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

This year’s group of experts includes veteran reporters Andy Shay and Andy Sandrik, as well as 4th Down owner and manager Adam Kulikowski.

Here’s who we think will win each game this week.

2023 Standings

Picker: Week 8 — Overall — Perfect Picks

Andy Sandrik: 17-5 — 159-45 — 0

Adam Kulikowski: 15-7 — 156-48 — 1

Andy Shay: 15-7 — 150-54 — 1

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

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

FRIDAY, OCT. 20

Altoona 28, Carlisle 19

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

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

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

Central Dauphin 49, CD East 20

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

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

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

Cumberland Valley 17, State College 10

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

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

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

Bishop McDevitt 42, Mifflin County 0

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

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

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

Cedar Cliff 41, Red Land 7

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

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

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

Lower Dauphin 21, Hershey 14 (OT)

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

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

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

Milton Hershey 41, Palmyra 6

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

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

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

East Pennsboro 31, Susquehanna Township 28

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

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

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

Northern 63, Gettysburg 42

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

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

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

Mechanicsburg 34, Greencastle-Antrim 22

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

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

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

Shippensburg 27, Waynesboro 0

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

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

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

Boiling Springs 6, Middletown 5

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

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

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

West Perry 48, Camp Hill 24

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

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

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

Big Spring 42, Upper Dauphin 14

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

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

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

Halifax 46, Newport 22

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

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

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

Susquenita 48, James Buchanan 6

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

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

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

Line Mountain 40, Juniata 30

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

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

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

Tri-Valley 16, Marian Catholic 6

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

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

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

Notre Dame-Green Pond 56, Pine Grove 6

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

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

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

Williams Valley 54, Shenandoah Valley 0

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

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

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

SATURDAY, OCT. 21

Chambersburg at Harrisburg, 1 p.m.

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

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

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

Trinity at Steel-High, 4 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trinity’s defense stepping up for offense

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Susquehanna’s growth during season means division is in play

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

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

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

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

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

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

District 3 playoffs: Where Mid-Penn contenders stand

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

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

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

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

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

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

11.	West Perry	8-0	11
This wasn’t as easy as some of the other sure-fire wins for the Mustangs. Credit Middletown for making West Perry earn a 31-6 victory.
10.	Steel-High	8-0	10
No real surprise the Rollers scored a season-high 67 points against winless Newport. Meat of the Steel-High schedule is on deck.
9.	Wyomissing	7-1	9
The one-loss Spartans — it feels weird just saying that with all the success Wyomissing has enjoyed during the regular season the last half decade — host 2-5 Conrad Weiser today.
8.	Manheim Central	7-1	8
In a matchup of one-loss squads, the Barons had no trouble rolling over Conestoga Valley by five touchdowns.
7.	Exeter Township	8-0	7
Give credit to Hempfield for giving the Eagles a full-metal-jacket test for three quarters before Exeter pulled away with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to win 49-27.
6.	Cocalico	7-1	6
The Eagles took care of business in the first half, sprinting to a 30-0 cushion at intermission against overmatched Donegal before taking their foot off the gas.
5.	State College	5-2	4
Credit the Little Lions’ defense for holding No. 3 Harrisburg to 20 points. Getting blanked offensively, though, is a red flag in the bigger picture.
4.	Central York	8-0	5
Two sides of the coin here for the Panthers. They rallied with 13 fourth-quarter points to edge Red Lion 35-27. But they were trailing Red Lion, a 3-5 squad, after three quarters.
3.	Harrisburg	7-1	3
To go on the road and put together a complete game sparked by a defense that went into lockdown mode and pitched a shutout on the big stage is revealing.
2.	Manheim Township	8-0	2
There was never any expectation other than the Blue Streaks blowing out a Reading squad that came in with only one victory. Township scored all 41 of its points before halftime, too.
1.	Bishop McDevitt	8-0	1
Never challenged, again, the Crusaders went about their business and put 42 on the board in the first half on their way to a 49-0 blanking of Red Land. It was the first shutout of the season for the McD defense.

An unbeaten squad was knocked off by a one-win team and a state passing record fell, so what will Week 8 have in store?

Time to find out. Multiple Mid-Penn football teams play their rivals this week, and at least one of the week’s matchups — State College vs. Harrisburg — could effectively decide a division race. And that’s not to mention dozens of teams have important opportunities to cement their District 3 playoff status or get back into the picture.

So, a lot is in store.

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 8 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 8 of the PIAA high school football season:

• Who’s gonna win? The 4th Down crew picks Week 8’s matchups
• Elite 11: See Andy Shay’s District 3 power rankings after Week 7
• PIAA football rankings: See Eric Epler’s state rankings from Class 6A to 1A
• See who is the Week 7 Mid-Penn Player of the Week
• See who is the Week 7 Colonial-Schuylkill Player of the Week

Mid-Penn Conference football schedule and scores: Week 8

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

Thursday, Oct. 12

• Big Spring 30, Boiling Springs 13 Final
• Steel-High 67, Newport 12 Final

Friday, Oct. 13

• Central Dauphin 48, Altoona 14 Final
• Cumberland Valley 30, Carlisle 8 Final
• Chambersburg 34, CD East 33 Final
• Harrisburg 20, State College 0 Final
• Bishop McDevitt 49, Red Land 0 Final
• Cedar Cliff 55, Palmyra 18 Final
• Hershey 24, Mifflin County 14 Final
• Milton Hershey 47, Lower Dauphin 44 Final
• East Pennsboro 34, Shippensburg 14 Final
• Greencastle-Antrim 37, Gettysburg 20 Final
• Mechanicsburg 35, Waynesboro 31 Final
• Susquehanna Township 42, Northern 16 Final
• Trinity 14, Camp Hill 13 Final
• West Perry 31, Middletown 6 Final
• Susquenita 20, Halifax 13 Final
• Line Mountain 56, James Buchanan 20 Final
• Juniata 33, Upper Dauphin 6 Final
• Mahanoy 27, Tri-Valley 20 Final
• Pine Grove 31, Salisbury Township 0 Final
• Williams Valley 13, Marion Catholic 6 Final

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

Just a week after Alex Erby set a new high-water mark in career passing yards, he etched his name into the PA record books again. This time, setting the career passing touchdown record with 147.

He surpassed Central Martinsburg QB Jeff Hoenstine’s mark of 146 which was set last season.

Steel-High beat Newport tonight 67-12.

Q3, 4:50 — 🚨 RECORD BREAKER 🚨

With this 85-yard scoring connection to Durrell Caesar Jr., Alex Erby (@ErbyAlex) is your all-time passing touchdown leader in Pennsylvania at 147.

Steel-High 61, Newport 6 pic.twitter.com/eEfniNJ46M

— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) October 13, 2023

EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: It’s Week 8 of the Pennsylvania high school football season, and the 4th Down Magazine team is here to tell you who’s going to win every game involving Mid-Penn Conference teams, as well as Schuylkill-Colonial League games featuring former members of the now-defunct Tri-Valley League.

This year’s group of experts includes veteran reporters Andy Shay and Andy Sandrik, as well as 4th Down owner and manager Adam Kulikowski.

Here’s who we think will win each game this week.

2023 Standings

Picker: Week 8 — Overall — Perfect Picks

Andy Sandrik: 17-5 — 159-45 — 0

Adam Kulikowski: 15-7 — 156-48 — 1

Andy Shay: 15-7 — 150-54 — 1

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

THURSDAY, OCT. 12

Big Spring 30, Boiling Springs 13

Andy Shay: Big Spring 34, Boiling Springs 7: Brutal three-game stretch for the Bulldogs, playing Steel-High, Trinity and West Perry in consecutive weeks. Big Spring was fully competitive but dropped all three. Opportunity is ripe here for a bounceback victory.

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 28, Boiling Springs 12: We’ve seen how well Big Spring can play when it is the under(bull)dog, but what will Joe Sinkovich’s team do in a game they’re supposed to win? 

Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 28, Boiling Springs 6: I know the Bulldogs are in no mood for moral victories, but this club added plenty of props to their résumé last week after taking the Mustangs to the brink. ‘Dogs find the road a little easier this week. 

Steel-High 67, Newport 12

Andy Shay: Steel-High 54, Newport 0: This is just a cruel twist of fate by the scheduling zen master. Buffaloes are the only winless squad in the Mid-Penn while Steel-High is one of three unbeaten squads.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 55, Newport 0: Congrats to Alex Erby on the state passing record. The passing TDs record is next, and there’s a chance Erby could break that this week with a monster game.

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 64, Newport 6: No real analysis needed here. Just a check mark on a bigger path for the Rollers. 

FRIDAY, OCT. 13

Central Dauphin 48, Altoona 14

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 31, Altoona 7: Good spot for the Rams after getting upset by Cumberland Valley, although the Mountain Lions are in a better place after snapping their three-game slide with some offensive output a week ago. CD needs this one.

Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 29, Altoona 13: There’s no reason why a young, 38-year-old guy like me should have this much gray hair. But here I am in Week 8, still getting headaches trying to size up these Central Dauphin Rams.

Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 27, Altoona 13: How do the Rams respond to adversity? We’re about to find out after Coach Glen McNamee’s club got upset last week. 

Cumberland Valley 30, at Carlisle 8

Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 28, Carlisle 7: Will be interesting to see where the Eagles go at the QB position this week against a Thundering Herd defense that has endured plenty of struggles this season. Big difference here is the CV defense.

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 33, Carlisle 12: The Eagles took a major step forward against Central Dauphin last week and are now a player in the 6A postseason picture. If CV is truly a playoff team, this is a game it should win decisively. 

Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 35, Carlisle 14: The Eagles found a spark last week on offense. Building on that success against a defense that is yielding an average of 38 points per game should be priority No. 1 Friday night. 

Chambersburg 34, CD East 33

Andy Shay: CD East 35, Chambersburg 7: Couple of 3-4 squads, and the Panthers gave a lot at the office last week to push Harrisburg to the brink before falling. Can they reach that level again? If so, they will cruise. East running game is rolling, and Trojans feel like a team fading into the twilight.

Andy Sandrik: CD East 32, Chambersburg 14: If you didn’t know who Jared Porter was before, you should now. Something clicked for the Panthers last week, and I think that carries over into this week. 

Adam Kulikowski: CD East 45, Chambersburg 13: It’s been an up-and-down season for the Panthers who currently are 3-4 overall. But one silver lining is the emergence of Porter — an absolute stud at running back for the boys from East. 

Harrisburg 20, State College 0

Andy Shay: State College 28, Harrisburg 26: This is a crazy matchup in that I could see this being tight all the way, but I also see scenarios where each team could have a major advantage that controls the game. Defense is in the spotlight for both squads in this one.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 35, State College 26: At this point I think State College is the best team in the Commonwealth, but this young Harrisburg team just may be the squad with the highest potential ceiling. I’m expecting a barnburner.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 35, Harrisburg 33: Perhaps the best matchup on the docket in Week 8, I give the Little Lions the edge after the Panthers last week provided the blueprint to success against the Cougars. 

Bishop McDevitt 49, Red Land 0

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 55, Red Land 7: Another standard 2023 Keystone Division result for the Crusaders and their massive talent edge over the rest of the field.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 55, Red Land 7: Picking McDevitt’s Keystone games is stupidly easy. The hard part is trying to provide meaningful analysis for these games the Crusaders routinely win by 50 points. 

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 58, Red Land 6: Regular season matchups for the Crusaders often feel like a multi-week training camp before bigger challenges await later in the postseason. 

Cedar Cliff 55, Palmyra 18

Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 38, Palmyra 6: Impressed with how the Colts’ defense continues to get better with each passing week and is the power that fuels this squad. Cougars don’t have enough firepower offensively to keep pace in this one.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 35, Palmyra 10: Don’t need to overthink this one. Cedar Cliff simply has more in the cupboard than Palmyra, and the Colts will improve to 7-1.

Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 42, Palmyra 13: The Cougars have made significant strides from a year ago. But finding enough pieces in this one to knock off the Colts is a tall task. 

Hershey 24, Mifflin County 14

Andy Shay: Hershey 31, Mifflin County 20: The Huskies have been a hot-and-cold group offensively, but when they are running warm they provide a full-metal-jacket challenge. Trojans have to show up with their best stuff to ensure the game is played inside their box.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 28, Mifflin County 21: Gotta love the fight from Mifflin County, but this game has “uphill battle” written all over it for the Huskies.

Adam Kulikowski: Mifflin County 28, Hershey 27: The Huskies have proven to be a tough out and with Deakon Shaeffer’s ability to hit the proverbial home run a milt upset seems fully on the table. 

Milton Hershey 44, Lower Dauphin 41

Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 35, Milton Hershey 14: Both Falcons losses have been by less than a touchdown. If nothing else, LD has been sneaky consistent all season, and that will pay off here against a streaky Spartans outfit that fell to Mifflin County in a shootout last week.

Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 28, Milton Hershey 13: I absolutely think the Spartans can win this game, but their consistency has been a concern, especially facing a Lower Dauphin squad that has been the definition of consistency. 

Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 35, Lower Dauphin 28: The Spartans are on a three-game skid while Cedar Cliff snapped Lower Dauphin’s four-game winning streak last week. Spartans quietly have an offense capable of applying serious strain on an opponent’s defense.

East Pennsboro 34, Shippensburg 14

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 21, Shippensburg 7: Falling from the ranks of the unbeaten by losing to a one-win team is a full dose of humble pie for the Panthers. So what is their response? Greyhounds are tough defensively but bring very little offense to the table. This is all about East Penn, though.

Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 24, Shippensburg 14: The Northern Polar Bears threw down a blueprint on how to beat previously unbeaten East Penn, but how well can Shippensburg implement that plan?

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 37, Shippensburg 28: We’re about to find out if the Panthers are still the favorites to win the Colonial Division with the Greyhounds at the plate and Susquehanna Township on deck next week. 

Greencastle-Antrim 37, Gettysburg 20

Andy Shay: Gettysburg 28, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Warriors have ripped off three straight wins to get back in the postseason chase, scoring 40-plus in two of those victories. Blue Devils are capable, but that 5-0 start is starting to fade in the rear view mirror.

Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 32, Greencastle-Antrim 21: Gettysburg is a team that nobody wants to face right now. During the Warriors’ three-game win streak, QB Brady Heiser has upped his completion percentage while also playing interception-free football. 

Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 45, Greencastle-Antrim 28: We all know by this point the Warriors have a dynamic offense. In the last several weeks of the season, can its defense level up? It could be the ticket Gettysburg needs to punch its postseason berth. 

Mechanicsburg 35, Waynesboro 31

Andy Shay: Waynesboro 29, Mechanicsburg 27: Combined, these two-win teams have dropped five straight games with the Wildcats bringing a three-game slide to the table. This is a wildcard game in my book because neither squad has anything beyond pride at stake.

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 27, Mechanicsburg 24: The wins haven’t been there for Waynesboro, but I’ve seen incremental improvement throughout the season. There’s been enough consistency in this regard to call the Indians the favorites this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 21, Waynesboro 20: The contrarian pick in the group, the Wildcats need some good juju and I’m here to deliver. 

Susquehanna Township 42, Northern 16

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 27, Northern 14: Huge upset by the Polar Bears a week ago, and that will be a factor here. ‘Hanna Tribe are playing their best football right now but can’t provide any openings for Northern if they want to keep moving the needle forward.

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 28, Northern 10: Thanks to Northern’s shock-the-world win over East Pennsboro last week, I had to think twice about this one, but it would be flat out disrespectful to pick against ‘Hanna in this spot.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 35, Northern 20: Northern scored a huge upset last week in a season that has not gone according to plan for Bill Miller’s crew. Knocking off another Colonial Division favorite in back-to-back weeks seems improbable. 

Trinity 14, Camp Hill 13

Andy Shay: Trinity 31, Camp Hill 21: It’s been a rocky road for the Shamrocks with a couple gut-wrenching losses and some injury battles. They are quietly putting it back together, and this rivalry game brings some extra juice to the party. Lions have been streaky but are capable of making this a wire job for sure.

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 33, Camp Hill 19: Camp Hill’s ability to compete hinges on whether or not QB Drew Branstetter is 100%. If he is, the Lions could make this rivalry game a fun one. 

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 43, Camp Hill 28: The Shamrocks are getting back on track just in time to make the most of a season that could be special. 

West Perry 31, Middletown 6

Andy Shay: West Perry 49, Middletown 7: The weight of being undefeated when it’s a novel concept can be a heavy bucket to carry uphill at times. Mustangs are learning what that feels like and found a way to win when pushed to the brink last week by Big Spring. That will show up here against the one-win Blue Raiders.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 44, Middletown 14: Big Spring was oh-so-close to handing that first L to West Perry last week, but the Mustangs found a way to dig deep and pull out the win. I’m not expecting them to be under as much duress this week as they pursue 8-0.

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 55, Middletown 7: Mustangs survived a surprise test from the upstart Big Spring Bulldogs. This one will be easier. 

Susquenita 20, Halifax 13:

Andy Shay: Susquenita 28, Halifax 14: This is a box-of-chocolates game for me, because who knows what you are going to get in this one. Offenses have found it easy to get 35-plus points against the Wildcats the last few weeks, but the Blackhawks have only two wins.

Andy Sandrik: Susquenita 21, Halifax 14: The wins haven’t always been there for QB Derek Gibney and the ‘Hawks this fall, but the stats have still been respectable. I’m looking for Gibney and his receiving corps to be the difference-maker this week. 

Adam Kulikowski: Susquenita 34, Halifax 19: ‘Nita has no problem putting up points with the Gibney duo leading the way. Can the Wildcats keep pace? 

Line Mountain 56, James Buchanan 20

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 49, James Buchanan 0: It hasn’t always been easy, but the Eagles have won four straight and are picking up steam. They won’t be tested here, though.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 41, James Buchanan 7: The Rockets haven’t been competitive since the second week of October. I don’t think they have a path to victory against a Line Mountain squad that has hit its stride in recent weeks.

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 52, James Buchanan 14: There are greater tests ahead for the Eagles, who might be tempted to peek ahead at next week’s matchup against Juniata. 

Juniata 33, Upper Dauphin 6

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 29, Juniata 21: Couple of smoking hot Liberty squads who each bring a four-game winning streak to the table. The slight edge for me in this one goes to the Trojans’ defense, and they will have a say in the final outcome of this one.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 28, Upper Dauphin 21: Our Fourth Down pick ‘em crew has caught some heat in recent weeks for making the same picks. I’ll go against the grain here and take the Indians, whose strength of schedule has them a little more prepared for this moment.

Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 33, Juniata 28: It’s not often you find two clubs hitting their stride at the exact same time. But both of these clubs are doing just that. I give a tip of the scale to UD’s balanced offensive attack. 

Mahanoy 27, Tri-Valley 20

Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 30, Mahanoy 14: Three tough losses for the Bulldogs, each by six or fewer points, including last week. Nice matchup to get back on track against a one-win Golden Bears squad that has dropped four in a row.

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 38, Mahanoy 21: The one-win Golden Bears were so close to springing the upset over Williams Valley but fell short, and then they got blown out in a Monday game against Dunmore. The pieces are there for Mahanoy to compete with the Bulldogs, but I’m just not certain the confidence is. 

Adam Kulikowski: Tri-Valley 42, Mahanoy 18: Mahanoy’s record indicates this should be an easy dub for the Bulldogs, but we know what happens when teams overlook their opponents. Tri-Valley’s disciplined squad doesn’t get caught in a trap game. 

Pine Grove 31, Salisbury Townships 0

Andy Shay: Pine Grove 27, Salisbury Township 22: Combined, these clubs have one victory (Pine Grove owns it) and have surrendered nearly 600 points. The offense that has the better outing gets the win.

Andy Sandrik: Pine Grove 24, Salisbury Township 20: I’m sure this game has been circled on the calendar for at least a few weeks now, by both teams. Give me the Cardinals at home.

Adam Kulikowski: Salisbury Township 14, Pine Grove 7: This is a race featuring two low-horsepower clubs … which probably means we’ll see a shootout.

Williams Valley 13, Marian Catholic 6

Andy Shay: Williams Valley 33, Marian Catholic 30: There is very little in this matchup that screams advantage for one team over the other. Vikings have found a way to win those wire-job games this season because they have the most dynamic player on the field. I’ll hang my hat on that happening again.

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 35, Marian Catholic 28: Every opponent knows that Alex Achenbach is getting the ball, but the yards still come nonetheless. Only two opponents have been able to keep him under 200 rushing yards this season. Read that again. 

Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 37, Marian Catholic 33: Until someone shows me they can stop Achebach, I’ll keep punching my ticket for the Vikings.