It’s pretty hard to do more than what Keith Oates did in Friday’s 2022 season opener.

The East Pennsboro quarterback, passed, ran and defended his way to a 34-14 win over York Suburban, leaving his handprints (literally) all of the game.

When all was said and done, the junior finished with 119 passing yards and two touchdowns on 4 of 7 passing while running for 81 yards and a TD on 18 carries. And on defense he tallied four tackles and a pass deflection.

That effort caught the eye of a large 4th Down Magazine Player of the Week voting contingent, which hoisted Oates to the top spot this week with 2,771 votes. That beat a valiant effort by the Shippensburg faithful, who gave 2,619 votes to RB/DB Trae Kater. 

Finishing third in the poll was Juniata RB/LB Waylon Ehrenzeller (548 votes). There were 6,403 total votes cast.

AN OLD FRIEND IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

Former Harrisburg and Central Dauphin standout Micah Parsons continues to shine brightly on the big stage. The Dallas Cowboys stars and reigning AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year debuted as the No. 16-ranked player in NFL.com’s preseason Top 100 rankings. Watch his highlights here. You can also catch Parsons as a regular on Tuesday mornings on Fox Sports’ Undisputed with Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe.

ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE:

When Cumberland Valley needed a spark Friday night at Chapman Field, J.D. Hunter answered the bell. Give this gent’s 82-yard punt return a watch as Hunter dodges half the Manheim Township punter coverage team en route to pay dirt. The senior also hauled in another 70-yard touchdown from quarterback Isaac Sines in a 27-14 victory against Manheim Township.

THE STREAK IS OVER!:

The last time Mifflin County football won a ball game, Lizzo’s Truth Hurts was the No. 1 hit on the billboard charts. What year was it? If you guessed 2019 — specifically October 18, 2019 against Greencastle — you won today’s grand prize!

All joking aside, cheers to first-year coach Shane Breon and the boys in black and purple who Friday night KO’ed a 17-game skid by defeating Central Mountain 14-7.

Breon, a Lewistown native, returned to the Huskies after serving as an assistant for Central York. It didn’t take long to push the Huskies into the win column thanks to a big performance from running back Deakon Sheaffer, who gashed the Central Mountain defense for 126 stripes and both scores to pace Mifflin County.  

WELCOME HOME:

Red Land coach Eric Depew knows a thing or two about winning ball games, yet Friday night’s game, a 45-6 loss to Northern, still had to be a special moment for the former York Catholic skipper. Depew, who led the Squires to three District 3 titles during his tenure, used to roam the halls of Red Land (1989 alum) and continues to call the district home. Now, he’s tasked with rebuilding a program that won just two ball games last season. He’ll take his second shot at win No. 1 as a Patriot when Red Land hosts Northeastern Friday night at West Shore Stadium.

Flashing an effective passing game that complemented its run-first philosophy, Juniata emerged with a 20-7 victory over Clearfield in a season-opening game that began last Friday and ended some 24 hours later at Mifflintown’s Klingensmith Stadium.

Aaron Kanagy completed nine of 14 passes for 199 yards to lead Kurt Condo’s Indians (1-0), connecting with tight end Makih Hunt for an 18-yard touchdown that had the hosts sitting on a 12-0 lead in the first half. Waylon Ehrenzeller’s 35-yard burst earlier in the contest – the game was suspended midway through the opening quarter – had Juniata up 6-0.

Hunt finished with three catches for 105 yards.

Ehrenzeller paced the Indians with 85 yards on 13 carries, while Seth Laub added 54 on seven totes. Freshman Jasper Shepps backed Hunt by catching two passes for 40 yards.

Laub finished with a team-high eight tackles for the Indians, one more than Ehrenzeller (one sack) and lineman Lane Peiper. Shepps added his first career interception.

Up next for Juniata is a visit to Selinsgrove (1-0), which popped Bellefonte 32-0 behind 208 passing yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Mark Pastore (10-for-16). Gavin Bastian was the Seals’ big-play target, catching five passes for 155 yards and a 60-yard score.

Carter Young booted four field goals in four tries for Derek Hicks’ Seals.

POWERFUL HAMMER HEADED FOR MANDATA

While Line Mountain hopes to rebound from its season-opening 41-13 reversal at Penns Valley, it won’t be a simple task since fourth-ranked Danville (1-0) is en route to Ressler Field.

What’s disappointing for Brandon Carson’s Eagles (0-1), who led the host Rams 7-0 after one quarter and 13-7 at the halftime break. Nolan Baumert rushed for one touchdown, while Brayden Boyer hauled in a 35-yard scoring pass from Blake Readinger for the other.

Three turnovers pestered Line Mountain, but so did an effective Penns Valley attack. QB Jackson Romig completed 15 of 28 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Miles Brooks (7-86), Hunter Lyons (2-21) and Josh Lieb (1-10) were on the receiving end of Romig’s TD heaves.

Ty Watson rushed 20 times for 125 yards for the Rams (1-0).

Danville (1-0) motored past Bloomsburg 58-0 behind an efficient offense led by feature back Ty Brown-Stauffer. A West Point commit, Brown-Stauffer rushed 10 times for 142 yards, scoring on runs of 38 and 5 yards. Aaron Johnson added 49 yards on 4 carries, including a 35-yard TD.

Quarterbacks Zach Gordon (6-8-0, 53 yards) and Madden Patrick (1-2-0, 43 yards) combined for 96 yards passing and three touchdowns. Gordon tossed scoring passes of 8 and 15 yards to blur Carson Persing, while Patrick’s lone completion covered 43 yards to Johnson for another score.

The Ironmen scored on five straight first-half possessions and on their first series after halftime.

Danville’s defense also stymied Bloomsburg, limiting the Panthers to 59 total yards. Mike Brennan’s club also returned a fumble and a pick for scores and recorded a safety.

UPPER DAUPHIN LOOKING TO EVEN ITS RECORD

Despite bouncing to a 16-0 advantage against neighboring Williams Valley, Kent Smeltz’s Upper Dauphin Trojans wound up tumbling 42-30 despite 185 total offensive yards from elusive senior halfback Brady Morgan. Morgan even connected on a 97-yard TD run.

Morgan finished with 160 yards on nine carries, but also snared three Aidan Bingaman passes for 25 yards and another score. Bingaman (4 of 8 passing, 83 yards) also hooked up with Konner Walker for a 58-yard touchdown pass.

Sophomore linebacker Caleb Snyder fueled the UD defense by making 12 tackles – three more than the nine registered by Alex Hepler and Aidan Ritter.

Up next for UDA is a visit to Shenandoah Valley, which opened with a 40-14 loss to Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech. The Blue Devils managed just 13 rushing yards collectively, but junior QB Ben Dempster completed 12 of his 22 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown.

Junior Nick Ryan had a huge effort in the loss, making 11 catches for 202 yards and both scores.

MOVING THE STICKS

Halifax (0-1) tumbled 48-6 to visiting Hamburg last weekend, falling into a 36-0 deficit it couldn’t escape. Teegan Carroll’s 31-yard toss to Peter Ranck accounted for the Wildcats’ lone score. Carroll was 3-for-12 for 48 yards in his varsity start. Earl Mosley’s club will visit Midd-West (0-1) this weekend, taking on a Mustangs group that lost 54-0 to Mifflinburg. …

Newport (0-1) will try to recover from its season-opening 43-7 loss at Camp Hill when it pays a visit to West Perry (1-0). Todd Rothermel’s Buffaloes were down 43-0 before Travis Lilly broke off a 39-yard run with seven minutes to play. Lilly carried five times for 49 yards, while senior Aiden Dishman collected 69 yards on 15 carries against the Lions. …

Susquenita (0-1) was victimized by West Perry 35-6, spoiling the Blackhawks’ first outing on their new artificial playing surface. Blaise Swancer’s 14-yard catch of a Derek Gibney pass put Augie Glass’s squad on the board with just over a minute to go. Gibney finished with 176 yards through the air on 21 of 33 passing, but he was picked off three times. …

James Buchanan (1-0) parlayed a late catch-and-run from Jacob Frey that covered 50-plus yards into a 22-20 triumph over York County Tech. John Stoner fired the game-winning touchdown pass, which arrived with less than a minute to play. 

By Eric Epler:

CLASS 6A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12)         – 0-1 – 1 

2. Harrisburg (3)                      – 0-0 – 3 

3. Garnet Valley (1)                 – 1-0 – 6 

4. Pittsburgh C.C. (7)               – 0-1 – 2 

5. La Salle College HS (12)       — 1-0 – NR 

6. Emmaus (11)                       — 1-0 – NR 

7. Seneca Valley (7)                 – 1-0 – 8 

8. State College (6)                  – 1-0 – 9 

9. McDowell (10)                    – 1-0 – 10 

10. Parkland (11)                    — 1-0 – NR 

Teams to watch: Bethlehem Freedom (11) 0-1, Central York (3) 1-0, Coatesville (1) 1-0,Downingtown East (1) 1-0, North Penn (1) 0-1. 

CLASS 5A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous  

1. Imhotep Charter (12)          – 1-0 – 1 

2. Penn-Trafford (7)                – 1-0 – 4 

3. Upper Dublin (1)                 – 1-0 – 5 

4. Delaware Valley (2)             – 0-1 – 3 

5. Gateway (7)                        — 1-0 – NR 

6. Cathedral Prep (10)            – 0-1 – 2 

7. Exeter Township (3)            – 1-0 – 7 

8. Penn Hills (7)                       – 0-1 – 6 

9. Roman Catholic (12)           — 1-0 – NR 

10. West Chester Rustin (1)    – 0-0 – Idle                                                      10 

Teams to watch: Cocalico (3) 1-0, East Stroudsburg South (11) 1-0, Shippensburg (3) 1-0, Strath Haven (1) 1-0, Upper St. Clair (7) 1-0. 

CLASS 4A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous  

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

2. Bishop McDevitt (3)            – 0-1 – 2 

3. Jersey Shore (4)                  – 1-0 – 3 

4. Allentown C.C. (11)             – 1-0 – 5 

5. Central Valley (7)                – 1-0 – 5 

6. Thomas Jefferson (7)          – 0-1 – 4 

7. Meadville (10)                     – 1-0 – 8 

8. McKeesport (7)                   – 1-0 – 9 

9. Manheim Central (3)          — 1-0 – NR 

10. Pope John Paul II (1)         — 1-0 – NR 

Teams to watch: Armstrong (7) 1-0, Bethlehem Catholic (11) 1-0, Bishop Shanahan (1) 0-0, Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 0-1, Selinsgrove (4) 1-0. 

CLASS 3A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous  

1. Belle Vernon (7)                  – 0-0 – 1 

2. Wyomissing (3)                   – 1-0 – 2 

3. Neumann-Goretti (12)        – 0-0 – 3 

4. Danville (4)                          – 1-0 – 4 

5. Central Martinsburg (6)      – 1-0 – 5 

6. Elizabeth Forward (7)         – 1-0 – 6 

7. Hickory (10)                        – 1-0 – 7 

8. Avonworth (7)                     — 1-0 – NR 

9. Loyalsock (4)                       — 1-0 – NR 

10. Northwestern Lehigh (11) — 1-0 – NR 

Teams to watch: Berks Catholic (3) 0-1, Grove City (10) 0-1, Lancaster Catholic (3) 1-0, North Schuylkill (11) 0-1, Oil City (10) 1-0. 

CLASS 2A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous  

1. Southern Columbia (4)        – 1-0 – 1 

2. Farrell (10)                          – 1-0 – 2 

3. Beaver Falls (7)                   – 1-0 – 3 

4. Sto-Rox (7)                          – 0-0 – 4 

5. Mount Carmel (4)               – 1-0 – 5 

6. Richland Township (6)        – 1-0 – 6 

7. Lakeland (2)                        – 1-0 – 8 

8. Bishop Guilfoyle (6)            – 0-1 – 7 

9. Sharpsville (10)                   — 1-0 – NR 

10. Berlin Brothersvalley (5)   — 1-0 – NR 

Teams to watch: Bedford (5) 1-0, Steel Valley (7) 0-0, Washington (7) 1-0, Williams Valley (11) 1-0, York Catholic (3) 0-1. 

CLASS 1A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous  

1. Steelton-Highspire (3)         – 1-0 – 3 

2. Bishop Canevin (7)              – 0-1 – 1 

3. Canton (4)                           – 1-0 – 4 

4. Our Lady of Sacred Heart (7) – 1-0 – 5 

5. Reynolds (10)                      – 1-0 – 6 

2. Old Forge (2)                       – 0-1 – 2 

7. Homer-Center (6)               – 1-0 – 7 

8. Tri-Valley (11)                     – 1-0 – 8 

9. Muncy (4)                            – 1-0 – 9 

10. Redbank Valley (9)            – 1-0 – 10 

Teams to watch: Greensburg C.C. (7) 1-0, Northern Bedford (5) 1-0, Northern Lehigh (11) 1-0, Port Allegany (9) 1-0, Rochester (7) 0-0. 

Vote now for your 4th Down Magazine Schuylkill League Player of the Week. Our poll will remain open until Tuesday evening at 11 p.m. Vote once per hour for your favorite competitor.

Dainn Vassallo, Notre Dame-Green Pond, jr, TE/DE: Vassallo racked up a game-high 17 tackles Friday night against Gold Division foe Saucon Valley in a 41-34 victory. 

Alex Achenbach, Williams Valley, jr, RB/DB: Achenbach generated a minor stir on Twitter Friday night – since his five rushing touchdowns in a 42-30 victory over neighboring Upper Dauphin bested the four scored by Polk High’s fictional Al Bundy in Chicago’s city championship game years earlier. Achenbach’s productive night also featured 35 rushing attempts for a remarkable 305 yards, one two-point conversion, one reception for 12 yards and four tackles on the defensive side of the ball. Not a bad opener for the Vikings’ junior feature back.

Travis Riefenstahl, Saucon Valley, sr., QB/SS/FS:  Riefenstahl kept his team close Friday night, slinging the rock for 200 yards and a game-high four touchdowns on 10-of-17 passing against Notre Dame-Green Pond. 

Damian Tyminski, Pen Argyl, jr., WR/SS: Tyminski hauled in everything his quarterback could throw to him, racking up a whopping 13 receptions for 129 and a score as Pen Argyl topped Wilson Area 22-12 on Saturday.

Matt Martin, Marion Catholic, sr., RB/LB: Marion Catholic offered Schuylkill Haven a heavy dose of Martin runs Friday night in a 21-7 victory. The senior responded, carrying the rock a game-high 27 times for 171 stripes and three touchdowns. 

Cole Gemberling, Tri-Valley, fr, RB/OLB: Jeff Sampson said during a preseason chat that his freshman prodigy was a really good player and the youngster didn’t waste much time Friday night backing his coach’s assessment. Gemberling totaled five tackles in Tri-Valley’s 20-13 victory at Minersville, but he also swiped a pass in his first varsity game. And that pick was one of four takeaways Tri-Valley pocketed before their season-opening win was in the books.

Will Jacobson, Blue Mountain, jr, QB: Blue Mountain received a huge performance from their junior gunslinger Friday night against Jim Thorpe. The Eagles leader under centers competed a tiddy 11-of19 passes for 338 yards and three scores in a 27-26 victory. 

Ezi Hite, Williams Valley, sr, OL/DL: Hite was another of Tim Savage’s Vikings to post a terrific season-opening effort on both sides of the football. Entrenched at defensive tackle, Hite recorded seven tackles – including three behind the line of scrimmage – and one quarterback sack. His efforts on the offense were just as notable, as Hite and his teammates up front created more than enough space so Williams Valley could roll up 400-plus rushing yards in its 42-30 conquest of Upper Dauphin.

Lane Lehman, Pine Grove, jr, RB/DB: While it was hardly a surprise that Lehman piled up offensive touches, he made them all count as the junior rushed 27 times for 216 yards and one score as Pine Grove turned back neighboring Northern Lebanon 14-9. Lehman also caught one pass for six yards as the Cardinals made new head coach Dave Shiffer’s debut a successful one. Pine Grove’s talented junior also factored defensively, totaling seven stops.

Jake Scheib, Tri-Valley, sr, RB/DT: Muscling between the tackles as he typically does, the brawny Scheib rushed 11 times for 65 yards and two scores, the latter arriving midway through the third quarter and proving to be the difference in Tri-Valley’s 20-13 success at Minersville. Scheib also registered six tackles and one quarterback sack for Jeff Sampson’s squad.

Vote now for your 4th Down Magazine Player of the Week Sponsored by Crown Trophy of Lemoyne. Our poll will remain open until Tuesday evening at 11 p.m. Vote once per hour for your favorite competitor.

Jakhai Noss, sr., RB/DB, Steel-High: The senior scored in three different ways in an entertaining 21-14 win over Bishop Canevin. Noss recorded an 85-yard pick-6, then added TDs on the ground and on a reception, finishing with more than 100 yards of offense.

Blake Delevan, sr., WR/DB, Boiling Springs: Not a bad season debut for the senior, who scored two of the Bubblers’ first three touchdowns and ignited a 66-18 rout of Littlestown in the season opener. Delevan scored on a 70-yard reception from Liam Fisher, caught another 39-yard TD in the first half and then snagged a 50-yard pick-6 in the third quarter. He finished with two receptions, 109 yards, three total TDs and five tackles.

Erby Weller, sr., WR, Shippensburg: The Greyhounds battled the elements, a school lockdown and Cedar Cliff, ultimately beating it all 28-10. Weller had himself a night, hauling in six passes for 173 yards and a second-quarter touchdown. He was the only one to catch a pass for Ship all night.

Trae Kater, sr., RB/DB, Shippensburg: Kater also got in on the action Friday night, rushing for 96 yards and a 5-yard score on 13 carries. Kater also returned an interception 85 yards to pay dirt. The win exacted revenge for a District 3 playoff loss last year.

Marcus Sweeney, sr., WR/DB, Hershey: The Trojans dropped a 25-14 decision to Mid-Penn returnee Gettysburg to start the season, but Sweeney did his best to keep them in it, hauling in six passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 4-yard carry and recorded five tackles.

Alex Yost, sr., RB, Altoona: The Mountain Lions got a 2-yard TD plunge from Yost in with 1:02 left to ice Hollidaysburg 19-9. Yost finished with a pair of 2-yard TDs, including the game’s first score in the second quarter, and finished with 21 carries for 165 yards, both game-highs.

Juan Figueroa, so., RB, Palmyra: Thank Figueroa for the Cougars’ first win of the season, a 14-6 triumph over Lebanon. The sophomore scored the Cougars’ only TDs, both in the second half, on an 11-yard reception and 15-yard dash. He finished with 28 carries for 157 yards and two receptions for 14 more stripes.

JD Hunter, sr., RB/DB, Cumberland Valley: It took Hunter’s heroics for the Eagles to put away Manheim Township for good in a 31-27 thriller, one of the best games of the weekend. Hunter returned a punt 78 yards for a third-quarter score that got CV within 27-24, then he hauled in a 70-yard TD pass from Isaac Sines in the fourth quarter to win the game. Hunter ended the night with two grabs for 68 yards and six total tackles.

Drew Branstetter, so., QB, Camp Hill: The Lions routed Newport 43-7 in Branstter’s debut helming their offense. He finished 15 of 22 for 291 yards and three touchdowns, hitting Noah Doi, Kobe Moore and Alex Long (who also had a fumble recovery TD) for scores. Branstetter also punched one in on the ground.

Timmy Bonin, sr., QB, Northern: It was all Polar Bears in a 45-6 win over Red Land. Bonin had himself one of the best nights under center in the Mid-Penn, completing 16 of his 23 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers that covered 23, 37 and 51 yards each.

Keith Oates, jr., QB, East Pennsboro: Oates quarterbacked a 34-14 win over York Suburban, having his hands in multiple facets of the game. He finished 4 of 7 for 119 yards and two touchdowns passing, ran for another 81 yards and a score on 18 carries and finished with four tackles and a pass deflection as one of the few QBs to pull double duty.

Marcus Quaker, jr., QB, West Perry: Marcus Quakers did it all for the Mustangs against Susquenita in Week 1. The junior finished a weather-delayed match up with 138 rushing yards (two touchdowns) and another 151 passing yards. Not too shabby.

Brady Morgan, sr, RB/DB, Upper Dauphin: Morgan erupted in Upper Dauphin’s season-opening bout with backyard opponent Williams Valley, but his productivity wasn’t quite enough as the Trojans tumbled 42-30. Morgan rushed the ball just nine times, but he piled up 160 yards and a pair of scores – including an early 97-yard romp. He also caught the ball three times for 25 yards and a touchdown.

Waylon Ehrenzeller, sr, RB/ILB, Juniata: Ehrenzeller uncorked a strong two-way performance in Juniata’s 20-7 victory over Clearfield – a season-opening victory that began Friday night and carried into Saturday. While Ehrenzeller rushed 13 times for 85 yards and one touchdown, he also recorded seven tackles and one quarterback sack.