Standings:

Name; Week 5; Overall

Andy Shay 14-5; 80-25

Adam Kulikowski 16-3; 77-28

Andy Sandrik: 17-2; 75-30

Upper Dauphin at. James Buchanan

Andy Shay: James Buchanan 20, Upper Dauphin 14: True the Trojans are winless at the halfway pole, and the Rockets are the favorite just thinking this game is going to be a tight squeeze all the way.

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 21, James Buchanan 14: If the Trojans could play within 13 points of mighty Line Mountain, they’ve got a chance to beat James Buchanan, right? 

Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 26, James Buchanan 14: The sample size is small, but after going toe-to-toe with Line Mountain last week, I believe the Trojans might be on the verge of turning the corner. 

Shippensburg 23, Lower Dauphin 20

Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 24, Shippensburg 21: Wins over Mechanicsburg and Hershey in back-to-back weeks has the Falcons flying high. Ship has the pieces to shorten this game and put LD on tilt, but jumping on the LD bus for this one.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 21, Lower Dauphin 18: The ‘Hounds haven’t allowed more than three scores in a game all season, and if that trend continues, Ship will have a great shot at improving to 5-1.

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 28, Shippensburg 21: The Falcons have found their identity over the last few weeks, relying on their ground attack and a steady defense to post back-to-back quality victories. 

Waynesboro 49, Northern York 14

Andy Shay: Waynesboro 26, Northern York 20: Couple of struggling programs in ‘25 with one victory combined. Coin flip in my book this one could go either way.

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 21, Northern York 14: Waynesboro only has one more victory than the winless Polar Bears, but the Tribe have been much more competitive in their time on the field.

Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 33, Northern York 21: Both teams likely view this as a winnable matchup in a season where little has gone right for either. 

Hershey 48, Gettysburg 31

Andy Shay: Hershey 30, Gettysburg 28: Here’s the thing about this matchup … Hershey is coming off an upset loss in overtime and the Warriors have scored points on pretty much everybody but struggle on defense.

Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 34, Hershey 27: If you’re the betting type, take the “over” this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 34, Gettysburg 27:  Trojans defense is allowing 16.4 points per game through the season’s mid-way point. Full metal test coming this week, however with the high-flying Warriors weaponry. 

Harrisburg 49, Carlisle 0

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 49, Carlisle 0: Anything other than a mercy rule victory by the Cougars will be a huge surprise.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 45, Carlisle 0: No reason to believe Harrisburg won’t continue rolling to 6-0 this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 55, Carlisle 0: Brutal back-to-back weeks for Carlisle coming off a blanking by Bishop McDevitt last week. The only thing that would prevent a Cougars victory Friday night is the rapture. 

Mifflin County 8, Palmyra 6

Andy Shay: Palmyra 13, Mifflin County 7: All I know is the Cougars lost to Shippensburg by a point two weeks ago and edged Waynesboro last week. Plus Palmyra defense has surrendered only 20 points the last eight quarters.

Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 21, Mifflin County 10: Take away a 42-point outburst against a winless Central Mountain squad, and Mifflin County’s offense is averaging just 6.75 points per game. The Huskies will need more than that against a Palmyra defense that has found a rhythm in recent weeks.

Adam Kulikowski: Palmyra 24, Mifflin County 7: Cougars haven’t won more than two games in a season since 2021. They have a very good chance to break that ugly streak this week. 

Cumberland Valley 24, CD East 6

Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 24, CD East 14: Five weeks and 20 quarters of football into the season and why do I feel I know less about these two clubs than when the season started. Sounds like a me problem for sure, though.

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 18, CD East 7: Thanks to an elite defense, the Eagles have the unique distinction of being a losing team that’s outscored their competition by more than 30 points. Look for CV to shake off that “losing” label this week and get back to .500.

Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 31, CD East 7: Eagles have more pathways to victory in this match up than I see for the Panthers. 

State College 41, Central Dauphin 13

Andy Shay: State College 30, Central Dauphin 14: It has been a more competitive Rams squad week in and week out, however the Little Lions demand next level and CD doesn’t have that answer.

Andy Sandrik: State College 36, Central Dauphin 10: The Rams will have competitive moments against the Little Lions, but sticking with SC for four full quarters is an awfully tall ask.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 31, Central Dauphin 21: Little Lions have yielded 14 or less points in four of their five match-ups this season. Good gauge for the Rams as we enter the second half.

Boiling Springs at Big Spring

Andy Shay: Big Spring 40, Boiling Springs 13: If nothing else the one-loss Bulldogs from Newville have been super consistent this season and you know what is coming at you. Bubblers defense has struggled to hold down the score and that’s the difference maker.

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 38, Boiling Springs 14: A steady dose of Grady Hope should be more than enough for the Bulldogs to overcome their rivals from Bubbletown.

Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 37, Boiling Springs 7: This has the makings of an early evening for some of the Bulldogs big dawgs ahead of a showdown next week against West Perry. 

Bishop McDevitt 38, Altoona 0

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 41, Altoona 7: These Mountain Lions have been somewhat inconsistent and sneaky at times as well this season. Crusaders are making a long road trip to test their new-found resolve and winning ways.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 42, Altoona 14: Full credit to the Mountain Lions for picking up two Commonwealth wins in three weeks, but they now face a McDevitt that is just starting to hit its stride.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 48, Altoona 14: The Crusaders possess a plethora of weapons to cut you at every turn. Getting a foothold against a team like that is no small feat. 

Cedar Cliff 35, Chambersburg 7

Andy Shay: Chambersburg 26, Cedar Cliff 21: How much gas is left in the tank for the Trojans after playing the trio of Commonwealth hammers in a row? When the playing field is more level Chambersburg has shown up. All about Cedar Cliff defense for them to snare a road win.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 28, Chambersburg 21: Both of these squads have taken their respective beatings from the monsters of the Commonwealth Division. And now that the Colts and Trojans are facing each other, both squads can see a potential light at the end of the tunnel. Expect a hard battle. 

Adam Kulikowski: Chambersburg 28, Cedar Cliff 24: The similarities of these two squads should make this a fair fight for a full four quarters. Winner will simply make fewer missteps along the way. 

Milton Hershey 26, Newport 21

Andy Shay: Newport 26, Milton Hershey 20: This is a step up in competition level for the Buffaloes despite the Trojans being winless. All about whether or not Milton Hershey defense can give their club a shot. Expect a tight one.

Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 26, Newport 17: The Buffs are a confident squad right now, but the Spartans will be their biggest challenge in weeks. Milton Hershey’s defense has been susceptible, but it took a step forward against Trinity last week. 

Adam Kulikowski: Newport 31, Milton Hershey 28: Newport has gashed its last three opponents on the ground for a combined 791 yards. Spartans’ defense will need to fill the box to slow the Buffs.

Susquehanna Twp. 21, Middletown 0

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 49, Middletown 14: Full props to the Blue Raiders defense for backstopping the program to a couple wins in the first month. West Perry lit up the scoreboard last week and this Hanna outfit has twice as much firepower.

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 44. Middletown 17: The Tribe present matchup problems all over the field on a weekly basis, and this Friday will be no exception.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 55, Middletown 21: Tribe’s bounty of weaponry presents huge match up issues for the Blue Raiders. 

Halifax 49, Camp Hill 13

Andy Shay: Halifax 27, Camp Hill 7: Tight squeeze here for the Wildcats despite Camp Hill being winless. Having to play all four quarters to get a W last week sets the table for Halifax to reach .500 after six weeks.

Andy Sandrik: Halifax 24, Camp Hill 17: You’ve gotta respect the hustle of the Wildcats’ Cohen Bechtel, a player who’s rolled up more than 500 combined rushing and passing yards this season.

Adam Kulikowski: Halifax 31, Camp Hill 14: Lions are averaging just 11 points per game this season. 

West Perry 28, East Pennsboro 27

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 27, West Perry 25: Couple of battle tested 4-1 teams that are rolling. Panthers level competition overall is just a notch or two better than the Mustangs and that will show up over the course of 48 minutes. Toss up game for sure, though.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 35, East Pennsboro 28: West Perry’s leading rusher, Evan Jutba, slid into the QB role last week. The man who replaced him at RB, Adam Yoder, piled up 254 yards and two TDs in an impressive win over Middletown.

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 24, West Perry 21: Hard not to love this even match-up. Both teams can gash you on the ground with explosive plays from multiple players.  Easily could see the Mustangs on top at the end of the night if they win the turnover battle.

Juniata 48, Susquenita 0

Andy Shay: Juniata 30, Susquenita 7: Three times this season Susquenita has allowed 48 or more points including the last weeks running. Indians are not overpowering, more like a slow burn that sucks the air out of your offense.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 34, Susquenita 12: After a 1-2 start, Juniata’s stock has been rising in recent weeks. Expect for that trend to continue against a Susquenita squad that has been allowing points in bunches.

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 41, Susquenita 7: Slowing opponents has been Susquenita’s achilles heal. Not sure that changes this week. 

Trinity 35, Greencastle-Antrim 0

Andy Shay: Trinity 21, Greencastle-Antrim 6: Never know how much productivity is going to come from the T-Rock offense on a weekly basis. 

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 17, Greencastle-Antrim 10: A win at COBO Field is possible for Greencastle, but it will require confidence and execution.

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 28, Greencastle-Antrim 14: After not posting a single sack in the first three weeks of the season, the Shamrocks have applied the pressure in back-to-back weeks with five total sacks. 

Line Mountain 36, Steel-High 34

Andy Shay: Steel-High 27, Line Mountain 26: Not sure whether this game will be a wild track meet or a defensive struggle that comes down to the wire. Both are very capable of happening. Both teams will believe they are the better team and have fewer holes. It will take 48 minutes to figure that out, but give me the Rollers.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 30, Steel-High 28: Max Johnson has always been a game-wrecker on defense, but now that he’s contributing as a running back, Line Mountain is putting up some superb numbers on the offensive side of the ball.

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 31, Line Mountain 28: Eagles had a let down game last week against Upper Dauphin but still came out on top. A sharper performance will be needed to earn a ‘W’.

Mechanicsburg 14, Red Land 7

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 27, Red Land 24: There is not a blemish on the Red Land dance card this season and the Wildcats have one speed bump to their credit in an upset loss to Lower Dauphin. First real big game for the Patriots in a long time. See how they handle the stage.

Andy Sandrik: Red Land 34, Mechanicsburg 28: A year ago this would be an easy game to pick. Not so much this season.

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 28, Red Land 27: Perhaps the most intriguing match up on the docket this week. Patriots have earned the right to be favored in this tussle, but the Wildcats have the experience winning close games. 

As the leaves start to turn, the stakes rise across the Mid-Penn. Week 5 brings us grudge matches, revenge tours, and programs on the edge of breakout or breakdown. From Central Dauphin’s quest to snap a losing streak against Cumberland Valley to Steel-High trying to slow the high-flying Tribe, this slate is packed with storylines.

Thursday, September 18

Susquehanna Twp. 35, Steel-High 20

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Twp. 42, Steel-High 14: Feels very odd to say the Rollers don’t have the firepower on offense to keep pace. That is rare, indeed. However that is the case in this one with the electric and quick-strike Tribe and their offense. Hard to keep up. 

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Twp. 44, Steel-High 17: No offense to the unbeaten Rollers, but the average score of a ‘Hanna game this fall has been close to 54-7, in favor of the Tribe.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Twp. 55, Steel-High 21: Tribe continue to roll over formidable opponents–an attestment to the weaponry Coach Headen has at his disposal. 

Friday, September 19

Cumberland Valley 24, Central Dauphin 15

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 20, Cumberland Valley 13: CV Eagles are in a losing vortex that is hard to shake out of without help from the opposition. CD Rams are in a better spot it seems with two straight wins and feel good about where they are. That matters.

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 20, Central Dauphin 17: If Central Dauphin can break through that 21-point barrier against CV’s stout defense, the Rams have a good chance to beat the Eagles for the first time since the 2019 season.

Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 21, Cumberland Valley 20: Every time I think I know what to expect from the Eagles, they prove otherwise. Which CV team will host the Rams?

State College 40, Chambersburg 0

Andy Shay: State College 42, Chambersburg 7: Third hammer opponent in a row for the Trojans on the heels of games with McDevitt and Harrisburg. Just survive and move forward the schedule gets more balanced from here on in.

Andy Sandrik: State College 44, Chambersburg 14: How unforgiving is the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division? Just ask the Chambersburg Trojans.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 34, Chambersburg 14: You might not know it from the final scores, but this Chambersburg squad is not an easy out. 

Bishop McDevitt 49, Carlisle 0

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 42, Carlisle 6: The rebuild from that 0-2 start continues for the Crusaders as the Thundering Herd are not capable of matching wits with an opponent at this level in 2025.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 49, Carlisle 0: This is a contest where the Thundering Herd need to focus on the small victories within the game, instead of the big picture. 

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 55, Carlisle 6: Crusaders are simply playing for different reasons than the Thundering Herd at this point in the season. 

Altoona 14, CD East 0

Andy Shay: CD East 28, Altoona 24: This one is tricky because after getting drilled in its first two games the Mountain Lions have rallied and made some noise. CD East will get the best shot Altoona has and if they are ready, it’s their game to lose.

Andy Sandrik: Altoona 18, CD East 15: The Panthers are 0-2 in games decided by two scores or less. It’s not exactly the vote of confidence East High needs going into a game against Altoona that could very well go down to the wire.

Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 31, CD East 28: Mountain Lions are trending up after scoring just seven points in each of their first two games. Offense continues to take steps forward Friday night against the Panthers.

Red Land 47, Northern York 7

Andy Shay: Red Land 35, Northern York 0: Make it 5-for-5 for the undefeated Patriots who continue to soar and all systems are go against a winless Polar Bears squad. Red Land has scored more than 100 points over the last eight quarters.

Andy Sandrik: Red Land 28, Northern York 7: It’s been a cinderella season for the boys from Red Land, but this Friday the Patriots will be playing the role of Goliath against the winless Polar Bears.

Adam Kulikowski: Red Land 42, Northern York 6: Patriots have all the momentum going in their favor, yielding 14 or less points in three of their four victories this season.

Shippensburg 21, Mifflin County 6

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 20, Mifflin County 7: Certainly not a smooth ride for the Greyhounds but full credit to Ship for finding a way to still post victories. Neither offense has displayed much firepower so expect a defensive struggle.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 28, Mifflin County 7: Every single game has been a tooth-and-nail struggle for Shippensburg. Can the ‘Hounds find some relief against a Mifflin County squad that’s totaled seven points over its last eight quarters?

Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 34, Mifflin County 14: Greyhounds have found success leaning on their backs and a steady defense. That formula should prove successful in Week 5. 

Lower Dauphin 27, Hershey 24

Andy Shay: Hershey 28, Lower Dauphin 7: It would take another massive effort for the Falcons to pull off two shocking results in as many weeks. Hershey has the QB in Cam Sweeney who fully qualifies as a difference maker.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 24, Lower Dauphin 14: Just when we were ready to count LD out, the Falcons pulled off a stunner over Mechanicsburg. Hershey QB Cam Sweeney, a man closing in on 1,000 combined rushing and passing yards, presents a whole new challenge for the boys from Hummelstown.

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 28, Hershey 21: Falcons defense continues to make an impact in its opponent’s backfield, averaging just over seven tackles for loss a game. 

Palmyra 9, Waynesboro 7

Andy Shay: Waynesboro 21, Palmyra 7: Very similar teams in so many ways, the only difference being the Indians have just a little more firepower in the tank offensively to lean on and over 48 minutes that will show up.

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 25, Palmyra 14: Expect a close game from a couple of one-win squads looking to get back on track. Waynesboro has just a little bit more offensively and can pull away late with a steady effort.

Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 24, Palmyra 20: Both teams enter this fray reeling from three-game losing streaks. Indians have the tools to get back on the track this week.

Mechanicsburg 35, Gettysburg 14

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 24, Gettysburg 17: What we have here is a battle of wills. The Wildcats defense vs. Warriors offense and how that matchup plays out will reveal who comes out on top in the end. Strength vs. Strength is always super appealing.

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 28, Gettysburg 25: Mechanicsburg’s strength, its defense, will be tested by a Gettysburg side that excels in scoring points.

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 34, Gettysburg 14: Wildcats have the type of defense that can make a slip last week just a blip on the calendar.  

Line Mountain 33, Upper Dauphin 20

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 55, Upper Dauphin 0: Dealers choice for the Eagles as they still need to keep that edge and stay sharp. Trojans aren’t providing much resistance this season.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 48, Upper Dauphin 0: This game can get as ugly as unbeaten Line Mountain wants to make it. 

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 45, Upper Dauphin 6: Eagles can control the throttle in this one, getting reps to some of the youngsters. 

Newport 55, Susquenita 12

Andy Shay: Newport 30, Susquenita 7: When it comes to firepower the Buffs have the best player on the field and will be able to keep the scoreboard moving. Blackhawks aren’t built to run up and down the field.

Andy Sandrik: Newport 28, Susquenita 18: I actually think this Perry County scrap will be closer than most experts think, but Newport has a dynamic QB in Trevin Arnold who can carry the Buffs to the finish line.

Adam Kulikowski: Newport 33, Susquenita 6: Buffaloes have found a resilient element to their game that’s been lacking the last several seasons. Winning this Perry County tussle is a matter of pride. 

Juniata 27, Camp Hill 10

Andy Shay: Juniata 34, Camp Hill 0: Slow and steady has been a recipe for success for the Indians this season and this matchup provides an opening to break out of that grind-it-out pace. Camp Hill is battling uphill on many fronts this season including defensively.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 35, Camp Hill 7: The Indians have yet to score more than 19 points in a game this season. That should change on Friday against a Camp Hill side that’s struggled to be competitive this fall.

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 42, Camp Hill 13: Some weeks, it feels like a grind for the Indians, but this is not one of those weeks.

Halifax 14, James Buchanan 10

Andy Shay: Halifax 27, James Buchanan 25: I expect this one to go back and forth and enter the final four minutes with the outcome very much in doubt. Last big play wins, maybe?

Andy Sandrik: Halifax 28, James Buchanan 27: The win-loss record might not show it, but the Wildcats possess more offensive pop than they have in years.

Adam Kulikowski: James Buchanan 31, Halifax 24: Wildcats defense is susceptible to leaks. Rockets have enough in the cupboard to take advantage. 

East Pennsboro 35, Boiling Springs 10

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 27, Boiling Springs 7: Very quietly and a little below the radar the Panthers have become confident and comfortable in their own football skin and are on the same page on what it takes to get the job done.

Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 28, Boiling Springs 17: The Panthers have settled into a nice groove in recent weeks and have a good chance this week to roll off their fourth win in a row.

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 21, Boiling Springs 7: Bubblers have scored just six points over the last three weeks. Panthers won’t make life easy for the gents in Purple and Gold.

Trinity 17, Milton Hershey 6

Andy Shay: Trinity 28, Milton Hershey 7: There are issues with the T-Rocks offense and that isn’t likely to change. However, they are backstopped by a defense that is surrendering less than 11 points a game (one touchdown on average) and that will win you plenty of games. 

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 42, Milton Hershey 21: Until Milton Hershey can shore up a defense that’s allowing more than five TDs per game, it’s going to be hard to pick the Spartans to win.

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 48, Milton Hershey 28: If the Spartans are going to slow the Shamrocks, it starts with limiting the damage wideout Maddox Jarzynski can do downfield–tough task. 

Big Spring 27, Greencastle-Antrim 17

Andy Shay: Big Spring 20, Greencastle-Antrim 7: If you dig deep beyond the game with Hanna Tribe, the Bulldogs defense has been doing some of the heavy lifting to help Big Spring reach three wins in four games. Expect that trend to continue.

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 23, Greencastle-Antrim 17: The Bulldogs are 3-0 when RB Grady Hope goes over 100 rushing yards. Look for Hope to do just that against a Greencastle team that was subdued by East Penn’s running game last week.

Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 28, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Bulldogs have committed just two turnovers all season. Taking care of the rock will make this an uphill battle for G-A.

West Perry 38, Middletown 17

Andy Shay: Middletown 19, West Perry 14: In their three wins the Blue Raiders have surrendered only 21 total points. Heck, even in defeat they allowed only 19 points. Pretty clear why I picked Middletown in this one.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 28, Middletown 21: How soon can WP forget about the ‘Hanna game? If the Mustangs have a short memory, they’ve got a good shot to win this battle of 3-1 teams.

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 24, Middletown 21: This might just be one of the most intriguing match ups on the slate in Week 5. Mustangs look to avenge last season’s 14-9 loss to the Blue Raiders.

Saturday, September 20:

Harrisburg 42, Cedar Cliff 0

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 42, Cedar Cliff 7: Based on their schedule to date, more needs to be said about the Cougars defense this season. That will show up in spades in this matchup.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 44, Cedar Cliff 14: A portion of Harrisburg’s success this fall should be given to the Cougars’ leading rusher, PJ Dent, who transferred in from Cedar Cliff this season.

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 48, Cedar Cliff 14: How does one challenge a Lamborghini? That’s the task facing the Colts this week.