

6. Central Clarion (9)               — 4-0 – 7 

7. Washington (7)                   — 4-0 – 9 

8. Troy (4)                                — 4-0 – 10 

9. Trinity (3)                             – 2-2 – 4 

10. Berlin Brothersvalley (5)   — 4-0 – NR 

Teams to watch: Dunmore (2) 3-1, Mount Carmel (4) 2-2, Sharpsville (10) 4-0, Steel Valley (7) 2-1, Williams Valley (11)  3-1. 

CLASS 1A 

Rank – Team – District – Record – Previous 

1. Steelton-Highspire (3)         — 4-0 – 1 

2. Bishop Canevin (7)              — 3-0 – 2 

3. Canton (4)                           — 4-0 – 3 

4. Northern Bedford (5)          — 4-0 – 4 

5. Lackawanna Trail (2)           – 4-0 – 5 

6. Windber (5)                         — 4-0 – 7 

7. Redbank Valley (9)              — 4-0 – 9 

8. Cornell (7)                           — 4-0 — 10 

9. Lakeview (10)                      — 4-0 – NR 

10. South Side (7)                   — 4-0 – NR 

Teams to watch: Juniata Valley (6) 4-0, Minersville (11) 3-1, Muncy (4) 3-1, Rochester (7) 3-0, South Williamsport (4) 4-0. 

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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.

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

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

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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.

11.	West Perry	4-0	NR
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.