For the second week in a row, it took 3,000 votes for a 4th Down Small School Player of the Week victor to be crowned.
This time it was Tri-Valley lineman Cameron Carlin who took home the honors. Yes, we finally have one of the big guys to claim top honors with 3,377 votes.
Carlin played his final game Friday in Tri-Valley’s 28-13 loss to Williams Valley in the District 11 Class 1A championship. But he made the Vikings feel his presence with 10 tackles on defense.
The senior two-way lineman got a bit of redemption over WV senior o-lineman and linebacker Jackson Yoder, who claimed 2,522 votes for second.
Carlin, whose season ended with 61 tackles and four sacks, claimed 52% of this week’s vote.
Well, how do we write about an entire defense winning a Player of the Week award?
Oh, yeah, Juniata’s defense is this week’s 4th Down Big School Players of the Week.
It’s OK to break the mold after the kind of performance this group put together, pitching its fifth shutout this season by blanking USO 8-0 in the District 6/8 Class 4A regional title game. Juniata recorded seven sacks by seven different players. The Wildcats could get nothing going all night, and Juniata is now heading to a date with District 10 champ Meadville.
The defense picked up 409 votes this week, 58% of the 701 votes this week. In second was Big Spring tight end/linebacker Connor Black with 104.
Despite falling behind in the opening quarter, a sizable eruption that began late in the first half and continued after the break propelled Williams Valley to a 28-13 triumph over backyard playmate Tri-Valley in the District 11 Class 1A title game. Just two weeks earlier, Tim Savage’s Vikings (9-2) were blanked at home 14-0 as Tri-Valley clinched the Colonial-Schuylkill Blue Division crown and the top seed in the playoffs.
As for last weekend, Isaac Whiteash tossed touchdown passes to Brady Evans (6-108) and Hunter Wolfgang while Alex Achenbach added 117 rushing yards and one score to Williams Valley’s tally. Achenbach also hooked up with Evans for a 58-yard TD pass via a halfback option pass and swiped one Tri-Valley toss before his night came to a close and the Vikes locked up their Friday date with Old Forge at Dunmore High School. Inside linebacker Jackson Yoder had a big outing as well, totaling 13 tackles, one stop for loss and one sack as the Vikes limited Tri-Valley to just 25 rushing yards.
While Williams Valley was busy sidelining Tri-Valley, Old Forge (10-0) claimed District 1-2 regional honors by dismantling Belmont Charter 55-14. Hezekiah Deitz, QB James Sobol and Casey Holzman shared nearly 300 rushing yards and four touchdowns as the District 2 champs led from opening whistle to final horn. Sobol also completed six of his 10 pass attempts for 101 yards and touchdowns to Andrew Bartnikowski and Mario Samony.
Deitz is the top rusher for the Blue Devils, averaging nearly 10 yards per pop while gaining 727 yards and scoring nine times. Lots of balance in the ground game, but Sobol has thrown for 1,338 yards and 17 scores while completing 74 of his 99 pass attempts. He’s been picked off once. So, the Williams Valley defense will be tested by the Blue Devils. Yet should the Vikes advance, they’ll collide with undefeated Canton or pass-happy Steel-High in next weekend’s quarterfinals.
We’re talking District 3 football in this edition of The Preview. Watch now as Andy Shay provides his breakdown of key matchups, predictions and bracket breakdown for all the postseason action.
Friday’s Games
District 3 Class 5A Semifinals
(7) Exeter Township at (6) Cedar Cliff, 7
Andy Shay: Exeter Township 34, Cedar Cliff 21: The Eagles’ balanced offense is going to be something the Colts haven’t dealt with much this season. Cedar Cliff’s defense hasn’t faced too many experienced and savvy quarterbacks with a stellar running game to back it up.
Geoff Morrow: Exeter Township 37, Cedar Cliff 20: Respect to the Colts for doing last week what many thought they wouldn’t do: knock off unbeaten Shippensburg. The Eagles, though, are a different animal from red-hot Berks County, with an explosive offense, no fear playing on the road, and a chance to earn the program’s first district championship berth.
Andy Sandrik: Exeter Township 33, Cedar Cliff 27: The Eagles were a well-oiled machine last weekend, racing out to a 36-0 halftime lead over Manheim Central. Exeter Township can get you on the ground with Eric Nangle (121.2 ypg, 15 TDs) and in the air with QB Colin Payne (157.9 ypg, 18 TDs). Cedar Cliff’s defense allowed just one score last week, but I have a feeling this game will revolve around offense.
Adam Kulikowski: Exeter Township 28, Cedar Cliff 27: We all know the Colts have a dynamic weapon in Jontae Morris, who they are not afraid to ride if that’s what the game plan dictates. Stopping the Exeter attack is the bigger question facing the Colts.
(4) Spring Grove at (1) Governor Mifflin, 7
Andy Shay: Governor Mifflin 56, Spring Grove 14: Mustangs are playing for keeps these days and keeping the pedal down — as they should. The combo of Nick Singleton and that offensive line just evaporates a defensive pushback. That won’t change here.
Geoff Morrow: Governor Mifflin 54, Spring Grove 21: No offense to the Rockets, who’ve enjoyed an exceptional season, but the statewide No. 1-ranked Mustangs are top-level (literally) right now. Smells like an all-Berks finale to me.
Andy Sandrik: Governor Mifflin 49, Spring Grove 13: Have you ever had one of those amazing sports dreams? You know, where you sink a halfcourt shot or win a marathon? That must be how Nick Singleton felt — in real life — when he scored seven TDs against a playoff team last week.
Adam Kulikowski: Governor Mifflin 55, Spring Grove 14: The Mustangs make it look like they are playing Madden on rookie level. Having gents like Nick Singleton in the backfield sure makes it easy some nights.
District 3 Class 4A Semifinals
(4) Berks Catholic at (1) Bishop McDevitt, 7
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 49, Berks Catholic 7: In terms of program name recognition, this one features a pair of Class 4A heavyweights. On the field, this Saints team isn’t quite as strong as recent years, and the Crusaders are better than they’ve been in … let’s just say quite a while.
Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 48, Berks Catholic 22: There’s no shame in any of the Saints’ four losses this season (Central Dauphin, Malvern Prep, Exeter, Governor Mifflin). And there won’t be any shame if and when they lose to the Crusaders, who only find danger if they’re heavily mistake-prone.
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 55, Berks Catholic 10: I like the résumé Berks Catholic has put together this season, but I’m not sure if the Saints are anything more than a bump in the road for McDevitt.
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 56, Berks Catholic 7: The District 3 4A semifinal shouldn’t feel like a warmup, but with McDevitt’s offensive firepower and a strong defense to complement it, that’s just what this one feels like.
(3) Kennard-Dale at (2) Lampeter-Strasburg, 7
Andy Shay: Lampeter-Strasburg 48, Kennard-Dale 14: Give me the explosive and volatile Pioneers’ offense that has scored nearly 500 points this season in this one. Rams aren’t built to play a shootout, and keeping L-S under 35 isn’t likely.
Geoff Morrow: Lampeter-Strasburg 56, Kennard-Dale 14: Hunting their third straight championship-game appearance, the Pioneers have scored 50 or more points in five straight games, 42 or more in seven straight games. Obviously the Rams will need to play their absolute best defensively to earn their program’s first title game berth.
Andy Sandrik: Lampeter-Strasburg 52, Kennard-Dale 15: When it comes to running the ball, how deep are the Pioneers? Well, let’s just say there are 10 different players averaging more than six yards per carry. Ten.
Adam Kulikowski: Lampeter-Strasburg 55, Kennard-Dale 20: The Pioneers haven’t scored less than 50 over their last five contests. That’s some explosiveness that Kennard-Dale just hasn’t seen this season.
PIAA Class 6A First Round
(2-1) Delaware Valley vs. (6-1) State College, at Hazleton HS, 7
Andy Shay: Delaware Valley 24, State College 17: Delaware Valley started 0-3 and has rattled off nine straight since then. This one is going to be a tight squeeze all the way. Little Lions’ defense is the key to springing a mild upset in my book. Each squad will have some success in the run game. The squad who gets better QB play wins.
Geoff Morrow: Delaware Valley 20, State College 14: The Warriors’ defense has been smokin’ hot and the catalyst for their rebound from an 0-3 start. Last week’s 35-20 playoff victory over Hazleton was the first time they’ve allowed 20 points since Sept. 10. Little Lions haven’t been an explosive team, but they’ll need to break through to earn a quarterfinal date with the District 3 champ.
Andy Sandrik: Delaware Valley 23, State College 21: The Little Lions have been far from a perfect team, but you know what? They’ve been really good at hanging in and staying competitive, regardless of opponent. I expect a nailbiter from beginning to end.
Adam Kulikowski: Delaware Valley 28, State College 27: Give credit to the Little Lions, who have overcome obstacles throughout their circuit. Their very best collective effort will be needed to keep this journey going for another week.
(2-1) Old Forge vs. (11-1) Williams Valley, at Dunmore HS, 7
Andy Shay: Old Forge 33, Williams Valley 7: There is a reason the Blue Devils are the No. 1-ranked Class 1A team in the state beyond being unbeaten. The Old Forge defense has allowed 66 points in 10 games. Vikings are on a high after taking out Tri-Valley in the D11 title game, but the lads from Old Forge are a different beast.
Geoff Morrow: Old Forge 28, Williams Valley 21: While I recognize the Blue Devils’ No. 1 ranking, exceptional defense and expectation to win, I don’t know much about the quality of foe they play up there near Scranton. What I do know is the Vikings stoked after bumping off their archrival last week, and I have faith Jackson Yoder and crew will make their mark in this one, too. But will it be enough?
Andy Sandrik: Old Forge 36, Williams Valley 10: Kudos to the Vikings, who were able to break up Tri-Valley’s ridiculous shutout streak in a big way to win the D11 championship. I’m just not sure Old Forge is a riddle that WV is equipped to solve.
Adam Kulikowski: Old Forge 33, Williams Valley 21: The Vikings accomplished what our crew didn’t think was possible. Making our crew look foolish a second week in a row would be a remarkable feat.
Saturday’s Games
District 3 Class 6A Championship
(5) Wilson at (2) Harrisburg, 1
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 20, Wilson 10: I don’t see a lot of points in this game. Both defenses will have plenty to say about this outcome. Cougars have a subtle way of making sure they dictate the tempo, pace and tenor of a game and are really hard to shake off that spot. Bulldogs’ offense needs to be special to spring the upset.
Geoff Morrow: Wilson 24, Harrisburg 21: A rematch of the 2012 Class AAAA championship, I am struggling with my fingers typing out a score that shows Harrisburg losing at home. But to do what the Bulldogs did to a Central York team many of us felt was nearly invincible is enough to sway me. However, since the Wilson assistant coaches seem to only derive motivation from perceived 4th Down Magazine slights, I wonder if the upset pick will somehow ruin their mojo.
Andy Sandrik: Wilson 17, Harrisburg 14: A visitor winning at Severance Field is a rarity, but the Bulldogs have a defense that gives them a chance to slay a giant for the second week in a row.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 28, Wilson 21: The Cougars’ combination of Mahki Hopkins inside and Kyle Williams Jr. on the edges will push any defense to the brink. Coming off a stellar win against Central York, Wilson should provide a quality test to Calvin Everett and crew.
District 3 Class 3A Championship
(2) Boiling Springs at (1) Wyomissing, 1
Andy Shay: Wyomissing 28, Boiling Springs 21: There’s a matchup issue here. The Bubblers’ offense is the meal ticket to wins. Spartans counter with a defense that gives up very little — if anything — on a consistent basis. Not sure how that plays out. One hidden key to a possible upset for Boiling Springs is its kick return game. It’s elite and could bust one or two.
Geoff Morrow: Wyomissing 35, Boiling Springs 28: I expect some weirdness in this one, even though I’m picking a fairly generic final score. I don’t think the Bubblers care that this is their first championship appearance, or that the two-time defending champ Spartans are here for the 18th time in program history. Weirdly, I think the fact it’s at Wyo and not a fancy neutral site plays to Boiling Springs’ favor, quieting some of that “title game” hype. But it will still take something special to pull the upset.
Andy Sandrik: Wyomissing 35, Boiling Springs 21: I’ve never been trolled harder online than I was last year when I picked Boiling Springs to win a game that Wyomissing went on to win … by 40 points. The Bubblers have improved and have a better idea of what to expect, but it still seems like the Spartans are a few steps ahead.
Adam Kulikowski: Boiling Springs 34, Wyomissing 33: Perhaps I should fear the online harassment Mr. Sandrik faced last year, but the Bubblers are better suited to pull off what still would be considered an upset in my book.
PIAA Class 2A First Round
(12-1) West Catholic vs. (3-1) York Catholic, at Cardinal O’Hara HS, 1
Andy Shay: York Catholic 28, West Catholic 7: Yes, the Burrs have played a killer schedule and, in some respects, their 3-7 mark makes sense. But scoring points has been a problem all season. Irish have more pop on that side of the ball, and it will show up.
Geoff Morrow: York Catholic 30, West Catholic 14: A closer look at the Burrs’ 3-7 season provides little answers. To do what they did last week against a seemingly heavy favorite should be enough to get the Fighting Irish’s attention. But YC is unbeaten and in system, while, prior to last week, West Catholic had two wins against teams with a combined 1-19 record. I can’t trust that résumé at this point in the season.
Andy Sandrik: York Catholic 34, West Catholic 14: Man, the Fighting Irish came to play against Upper Dauphin last week. I picked a YC win but wasn’t expecting the blowout. I think three-win West Catholic is in trouble.
Adam Kulikowski: York Catholic 45, West Catholic 14: The Fighting Irish sport a pair of backs, Andrew Adams and Levan McFadden, who average 6.9 and 6.2 yards per carry, respectively, with nearly 1,900 yards of offensive production combined. That’s a mighty one-two punch for a three-win club to corral.
PIAA Class 4A First Round
(6-1) Juniata at (10-1) Meadville, 3
Andy Shay: Meadville 21, Juniata 8: Only one team, Steel-High, has scored more than 20 points on the Indians this season. Slight problem here is Meadville has piled up more than 500 points in 11 games against some solid competition. The longer it’s close, though, the better Juniata’s chances. In a tight spot, it will prevail.
Geoff Morrow: Juniata 20, Meadville 19: The Bulldogs, who have just one senior on their roster, have come a long way in a short period of time, and they’ve been scoring points in bunches this year with a dynamic rush attack. However, the Indians excel on the defensive side. If they can score enough — a big if — I think Juniata has the chops to march on.
Andy Sandrik: Juniata 16, Meadville 14: Can’t count Juniata out of any game when it’s trotting out a defense like this.
Adam Kulikowski: Meadville 24, Juniata 10: Hats off to that Juniata defense — our Big School “Player” of the Week. This is a unit that will keep the Indians in any game. Against a Meadville squad which averages almost 50 a game, the bigger question will be if Juniata can put up enough points to advance.
PIAA Class 1A First Round
(4-1) Canton vs. (3-1) Steel-High, at Towanda HS, 3
Andy Shay: Steel-High 34, Canton 32: This is an intriguing matchup for a lot of reasons. The Warriors are unbeaten and have been clubbing teams all season with some big numbers offensively and very few points allowed. Have they seen the kind of speed in open space the Rollers are going to bring to the table? Could be “a last team to have the ball wins” affair.
Geoff Morrow: Canton 28, Steel-High 25: Usually at this point in the season, the Rollers find another gear. There was magic in last year’s team that won District 3’s first PIAA title since Wyomissing in 2012. Does that magic remain? Or do the Warriors take advantage of a few mistakes and do enough at the end to survive?
Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 38, Canton 30: I’m picking Steel-High to win a shootout, but I’m concerned about this Warriors team that hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game all season.
Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 42, Canton 34: The Rollers will need their best performance of the season to outlast a strong Warriors defensive unit. I fully expect some new wrinkles to be a part of the Rollers’ offensive attack Saturday.
Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Juniata defense will get tested … again
Fresh off a splendid defensive performance that enabled Juniata to claim the District 6/8/9 regional championship and land in the PIAA’s Class 4A playoff bracket, Kurt Condo’s Indians (10-2) will be challenged by a Meadville squad (8-3) that loves to run the football. And when we say loves to run the football, the Bulldogs (8-3) have thrown just 31 passes all season long. However, that run-first, run-all-the-time credo didn’t prevent the northwestern Pennsylvania squad from claiming a District 10 championship.
Leading just 16-13 last weekend at the break, Meadville erupted by scoring 30 points in the third quarter and pulling away to a decisive 52-19 victory over General McLane. Khalon Simmons piled up 226 yards on 18 attempts and scored four times (coverage yardage of 70, 2, 7, 25), while Griffin Buzzell tacked on 110 rushing yards and three TDs on just 14 carries.
And those numbers are hardly newsy to anyone that’s followed Meadville all season as Simmons has gained 1,630 yards and scored 27 times on just 140 totes, while Buzzell has banked 1,278 yards and 18 touchdowns on 138 touches. Brady Walker was the third wheel in the Bulldogs backfield, rushing 98 times for 810 yards and 15 TDs, but he has not carried the ball since Oct. 22. For those keeping track, Meadville has rushed 459 times for 4,168 yards and 64 touchdowns in its 11 outings thus far.
When Meadville does put it up, QB Gavin Longstreth’s 12 completions have gone to Simmons (8 for 139 yards) and Buzzell (4-71). The latter just happens to be the lone senior on an incredibly young side and has fueled Meadville’s defensive effort as well, with the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder totaling 17 tackles (2 for losses) from his middle linebacker spot.
Junior defensive end Rhoan Woodrow added 12 stops, two tackles for loss and one quarterback sack for the Bulldogs. Juniata claimed its eighth straight victory last weekend, stopping Pittsburgh entry USO 8-0 in overtime at Altoona’s Mansion Park. While the Indians flashed balance in the ground game as Zachary Harr, Seth Laub and QB Jacob Condo combined for 165 rushing yards — Laub scored on an 11-yard run and Condo tacked on the 2-pointer — possessing the football and milking clock may be one approach against the big-play Bulldogs.
Or, as they have for much of the season, Kurt Condo’s bunch could rely on the Juniata defense. Last weekend, the Indians stopped USO four times inside the 20, including bringing down opposing QB Keon Smalls at the 2 on fourth down in OT. Juniata also registered seven sacks from seven different players. Juniata’s shutout was its fifth of the season, and the Indians’ front-line D has not allowed a single point since Oct. 1.
What will add to the degree of difficulty Saturday is the Indians will be playing at Meadville — and that means a lengthy bus ride leading up to an all-or-nothing game. Should Juniata prevail, the Indians will meet either Allentown Central Catholic or unbeaten and top-ranked Jersey Shore in next weekend’s state quarterfinals.
State College grad Pete Haffner had a season-high 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack on Saturday.
It was a critical performance that led Lehigh University (2-8) to its second straight win, 23-9 over Georgetown.
After missing five games midway through the season, Haffner has 21 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in the last three games. He’s got 32, 5.5 and two on the year.
In his career, Haffner now has 190 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
In on the action
Old Dominion tight end Zack Kuntz (Camp Hill) had five receptions for 38 yards in the Monarchs’ 30-16 win over Florida Atlantic, their third straight win.
Andre White Jr. (Harrisburg) had four tackles in No. 11 Texas A&M’s 29-19 loss to No. 12 Ole Miss, which snapped a four-game win streak.
Donte Kent (Harrisburg) recorded seven tackles and a fumble recovery in Central Michigan’s second straight win, a 54-30 victory over Kent State. It’s the third game in the last four in which Kent had at least seven tackles.
Ronald Kent Jr. (Harrisburg) had six tackles in Western Carolina’s 56-35 loss to East Tennessee State.
Keaton Ellis (State College) had a pair of tackles in Penn State’s 21-17 loss to No. 9 Michigan.
Forrest Rhyne (Waynesboro) tied for a game high with 11 tackles, including half a tackle for loss, in Villanova’s 33-14 win over Stony Brook.
Bryce Carter (Steel-High) had two tackles and half a TFL in James Madison’s 32-22 win over William & Mary. Carter has 36 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, six sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery this season. On the other side of the ball, Hershey grad Drew Painter had a 27-yard reception to give him four receptions for 57 yards this season.
Christian Arrington (Cumberland Valley) had a tackle in Rhode Island’s 28-3 win over New Hampshire.
Grant Breneman (Cedar Cliff) returned to the field but did not record a pass in the third straight week (two games played), finishing with two carries for negative-4 yards in Colgate’s 20-13 win over Lafayette.
Cody Gustafson (Shippensburg) was held under 100 receiving yards for the second straight week, recording four catches for 46 yards as Grove City College won its first game in the last three 56-0 over Thiel.
PSAC performances
Shippensburg University (9-4) won its fourth straight, beating Mercyhurst 17-13 and awaits its NCAA Division II playoff fate later Sunday. Camp Hill product Bill Williams came 2 yards shy of 100 for the first time this season, finishing with 26 carries while adding two grabs for 12 yards. Lower Dauphin’s Evan Morrill had two receptions for 34 yards. Laron Woody (Middleton) had seven tackles, including half a TFL, on SU’s defense. And Cameron Tinner (Shippensburg High) had a takedown.
Jaheim Morris (Cedar Cliff) ended the season with 36 yards on eight carries, and Timmy Smith (Central Dauphin) had 2 yards on two touches as Millersville’s campaign ended with a sixth straight loss, 42-21 to Edinboro. Tim Kissinger (Cumberland Valley) made all three PATs.
Raunya Mitchell (Susquehanna Township) had a season-high five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and his third sack of the season in IUP’s 31-24 win over West Chester. On the other side, A.J. Perez (Central Dauphin) had a tackle for the Rams.
Kutztown (10-1) ran its win streak to nine and won the PSAC championship 38-32 over Slippery Rock. Kurtis Ravenel Jr. (Carlisle) played but did not record a catch.
Teams are listed with district, overall record, and previous rank.
Class 6A — Record — Previous rank
1. Mount Lebanon (7) — 11-0 — 2
2. Harrisburg (3) — 11-1 — 5
3. St. Joseph’s Prep (12) — 8-2 — 6
4. Garnet Valley (1) — 12-0 — 7
5. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) — 9-2 — 10
6. Coatesville (1) — 11-1 — 6
7. Quakertown (1) — 12-0 — NR
8. Wilson-West Lawn (3) — 9-3 — NR
9. Ridley (1) — 11-1 — NR
10. McDowell (10) — 8-1 — NR
Honorable mention: Central York (3) 10-1, Bethlehem Freedom (11) 10-1, Delaware Valley (2) 9-3, Emmaus (11) 9-3, La Salle College HS (12) 9-2, North Penn (1) 11-1.
Class 5A — Record — Previous rank
1. Governor Mifflin (3) — 9-0 — 1
2. Imhotep Charter (12) — 8-1 — 2
3. Moon (7) — 11-0 — 3
4. Cathedral Prep (10) — 10-1 — 4
5. West Chester Rustin (1) — 10-1 — 8
6. Penn-Trafford (7) — 9-1 — 9
7. Academy Park (1) — 9-2 — 10
8. Strath Haven (1) — 11-1 — NR
9. Cedar Cliff (3) — 10-2 — NR
10. Exeter Township (3) — 8-3 — NR
Honorable mention: East Stroudsburg South (11) 9-3, Manheim Central (3) 9-2, Pine-Richland (7) 7-4, Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1) 10-1, Shippensburg (3) 11-1, Spring Grove (3) 10-1, Unionville (1) 10-2.
Each week we’ll take a look through our coverage area to highlight five gents we are looking forward to watching perform on the field.
Nick Singleton, RB, Governor Mifflin: The 2022 Penn State recruit is ranked by some as the No. 1 running back in the country. Those rankings are always debatable, but what’s not in question is whether the engine that drives the Mustangs offense is part of that conversation. Singleton, a rare combination of power and speed, is the perfect foil for a blistering running attack behind an offensive line that turns defenders into dust on the football field. Last week against Warwick, a team that is not defensively challenged, Singleton ran for a career-best 320 yards and SEVEN touchdowns, including TD runs of 55, 60 and 65 yards. He did all that on 15 carries. That’s 21.3 yards per carry. Yeah, he’s that good.
Wide receivers, Bishop McDevitt: Sorry, you can’t single out one member of this trio. The only way to think of them is as three studs who together are virtually impossible to cover for 48 minutes. Senior Mario Easterly, classmate Kamil Foster and sophomore Rico Scott are each a little different. But each can undress a high school secondary with intermediate timing routes or simply running straight down the field and tracking down a bomb. Combined, this trio has 84 catches for 1,901 yards and 31 touchdowns. That’s 22.6 yards per catch — combined. You can account for one, maybe find a way to cover two of them on occasion … but holding down three with this much skill and talent at the high school level is a nearly impossible ask of any secondary.
Kyle Williams Jr., WR/RB, Harrisburg: It was clear heading into the 2021 season the junior was a budding star for the Cougars. And after 11 games it’s pretty clear Williams is a bona-fide star that has multiple roles for a team that isn’t built on flash and chunk plays. If the Cougars had the tools to play up-and-down the field with their hair on fire, Williams would have no trouble making that happen. More impressive, though, is how he’s still managed to be a difference-making playmaker inside more of a box. That’s versatility you can’t coach. Williams leads the Cougars in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. His 11.2 yards per catch is a modest number for a Harrisburg wideout most years, but in this offense that’s a stellar number. He also leads the Cougars in rushing yards and overall has posted nearly 1,300 yards of offense with 13 touchdowns. He’s not the only weapon in Harrisburg’s arsenal. But he’s definitely the most important ingredient.
Colin Payne, QB, Exeter Township: The senior is experienced, has a live arm and pilots this offense with the efficiency needed to put consistent pressure on an opposing defense. The Eagles are balanced in the pass and run. They will take what’s given and go from there. Payne’s completed nearly 60% of his passes and thrown for more than 1,700 yards in 11 games with 18 touchdown passes and five interceptions. He’s slick at spreading the ball around, too, with four Exeter wideouts in double figures for catches. He has a 1-2 punch at wideout, but the Eagles have depth options that would be Nos. 1 or 2 on most teams. And the running game has a 1,000-yard back, so that always helps the cause.
Joey Menke, RB/OLB, Boiling Springs: This senior is getting an all-state nomination, lobbying and vote from me. He is one of the better “halfbacks” in the Wing-T to run the buck sweep — particularly from the right wing to the left side of the offensive line — I’ve seen in my 30 years of covering football in these parts. He’s patient waiting for the crack to emerge, but also if the opening is there right away he puts his foot in the ground and accelerates decisively through the hole. And here’s the kicker: you think he’s hitting the hole at top speed and then you realize when he clears into the open field he has a sixth gear that occasionally embarrasses defensive backs who appear to have the angle. He doesn’t get a ton of carries because the Bubblers have options, but the impact of his touches is like gold for this offense. And if you think he’s a one-trick pony, you would be mistaken. Sometimes I wonder if he’s a better linebacker or “halfback” for the Bubblers. Most nights it’s hard to decide.
Jontae Morris, sr., RB, Cedar Cliff — While the Colts defense silenced Shippensburg’s running game (the only team to do so all season), Morris carved out 198 hard-earned yards on 40 carries in Cedar Cliff’s 10-7 win in the District 3 Class 5A quarterfinals. He’s now 2 yards shy of 2,000 for the year and sits at 22 touchdowns.
Connor Black, jr., TE/LB, Big Spring — The Bulldogs, one week removed from their first playoff win ever, were bounced by Lampeter-Strasburg 62-13 in the District 3 Class 5A quarterfinals, but Black shined on both sides of the ball. He was one of eight Bulldogs with a catch, finishing with three for a team-high 71 yards. He also had a game-leading 11 tackles and a half a tackle for loss.
Marquese Williams, jr., RB, Bishop McDevitt — The Crusaders blasted Northern 62-0 in the 5A quarterfinals, with Williams scoring four times in the first half on runs of 44, 28 and 10 yards while adding an early 26-yard TD haul. He finished with 124 rushing yards on just seven carries.
Stone Saunders, fr., QB, Bishop McDevitt — Saunders was hardly challenged in the win over Northern, producing an efficient 13-of-15 line for 283 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half. The first was the 26-yarder to Williams, then he hit Kamil Foster for a 40-yard TD minutes later. Saunders put the finishing touches on his day with a 73-yard bomb to Foster.
Kyle Williams, jr., RB/KR, Harrisburg — Williams scored four TDs in three ways as Harrisburg popped Hempfield 32-10 in the 6A quarterfinals. Williams opened things up with a 78-yard punt return score in the opening minutes, then added second half TDs on a 22-yard run, 17-yard reception and 9-yard jaunt. He finished with 92 rushing yards on 14 carries and 46 stripes on five receptions.
Mahkai Hopkins, jr., RB, Harrisburg — Not to be outdone, Hopkins dashed for 204 yards on 17 carries, scoring in the first quarter on an 88-yard sprint to lead the Cougars to a 32-10 victory. The Cougars finished with 314 rushing yards largely thanks to the junior.
Juniata defense — Rather than pick out one or two standouts — a difficult proposition since plenty contributed — let’s recognize Juniata’s entire defense after the Indians blanked USO 8-0 in overtime in the District 6/8 Class 4A regional title game in Altoona. While racking up their fifth shutout of the season, Juniata sacked USO quarterbacks seven times with seven players recording one apiece. Since District 10 champ Meadville awaits in state play, Kurt Condo’s bunch are going to need to put together another terrific effort to extend everything another week.
Small School: 3A-1A:
Joey Menke, sr., RB, Boiling Springs — The Bubblers’ turnaround is complete, with a trip to the District 3 Class 3A title game set for next week. Menke ran for 135 yards and a 37-yard TD and caught a 38-yard touchdown pass in a 35-7 semifinal victory over Hamburg.
Daivin Pryor, sr., RB/S, Steel-High — The Rollers began their District 3 and PIAA title defenses Friday with a 42-20 win over Delone Catholic for the 1A district crown. Pryor overcame an early fumble to record 126 rushing yards and 21 receiving, plus two touchdowns. He also added an interception on defense. Pryor scored in the second quarter on a 5-yard run and hauled on one of Alex Erby’s four TD tosses on a 21-yarder in the fourth.
Jackson Yoder, sr., OL/LB, Williams Valley — While Yoder’s work up front helped sophomore feature back Alex Achenbach unload yet again, his efforts at inside linebacker enabled Williams Valley to limit Tri-Valley to a mere 25 rushing yards as the Vikings downed the Bulldogs 28-13 in the District 11 Class 1A championship game. Yoder wound up with 13 stops, one tackle for loss and a sack as the Vikes avenged an earlier 14-0 setback.
Alex Achenbach, so., RB/DB, Williams Valley — Speaking of Achenbach, let’s sift through the productive outing he uncorked in Williams Valley’s 28-13 conquest of Tri-Valley. Start with 117 rushing yards and one touchdown on 29 carries, move on to one catch for 6 yards and wrap up with the 58-yard touchdown pass he tossed to reigning Player of the Week Brady Evans that capped the Vikings’ run of 28 consecutive points. Achenbach also recorded an interception.
Isaac Whiteash, jr., QB/LB, Williams Valley — Whiteash completed nine of his 18 pass attempts for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Whiteash’s first TD pass was a 9-yarder to Brady Evans late in the first half that put the Vikings on the board — he also threw to Evans for the successful 2-point try — and his 10-yarder to Hunter Wolfgang popped Tim Savage’s club in front to stay. Whiteash also had an outstanding night defensively, totaling 11 tackles.
Jonas McGrath, sr., QB/DB, Tri-Valley — While McGrath’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Kameron Wetzel had the Bulldogs up early in the title game, it wouldn’t be enough to stymie Williams Valley. McGrath finished 11-of-20 for 164 yards, shrugging off an injury to hook up with Levi Murray on a 7-yard score that cut into Tri-Valley’s double-digit deficit. McGrath also sparkled on D, recording nine tackles and one of the Bulldogs’ two interceptions.
Cameron Carlin, sr, OL/DL, Tri-Valley — Although Tri-Valley struggled to move the ball on the ground, Carlin made it difficult for Williams Valley’s offense to get going as he totaled 10 stops in the final game of his high school career.
