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Alex Erby, jr., QB, Steel-High: It wasn’t really a fair fight against Fairfield, a 62-6 win for the District 3 Class 1A championship, but Erby still shined. The signal caller completed 13 of 15 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns, including two to the next player on the list and one apiece to Da’Quan McCraw and Jaeion Perry. 

Durell Ceasar, jr., WR/KR, Steel-High: The guy who benefited most from Erby’s right arm was Ceasar, who caught six passes and turned them into 170 yards and two touchdowns against Fairfield. Caesar also returned a punt 60 yards for a score. 

Amari Williams, jr., OLB, Steel-High: Williams racked up an absurd six sacks Saturday afternoon. Yeah, it came against an overmatched Fairfield for the D3 Class 1A crown in a blowout, but when’s the last time you heard of ANYONE recording six sacks? 

Messiah Mickens, fr., RB, Trinity: The No. 3 Shamrocks ran Delone Catholic out of the District 3 Class 2A semifinals 56-17, with Mickens the one doing the honors. The freshman averaged nearly 14 yards a carry, rushing 11 times for 141 yards and four touchdowns of 60, 6, 5 and 15 yards. He also snagged two passes for 47 stripes. 

Caleb Wray, jr., QB, Trinity: Wray was a tidy 10 of 12 for 198 yards and three touchdowns, guiding Trinity to a blowout semifinal win (the first Trinity playoff win since 2011) over the Squires to set up a district championship appearance. His TDs covered 13, 59 and 15 yards.

Marcus Quaker, jr., QB, West Perry: The AOTW’s season-long regular was at it again during a 45-21 win over Schuylkill Valley in the District 3 Class 3A semifinals, rushing 12 times for 152 yards and two scores (15 and 64 yards). He also completed 6 of 10 passes for 98 yards and a 21-yard TD. 

Keith Oates, jr., QB/LB, East Pennsboro: The Panthers romped Kennard-Dale 43-0 in the District 3 Class 3A quarterfinals. Oates did a little of everything in the win, tossing 28- and 16-yard TDs during a 23-point EP second quarter and finishing with 135 yards on 7-of-12 passing. He ran eight times for 23 yards and had five tackles, one for a loss.

Spencer Siegel, jr., DE, Northern: Siegel is credited with the game-saving blocked extra point, the difference in a tight 21-20 win over South Western in the District 3 Class 5A first round. Siegel was plenty busy for a defense that allowed just 79 rushing yards, stacking up 10 tackles and two sacks.

Mason Yohn, sr., WR/DB/K/P, Northern: Yohn’s two touchdown receptions in the first half, covering 14 and 49 yards, were vital in the Polar Bears’ upset win Friday. He finished with three catches for 70 yards, added two tackles on defense, drilled three extra points and averaged a stellar 45.9 yards on seven punts, downing five inside the 20.

Trae Kater, sr., RB/DB, Shippensburg: The Greyhounds exacted some revenge and advanced to the District 3 Class 5A quarterfinals with a 32-14 win over Cedar Cliff. Kater had a rare double-double, 100 yards rushing and 100 more receiving. Kater ran 11 times for 125 stripes and a 53 TD, and he caught five balls for 108 yards and a 40 TD.

Amari Kerr, sr., RB/DB, Shippensburg: The other half of a two-headed rushing attack that carved up the Colts for 269 yards and three scores, Kerr churned out 110 stripes and a 12-yard first-quarter TD on just 12 carries. He also had a 17-yard reception. 

Alex Yost, sr., RB, Altoona: The Mountain Lions survived Mifflin County 31-24 in the District 6 Class 6A semifinals, with Yost producing a tough 28 carries, 143 yards and touchdown runs of 2 and 8 yards, the last of which won the game with 34 seconds left.

Julian Hazelwood, fr., RB, Altoona: Yost provided the veteran leadership and Hazelwood provided promise, rushing 12 times for 130 yards and a 14-yard score early in Altoona’s playoff win over a feisty Huskies side. Altoona totaled 340 rushing yards.

Ian Bates, so., RB/DB, Line Mountain: While the Eagles were blown out by perennial state hammer Southern Columbia 69-6, Bates accounted for 165 offensive yards in the losing effort. While the 5-7, 155-pounder scrambled for 119 rushing yards on 26 carries, he also caught two passes for 46 yards – including a 35-yarder on a wheel route that he had to accelerate to get to before carrying the ball over the goal line. 

Minersville’s Luke Stevenosky and his Battlin’ Miners mates ended the regular season with a statement last Friday night, knocking off Nativity BVM 37-0.

And Stevenosky played a big role, racking up 221 stipes on 17 carries—a 13-yard-per-carry average. He reached the end zone three times.

The Minersville faithful rewarded his efforts, casting 618 votes for the junior to edge Pine Grove’s Lane Lehman and Tri-Valley’s Kameron Wetzel.

Eastern Conference Class 4A Championship:

Pottsville – 32, Big Spring – 10

Eastern Conference Class 3A Championship:

Berks Catholic – 49, Pine Grove – 14

District 6 Class 6A Semifinal:

Altoona – 31, Mifflin – 24

            Next Week: State College

PIAA District 3 Class 5A First Round:

Shippensburg – 32, Cedar Cliff – 14

            Next Week: Shippensburg at Solanco – 11/11 at 7 p.m.

Cocalico – 42, Elizabethtown – 2

            Next Week: Cocalico at Gettysburg – 11/11 at 7 p.m.

Dover – 40, Garden Spot – 21

            Next Week: Dover at Exeter Township – 11/11 at 7 p.m.

Northern York – 21, Southwestern – 20

            Next Week: Northern York at New Oxford – 11/11 at 7 p.m.

PIAA District 3 Class 4A First Round:

East Penn – 43, Kennard Dale – 0

            Next Week: East Pennsboro (8) at Bishop McDevitt (1) – 11/11 at 7 p.m.

York Suburban – 41, Donegal  – 6

            Next Week: York Suburban (7) at Manheim Central (2) – 11/11 at 7:00PM

PIAA District 3 Class 3A Quarterfinal:

Hamburg – 49, Upper Dauphin – 35

            Next Week: Hamburg at Wyomissing (1) – 11/12 at 1 p.m.

West Perry – 45, Schuylkill Valley – 21

            Next Week: West Perry (3) at Lancaster Catholic (2)– 11/11 at 7 p.m.

PIAA District 3 Class 2A Semifinal:

Annville-Cleona – 42, Camp Hill – 13

            Next Week:  Trinity (3) at Annville-Cleona (1), TBD

Trinity – 56, Delone Catholic – 17

Next Week:  Trinity (3) at Annville-Cleona (1), TBD

PIAA District 4 Class 2A Quarterfinal:

Southern Columbia – 69, Line Mountain – 0

            Next Week: Southern Columbia (3) at Troy (2), TBD

PIAA District 11 Class 1A Semifinal:

Tri-Valley – 24, Minersville – 13

            Next Week: Tri-Valley (2) at Northern Lehigh (1), TBD

PIAA District 3 Class 1A Championship:

Fairfield at Steel-High

            Next Week: TBD

PIAA District 11 Class 2A Semifinal:

Executive Education Academy at Williams Valley

            Next Week: TBD

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. Now that we’re into playoff time, they’ve expanded 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) …

2022 STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 11

Picker: Week 11 – Overall – Perfect Picks
Adam Kulikowski: 9-8 — 191-63 — 0
Andy Shay: 11-6 — 188-66 — 2
Andy Sandrik: 10-7 — 185-69 — 1
Geoff Morrow: 13-4 — 185-69 — 1

WEEK 1 PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

 * Records in parentheses after school name; District playoff seed in parentheses before school name; In scorelines, home team in all caps.

Thursday, Nov. 3

EASTERN CONFERENCE CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIP

POTTSVILLE 32, Big Spring 10

Andy Shay: Pottsville 24, Big Spring 20: In playoff games, the daily double is a home game and a better strength of schedule. Pottsville will cash in, but it will be a white-knuckle affair all the way. Bulldogs are capable but lack the outside firepower to knock the Crimson Tide off their game.

Geoff Morrow: Pottsville 27, Big Spring 17: Edge to the Crimson Tide, who played a pretty tough regular-season schedule and get to play at home. Still, a good chance for the Bulldogs to end a so-so season on a high note.

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 33, Pottsville 27: Even for a four-win team, I really like Big Spring’s résumé and how hard the Bulldogs have pushed some really good teams. Expect no less from Big Spring on Thursday evening.

Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 38, Pottsville 27: It seems all season like the Bulldogs have been searching for a way to get over the hump with a number of close losses. Call it an upset if you want, but this is a matchup that aligns well with the Bulldogs’ strengths. 

EASTERN CONFERENCE CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIP

BERKS CATHOLIC 49, Pine Grove 14

Andy Shay: Berks Catholic 41, Pine Grove 7: Great close to the season for Pine Grove, but the 4-6 team they are playing from Reading has played a brutally tough schedule. That will show.

Geoff Morrow: Berks Catholic 42, Pine Grove 14: Love that the Cardinals turned things around late in the regular season and earned themselves an extra game. However, while the Saints’ sub-.500 mark is unique for them, they played a HAMMER schedule — and played it tough. They’re a notch or two above PG right now.

Andy Sandrik: Berks Catholic 38, Pine Grove 7: Both teams enter postseason play with losing records, but this game has all the ingredients necessary for a BC blowout win. 

Adam Kulikowski: Berks Catholic 35, Pine Grove 13: Tip of the cap to the Cardinals, who have the opportunity to play No. 11 this year. Saints will end their season on a high note. 

Friday, Nov. 4

PIAA DISTRICT 6 CLASS 6A SEMIFINALS

ALTOONA 31, Mifflin County 24

Andy Shay: Altoona 31, Mifflin County 14: Several weeks does not erase getting steamrolled by 38 points. There is a matchup gap the Huskies can’t close. And the Mountain Lions, despite a three-game slide entering the postseason, know it.

Geoff Morrow: Altoona 26, Mifflin County 14: This was a blowout/shutout when they met for the first time in series history earlier this season, but the Mountain Lions have suffered through a relentless Commonwealth slate since while the Huskies built some more confidence in the rather ordinary Keystone Division. Still, a 38-point difference is A LOT to make up. Winner gets State College.

Andy Sandrik: Altoona 31, Mifflin County 13: The Mountain Lions limp into the playoffs on a three-game skid, but they smoked the Huskies 38-0 in Week 3. Not sure how MiffCo flips that script. 

Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 35, Mifflin County 20: This Huskies team is not the same group that got bounced 38-0 in Week 3, but has the gap closed far enough to make this a game late in the final stanza? 

PIAA DISTRICT 3 CLASS 5A FIRST ROUND

SHIPPENSBURG 32, Cedar Cliff 14

Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 24, Shippensburg 21: Shippensburg won the first meeting, but it also got rolled by non-playoff squad Greencastle-Antrim to close out the regular season. This Colts team has found its groove and has five consecutive wins to prove it.

Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 21, Shippensburg 13: A pair of teams growing more and more familiar with each other after the Colts stunned the Greyhounds in last year’s playoffs, then Ship rebounded to rip Cliff in Week 1 this year. However, the Colts enter the postseason on a five-game winning streak while the ‘Hounds have been inconsistent nearly all year. A high-scoring game would surprise me. Winner gets 10-0 Solanco.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 23, Cedar Cliff 20: It’s hard to bet against the Colts at this point, but Ship’s already topped Cliff once this season. 

Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 28, Shippensburg 27: The Colts are playing their best football of the season at just the right moment, and their young QB is a big reason why. Sophomore Bennett Secrest hasn’t thrown a pick since September and has a QB rating over 126 in his last three games. 

Cocalico 42, ELIZABETHTOWN 2

Andy Shay: Cocalico 34, Elizabethtown 30: This is a team the Bears, who have enjoyed their best run in more than a decade, did not want to see. The Eagles are battle tested and not afraid to push the envelope.

Geoff Morrow: Cocalico 40, Elizabethtown 28: The Bears have enjoyed their best season in 15 years, but they’ve been giving up way too many points in recent weeks, which doesn’t bode well for the high-octane playoff season. The Eagles, meanwhile, seem to be settling into a groove at the perfect time. Winner gets Gettysburg.

Andy Sandrik: Cocalico 33, Elizabethtown 28: Buckle up for this L-L slugfest. I’m taking the Eagles by a hair. 

Adam Kulikowski: Cocalico 26, Elizabethtown 24: Eagles do nearly all their damage on the ground while Elizabethtown has struggled to stop the other’s storm troopers. Edge: Cocalico.

DOVER 40, Garden Spot 21

Andy Shay: Garden Spot 45, Dover 20: The Spartans are a powder-keg team that can rip off points in a hurry and in big bunches. The Eagles will have to either keep up or find a way to make this game a slugfest.

Geoff Morrow: Dover 24, Garden Spot 23: Eagles, who finished 1-9 a year ago, are riding a six-game winning streak into the playoffs, their first visit since 2013. The Spartans, who just dropped 66 points on Elizabethtown two weeks ago, are into the postseason for the first time since 2014. This has potential to be a very entertaining game. Winner gets unbeaten powerhouse Exeter.

Andy Sandrik: Garden Spot 28, Dover 21: I trust Garden Spot QB Kye Harting to carry the Spartans to victory. Dude has thrown 16 TDs and is a 1,000-yard rusher, to boot. 

Adam Kulikowski: Garden Spot 37, Dover 34: The weapons on both sides of this tilt should create plenty of fireworks. I’ll give the edge to Harting and his mates, but this one is an even-money game to me. 

Northern York 21, SOUTH WESTERN 20

Andy Shay: South Western 28, Northern 24: All I know is if you think you know what to expect from this Polar Bears team in 2022, good chance you will be wrong. Mustangs are beatable but have earned the call. Northern and how it plays will most likely decide this outcome.

Geoff Morrow: South Western 33, Northern 24: Considering the geography, it’s somewhat surprising these teams don’t have much, if any, recent history. The Mustangs’ résumé this season is a bit better, but Lord knows the Polar Bears are nothing if not battle-tested (nine straight games decided by 11 points or fewer). Winner gets New Oxford.

Andy Sandrik: South Western 35, Northern 27: South Western deserves to be the favorite here, but Northern has a tendency to play at a higher level when its back is against the wall. Could be a closer game than most expect. 

Adam Kulikowski: Northern 33, South Western 30: Predicting Northern games has been one of the most challenging aspects of this season. But the quality wins against Shippensburg and Gettysburg illustrate the upside for Bill Miller’s crew. 

PIAA DISTRICT 3 CLASS 4A FIRST ROUND

EAST PENNSBORO 43, Kennard-Dale 0

Andy Shay: Kennard-Dale 20, East Pennsboro 14: Both squads are in the same boat, bringing a losing record to the table for a playoff game. The Panthers’ last win came in September. And it’s November. Tough to get past that.

Geoff Morrow: Kennard-Dale 16, East Pennsboro 14: Rams have lost three of four; Panthers have lost five straight. Welcome to the playoffs! Winner gets (gulp) Bishop McDevitt. Are we sure that’s a good thing?

Andy Sandrik: Kennard-Dale 22, East Pennsboro 15: I hate to be the old man waving his cane, but back in my day, we had 8-2 teams that missed the playoffs!

Adam Kulikowski: Kennard-Dale 27, East Pennsboro 21: Losing five straight is no way to enter postseason play, but perhaps the “new” season helps the Panthers turn the page. 

YORK SUBURBAN 41, Donegal 7

Andy Shay: York Suburban 33, Donegal 14: Already a game between this duo earlier in the season. The team with the winning record won by three scores, and that gap is a tall uphill climb for the Indians.

Geoff Morrow: York Suburban 38, Donegal 13: This wasn’t much of a contest when they met in Week 2. Add to that the Trojans’ current four-game winning streak with a high-scoring offense, and they should be punching their ticket to meet Manheim Central in the next round.

Andy Sandrik: York Suburban 28, Donegal 15: York Suburban was 23 points better than Donegal in Week 2. Can the Indians close the gap?

Adam Kulikowski: York Suburban 24, Donegal 17: One of the best aspects of the playoffs is the opportunity to see some of the best talents from outside your normal coverage area. For me, this one meant an opportunity to watch a few highlights from senior YS running back Mike Bentivegna. Bentivegna has powered the Trojans’ attack all season with 1,873 yards on 209 carries — that’s 9 yards per carry. 

PIAA DISTRICT 3 CLASS 3A QUARTERFINALS

HAMBURG 49, Upper Dauphin 35

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 41, Hamburg 27: Making the playoffs and having success is becoming an expectation for the lads from the northern reaches of Dauphin County. Hamburg doesn’t have enough firepower to keep up over the course of 48 minutes.

Geoff Morrow: Hamburg 30, Upper Dauphin 28: Both teams can — and will — score. But the Hawks probably get to tailgate at Cabela’s. Edge to the Berks County squad. However, the winner gets the No. 1 state-ranked team in Class 3A, Wyomissing. Good luck.

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 42, Hamburg 28: This could very well turn into a touchdown-a-minute affair, but I think Upper Dauphin’s unheralded defense makes the difference this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 48, Hamburg 21: Upper Dauphin has plenty of firepower to out-gun you, but the key here is that Trojan defense which I believe has a few more playmakers than Hamburg can handle. 

WEST PERRY 45, Schuylkill Valley 21

Andy Shay: West Perry 45, Schuylkill Valley 14: The Mustangs weren’t quite ready to win a division and had a very shaky start in a winner-take-all game a week ago at Steel-High. Don’t expect any stage fright entering the second season. Mustangs will be ready.

Geoff Morrow: West Perry 27, Schuylkill Valley 21: Firstly, I do not expect a blowout. The Panthers haven’t been an easy out and can score in bunches. Plus, it’ll be interesting to see how the Mustangs respond to their first loss. I expect they’ll be OK, but they cannot show up and just expect to win. Surprising unbeaten Lancaster Catholic awaits the victor.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 44, Schuylkill Valley 7: A humbled West Perry team enters the playoffs after taking its first loss of the season. If the Mustangs have their heads screwed on right, they certainly have the pieces to open postseason play with a bang.

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 38, Schuylkill Valley 13: Would it have been cool to see a 10-0 Mustangs team enter postseason play? Sure. But maybe the heavyweight bout with Steel-High sharpened West Perry for a postseason run. 

PIAA DISTRICT 3 CLASS 2A SEMIFINALS

ANNVILLE-CLEONA 42, Camp Hill 13

Andy Shay: Annville-Cleona 28, Camp Hill 21: This is a toss-up game for me. I think the Lions are capable, but A-C is very comfortable in its own skin. Camp Hill has struggled a bit the last month, and it goes beyond losing games. I’m taking the No. 1 seed.

Geoff Morrow: Annville-Cleona 20, Camp Hill 14: Four straight losses for the Lions, who are lucky to have a shot to break that skid. They have a chance, too, but the Dutchmen are really “in een groef.” (My attempt at Dutch.) Confidence is key here. A-C has it. 

Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 24, Annville-Cleona 21: It’s been over a month since the Lions won a game. With that said, I think Camp Hill’s schedule has it prepared for this moment.

Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 27, Annville-Cleona 24: I have no doubt the Lions will find a way to fill their side of the scoreboard. Can they stack the box enough to stop the Dutchmen’s explosive running attack? 

Trinity 56, DELONE CATHOLIC 17

Andy Shay: Trinity 35, Delone Catholic 14: Pretty clear the Squires have made plenty of strides since the Shamrocks issued a 28-point thumping to open the season. Guess who is much better and battle tested? Trinity is the favorite to win it all, in my opinion.

Geoff Morrow: Trinity 31, Delone Catholic 20: Even before the Shamrocks went through their “Let’s play the NFC East” section of their schedule, they crushed the Squires in Week 1. And even though Delone cruised through the YAIAA part of its schedule, Trinity has only gotten better because of those planned growing pains.

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 28, Delone Catholic 14: Delone Catholic has come quite a long way since its 35-7 beatdown loss against Trinity in Week 1, which kickstarted an 0-3 start to the season. The problem for the Squires is the ‘Rocks have also improved by leaps and bounds.

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 42, Delone Catholic 20: Squires enter this fray as winners of seven straight; however, none of those wins came against a club with the chops the Shamrocks possess. 

PIAA DISTRICT 4 CLASS 2A QUARTERFINALS

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA 69, Line Mountain 6

Andy Shay: Southern Columbia 42, Line Mountain 13: Are the Tigers the automatic ticket to the state finals that vaporize every team along the way? They are not, but they still pack a pretty powerful punch and, at this level, are still ridiculously tough.

Geoff Morrow: Southern Columbia 40, Line Mountain 20: Believe it or not, the Tigers’ 7-3 mark means this is their “worst” season since finishing 9-5 in 2009. It’s still a lot to ask of the Eagles to hang tough against a team that’s beaten them by a combined score of 111-21 in the previous two postseasons.

Andy Sandrik: Southern Columbia 33, Line Mountain 12: With three division losses to Southern Columbia’s name, you get the sense the defending state champions are vulnerable this November. I just don’t think Line Mountain is the team that breaks through.

Adam Kulikowski: Southern Columbia 45, Line Mountain 14: Give the Eagles big props for the progress they have shown in the second half of the season. Still see an uphill battle against Southern Columbia.

PIAA DISTRICT 11 CLASS 1A SEMIFINALS

TRI-VALLEY 24, Minersville 13

Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 28, Minersville 26: Just feels like the Bulldogs are a little off their game entering the second season, and it was no easy task to slip past the Miners to kick off the season. The surprise here is Tri-Valley rolling.

Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 25, Minersville 18: The Battlin’ Miners, who hung tough with the Bulldogs back in Week 1, won’t be intimidated. And we’ll see how T-V responds to yet another disappointing loss to rival Williams Valley. This is a dangerous spot for the ‘Dawgs, but I still expect them to handle business.

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 23, Minersville 21: This game is a rematch of a Week 1 scrap that saw the Bulldogs clip the Miners 20-13. Tri-Valley deserves to be the favorite here, but this is a much better Minersville team than we’ve seen in recent years.

Adam Kulikowski: Minersville 24, Tri-Valley 21: OK, so this is an upset to me if it happens with a talented freshman QB Dante Carr getting his first playoff exposure at the helm for Minersville. But they sport the kind of balance that plays well in the postseason — a talented QB with dual-threat abilities, a leading rusher with more than 1,000 yards, and four receivers with more than 225 yards. 

Saturday, Nov. 5

PIAA DISTRICT 3 CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIP

STEELTON-HIGHSPIRE 62, Fairfield 6

Andy Shay: Steel-High 56, Fairfield 14: Rollers should respect Fairfield taking the game, get some necessary work done, and then call off the dogs. No need to pad the stats. The outcome isn’t a question. There are much bigger fish to fry for Steel-High coming down the stream.

Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 59, Fairfield 7: This latest championship for the Rollers will not be their most difficult. Credit to the Green Knights for volunteering their Saturday afternoon for this.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 73, Fairfield 14: I see no evidence that suggests this game will be anything other than a Rollers blowout.

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 68, Fairfield 6: Rollers handle business. ‘Nuff said. 

PIAA DISTRICT 11 CLASS 2A SEMIFINALS

Executive Education Academy 22, WILLIAMS VALLEY 20

Andy Shay: Williams Valley 38, Executive Education Academy 27: All I know is EEA will show up and take its shots, and some will land. Vikings have to be ready to trade haymakers and keep the gas pedal on the floor to win this one.

Geoff Morrow: Williams Valley 20, Executive Education Academy 17: The Raptors gave Tri-Valley all it could handle in the regular season and should give the Vikings a battle here. But after some deserved midseason adversity, WV has rediscovered its groove and enters the dance on a five-game winning streak.

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 33, Executive Education Academy 29: Give me the Vikings, winners of five straight, but this has all the makings of a contest that comes down to the final play.

Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 45, Executive Education Academy 28: This is the type of game the Vikings are best equipped to play. That win last week against Tri-Valley only fortified the confidence WV should have entering this tilt.  

Tri-Valley and Minersville may not be sporting the same uniforms they were wearing in late August when they met for the first time.

But Friday night in the Hegins-Valley View Metroplex, good starts to promising seasons won’t be the primary objectives for the neighboring Schuylkill County combatants. Surviving to play next week is all that matters.

Matched up in the all-or-nothing District 11 Class 1A semifinals, Tri-Valley (9-1) and Minersville (6-4) will be dueling for the right to meet top-seeded Northern Lehigh or No. 4 Mahanoy Area in next weekend’s championship game.

A berth in the PIAA’s Class 1A playoffs also will be awarded to the eventual champ.

State-ranked Tri-Valley went into its regular-season finale hoping to deck rival Williams Valley and claim the Colonial-Schuylkill League’s Blue Division crown, but the Bulldogs dropped a 21-14 decision and saw those hopes end.

Kameron Wetzel scored both touchdowns for Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs, cashing in on runs covering 34 and 9 yards for a Tri-Valley squad that was limited to 185 offensive yards — a mere 66 on the ground. Wetzel totaled 55 on 14 tries.

Quarterback Kole Miller completed eight of his 23 pass attempts for 106 yards, but he was picked off four times and the Bulldogs lost two fumbles. Jolten Flory caught three passes for 60 yards, while Layne Yoder had three grabs for 43.

Inside linebacker Reece Huntzinger and defensive tackle Jake Scheib each totaled 13 tackles. Huntzinger had one of Tri-Valley’s two sacks. Flory and Kash Tobin added interceptions, with Tobin returning his pick 55 yards.

Minersville mauled Nativity 37-0 in its regular-season finale, running up more than 400 offensive yards against the Green Wave. Luke Stevenosky had a huge game for the Miners, rushing for 221 yards and three TDs on 17 carries.

Freshman quarterback Dante Carr attempted eight passes, but completed five for 152 yards and one touchdown. Brock Polinsky had two catches for 86 yards.

Stevenosky and A.J. Halford paced the Miners with eight tackles apiece, while Polinsky picked off one pass and fell on a Nativity fumble.

In the earlier meeting, Tri-Valley snapped a 13-13 tie on the second of Scheib’s two touchdown runs. Wetzel posted the other score for Sampson’s Bulldogs, who picked up a combined 251 rushing yards from Huntzinger (17-95), Wetzel (9-91) and Scheib (11-65). Yoder added four receptions for 70 yards.

Minersville totaled 272 offensive yards — a combined 120 on the ground from Carr (eight carries, 65 yards, one TD) and Stevenosky (7-55) — with Carr completing 10 of his 24 pass attempts for 151 yards and one score. He was intercepted three times, once each by Jake Tietsworth, Cole Gemberling and Kole Miller.

Huntzinger also recovered a fumble. Polinsky finished with 13 tackles, while Stevenosky and Cade Schultz each totaled 10 stops.

Williams Valley begins quest for 2A crown

Tim Savage’s Williams Valley Vikings are riding a five-game winning streak into postseason play — they downed Tri-Valley 21-14 and captured the Colonial-Schuylkill League’s Blue crown — and are looking for one or two more.

Perhaps more.

Up first is a Saturday date in Williamstown with Allentown-based and pass-happy Executive Education (5-3). Williams Valley (8-2) also made its return this week to the state rankings.

Second-seeded Williams Valley totaled 248 yards in its win at Tri-Valley, getting nearly a 50-50 split between the passing and running attacks. Defensively, the Vikes limited the host Bulldogs to 172 total yards and forced six turnovers.

Alex Achenbach rushed for 125 yards on 27 carries, scoring on an 18-yard run. The multi-talented junior also caught two passes for 71 yards, including a 64-yard strike from quarterback Isaac Whiteash (6 of 14 passing, 125 yards, two TDs, two INTs).

Brady Evans added three receptions for 50 yards and one score, but he also recorded one interception. Whiteash, Evan Achenbach and Aiden Miller added the other picks for the Vikes, who led 14-7 at half and 21-7 after three.

Bryant Hoover topped Williams Valley with 10 tackles — linemen Ezi Hite and Cruz Banda shared five of the Vikes’ seven tackles for loss — while Logan Williard and Alex Achenbach each registered eight stops.

Executive Education last played Oct. 21, defeating Lower Moreland 44-7 for the Raptors’ second consecutive victory.

Darmel Lopez completed 12 of his 16 pass attempts for 273 yards and four touchdowns, hooking up with Jyhmiek Roman (four receptions, 55 yards), Kristopher Cruz (2-30), Damon Young (1-79) and Cazhiere Richardson (1-55) on his scoring throws. Lopez also ran six times for a team-high 72 yards.

Matthew Martinez paced Executive Ed with 12 tackles.

Should Savage’s Vikings prevail, they will square off with either top-seeded Palisades or No. 4 Catasauqua in next weekend’s 2A title game.

Pine Grove gets one more chance

Pine Grove (3-7) will have the chance to close out an up-and-down 2022 campaign on a winning note and capture a championship Thursday night when it visits Berks Catholic. The Eastern Conference’s 3A crown will be at stake.

Lane Lehman rushed 30 times for 108 yards and a pair of third-quarter touchdowns as Dave Shiffer’s closed out the regular season by grinding out a 14-6 victory over Marian Catholic. Lehman scored TDs of 1 and 4 yards.

Mason Kroh (7 for 10) added 66 yards through the air with Nick Wolff hauling in four passes for 25 yards.

Wolff also fell on a Marian fumble and Xaviar Yeagley picked off one pass for the Cards, while Lehman registered a team-high eight tackles.

Berks Catholic (4-6), which played a brutal non-league schedule, closed out regular-season play with a 49-28 victory over Elco. Rick Keeley’s Saints rang up a little more than 500 yards of total offense en route to the road success.

Josiah Jordan rushed 16 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns, fueling a ground assault that chalked up 312 lengths on 30 carries — an average of 10.4 yards per crack. The Saints, who led 28-14 at the half and 49-14 after three, also picked up 76 yards and a score from Michael Bradley on just two attempts.

William Hess attempted just six passes yet completed five for 191 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan (69) and Bradley (14) caught TD passes for their lone receptions, while Devin Garcia had two catches for 84 yards and one score.

Luke Impellizzeri tormented the Elco attack by racking up 16 stops, while Kevin Olivier added 10 tackles. Jordan recorded Berks Catholic’s lone pick.

CLASS 6A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12)        – 7-1 – 1 

2. Garnet Valley (1)              – 9-0 – 2 

3. State College (6)               – 10-0 – 3 

4. Coatesville (1)          — 8-1 – 4 

5. Nazareth (11)           — 9-1 – 5 

6. Emmaus (11)            — 9-1 – 6 

7. North Allegheny (7) — 9-1 – 7 

8. Harrisburg (3)          — 7-2 – 8 

9. Pennsbury (1)           — 9-1 – 10 

10. Downingtown West (1)   — 8-1 – NR 

Teams to watch: Bethlehem Freedom (11) 8-2, Central York (3) 9-1, McDowell (10) 8-2, Northampton (11) 10-0, Perkiomen Valley (1) 9-1. 

CLASS 5A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. Upper Dublin (1)               – 10-0 – 1 

2. Exeter Township (3)          – 10-0 – 2 

3. Imhotep Charter (12)         – 5-2 – 3 

4. Strath Haven (1)                — 10-0 – 4 

5. Bethel Park (7)                  — 9-1 – 6 

6. Cathedral Prep (10)           — 8-2 – 8 

7. Solanco (3)                        — 10-0 – 7 

8. Chester (1)                         — 9-1 – 9 

9. Roman Catholic (12)         — 7-2 – 5 

10. Upper St. Clair (7)           — 8-2 – NR 

Teams to watch: Franklin Regional (7) 7-3, Pine-Richland (7) 7-3, Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1) 8-2, New Oxford (3) 8-2. 

CLASS 4A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. Aliquippa (7)            – 9-0 – 1 

2. Bishop McDevitt (3)         – 8-1 – 2 

3. Jersey Shore (4)                 – 10-0 – 3 

4. Meadville (10)         — 9-1 – 9 

5. Central Valley (7)              – 9-1 – 4 

6. Manheim Central (3)         — 9-1 – 6 

7. McKeesport (7)                 – 9-1 – 5 

8. Armstrong (7)          — 9-1 – 10 

9. Pope John Paul II (1)         — 9-1 – 7 

10. Lampeter-Strasburg (3)   — 8-2 – 8 

Teams to watch: Bonner-Prendergast (12) 8-1, Crestwood (2) 9-1, Highlands (7) 9-1, Thomas Jefferson (7) 7-3, Valley View (2) 8-2. 

CLASS 3A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. Wyomissing (3)                 – 10-0 – 1 

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

3. Belle Vernon (7)                – 7-2 – 4 

4. Loyalsock (4)           — 9-1 – 5 

5. Avonworth (7)                   — 9-1 – 6 

6. Lancaster Catholic (3)       — 10-0 – 7 

7. Elizabeth Forward (7)       – 9-1 – 3 

8. Penn Cambria (6)              — 9-1 – 9 

9. Northwestern Lehigh (11) — 8-2 – NR 

10. Freeport (7)            — 9-1 – 10 

Teams to watch: General McLane (10) 9-1, North Schuylkill (11) 8-2, Notre Dame-Green Pond (11) 8-2, Oil City (10) 7-2, Western Wayne (2) 8-2, West Perry (3) 9-1. 

CLASS 2A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous

1. Farrell (10)                        – 8-1 – 1 

2. Mount Carmel (4)              – 10-0 – 2 

3. Richland Township (6)      – 10-0 – 3 

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

5. Steel Valley (7)                 — 9-0 – 5 

6. Berlin Brothersvalley (5)  — 10-0 – 6 

7. Beaver Falls (7)                 — 9-1 – 7 

8. Westinghouse (8)              — 9-0 – 8 

9. Sto-Rox (7)                       — 7-2 – 10 

10. Williams Valley (11)       — 8-2 – NR 

Teams to watch: Central Clarion (9) 9-1, Neshannock (7) 9-1, Sharpsville (10) 8-2, Trinity (3) 6-4, Troy Area (4) 8-2. 

CLASS 1A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. Canton (4)                         – 9-1 – 1 

2. Steelton-Highspire (3)       – 8-1 – 2 

3. Bishop Canevin (7) – 9-1 – 3 

4. Reynolds (10)           – 9-1 – 5 

5. Muncy (4)                          – 9-0 – 6 

6. Eisenhower (10)                — 10-0 – 8 

7. Northern Lehigh (11)        — 9-1 – 9 

8. Northern Bedford (5)        — 10-0 – 10 

9. Tri-Valley (11)                  — 9-1 – 4 

10. Redbank Valley (9)         — 9-1 – NR 

Teams to watch: Laurel (7) 9-1, Penns Manor (6) 9-1, Port Allegany (9) 9-1, South Side Area (7) 9-1, Windber (5) 9-1. 

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Lane Lehman, Pine Grove, jr., RB/LB: Lehman made his presence felt in Pine Grove’s season finale, rushing 19 times for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Cardinals finished with a 14-6 victory over Marian Catholic. Lehman’s scores came from 1 and 4 yards out as Dave Shiffer’s squad opened a 14-0 lead in the third quarter.

Alex Achenbach, Williams Valley, jr., RB/DB: Achenbach was mighty active as Williams Valley claimed the Colonial-Schuylkill League’s Blue Division crown with a 21-14 victory at neighboring Tri-Valley. Achenbach rushed 29 times for 154 yards and one score, cashing in from 18 yards out as Tim Savage’s Vikings won their fifth straight game. Achenbach also caught two passes for 71 yards, including a 64-yard reception for the Vikes’ initial score.

Luke Stevenosky, Minersville, jr.,RB: Stevenosky carved up Navity BVM like they were a Thanksgiving Turkey. It took the junior just 17 carries to log 221 stripes–a 13 yard-per-carry average. He also hit the crib three times. Not too shabby. 

Brady Evans, Williams Valley, sr., WR/DB; Evans also played well in a big game, catching three passes for 41 yards and one touchdown. The 6-4 wideout also recorded one of Williams Valley’s four interceptions as the Vikings frustrated Tri-Valley QB Kole Miller.

Danny Darno, Notre Dame-Green Pond, jr., QB: Darno ended the regular season by picking apart Wilson Area. The junior completed 90 percent of his passes–a tiddy 9-of-10 passing for 203 yards and four scores. He chipped in another 31 stripes on the ground and rushed for another score for good measure. 
Kameron Wetzel, Tri-Valley, sr., RB/DB: Wetzel returned to the Tri-Valley lineup for the Bulldogs’ dustup with Williams Valley, a game that would decide the Colonial-Schuylkill’s Blue Division champ. Wetzel rushed 14 times for 55 yards, but he scored on runs of 34 and 9 yards to keep the Bulldogs embroiled in a tight contest. Wetzel also caught one pass for 10 yards and totaled seven tackles from his spot in the secondary.