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Drew Branstetter, jr., QB, Camp Hill: What a shocking upset Branstetter led. The sophomore went 17 of 24 for 160 yards in a 20-13 District 3 Class 2A championship upset win over arch rival Trinity. He hit Kobe Moore with 1:15 left for a 5-yard, game-winning score, finishing with two passing touchdowns and another rushing TD.
Ronald Burnette Jr., sr., RB, Steel-High: Burnette didn’t have much work to do in the Rollers’ 49-28 blowout victory over Belmont Charter in PIAA Class 1A play. He scored on runs of 2 and 51 yards as Steel-High built a 49-8 halftime lead, finishing with 100 yards on just nine carries.
Nolan Buzalka, jr., DL/TE, Cumberland Valley: Buzalka led a clutch defensive performance in the Eagles’ 20-14 District 3 Class 6A quarterfinal victory over Wilson, recording three sacks and recovering a fumble. CV held the Bulldogs to just 58 second-half yards to make its lead stand, thanks in large part to Buzalka.
Angel Cabrera, sr., RB, Hershey: Cabrera recorded his third straight 30-carry game, and his sixth this season, battering No. 1-seed New Oxford for 231 yards and three touchdowns on 38 touches in a 34-28 upset victory. Cabrera is now within 178 yards of 2,000 for the season, his first as a full-time running back on varsity.
Trey Good, sr., WR/DB, East Pennsboro: Good made a little Panthers history Friday night, with a 10-catch, 120-yard night. That gave him 870 yards this season, breaking a 22-year single-season record of 762 yards held by Ross Wheeler. Good also had two TDs in East Penn’s 23-20 double-overtime loss to Lampeter-Strasburg in the District 3-4A quarterfinals.
Brad Hockenberry, jr., RB, West Perry: Once again Hockenberry helmed a deadly rushing attack to beat Lancaster Catholic in the District 3-3A semifinals, this time 49-20. The junior rushed 18 times for 189 yards — the Mustangs ran for 476 stripes collectively — and three touchdowns that covered 14, 62 and 15 yards.
Shawn Lee Jr., jr., QB, Harrisburg: Lee was once again a two-way threat in the Cougars’ 54-33 District 3-5A quarterfinal triumph over Cedar Crest. With his legs, he led Harrisburg with 110 yards and two TDs (17 and 13 yards) on 11 attempts. And with his arm, he was a nearly flawless 11 of 12 for 249 yards and scoring strikes of 90, 22 and 53 yards.
Marcus Quaker, sr., QB, West Perry: Quaker was his typical dynamic self in the Mustangs’ district semifinal victory over Lancaster Catholic. He led WP back to the district title game for the second year in a row with three rushing touchdowns (59, 1 and 11 yards) and another passing while rushing for 186 yards on 18 carries and 47 passing yards.
Ty Salazer, sr., WR, State College: Salazar caught a 26-yard touchdown pass in the opening quarter of the Little Lions’ 16-6 win over Altoona for their 22nd District 6 title, becoming the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards, passing Cohen Russell (2018). Salazar finished with six receptions for 68 stripes.
Stone Saunders, jr., QB, Bishop McDevitt: No need to remind you how good Saunders is. The Kentucky verbal commit completed 17 of 25 passes for 394 yards and six touchdowns (covering 80, 27, 45, 22, 5 and 38 yards) in a 55-14 shellacking of division rival Milton Hershey in the District 3-4A quarterfinals Friday night.
Rico Scott, sr., WR, Bishop McDevitt: Saunders’ favorite target on the night? Unsurprisingly it was Alabama pledge Scott, who hauled in three first-half scores (80, 27 and 5) and finished with a shiny seven receptions for 195 stripes. He now has 65 catches for 1,143 yards and 20 touchdowns this season.
Bennett Secrest, jr., QB, Cedar Cliff: Another solid dual-threat performance from the Colts’ signal caller, who threw for 175 yards and ran for another 78 in Friday’s 31-7 win over South Western in the District 3-5A quarterfinals. Secrest connected on two TD tosses of 23 and 25 yards, the former to his brother, Blake.
Jasper Shepps, so., WR/DB, Juniata: Yet another all-around performance for the electric sophomore in Juniata’s 36-22 win over DuBois in a PIAA Class 4A playoff game. Shepps caught three balls for 99 yards and a score, returned two kickoffs 83 combined yards and recorded seven tackles (tied for team high) and an interception on defense.
Dorian Smith, sr., RB/DB, Susquehanna Township: Smith was electric in ‘Hanna’s 45-34 DIstrict 3-4A quarterfinal loss to Manheim Central, particularly in the first half. He rushed for 172 yards on 15 carries, including a first 24 minutes that saw him carry the ball seven times for 154 yards and sprints to the end zone of 57 and 61 yards.
Bryce Staretz, sr., RB/LB, Cumberland Valley: Staretz rushed for 143 yards and scored two key touchdowns (9 and 1 yard) on 33 carries in the Eagles’ 20-14 quarterfinal win over Wilson. His stats came in chunks, including 53 yards and a score on the opening drive and 12 carries and another TD to start the second half.
Kymir Williams, sr., WR, Harrisburg: Five touches, three touchdowns and a Cougars District 3-5A quarterfinal victory, 54-28 over Cedar Crest. Williams was simply explosive all afternoon Saturday, hauling in four passes for 178 yards (44.5 yards per catch) and touchdowns of 90 and 53 yards. He also ran in a 16-yard score.
One week after an improbable and thrilling come-from-behind victory to open the Trojans’ 2023 playoff ledger, Hershey went out and took care of District 3 Class 5A No. 1-seed New Oxford 34-28.
Hershey is a win away from playing for a D3 championship.
The win over the Colonials was clearly not as dramatic as the opener, but the winning formula at its core was the exact same.
Give the ball to Angel Cabrera 30-plus times and see if the defense can hold up just enough to give that power-running game that features two fullbacks and pulling guard and tackles a chance to take over.
Against New Oxford, Cabrera, a vintage north-south runner who isn’t shy about taking on contact, had 38 carries for 231 yards and three touchdowns. He’s now carried the ball 30-plus times in three straight games and six times this season. That’s Hershey’s main ingredient in its formula for success — you know it, we know it, everybody knows it.
Can you stop them is the question they are going to ask the opponent each and every quarter.
Hey, it’s one thing to pull off a staggering victory for the memory bank. The Trojans, though, went to the next level by validating that triumph in style and in their likeness and image.
A road trip to 11-1 Ephrata in the semifinal awaits.
We see you, too, Cumberland Valley
Tip of the cap to the Cumberland Valley Eagles. If you saw this coming from the 2023 squad, you are lying.
The Mid-Penn Conference Coach of the Year award has to go to Josh Oswalt and his staff. Sure, it was a tough three-game opening stretch to the season that was expected. But after 12 quarters CV wasn’t in shambles, it was ashes. Some good defense in spots was the only small sign of hope.
This convocation of Eagles stuck together and didn’t hang their heads, and that fueled their leaders to keep pushing buttons and pulling strings. And now this squad, a shocking No. 4 seed, has a feather in its cap after powering past Wilson 20-14.
As expected, the CV offense was in full grind mode, led by 138 yards on a whopping 33 carries and two touchdowns from running back Bryce Staretz and 11 short completions to wideout Caiden Pines.
Remember that defense we mentioned as the early foothold for the Eagles? It took over this game, limiting the Bulldogs to 40 rushing yards and fewer than 125 yards of total offense.
Undefeated Manheim Township is up next. The Eagles already know the drill, having played the Blue Streaks in that early stretch. All I know is one team is very different now.
Defense, Camp Hill’s defense, wins championship
That final drive by Camp Hill quarterback Drew Branstetter was next level. Every single snap mattered as the Lions marched 56 yards in 81 seconds to cement the District 3 Class 2A championship over rival Trinity.
The offense grabbed the moment, but overall it was the Lions’ defense that earned the No. 4 seed a district crown. One touchdown was surrendered to Trinity Friday night. In eight quarters against the Shamrocks, the total was three touchdowns.
We’ve all heard the saying defense wins championships. Now you know exactly what that looks like.
West Perry back in the saddle again
For the second year in a row West Perry will play for the District 3 Class 3A championship. And it will be powerhouse Wyomissing on the other side of the ball again.
This was different for the Mustangs, though. This was kind of what the expectation was for this team since the season began, unlike last year when they were a surprise championship contender. And as the regular season trudged along, it became more and more difficult for the Mustangs.
Even last week was a real grind for West Perry. The win over Bermudian Springs was well short of its own expectations.
That was not the case in taking out No. 2-seed Lancaster Catholic on the road this week. West Perry was explosive and dominant in a commanding 49-20 victory. This team is now in the perfect spot to play the Spartans for a title again.
Quarterback Marcus Quaker and running back Brad Hockenberry combined for more than 300 total yards and were part of all seven West Perry touchdowns.
This Cedar Cliff team is quite good
Honestly, I have to keep reminding myself Cedar Cliff is a one-loss team.
This team has sort of quietly put together a killer 10-win campaign that might lack some high-end sheen, but the bones are rock solid.
Cedar Cliff simply overpowered South Western in the Colts’ Class 5A opener 31-7. That 31 isn’t unexpected. What stands out is the 7 for the Mustangs. This screams complementary football all the way.
Quarterback Bennett Secrest had a splendid dual-threat outing, totaling 175 yards through the air, 79 on the ground and threw a pair of touchdown passes. Nathan Lusk hauled in seven catches for 75 yards and a TD, and RB Erik Schriver again went over 100 yards with his efficient and sneaky good running style.
Winning in the trenches is what is driving this train, and that will get a next-level test against Cocalico. Remember, both teams are 10-1.
Bishop McDevitt: Same as it ever was
Bishop McDevitt could not avoid another member of the Keystone Division for its 2023 playoff opener. Milton Hershey earned its second bite of the Crusaders apple, and as expected the result was almost the same.
Quarterback Stone Saunders threw six touchdown passes, three to fellow FBS recruit Rico Scott, and McDevitt posted a 54-14 victory to stay unbeaten. Saunders threw for nearly 400 yards, and Scott averaged 27.9 yards per catch on seven grabs. Crazy, but again, not unexpected numbers for McDevitt.
Both Milton Hershey touchdowns came in the fourth quarter after the Crusaders built a 54-0 cushion. Lampeter-Strasburg is up next, and I’m sure McDevitt is looking forward to facing somebody outside of the Keystone Division.
At the most crucial time in Friday night’s District 3 Class 2A championship game, Camp Hill quarterback Drew Branstetter owned the moment and guided his Lions to their 11th district title in school history.
The junior was perfect on the game winning drive, marching the Lions 56 yards in six plays — all completed passes — and capped the impressive 81-second march with a 5-yard touchdown toss to Kobe Moore with 1:15 to play.
Branstetter to Moore vaulted the No. 4-seed Lions to a stunning 20-13 victory over No. 2 Trinity and avenged an earlier one-point loss to the Shamrocks during the regular season.
In a game that was dominated by defense, the Lions’ offense had a bit more pop and Branstetter was the difference-maker with three total touchdowns — two passing to go along with a 12-yard run.
Trinity tied the game 13-13 with 2:44 to play after a long and productive ground-focused drive that covered nearly 80 yards ended in Kieran Finegan’s second field goal of the game, this one from 29 yards out.
The Shamrocks scored only one touchdown, and that came on their opening drive when Messiah Mickens waltzed in from the 5-yard line to stake Trinity to an early 7-0 cushion.
That touchdown came with five minutes to play in the first quarter. The next 41 minutes belonged to Camp Hill’s defense. The Lions not only limited Trinity to two field goals the rest of the way, they also came up with two turnovers.
Time to hand out some postseason grades.
CAMP HILL LIONS
Quarterback: It was a grind for Branstetter all game until the final drive. Trinity wasn’t giving him much on the outside, so he was taking the underneath stuff and doing what he could. Without much of a running game, the game was clearly in his hands. On the final drive, every single throw was perfect — it was like he found fifth gear all of a sudden and carved up the T-Rocks’ secondary with ease. We all know it wasn’t that easy. But that shows how ready the junior was for that big moment. And he owned it big time. Grade: A
Running back: So we know the Lions don’t rely much on the running game, and Kobe Moore can usually give them what they need when called upon. He hit a couple edges early for decent runs, but anything and everything inside was out of bounds. He did catch the game-winning touchdown pass and is an option as a receiver. It was tough sledding, though. The other team had something to do with that. Grade: B
Wide receivers: The variety of targets the Lions possess for a roster of 20-ish players is simply staggering. Noah Doi, Alex Long and Marcus Colson are all quality wideouts. They did struggle to get open against sticky coverage most of the game. In that final drive, though, they ran precision routes, and the timing looked like a day at practice. Only one or two drops and a couple of really tough catches. Grade: A-
Offensive line: Hey, the Lions don’t run the ball for a reason. Part of that is they are not built up front to play any kind of power game. And that showed in this one. Nothing new on that front. Pass protection, what they are asked to do and execute well, was above average. Helps to have an elusive QB bail you out every now and then. Straight up they held their own. Run blocking was as expected. Grade: B-
Defensive line: Wore down inside the tackles as the game went on, but that’s not unexpected. Gave up some yards, but it wasn’t easy for Trinity to move the ball on the ground with any consistency. Junior Alex Long was sensational off the edge and even snagged an incredible interception on a quick out — just pure athleticism on display. They were gritty. Grade: A-
Linebackers: Nothing short of spectacular from the Lions’ backers. Not a single big gainer allowed, something they know the T-Rocks thrive on. Tackled physically and well in space all game. Did not allow anything to the outside, either, which was huge in my book. Take a bow, Doi and Moore in particular. That was very well done, lads. Grade: A+
Secondary: They were beat a couple times, but the throw from Trinity wasn’t quite good enough to punish them. I will say, the run-support part of their job was outstanding. Tommy Corbin was up in the box most of the night and was a force all game. His run blitzes were outstanding. And those two blitzes on the final Trinity drive in must-pass situations were not only great calls, but were also well executed. Grade: A-
Special teams: The Lions did give up some serious yards in the return game but also had a spectacular double reverse return on a kickoff that went for 54 yards and set up the opening touchdown. The long missed extra point after a 15-yard penalty was a critical point that hung around for a long time. Grade: B-
TRINITY SHAMROCKS
Quarterback: Senior Caleb Wray had good stretches and some rough patches. In the end, because of injuries and the deficit, he was asked to do more than the Shamrocks probably wanted. Hit some good step-and-throws after a shaky start. Hit a couple excellent deep throws, too. One deep throw looked perfect and would have gone for a touchdown in the third quarter, but the receiver just missed it. I don’t blame him for the interception, either. That was just a sick play by a DE/OLB. Grade: C+
Running back: From the first quarter of the Wyomissing game in Week 2, Penn State recruit Messiah Mickens has battled a high-ankle sprain and for the most part played through the injury. He’s looked better the last couple games, but he clearly re-injured the ankle early in this one and was hobbled the rest of the game after looking strong on the opening drive. He didn’t carry the ball much the second half and was lined up as a receiver almost exclusively. Junior Christian Joy ran well as the No. 2. He’d be a No. 1 on most teams. I enjoy his vision and cuts in tight spaces. Grade: B
Wide receivers: They lost Tanie Young to an ankle injury early. He tried to come back but eventually lost the battle and was on crutches most of the second half. Cole Cappawana made a couple tough catches. Overall, though, too many drops. Grade: C
Offensive line: They were very good on the opening drive and exceptional on the drive late that led to a field goal. In between they were pretty average and struggled all game with blitzes that put extra pressure on their QB. Overall, they were less than consistent is the best way to describe it. Grade: C
Defensive line: They were put in some bad spots and really made only one big gaffe, on the 12-yard TD run where they lost their way on a QB scramble. More than made up for it by coming through with a big stop on fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter at their own 5-yard line that would have sealed the game for the Lions pretty much. Pass rush didn’t get home that often but was consistent and kept the Lions’ QB on the move. Grade: A-
Linebackers: Those crossing routes by the Lions are tricky for linebackers, and they only got beat once — for a touchdown. Otherwise, they were on it. Remember the name Marcus Yeager. He’s only a sophomore and is going to be a good one. Grade: A
Secondary: Until that last drive, the T-Rocks’ secondary was magnificent. But the game is 48 minutes long. Amil Way took away a lot of the outside stuff on his side that the Lions like to run. He was fantastic all game. They were organized and on point until those final six plays. Grade: B+
Special teams: Two field goals that were desperately needed covering 29 and 32 yards was a big plus. Kickoff game was shaky, though, along with the coverage that allowed a big return to set up the first Lions TD. Cappawana was also very, very good in the return game. Set his team up well three times at least. Grade: B+
One District 3 champion has been crowned (see: Steel-High). Another will be crowned this week, and more will follow shortly.
The second week of the PIAA high school football postseason brings up a fantastic rivalry game in the D3 Class 2A title game: Camp Hill at Trinity. The Lions pulled off an impressive upset in the semifinals, while the Shamrocks seem to have a healthy Messiah Mickens for the first time in months. It’s going to be a good one.
And while the Rollers have a bye week before the PIAA Class 1A tournament begins, the rest of District 3’s classifications will be in the quarterfinals or semifinals. 4th Down’s coverage area also includes the District 4, 6 and 11 tournaments, and we’ll be following those games closely as well.
As always, bookmark this page on your phone, laptop or tablet to follow every matchup and see every highlight from the Mid-Penn and some of the teams in the Colonial-Schuylkill League. We’ll update scores throughout the night on this page (refresh the page to see new updates), and you can follow our Twitter feed below for minute-by-minute updates.
PIAA football playoffs: District 3 football championships analysis, staff picks and previews
Each week 4th Down Magazine will preview the weekend slate, predict the winners and provide extra analysis. Here’s everything to get you ready for the District 3 Class 2A championship game, Class 3A semifinals and quarterfinals in 4A through 6A:
Angel Cabrera has a knack for the big game, and that earned him 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week honors after the first round of the District 3 playoffs.
Cabrera had what we’ll gladly call his best game as a running back, carrying the rock a carry high 37 times and scoring a personal best four touchdowns in an epic 28-27 comeback victory over Exeter Township in the District 3 Class 5A first round Friday night. His 183 yards are third most in his career behind his two 200-yard performances, but Friday’s showing helped the Trojans erase a 27-0 halftime deficit. Big-time stuff.
Cabrera now has 1,591 yards and 24 TDs on 270 carries, among the best in the Mid-Penn Conference.
He won a tight poll this week with 542 votes cast, edging out Juniata sophomore receiver Jasper Shepps for his second POTW nod this season. There were 1,049 total votes cast this week.
Cabrera and Hershey now visit 5A top-seed New Oxford on Friday in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m.
Tri-Valley’s football season ended last weekend, but Kash Tobin had a heckuva performance to earn the 4th Down Magazine Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week for the first week of the playoffs
The senior linebacker was flying around the ball in a defensive slugfest that Marian Catholic eked out 14-6 in the District 11 Class 1A semifinals, recording a game-high 16 tackles (nine solo) and a sack of quarterback Bruce Hopeck. It wrapped up a menacing season for Tobin, who finished with 103 tackles, including 71 in the final five games, four sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. He was also the Bulldogs’ second-leading rusher with 97 carries, 506 yards and six touchdowns.
Tobin was rewarded by Tri-Valley fans with 1,730 votes this week, easily besting POTW regular Alex Achenbach (William Valley), who had 659. There were 2,248 total votes cast this week.
The Bulldogs’ season came to an end with a 5-6 record.
EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: It’s the second week of the PIAA district football playoffs, and a week before the state tournaments begin. And the 4th Down Magazine team is here to tell you who will win the District 3, 4, 6 and 11 playoff games this weekend, most of which kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
This year’s group of experts includes veteran reporters Andy Shay and Andy Sandrik, as well as 4th Down owner and manager Adam Kulikowski.
Here’s who we think will win each game and why, with the kind of analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Stick with us all the way through the PIAA state championships in December.
Watch: This weeks edition of 4th & Goal with Andy Shay and Jake Adams features Trinity star running back and Penn State recruit Messiah Mickens. Plus we break down what to expect in this week’s playoff battles.
2023 Standings
Picker: Last Week — Overall — Perfect Picks Adam Kulikowski: 12-4 — 203-60 — 2
Andy Sandrik: 14-2 — 203-60 — 0
Andy Shay: 13-3 — 192-71 — 1
* Records in parentheses after school name; District and seed in parentheses before school name.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 6A QUARTERFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 1 Manheim Township 44, No. 8 York 8
Andy Shay: Manheim Township 45, York 14: It has been easier than expected from start to finish for the Blue Streaks. That’s not an accident, either. Because the Township schedule had some solid meat on the bone. Complementary football has been an asset since the opening quarter of the season.
Andy Sandrik: Manheim Township 44, York 17: For being a high school team, Manheim Township has more of a grown-man roster than might seem fair. I expect the Blue Streaks to overwhelm the Bearcats this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Manheim Township 47, York 20: Blue Streaks quarterback Hayden Johnson has thrown a staggering 40 touchdowns without a single interception. His unmatched precision should position Manheim Township for a deep run throughout the postseason.
No. 4 Cumberland Valley 20, No. 5 Wilson 14
Andy Shay: Wilson 21, Cumberland Valley 17: This is just a hunch pick. Something just tells me that top to bottom the Bulldogs have a couple slight advantages that will tip the game in their favor.
Andy Sandrik: Wilson 28, Cumberland Valley 21: There’s a saying that you’re only as good as your last game, and if that adage is to be believed, then it’s really hard to pick against a Wilson team that in Week 10 played to within two scores of a Manheim Township team that just may end up winning a state title.
Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 27, Wilson 26: Can it be called an upset if the higher-seeded team wins? Probably not, but it will feel that way if the Eagles pull off this dub.
No. 3 Central York 42, No. 6 Central Dauphin 34
Andy Shay: Central York 27, Central Dauphin 24: Already played once this season, so they will know what to expect. Here’s the deal for me: the Panthers have an FBS recruit at running back who impacted the Week 1 contest greatly. CD does not have that type of weapon at its disposal.
Andy Sandrik: Central York 24, Central Dauphin 17: Defense always seems to factor in the most in November playoff games, and both of these teams possess solid defensive units. With that said, I think CY’s edge on offense will make the difference in this game.
Adam Kulikowski: Central York 35, Central Dauphin 21: The Rams are probably at least a year away from being able to go toe-to-toe with Central York and other top-tier teams with X-factor players.
SATURDAY, NOV. 11
No. 7 Cedar Crest at No. 2 Harrisburg, 1 p.m.
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 49, Cedar Crest 7: The Falcons earned their spot by winning eight games and just enough power rankings points to make the cutoff. The kicker to that is Cedar Crest beat exactly one team that finished with a winning record. That will show up Saturday at Severance Field.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 52, Cedar Crest 14: I expect Harrisburg to be well-rested this week, and if the Cougars are also focused, I don’t expect this game to be close.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 49, Cedar Crest 14: The Cougars are playing their best football when it matters most. Good for the Harrisburg faithful, but a scary proposition for the Falcons.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 5A QUARTERFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 8 Hershey 34, No. 1 New Oxford 28
Andy Shay: New Oxford 31, Hershey 27: Took a lot for the Trojans to rally and get their first playoff victory in more than a decade with a furious fourth-quarter comeback. And No. 1-seed New Oxford was enjoying a bye week. See where am I going with this? That bye week matters a lot.
Andy Sandrik: New Oxford 32, Hershey 24: The Trojans are coming off a storybook-ending kind of victory that was generated by all hands on deck working double-time. Unconscious efforts like that are a spectacle to behold, but they can come at a cost. If New Oxford gets ahead early, I’m not entirely sure Hershey has enough in the tank to mount another big comeback.
Adam Kulikowski: New Oxford 34, Hershey 27: Many left Hershey for dead at halftime last week against Exeter Township, but the Trojans found answers at halftime and never lost their will to fight. Beating No. 1-seed New Oxford will take an epic effort for a full four quarters.
No. 5 Ephrata 31, No. 4 Garden Spot 10
Andy Shay: Garden Spot 42, Ephrata 14: Rematch alert. And the first meeting wasn’t close as Garden Spot claimed a three-touchdown victory. Plus, the No. 4 seed is coming off a bye and Ephrata had to grind out a tough win over Lower Dauphin.
Andy Sandrik: Garden Spot 42, Ephrata 28: Ephrata left a piece of itself on the field last week just to survive against Lower Dauphin, and now it faces an even taller mountain to scale in Garden Spot.
Adam Kulikowski: Garden Spot 27, Ephrata 21: This is already a historic season for Ephrata after reaching the postseason the first time since 1987. An upset of Garden Spot would be icing on the cake.
No. 2 Cedar Cliff 31, No. 7 South Western 7
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 34, South Western 21: I like everything about where this Colts team is right now. Only loss was to Bishop McDevitt, and they have more balance on offense than you might expect. Sneaky good is what I call them.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 33, South Western 24: Colts vs. Mustangs isn’t just an equestrian fantasy matchup, it’s a high-powered district playoff game that could result in a whole lot of TDs being scored.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 42, South Western 14: In a wide open District 3 Class 5A bracket, the Colts have the right mix of firepower and steady defense needed to vie for a title.
No. 3 Cocalico 42, No. 6 Conestoga Valley 10
Andy Shay: Cocalico 42, Conestoga Valley 7: Only one team, Manheim Central, has scored more than two touchdowns in a game against the Eagles’ defense. And the Cocalico offense averages nearly 38 points a game. Too much for CV to handle.
Andy Sandrik: Cocalico 35, Conestoga Valley 14: Cocalico has a really nice two-way player in RB/DB Aaryn Longenecker, who is just one of many weapons that could make life hard for Conestoga Valley on Friday.
Adam Kulikowski: Cocalico 47, Conestoga Valley 20: Cocalico is riding a nine-game winning streak heading into its first playoff bout. Ride the hot hand.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 4A QUARTERFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 1 Bishop McDevitt 54, No. 8 Milton Hershey 14
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 55, Milton Hershey 13: This starts the time of year when the Crusaders don’t ease off the gas quite so early. Did you know the Spartans are the only Keystone Division team to score two touchdowns against the Crusaders?
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 55, Milton Hershey 7: It’s the playoffs now, so expect the Crusaders to strive to be even better than they were in a 55-14 win over Milton Hershey in Week 6.
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 49, Milton Hershey 14: The Crusaders are planning for a long journey through the playoffs. This is simply another step on the path to Cumberland Valley High School.
No. 5 Lampeter-Strasburg 23, No. 4 East Pennsboro 20 (2OT)
Andy Shay: Lampeter-Strasburg 42, East Pennsboro 14: This just feels like a bad matchup for the Panthers. Pioneers are run heavy with some pop in the passing game and have a defense that doesn’t have many weaknesses. Losses for L-S are to Wyomissing and Cocalico. East Pennsboro has to have a very special outing to pull off the upset.
Andy Sandrik: Lampeter-Strasburg 38, East Pennsboro 21: Over the years, I’ve seen so many Mid-Penn postseason dreams crushed by the Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers. This is East Penn’s best team in several seasons, but even so, the Panthers seem like heavy underdogs here.
Adam Kulikowski: Lampeter-Strasburg 43, East Pennsboro 20: When you have two dynamic receivers and a QB who can throw it to both regularly, an upset is never off the table. Panthers will need their stars to be at their best and the supporting cast to play above their weights to have a say in this battle.
No. 2 Twin Valley 35, No. 7 Elco 7
Andy Shay: Twin Valley 29, Elco 27: Raiders have three wins by three or fewer points, so they know how to get across the finish line in a tight squeeze. And this game feels like a tight squeeze all the way. Twin Valley defense has to come up big for this win to be anything but a grinder.
Andy Sandrik: Twin Valley 30, Elco 21: I like Twin Valley’s overall résumé just a little more, but Elco certainly has the tools to make this a slugfest until the final whistle.
Adam Kulikowski: Twin Valley 45, Elco 30: Both teams have some firepower to put up points, but the difference to me is the chops Twin Valley has on defense.
No. 3 Manheim Central 49, No. 6 Susquehanna Township 19
Andy Shay: Manheim Central 34, Susquehanna Township 14: Not exactly the smoothest trip across the regular-season finish line for the ‘Hanna Tribe. Meanwhile, the Barons spent the last month finding their next level with a couple drubbings of playoff squads down the stretch.
Andy Sandrik: Manheim Central 39, Susquehanna Township 21: Manheim Central has done some bad things to some really good opponents. It’s going to take ‘Hanna’s most complete effort of the season to even keep this game within striking distance.
Adam Kulikowski: Manheim Central 42, Susquehanna Township 20: In high-pressure moments, can the Tribe keep focus and play through adversity? In a playoff battle, the answer to that question will determine how close this battle is in the final stanza.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 3A SEMIFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 3 West Perry 49, No. 2 Lancaster Catholic 20
Andy Shay: West Perry 35, Lancaster Catholic 28: Time for the quality of what it took for the Mustangs to reach 10-1 to shine through. Lancaster Catholic will demand West Perry’s best, otherwise the Crusaders will have no trouble taking this one. West Perry has more high-end weapons but will need a better effort defensively than a week ago.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 33, Lancaster Catholic 28: It feels like we in the media have been speculating about a potential West Perry-Wyomissing district title rematch since midseason, but if the Mustangs are thinking about anything other than the Crusaders this week, they could end up watching the championship game from home.
Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 37, Lancaster Catholic 34: Time for the Mustangs to cash in on the mettle they have built through a challenging Mid-Penn Conference schedule. The leg of Ian Goodling could be an X-factor in what our crew believes will be a high-scoring affair.
SATURDAY, NOV. 11
No. 4 Schuylkill Valley at No. 1 Wyomissing, 7 p.m.
Andy Shay: Wyomissing 49, Schuylkill Valley 7: Spartans are simply too big, too strong and too fast for SV. Of course that’s the case most weeks.
Andy Sandrik: Wyomissing 42, Schuylkill Valley 17: No offense to the nine-win Panthers, but some games are just easier to pick than others. I expect the Spartans to roll.
Adam Kulikowski: Wyomissing 45, Schuylkill Valley 14: Visiting Wyomissing on a Saturday afternoon in postseason play should strike fear in just about any team. Wyo handles its work in a business-man like fashion.
DISTRICT 3 CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 4 Camp Hill 20, No. 2 Trinity 13:
Andy Shay: Trinity 34, Camp Hill 21: Nobody posted a more impressive Week 1 playoff victory than the Lions. The reward is a rematch with their neighbor/rival whose school is just 1.9 miles away. The FBS recruit at running back will play this time. That’s a game changer.
Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 24, Trinity 21: I remember last week we were all writing Camp Hill’s obituary in anticipation of their matchup against the feared Annville-Cleona rushing attack. And then the Lions won a blowout. Camp Hill has to like its chances this week, even if Messiah Mickens is in the Trinity backfield.
Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 45, Camp Hill 31: Camp Hill pulled off the Cinderella upset last week, and frankly they’ve shown plenty of fight all season. If the Lions win this week, it would be the biggest upset of them all.
DISTRICT 4 CLASS 2A SEMIFINALS
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 1 Troy 44, No. 4 Line Mountain 0
Andy Shay: Troy 28, Line Mountain 7: Defense travels, and Troy has a defense that travels better than most. Eagles’ offense has to have a special outing to pull off the upset.
Andy Sandrik: Troy 21, Line Mountain 7: I’d love to pick the Eagles because they’ve had an excellent season and have found their offensive groove in recent weeks. But then I look at this Troy team that has overpowered opponents on both ends of the ball with frightening consistency, and it’s obvious that Line Mountain is going to need a superhuman effort to overcome the Trojan machine.
Adam Kulikowski: Troy 24, Line Mountain 7: The 11-0 Troy Trojans have surrendered just 37 points since Sept. 15 and 68 points this season. To say reaching paydirt will be difficult for the Eagles is a serious understatement.
DISTRICT 6 CLASS 6A CHAMPIONSHIP
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
No. 1 State College 16, No. 3 Altoona 6
Andy Shay: State College 28, Altoona 14: Rough last month for the Little Lions in the Commonwealth Division. Mountain Lions are better, but they aren’t five touchdowns better — State College’s margin of victory in the first meeting. State College will be looking to rekindle some fire on offense because it was MIA the final three games.
Andy Sandrik: State College 24, Altoona 13: After an offensively challenged October, something tells me State College will need to rely on its defense to scrape past Altoona.
Adam Kulikowski: State College 34, Altoona 17: The Little Lions certainly would have liked to come into postseason play with more momentum, but a week off might be just what this squad needed.
DISTRICT 11 CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY, NOV. 11
No. 2 Williams Valley at No. 1 Schuylkill Haven, 6 p.m.
Andy Shay: Schuylkill Haven 28, Williams Valley 26: Was a crazy game the first meeting back in early September, and I expect more of the same even with the stakes being higher. Hurricanes’ defense came up huge the first time around. Counting on that to be the case again.
Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 33, Schuylkill Haven 28: No better time for the Vikings to avenge a Week 3 loss than in the district title game. Can’t say it’s going to be easy, though, as these Hurricanes have been the only team that has been able to keep Alex Achenbach under 150 yards this season.Adam Kulikowski:
Williams Valley 34, Schuylkill Haven 27: Do teams that play Williams Valley even need to watch film? The key to beating the Vikings is about as simple as it comes: limit the damage Alex Achenbach can cause. However, most teams have struggled mightily to even come close to executing that plan.
