While Tim Savage’s high-powered Williams Valley football program appears to have its feet back under them following a midseason slide, the Vikings have one more week of preparation remaining before they square off against neighborhood rival Tri-Valley for the Colonial-Schuylkill League’s Blue Division crown.
Of course, that’s assuming both squads hold serve this weekend.
And for the Vikings (6-2, 3-0 Blue Division), Week 9 means a visit from struggling Shenandoah Valley (1-7, 0-3) awaits this weekend at The Stauff. Trap game? Yeah, but …
Williams Valley spent last weekend walloping Marian Catholic 40-7 in Williamstown. Savage pocketed his 100th career victory and became the winningest coach in Williams Valley’s proud history. Savage’s historic success moved him past his former coach, the late Jerry Stauffenberg, and he accomplished his feat in his 11th season fronting his alma mater’s program.
“I would like to thank every player I have coached, every coach that I have coached with and, finally, every coach that has ever coached me,” Savage stated on Twitter, a short time after Williams Valley closed out its latest victory. “One hundred wins in under 11 years is an accomplishment shared by many throughout a football life.”
Alex Achenbach rolled up his third game in as many weeks with 200-plus rushing yards — Achenbach carried the ball 21 times for 219 yards and one touchdown and added 49 yards and a score receiving — and the Vikings’ defensive unit shut down the visitors’ ground game.
Senior quarterback Isaac Whiteash completed seven of his 20 attempts for 130 yards and four touchdowns — one each to Achenbach and Logan Williard, along with a pair to favorite target Brady Evans (four receptions, 81 yards).
Williard sparked a Williams Valley defensive unit by making 10 tackles (one fewer than Bryant Hoover) as Marian managed just 26 rushing yards on 29 attempts. The Vikings also forced five turnovers, four fumbles and a pick from Achenbach.
Shenandoah Valley, meanwhile, dropped its third outing in as many weeks, falling 21-6 to Nativity. Nick Ryan enjoyed a huge night, catching 12 passes for 172 yards and the Blue Devils’ lone touchdown.
Quarterback Ben Dempster finished with 14 completions in 20 attempts for 191 yards — he was picked off twice — and his touchdown pass to Ryan. He added 48 rushing yards on 18 tries. Junior linebacker Kelvyn Cordero paced the Blue Devils with 11 tackles, including a pair behind the line of scrimmage.
Tri-Valley looking to remain perfect
State-ranked Tri-Valley (8-0. 3-0) turned back a dangerous Mahanoy Area 21-6 at the Hegins-Valley View Metroplex, remaining unbeaten in Blue Division play and strengthening its grip on the No. 1 spot in the District 11 Class 1A power rankings.
Yet with a Week 10 showdown with neighborhood rival Williams Valley looming, Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs cannot lose focus since a visit to Marian Catholic (4-4, 2-2) is on tap. And Stan Dakosty’s Colts are hoping to find a way to improve their No. 5 perch in the 1A power rankings and squeeze into the four-team playoff field.
Able to get some production from its ground game, Tri-Valley parlayed the work of Kam Wetzel (10 carries, 67 yards), Jake Scheib (10-50) and Reece Huntzinger (9-49) — each scored touchdowns — into a 21-0 lead after three quarters. QB Kole Miller was 9-for-16 passing for 125 yards, spreading the ball to five receivers.
Where the Bulldogs really excelled was defending the run, as Huntzinger (16 tackles), Scheib (10 tackles), Noah Porter (eight tackles) and Jolten Flory (eight tackles) spearheaded an effort that limited Mahanoy Area to just 93 yards on the ground.
Marian also encountered a defensive wall at Williams Valley, netting just 26 yards on 29 attempts. Running back Matt Martin was contained by the Vikings, picking up just 14 yards on 11 tries, even though one of his carries went for 20 yards.
Marian’s lone score came on a touchdown pass from Bruce Hopeck (5-of-12, 0 TDs, 92 yards) to Michael Gelatko, who had two catches for 74 yards and his first-half score.
Linebacker Joey Walko amassed 15 tackles.
Pine Grove finally halts nasty skid with road win in Lehigh Valley
Finally — thanks to a long-awaited 23-13 triumph at suburban Allentown’s Salisbury Township that ended a six-game slide — six weeks of frustration is over for an exhaling Pine Grove football program.
Unfortunately for Dave Shiffer’s Cardinals (2-6, 1-5), they’ll be back up against it this weekend when an explosive Notre Dame-Green Pond outfit (6-2, 5-1) rolls into southern Schuylkill County for a Red Division scrap.
Lane Lehman did much of the heavy lifting for Pine Grove, rushing 32 times for 212 yards and catching one pass for another 14. Quarterback Mason Kroh (2 of 5, 29 yards) pocketed all three touchdowns for the Cards, posting all three scores while rushing for 55 yards on 16 attempts.
Lehman had one sack among his four tackles. Nick Wolff paced the Cards with seven stops.
Notre Dame-Green Pond outran Jim Thorpe 57-40 last weekend, as dual-threat quarterback Danny Darno completed 24 of his 35 pass attempts for 343 yards and four touchdowns yet also ran 16 times for 156 yards and two scores as the Crusaders posted nearly 600 yards of offense.
Josh Ludlow added 69 yards and two scores on 12 rushing attempts, but he also caught nine passes for 99 yards. A.J. Lozano added four receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns, while James Wisecarver (5-61) and Julian Baker (4-54) each caught TD passes.
Although Juniata’s bid for a second consecutive Mid-Penn Liberty Division outright championship was short-circuited by a pick-six and a lost fumble in the final minute, the Indians can still claim a share of the crown.
That’s right, as of right now, Upper Dauphin has merely cornered a portion of the Liberty Division’s title. The Trojans are the last remaining league unbeaten.
In order to accomplish a two-fer of sorts, Kurt Condo’s Indians (5-3 overall, 3-1 in Mid-Penn Liberty) must rebound from their disappointing loss by defeating a surging Line Mountain (4-4, 3-1) club bound Friday night for the Kling.
Line Mountain has won four of its last five outings. Or, to toss out another perspective, the Eagles have emerged victorious whenever Ian Bates has rushed for 100 or more yards. And that’s four of the past five contests.
Quarterback Kaiden Maurer also has played well for Brandon Carson’s squad, completing 12 of his 16 throws for 154 yards and one touchdown in a victory at Halifax before going 4-for-7 for 86 yards and two scores in last weekend’s 48-8 thumping of James Buchanan that was 41-0 at the break.
As for Bates, he gained 177 yards and scored four first-half touchdowns as the Eagles constructed their sizable lead and kicked in the mercy rule.
Chandon Maurer paced Line Mountain with nine tackles, while Brayden Boyer and Ethan Lenker added eight stops apiece.
Getting two rushing touchdowns from quarterback Aaron Kanagy (9-67), the Indians began the fourth quarter with a one-score lead before Upper Dauphin rallied for a victory sealed when a Kanagy pass was deflected to linebacker Aiden Ritter and he carried it the final five yards for the game-winning score.
With Waylon Ehrenzeller idled by an injury, Kanagy’s team-high 67 yards was complemented by Seth Laub (7-53) and Talan Barndt (16-47). Kanagy wound up passing for 67 yards (5-for-21, 1 pick).
Juniata’s defense was typically stingy, limiting UD’s Brady Morgan to 13 rushing yards on four attempts. The Indians did get bumped up a bit by Konner Walker, who picked up 128 yards on seven carries, including a 63-yarder.
Susquenita also trying to stay in the mix
Sporting its own championship hopes, Susquenita (4-4, 3-1) needs some help but the Blackhawks can stay in the title chase by winning at James Buchanan (3-5, 1-3). ‘Nita has won two straight, while JB has lost four in a row.
Derek Gibney fired a pair of TD passes to his twin brother, Drew, covering nine and 40 yards as Augie Glass’ group blanked Halifax 35-0. Athan Robinson also had a big night, catching seven of Gibney’s deliveries for 112 yards.
Derek Gibney finished 15 of 27 for 204 yards. He was picked off once.
Mason Figard had a memorable two-way night for the Blackhawks, making 10 tackles (7 solos) with three stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also scored on a 34-yard run and a 15-yard fumble return.
Halifax managed just 43 total yards against the Blackhawks, with 42 of those generated by the passing game. The Wildcats netted one yard rushing.
Trailing 41-0 at the break – Line Mountain won by a 48-8 count — JB finally got on the board with 3:24 gone in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run by QB John Stoner. Jacob Frey tacked on the two-point conversion.
The Rockets picked up just 45 total yards through three quarters against Line Mountain’s front-line defensive unit. Frey carried 17 times for 54 yards.
Halifax, Newport seeking first league successes
While Halifax (1-7, 0-5) suffered its fifth consecutive setback, one bright spot for Earl Mosley’s Wildcats was the play of linebacker Isaac Miller. Miller finished with an astonishing 22 stops – one for loss – in a 35-0 loss to Susquenita.
Newport (0-8, 0-4) ran into Steel-High last weekend, suffering a 68-14 setback at Katchmer Field. The Rollers led 55-0 at the halftime break.
Dalton Kratzer and Zach Bates authored second-half touchdown runs for Todd Rothermel’s Buffaloes, who played without injured feature back Aiden Dishman. Kratzer rushed for 85 yards on 17 attempts.
Upper Dauphin facing stern non-league test
With at least a share of the Mid-Penn Liberty crown already tucked away, Kent Smeltz’s Upper Dauphin Trojans (6-0) will put their five-game winning streak on the line with a visit to dangerous Big Spring (3-5).
Big Spring upended Boiling Springs last weekend, pocketing a 33-27 victory behind the two-headed rushing attack of Connor Green and Grant Hall.
Green rushed 24 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns, while Hall picked up 98 yards and one score on 15 attempts.
Trailing 13-6 after three quarters, Upper Dauphin pulled even on Alex Hepler’s 1-yard run and Isaiah Dyer’s PAT. Then, with 4:30 to play, Tegan Engle deflected an Aaron Kanagy pass into the hands of Aiden Ritter deep in Juniata’s end.
Ritter promptly returned the pick five yards for the game-winning score. The Trojans needed a timely stop to put this thing away, however, forcing a Juniata fumble inside the UD 5 with less than a minute to play.
Konner Walker was the offensive standout for UD, rushing seven times for 128 yards and a first-half touchdown.
The Blue Streaks have the real teeth of their schedule in the rear view mirror and are taking care of business during this less stressful portion of the schedule. Points equal confidence for an offense MT has posted 40-plus three games in a row.
10.
Manheim Township
6-2
11
The Blue Streaks have the real teeth of their schedule in the rear view mirror and are taking care of business during this less stressful portion of the schedule. Points equal confidence for an offense MT has posted 40-plus three games in a row.
9.
Lampeter-Strasburg
7-1
10
It will be interesting to see how the regular season finale with Wyomissing plays out for both squads, but the Pioneers will have a say in the outcome of the District 3 Class 4A playoffs. Tough defense in early November means something.
8.
Central York
7-1
9
The lowest point total for the Panthers this season is 30. Think about that for a second, especially against a beefed up non-league schedule.
7.
Cumberland Valley
6-2
5
No other way to put losing to an up-and-down Carlisle team is a bad loss. Losing your do-everything quarterback in the second quarter is a valid reason to struggle. Isaac Sines drives this team on every front imaginable.
6.
Wyomissing
8-0
7
Spartans just make winning look so easy and we all know it’s not easy. Single best opponent awaits in Week 10, meanwhile the Spartans cracked 40-plus again and surrendered 62 points in eight games.
5.
Solanco
8-0
6
Let off the gas after scoring 35 in the first half against one-win Daniel Boone. With what this team has been through to stay unbeaten, a breather second half was probably welcome.
4.
Harrisburg
5-2
2
Stymied by the defense of undefeated State College. Cougars managed only 219 yards and eight first downs in posting six points on the scoreboard. A step backwards for sure. Their response will be important.
3.
Manheim Central
8-0
4
This machine is humming, there is no other way to put it. All systems are running at maximum capacity and the opposition has almost no say in the outcome. The schedule had some potential but the Barons just trucked every obstacle.
2.
Exeter Township
8-0
3
Time for the meat of the schedule, right. How about taking Hempfield about behind the woodshed and putting the game out of reach by halftime. When the bright lights go on, this Eagles squad knows what to do.
1.
Bishop McDevitt
6-1
1
Seems like there might possibly (maybe, hopefully) be a little more resistance the last couple of games from Mifflin County and Lower Dauphin. Crusaders are in NO jeopardy of losing. I’m talking about no mercy rule by halftime. One can wish, right?
Alex Achenbach, Williams Valley, jr., RB/DB: Rolling up his third game of 200-plus rushing yards in as many weeks, Achenbach’s productive output helped propel the Vikings to a 40-7 victory over Marian Catholic. Achenbach rushed 21 times for 219 yards, but he also hauled in two passes for 49 yards and another score. Defensively, the talented junior recorded three tackles and picked off one Marian throw.
Brad Rissmiller, Pen Argyl, jr., QB/FS: Brad Rissmiller carved up the Schuykill Haven defense Friday night en route to a 39-16 victory. Rissmiller aired it out all night, completing 10-of-14 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns.
Logan Williard, Williams Valley, sr., RB/LB: Although Williard rushed seven times for 50 yards and caught one pass for seven yards and a touchdown, the driven senior was a beast defensively in Williams Valley’s 40-7 victory over Marian Catholic. Williard recorded 10 tackles – including a handful of solo stops – but he also recovered one fumble as Vikings head coach Tim Savage pocketed career victory No. 100. Williard’s efforts meant plenty as Marian managed just 26 rushing yards on 29 carries and 151 overall.
Jack Robertson, Saucon Valley, so., WR/FS: When Saucon Valley needed a touchdown, QB1 Travis Riefenstahl knew just who to look for. You guessed it, Mr. Robertson. All this young man did was haul in all three of the Saucon Valley touchdowns, capping his evening with 68 yards on four snags.
Reece Huntzinger, Tri-Valley, sr., LB/RB: With its offense somewhat bottled up, state-ranked Tri-Valley turned to its defense to bring home a 20-7 victory over Mahanoy Area. Huntzinger amassed 16 tackles – 11 assists – as Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs limited Mahanoy to 144 offensive yards, including just 93 on the ground. Huntzinger also rushed nine times for 49 yards and 1 TD.
Jake Scheib, Tri-Valley, sr., DL/RB: Another key component in Tri-Valley’s stifling defense, Scheib registered 10 tackles up front as the Bulldogs remained unbeaten by muting Mahanoy Area 20-7. Scheib also recorded two of Tri-Valley’s five quarterback sacks. On offense, the powerful senior added 50 yards (on 10 carries) and one touchdown.
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Jeremiah Hargrove, jr., RB/DB, Carlisle: History was made Friday night, and Hargrove was at the center of it. The Herd beat Cumberland Valley 26-20, the first win in the series since 2004. Hargrove sliced up CV’s defense for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. He also picked off a pass and blocked an extra point.
David Chase, sr., QB, Central Dauphin: The nominal running back/receiver went under center Friday night and simply led the Rams to a 34-14 win over Altoona with 19 carries, 161 yards and and four touchdowns of 4, 25, 30 and 15 yards.
Deakon Schaeffer, jr., RB, Mifflin County: Schaeffer scored the game-winning 22-yard touchdown (on the ground) to lift the Huskies to a 24-20 victory over Hershey. The junior finished with 198 rushing yards and 3 receiving, scoring twice in the win.
Rico Scott, jr., WR, Bishop McDevitt: The Crusaders haven’t been challenged in a bit, the latest win a 55-14 drubbing of Red Land, but Scott shined in one half of work. He hauled in four TD passes on five total receptions, finishing with 90 yards. He scored on passes of 5, 33, 35 and 4 yards.
Brady Heiser, so., QB, Gettysburg: The top team in the Mid-Penn Colonial again won by multiple scores, beating Greencastle-Antrim 42-28. Heiser led the charge with a monster performance that included 339 total yards (293 passing and 46 rushing) and four touchdowns.
Tavon Cooper, sr., RB, Greencastle-Antrim: You know the rules: you run for 200 yards, win or lose, and you get nominated. Cooper did that, ripping off 224 yards and hauling in 87 more through three receptions in the Blue Devils’ 42-28 loss to Gettysburg. Cooper scored twice in the loss.
Parker Sample, sr., RB/DB, Mechanicsburg: The Wildcats blanked Waynesboro 28-0 behind a 206-yard night from Sample. The senior contributed in multiple ways, rushing for 158 stripes, passing for 11 and picking up 37 more on three receptions. He also scored two TDs and snared a sack.
Connor Green, jr., RB, Big Spring: Green was part of a two-headed attack (with Grant Hall: 98 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, two TDs) that toppled Boiling Springs 33-27. Green torched the Bubblers for 171 yards and three ground scores that traveled 13, 4 and 40 yards.
Derek Gibney, jr., QB, Susquenita: The junior was 15 of 27 passing for 204 yards and hit his brother, Drew, for two touchdowns of 9 and 40 yards to lead the Blackhawks to a comfortable 35-0 win over Halifax.
Ian Bates, so., RB, Line Mountain: Will another Eagle win POTW for the second straight week? Bates has a case after a 177-yard, four-touchdown performance in Line Mountain’s 48-8 win over James Buchanan.
Aiden Ritter, sr., LB, Upper Dauphin: Ritter was the beneficiary of a Tegan Engle tipped pass, snagging the deflection and returning it 5 yards for a TD as the Trojans popped Juniata 20-13. Ritter finished with 11 tackles (second on the team) as UD held Juniata to 258 offensive yards and forced two turnovers.
Jaeion Perry, jr., RB, Steel-High: Perry and the Rollers steamrolled Newport 68-14, with Perry collecting a remarkably efficient 229 yards on just four touches. He ran twice for 153 yards, scoring on runs of 85 and 68 yards, and caught two passes for 76 yards, one of which was a 69-yard score.
Marcus Quaker, jr., QB, West Perry: He’s back again. The POTW nominee regular had 265 passing yards and 109 rushing as the Mustangs pounded North Penn-Mansfield 49-21. Quaker finished with six touchdowns, including runs of 7, 5 and 23 yards and hit Ian Goodling for three scores of 30, 16 and 52 stripes.
Ian Goodling, jr., WR, West Perry: Goodling had a huge night on the receiving end of Quaker’s electric arm, hauling in 11 passes for 191 yards and scoring the aforementioned TDs of 30, 16 and 52 yards in a 49-21 win.
Lex Cyrus, yr., RB, Susquehanna Twp.: Lex Cyrus proved to be one slippery dude Friday night against Northern. After Northern scored first in overtime, Cyrus took the first snap of the Indians possession from the 10-yard line. The Polar Bears appeared to have him bottled up for a loss, but Cyrus shimmied his way out of tackles, raced around defenders to the edge and dove into the end zone. Moments later Twp. converted a two-point conversation. Game over. Cyrus ended the evening with 3 rushing for 85 yards and two scores. He also hauled in 11 receptions for 41 stripes.
Carlisle pulled off a thundering upset of Cumberland Valley on the road at The Chap to steal the Week 8 spotlight.
It has been nearly two decades since the Herd beat the Eagles. Carlisle’s last triumph over CV came in the 2004 playoffs. That’s a milestone win no matter what direction your season has gone. And it’s been a rough one filled with injuries, adversity and ups and downs for the Herd.
Carlisle jumped out to an early lead before the Eagles struck back with a pair of TD tosses courtesy of Isaac Sines’s left arm. That’s where this game took a major turn. Sines left the game midway through the second quarter and never returned. CV’s offense, without their senior leader, loses almost every ounce of firepower in its tank. Carlisle seized on the open door and brought home a six-point victory.
Carlisle junior Jeremiah Hargrove was a three-phase game wrecker. He rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, picked off a pass defensively and blocked an extra point on special teams.
After a zero-win campaign a year ago, Joe Headen’s Susquehanna Township Indians are making a strong case to go from the outhouse to the penthouse by making the playoffs in 2022.
The ‘Hanna Tribe made it three wins in a row, and improved to 5-3 overall, with a two-point conversion in overtime to edge Northern. It was the second consecutive week the Polar Bears were forced to extra time. Last week Northern stopped a two-point conversion in OT to win it.
Northern rallied late, scoring the final 10 points in regulation, including a 22-yard Mason Yohn field goal with six seconds left to force OT. The Polar Bears put seven on the board to begin the extra session, and The Tribe answered with a Lex Cyrus touchdown and Javon White’s two-point game winner.
Two tough games remain for the Indians, at East Pennsboro and a home finale with Colonial Division kingpin Gettysburg. The road to a postseason invite down the stretch is going to demand ‘Hanna continue to play at a high level. Then again, if it was easy it wouldn’t be as much fun, right?
Flashback to Week 4 when Trinity was outplayed and outclassed by still undefeated West Perry in a 40-14. After the game, second-year head coach Jordan Hill challenged the effort of his troops.
Hill sent a crystal clear message to a Shamrocks team that had lost three straight and was 1-3 overall. Two of those losses came at the hands of the No. 5-ranked Class 5A team in the state (Roman Catholic) and the No. 1 Class 3A squad in the state (Wyomissing). Losing to West Perry, looking back, isn’t a bad loss. But there’s a big difference between getting beat and not showing up. That night the T-Rocks didn’t show up.
Since that loss in Elliottsburg the Shamrocks have quietly worked their way back into postseason relevancy by reeling off three straight wins, including a shutout of rival Camp Hill in Week 8. Defense is where Trinity is making the most strides during this hot streak. The pieces are coming together. Offensively, they have an identity that starts with a pounding ground game and being physical.
Camp Hill had no answers as Messiah Mickens and Max Schlager each cleared 100 yards for the T-Rocks. The duo combined for 233 yards and three touchdowns. Trinity is the class of District 3 Class 2A field this season in terms of overall talent. Now the T-Rocks are starting to play like it.
Gettysburg, which remains unbeaten against Mid-Penn Conference foes, is showing itself to be the class of the Colonial Division this season, but it was pushed in a different direction by Greencastle-Antrim.
The Warriors have been suffocating teams the last month with an efficient running game and stingy defense. Gettysburg hasn’t been blowing teams away, per se, but it also hasn’t allowed more than 14 points to each of its last four opponents.
That all changed this week when the Blue Devils dropped a 21-point second-quarter bomb on Gettysburg to seize a 21-14 intermission lead. The Warriors’ response when the game went a little sideways is telling. Gettysburg used big plays to overwhelm G-A 28-7 the second half on its way to a season-high 42 points.
Wideouts Tanner Newman and Sean Higgins were flamethrowers for the Warriors. The two-way standouts combined for 263 receiving yards on only six catches (48.3 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. QB Brady Heiser finished with 339 total yards and four touchdowns, and standout RB Jayden Johnson piled up 147 yards on the ground with a touchdown.
It’s clear Gettysburg wants to pound the opponent into submission with its run game and let the defense hold down the fort. It’s a fairly simple formula that works for the Warriors. However, when pushed they can light the lamp and have the dudes to play wide open with their hair on fire.
West Perry stayed unbeaten behind another monster outing from QB Marcus Quaker. The Mustangs took a 150-plus mile road trip to one-win North Penn-Mansfield as a replacement game for the Middletown forfeit. For the sixth time in eight games West Perry scored 35 or more points behind six touchdowns and 374 total yards from Quaker.
Upper Dauphin turned the tables on Juniata to seize control of Liberty Division supremacy by using defense as the engine that powered a come-from-behind six-point victory. Wow!
The Trojans trailed the defensive-minded Indians 13-6 heading into the fourth quarter, turned away a couple Juniata chances to salt the game away with a big stop, scored a TD halfway through the quarter then used a big play and a defensive touchdown to win it. Aiden Ritter snared a deflected pass by LB Tegan Engle and bulled into the end zone from 4 yards out to nail down the victory.
It’s very likely Central Dauphin will not make the playoffs for the second consecutive year. On the flip side this might be one of the better pure coaching jobs Glen McNamee and his staff have done in years at CD. The Rams didn’t have many options at the quarterback position because of injuries heading to Altoona Friday night.
The answer was to put running back/wide receiver David Chase in the shotgun and keep it very simple. Chase answered the call with 161 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries to power CD to its third win of the season in a convincing 34-14 triumph over the five-win Mountain Lions.
Stop us if you heard this one before. Williams Valley running back Alex Achenbach is our Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week.
Achenbach made it happen yet again – and the Vikings needed every inch, yard, meter and whatever measurement one wants to toss out there in order to pull out a 22-21 victory over Blue Division playmate Mahanoy Area. Achenbach rushed 25 times for 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns (2, 80) – he cracked the 1,000-yard plateau for the second straight season – as Tim Savage’s squad erased deficits of 13-0 and 21-14 before pocketing the win on Achenbach’s successful two-point try.
EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: The 4th Down Magazine crew picks all games involving Mid-Penn Conference teams, as well as Schuylkill-Colonial League games featuring former members of the now-defunct Twin Valley Conference. Come playoff time, they’ll expand to include all District 3 teams, as well as the local District 4, District 6 and District 11 programs. Then they’ll get really bold in the state semifinals and start picking games across the state. The predictions are meant for entertainment purposes only because, truth be told, these guys aren’t very bright. Three of them are former full-time sportswriters (dummies), and the other decided to start a high school football magazine despite the fact he already works a full-time job. But, dangit, they like to watch football, think about football, write about football, and eat. That last one isn’t related to picking football games unless you count the mustard on the keyboard. As always, enjoy, and don’t take it too seriously. Nobody here hates any program. Any perceived disrespect is a figment of your imagination. Except Sandrik, who absolutely DESPISES … (transmission interrupted) …
This week we chat with Susquehanna Twp.’s Dorian Smith on The Spotlight with Andy Shay.
Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 38, Carlisle 14: One of the most slippery and elusive quarterbacks I ever saw was Ben Dupree from Susquehanna Twp. I’m telling you Isaac Sines is a close second. He is making so much happen for this Eagles offense.
Geoff Morrow: Cumberland Valley 41, Carlisle 16: Dumbly picked against the Eagles last week, though that wasn’t because I doubted CV but, in hindsight, because I gave way too much credit to Central Dauphin. There are no such issues this week against the slumping Thundering Herd.
Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 39, Carlisle 14: If Carlisle was 100%, which I’m not sure it is, I’d like the Herd to give CV a track meet. But something tells me the Eagles will win this one comfortably.
Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 45, Carlisle 20: The Eagles’ offense is humming along right now to the tune of around 30 points per game. That should be plenty to knock off the Thundering Herd.
Central Dauphin 34, ALTOONA 14
Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 20, Altoona 14: I like this matchup for both teams for a lot of reasons, and I know the Rams have injury concerns at the QB position. Call this a “feeling” pick, but I think CD pulls this one out.
Geoff Morrow: Altoona 28, Central Dauphin 20: It’s looking very much like the Rams will miss the playoffs for a second straight year, which is unheard of in CD territory. If the Rams have any hope whatsoever, this is a must-win.
Andy Sandrik: Altoona 21, Central Dauphin 14: If the Mountain Lions can find a way to play from ahead, this is a winnable game.
Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 21, Altoona 20: This one is a 50-50 toss-up to me with the Rams banged up and embarking on a long journey. Call this a hunch that I’m sure to hear about from Mrs. 4th Down if I’m wrong!
Chambersburg 7, CENTRAL DAUPHIN EAST 3
Andy Shay: Chambersburg 28, CD East 19: That was a gut-punch loss the Trojans absorbed at Altoona. They have put together more quality football than their record indicates. On a level playing field like this, I like the Trojans.
Geoff Morrow: Chambersburg 23, CD East 14: Somebody will no longer be tied for last place in the Commonwealth after this one. Both teams are on four-game skids (0-4 in the division), but the Trojans have been a bit more competitive in their losses.
Andy Sandrik: CD East 20, Chambersburg 17: A risky pick, but this one’s a toss-up in my book.
Adam Kulikowski: Chambersburg 31, CD East 20: This one is all about pride as we grind into the final third of the regular season. Two clubs on the skids: Which will still fight on Friday night?
MID-PENN KEYSTONE
Mifflin County 24, HERSHEY 20
Andy Shay: Hershey 28, Mifflin County 14: The biggest difference here is Trojans have a QB-WR combination that can stretch a defense and create big plays. And you know it’s coming. I like Hershey’s defense against this Huskies’ offense.
Geoff Morrow: Hershey 25, Mifflin County 20: Assuming the Trojans can brush off a 70-0 loss to McDevitt last week — and they should, because the Crusaders playing in the Keystone is an ongoing joke — they should bounce back against the banged-up Huskies.
Andy Sandrik: Hershey 38, Mifflin County 9: Would you rather absorb repeated crushing blows from RB Angel Cabrera or get scorched in the passing game by Daniel Painter and Marcus Sweeney? Pick your poison. I think Hershey’s due for a blowout.
Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 31, Mifflin County 28: Earlier this year, I might have sided with the Huskies. But after watching Hershey running back Angel Cabrera bulldoze opponents earlier this year, I’ll lay stake to the team with the wrecking ball and a dangerous dual-threat QB.
CEDAR CLIFF 38, Palmyra 6
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 42, Palmyra 7: The Colts bring some serious momentum into this one with back-to-back grinder victories where the outcome was up in the air for a long time. Offense has been more consistent, and here it could explode.
Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 38, Palmyra 6: Currently on the outside of the District 3 Class 5A playoff picture, the Colts have a favorable schedule down the stretch and could/should be right there at the end of the regular season. Tough to see the clawless Cougars (six-game losing streak) giving much push-back.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 35, Palmyra 3: Cedar Cliff’s defense could very well shut out the Cougars, who are averaging 7.6 points per game.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 45, Palmyra 6: This is a game the Colts need to stay in the playoff hunt and one that should be handled quickly.
BISHOP McDEVITT 55, Red Land 14
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 70, Red Land 0: Trust me, typing in this score is not fun. That’s just the reality of the gap the Crusaders enjoy over everyone else in the Keystone.
Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 71, Red Land 7: Whatever. It’s annoying to pick these games every year, especially at this point in the season. I enjoy McD’s non-league and playoff games, but these Keystone contests are boring.
Andy Sandrik:Bishop McDevitt 65, Red Land 3: For what it’s worth, Red Land is more likely to win this game than I am to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Andy Shay: Shippensburg 20, East Pennsboro 10: It’s tough to climb out of a nasty tough-loss spin cycle, and the Panthers are riding a two-game “bad beat” run. Ship’s offense has scored three touchdowns only once in its last four games. See how that plays out in this one.
Geoff Morrow: Shippensburg 17, East Pennsboro 14: Panthers have lost two straight heartbreakers, so I’m cautious about what happens this week in what should be another close game. For picking purposes, I gotta go with Ship, which hasn’t lost a regular-season game at home since Oct. 2, 2020 (Mechanicsburg).
Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 35, East Pennsboro 15: I can tell you the ‘Hounds will come into this game feeling underappreciated and angry after once again having their stadium dreams dashed by the school board this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 21, East Pennsboro 20: I see this as a potentially close matchup, but I’ll side with the favorite if for no other reason than to protect my slim picks lead.
GETTYSBURG 42, Greencastle-Antrim 28
Andy Shay: Gettysburg 34, Greencastle-Antrim 7: There’s a formula that works for the Warriors, and they are riding that wave to a potential division crown in their first year back in the MPC after an eight-year absence. Blue Devils showed early promise but have stumbled lately.
Geoff Morrow: Gettysburg 33, Greencastle-Antrim 14: A tale of two seasons-within-a-season for the Blue Devils, who started 4-0 but have followed with three straight double-digit losses. Now they’re facing the Colonial leaders, who’ve won five straight. And it’s about to be six.
Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 32, Greencastle-Antrim 7: Five straight wins for the Warriors. Three straight losses for the Blue Devils. Give me Gettysburg in a blowout.
Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 28, Greencastle-Antrim 14: The Warriors have proven to be a mighty big challenge for their Colonial foes this year. I see no reason for that to stop this week.
SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP 38, Northern York 37 (OT)
Andy Shay: Susquehanna Twp. 28, Northern 21: The more consistent team this season of the two has been the ‘Hanna Tribe. This is a toss-up game all the way.
Geoff Morrow: Susquehanna Twp. 30, Northern 25: The ‘Hanna is back! Consecutive victories by a combined score of 61-23. Sitting somewhat comfortably in the District 3 Class 4A playoff picture. And earning a home favorite nod from me against a quality Polar Bears club coming off a wild two-OT victory at East Penn. Should be fun!
Andy Sandrik: Northern 33, Susquehanna Twp. 28: With the exception of the season opener, every single Northern game has come down to the wire. I see this one going no differently, with the Polar Bears making the last play to win.
Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Twp. 28, Northern 27: Well, well, well… Look at all the seats now taken up on the bandwagon! Tribe fans, just remember I sat alone in my pick of the Indians last week.
MECHANICSBURG 28, Waynesboro 0
Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 17, Waynesboro 7: Couple of struggling offenses who combined average 11.5 points a game. The big difference here is the Wildcats’ defense has not struggled and the Indians’ defense has been tossed around a bit.
Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 17, Waynesboro 10: The Wildcats’ defense has been consistently tough, and the ‘Boro offense has been consistently lackluster. Both teams have good kickers, though.
Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 12, Mechanicsburg 10: Don’t forget that the ‘Boro led division frontrunner Gettysburg at halftime last week. There won’t be many opportunities in this one, so whoever can best take advantage will win.
Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 21, Waynesboro 17: Two low-scoring teams. Logic says it should be a low-scoring game, which of course means they will each probably throw 30-plus points on the board.
MID-PENN CAPITAL
BIG SPRING 33, Boiling Springs 27
Andy Shay: Big Spring 33, Boiling Spring 20: This one is pretty simple for me in what otherwise is a pretty level playing field. The Bulldogs have the better and more experienced quarterback.
Geoff Morrow: Big Spring 27, Boiling Springs 21: It lacks the shine of recent seasons, but this rivalry contest between a pair of 2-5 squads should still kick up some interest and at least a handful of really cool plays. I just think the Bulldogs have a bit more in the cupboard.
Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 23, Big Spring 17: The Bulldogs were so close, yet so far away against West Perry last week. Facing the Bubblers’ defense after that adrenaline dump against the Mustangs is easier said than done.
Adam Kulikowski: Boiling Springs 24, Big Spring 21: The Bubblers might not have the luster they did a year ago, but their defense can still cause plenty of problems for Big Spring in this match up of 2-5 squads.
Trinity 26, CAMP HILL 0
Andy Shay: Trinity 27, Camp Hill 14: The best player on the field, Max Schlager, suits up for the Shamrocks. Camp Hill has struggled offensively the last couple of outings, and Trinity plays a very aggressive and attacking defense that can be burned if you can handle the pressure.
Geoff Morrow: Trinity 26, Camp Hill 18: Shamrocks have had two weeks to prepare for this rivalry showdown. I think that matters here, especially because the Lions — who hadn’t surrendered more than 17 points in any previous game this season — just gave up 71 to Steel-High on Saturday afternoon. Two teams feeling very differently about things coming into this one.
Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 23, Trinity 21: You know that meme where Matthew McConaughey is smoking a heater and staring crazily at his phone? That’s me convincing myself that Camp Hill has a shot to pull yet another big upset.
Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 28, Camp Hill 21: Just toss out the 71 points Steel-High threw up against the Lions last week. The Lions’ defense has played tough otherwise all season. I expect that defense to show up against Trinity. But will it be enough?
MID-PENN LIBERTY
SUSQUENITA 35, Halifax 0
Andy Shay: Susquenita 52, Halifax 7: Couple of teams have roughed up the Blackhawks. This is a game where they can do a little of that on their own.
Geoff Morrow: Susquenita 50, Halifax 7: The Blackhawks this season are 3-0 against teams with losing records, 0-4 against teams with winning records. This one will get them back to .500.
Andy Sandrik: Susquenita 45, Halifax 12: ‘Nita with a much-needed breather this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Susquenita 45, Halifax 6: Blackhawks have plenty of firepower to make this an easy decision against the undermanned Wildcats.
LINE MOUNTAIN 48, James Buchanan 8
Andy Shay: Line Mountain 34, James Buchanan 7: Line Mountain sophomore RB Ian Bates will be too much for the Rockets to deal with over four quarters. Enjoy the 200-plus miles of travel from Mercersburg to Mandata.
Geoff Morrow: Line Mountain 30, James Buchanan 14: While the Eagles have won three of their last four, the Rockets have lost three in a row and four of their last five. But, hey, at least it’s about 5 or 6 hours, round trip, in a bus. For a league game.
Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 45, James Buchanan 10: Nobody was expecting JB to win any of its last three games against West Perry, Juniata, and Upper Dauphin, but, boy, when it rains on the Rockets, it pours. JB is giving up an average of 57 points per game during its three-game skid.
Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 45, James Buchanan 7: Ever since Line Mountain nearly knocked off Tri-Valley, the Eagles have been a different team. What they found centers around sophomore Ian Bates’ emergence.
UPPER DAUPHIN 20, Juniata 13
Andy Shay: Juniata 20, Upper Dauphin 19: Something tells me this is going to be a crazy finish, and the final five minutes will be full of unexpected twists and turns. Still … D-E-F-E-N-S-E. That’s the Indians’ speciality.
Geoff Morrow: Juniata 27, Upper Dauphin 20: This is for all the Liberty Division marbles. These two teams are a class above the rest of the Liberty this season, and both have been red hot — the Trojans starring on offense, the Indians on defense. And, when it comes down to it, you know what they say about defense and championships!
Andy Sandrik: Juniata 21, Upper Dauphin 10: Juniata has been leaps and bounds above its Liberty competition this season. Will that trend continue against the fast-paced Trojans?
Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 21, Juniata 14: There’s just enough trickery in the Upper Dauphin offense to confuse any defense, even one as stout as the Indians trot out each week. Does that mean it will be easy? No. But certainly winnable.
SCHUYLKILL-COLONIAL RED
Pine Grove 23, SALISBURY TOWNSHIP 13
Andy Shay: Pine Grove 26, Salisbury Twp. 14: This is a real opportunity for the Cardinals (not the ones who went down to the Phillies in the National League playoffs). The Falcons have surrendered nearly 300 points and lost seven straight.
Geoff Morrow: Pine Grove 27, Salisbury Twp. 13: Some of us thought LAST week was the week the Cardinals slipped back into the win column. Some of us were wrong. But the winless Falcons have been blown out in six straight contests. So, well, THIS is the week PG gets its mojo back.
Andy Sandrik: Pine Grove 18, Salisbury Twp. 6: Allentown has been a blowout destination this season, but maybe the Falcons can give the Cards a game this weekend.
Adam Kulikowski: Pine Grove 27, Salisbury Twp. 14: If you’re a Cardinals fan, you might have had this one circled for a while as you scanned the calendar for winnable matchups.
SCHUYLKILL-COLONIAL BLUE
TRI-VALLEY 21, Mahanoy Area 6
Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 27, Mahanoy Area 19: I’m confident the undefeated Bulldogs know what they are up against from this Golden Bears squad. That 4-3 record is a mirage. You sleepwalk through a quarter of this game, either side, and you are going down. T-V will be on point.
Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 28, Mahanoy Area 14: The Golden Bears gave Williams Valley all it could handle last weekend, and this one could easily be another down-to-the-wire finish. But the Bulldogs are chomping down on foes right now, so if you don’t bring your ‘A’ game, you lose, and you lose by multiple touchdowns.
Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 38, Mahanoy Area 27: This has “trap game” written all over it for Tri-Valley. I still think the Bulldogs win, but they might have their hands full along the way.
Adam Kulikowski: Tri-Valley 33, Mahanoy Area 20: If you haven’t had a chance to watch a few highlights of Mahanoy Area’s Colm McGroarty, I highly recommend it. This cat can be trouble — just not sure the Golden Bears have enough other pieces to knock off the ‘Dawgs.
WILLIAMS VALLEY 40, Marian Catholic 7
Andy Shay: Williams Valley 32, Marian Catholic 20: It’s not like Marian Catholic will have to guess where the ball is going. The Vikings don’t play many football tricks offensively. Limiting mistakes is key for WV to make sure MC doesn’t put another full-metal-jacket scare into the faithful in Williamstown.
Geoff Morrow: Williams Valley 26, Marian Catholic 13: The Vikings have had to survive some self-inflicted wounds this season, and they’re (mostly) finding a way to keep on winning. Tri-Valley looms in Week 10, but first things first means trying to tame the Colts here.
Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 33, Marian Catholic 21: Vikings RB Alex Achenbach has posted 17 TDs in seven games this fall while averaging 8.2 yards per pop. If he runs like that again this week, look for WV to land its third straight win.
Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 36, Marian Catholic 14: Forgive me for looking ahead to that tasty Week 10 matchup against Tri-Valley for the Vikings. Both clubs should enter that one riding winning streaks.
NON-LEAGUE
Steelton-Highspire 68, NEWPORT 14
Andy Shay: Steel-High 70, Newport 6: I would be very happy if the Rollers kept it under 70 and cruised home late. Winning is a foregone conclusion in this one.
Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 76, Newport 6: Another horrible mismatch. The Buffaloes, who’ve been playing better lately, still gave up 52 to Susquenita last week. The Rollers, meanwhile, have scored 74, 61 and 71 over their last three games.
Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 71, Newport 0: If Steel-High wanted to, it could put way more points in this game than the 71 I predicted.
Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 84, Newport 0: The only question in this one is how long it will take the Rollers to let off the gas.
West Perry 49, NORTH-PENN MANSFIELD 21
Andy Shay: West Perry 49, North Penn-Mansfield 7: This is a grab-bag game for the Middletown forfeit. Congrats to the Mustangs and Panthers for making this happen, and enjoy the road trip, West Perry.
Geoff Morrow: West Perry 55, North Penn-Mansfield 6: Hasn’t been a great season for the one-win Panthers from way up in Tioga County, but they’re filling a schedule gap for the unbeaten Mustangs (who were originally scheduled for a Week 8 showdown with Middletown), and I always salute teams who are willing to play tough non-league foes. And “tough non-league foe,” ladies and gentlemen, describes West Perry right now. They’ve come a LONG WAY since that dreadful multi-season losing streak.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 55, North Penn-Mansfield 7: Thank you to the Panthers for picking up this game. Now I have a WP game to watch this week while I run on the treadmill. Make it 8-0 for the Mustangs.
Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 45, North Penn-Mansfield 13: OK, so I don’t have any fancy stats this week from the West Perry crew, but I’d like to know when was the last time the Mustangs were 8-0 to start the season?
Saturday, Oct. 15
MID-PENN COMMONWEALTH
State College 20. HARRISBURG 6
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 20, State College 10: Defense seems to take over when these two programs face off lately. Little Lions have found ways to win when it was dicey, and the Cougars are playing their best football of the season right now. Expect a physical game.
Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 27, State College 24: I went back and forth a few times here before settling on the Cougars. These are outstanding programs, neither of whom will be the least bit intimidated. Both are explosive. The last two meetings have been low-scoring, each winning one. But only one team has a defense pitching shutouts, and that type of “you ain’t scoring, PERIOD” attitude swayed me to choose Harrisburg.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 33, State College 17: The Little Lions have found a way to win every big game this season, but Harrisburg. I was going to go a little bit deeper with my analysis here, but I think “but Harrisburg” is sufficient enough.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 28, State College 27: In what might be the best matchup in the state in Week No. 8, my next five cookies would go to punching a ticket to this Severance Field battle. Give me the red-hot Cougars!
MID-PENN KEYSTONE
MILTON HERSHEY49, Lower Dauphin 21
Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 27, Milton Hershey 26:This is my final “feel” pick of the week. I just think right now the Falcons are in a good spot to endure this kind of game and come out on top. It’s that simple.
Geoff Morrow: Milton Hershey 30, Lower Dauphin 27: Tough one last week for the Falcons, and this could be another tough one. And it’s important, too — especially for LD — in terms of playoff chasing/positioning. While the State High-Harrisburg game is the premier Saturday afternoon battle, this one has the potential to be just as exciting.
Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 33, Lower Dauphin 27: The Spartans seem to have found their groove on offense after putting up 41 points against a stingy Mifflin County defense last week. I’m taking Milton Hershey in a close game.
Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 34, Lower Dauphin 30: I always wonder just how good the Spartans could be if they ever had the same sort of offseason prep their foes have. Tough out for the Falcons in this one.
