Vote now for your 4th Down Magazine Player of the Week Sponsored by Crown Trophy of Harrisburg (in Lemoyne). Our poll will remain open until Tuesday evening at 11 p.m. Vote once per hour for your favorite competitor.
Drew Branstetter, so., QB, Camp Hill: The sophomore needed an ice pack on his shoulder after this game, heaving the ball 51 times (completing 30) in the Lions’ 20-17 win over York Catholic to improve to a surprising 2-0. Branstetter threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns (and a pick), including the game-winning score in OT, and ran eight times for 18 stripes.
Kobe Moore, jr., FB/LB, Camp Hill: The Lions rely on players who can excel on both sides of the ball, and Moore did that in Friday’s 20-17 win over York Catholic. He had six grabs for 57 yards and rushed five times for 21 stripes. But on defense he was even better, recording 17 tackles, including one for a loss.
Matthew McNair, jr., RB/LB, Boiling Springs: The Bubblers kept on rolling with a 44-7 win over Bermudian Springs, and McNair led the charge. The sophomore had 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns (51 and 40 yards) on just four carries. And defensively he tallied four tackles and an interception.
Dakota Campbell, sr., RB/DB/K/P, East Pennsboro: He might become a regular on this list. Campbell ran for 116 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, recorded four tackles (1 TFL), a sack, a fumble recovery and a pass defense on defense, and kicked 40- and 27-yard field goals while averaging 29 yards on five punts and 41.2 yards on six kickoffs in a 27-7 win over Palmyra.
Tavon Cooper, sr., RB, Greencastle-Antrim: Cooper ran over and around Berkeley Springs (West Virginia) in the Blue Devils’ 53-7 win, scoring on runs of 24, 70 and 44 yards to build a 46-0 halftime lead. He finished with 179 yards and those three TDs on just nine carries.
Ty Millhimes, jr., RB/LB, Lower Dauphin: It took a Brandon Fritz 23-yard field goal to win the game in the fourth quarter, but Millhimes set up LD for a 17-14 win over Twin Valley with two second-quarter TD runs of 21 and 75 yards on a night in which he ran for 174 stripes on 18 carries. He also had two receptions for 30 yards.
Donte Nastasi, sr., WR, State College: The Little Lions edged Downingtown East 32-31 thanks in part to a seven-catch, 127-yard, one-TD night from their senior leader in the passing game.
Landen Eichhorn, jr., QB, Mifflin County: While the Huskies were taking care of business against Shikellamy 35-13, Eichhorn was busy setting a new school record for touchdown passes in a game (four). He did that on 16-of-24 passing for 224 yards.
Marcus Quaker, jr., QB, West Perry: It was a big night for the junior in a 55-0 blowout win over Newport. Quaker was nearly perfect passing, completing 14 of 16 attempts for 223 yards and five touchdowns. He also contributed two trips to the end zone with his legs.
Isaac Sines, sr., QB, Cumberland Valley: A CV QB making AOTW? You betcha! Sines threw for 112 yards and rushed for 94 more, popping in three touchdowns combined, to hand coach Josh Oswalt a 35-33 win over his previous haunt, Central York.
Erby Weller, sr., WR, Shippensburg: In the Greyhounds’ 11th straight swig from the Little Brown Jug (a 35-21 win over Big Spring), Weller was again electric and efficient catching passes. He finished with three grabs for 139 stripes and a pair of TDs (42 and 66 yards).
Torin Evans, fr., QB, Susquehanna Township: Smith snapped Township’s nearly two-year-old losing streak with a clutch 164 passing yards (and 60 rushing) and a touchdown on 9 of 14 passing in a 37-0 beatdown of Northern Lebanon.
Bryce McKee, jr., RB/DB, Susquenita: Spearheading Susquenita’s ground assault, McKee rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns in the Blackhawks’ convincing 42-0 triumph at Biglerville. McKee collected 173 of his 209 yards in the first half. His touchdown runs covered 11, 2 and 14 yards.
Derek Gibney, jr., QB/DB, Susquenita: Gibney was extremely effective throughout Susquenita’s 42-0 victory, rushing five times for 29 yards, a pair of scores (1 and 10 yards) and a 2-point conversion and completed 7 of 11 passes for 131 yards. He hit Kamar Lewis for a 20-yard strike in the first quarter.
Waylon Ehrenzeller, sr., RB/LB, Juniata: Unleashing yet another terrific two-way effort, Ehrenzeller rushed 15 times for 121 yards and caught a pair of passes in what turned out to be a 17-14 setback at Selinsgrove. Ehrenzeller staked Kurt Condo’s club to a 14-0 lead after one quarter, scoring twice on a pair of 2-yard blasts. He also hauled down Seals nine times, including one sack.
Each week, we’re nominating top statistical performers from around the Colonial-Schuylkill League for our 4th Down Magazine Player of the Week.
Rules:
Voting will remain open until Tuesday evening at 11 p.m.
Vote once per hour.
Last Week:
Tri-Valley’s Cole Gemberlink made quite the first impression Friday night against Minersville, tallying five tackles and an interception.
His efforts garnered him our 2022 debut 4th Down Magazine Player of the Week in the Colonial-Schuylkill League with a whopping 5,839 votes to outpace Lane Lehman (Pine Grove)’s 4389 total tallies.
Total votes casted: 12,723
The nominees for Week 2:
Matt Machalik, Palmerton, jr, QB-FS: Palmerton quarterback Matt Machalik made quick work of Catasauqua Friday night, turning in a tiddy 12-of-14 passing for 197 stripes and three TDs in two quarters of action in a 42-16 victory. He also rushed for 76 yards on 14 carries, reaching pay dirt once.
Brady Evans, Williams Valley, sr, WR/DB: The 6-4 Evans also played a sizable role as Williams Valley skipped through with a 38-13 victory at Pine Grove. Evans caught four passes covering 125 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown reception that had the Vikings sitting on a 20-0 cushion with more than two minutes to go in the opening quarter.
Collin McGee, North Schuylkill, jr., WR-SS: This ball hawk proved to be a thorn in the side of Blue Mountain Friday night, picking off a pair of Will Jacobson’s passes in a 21-0 blanking of the Eagles.
Damian Tyminski, Pen Argyl jr., WR-SS: Tyminski turned in a stellar performance on defense for Pen Argyl Friday night, notching a team-high 14 takedowns (8 solo, 6 asst.) in the Green Knight’s 20-14 loss to Mahanoy Area.
Jake Scheib, Tri-Valley, sr, RB/DL: Scheib left bite marks all over Panther Valley – on both sides of the football – as Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs claimed a 48-0 verdict. Offensively, Scheib rumbled for 147 yards on just eight carries, scoring twice. In fact, his 79-yard touchdown run late in the first half had Tri-Valley up 21-0. Scheib was just as effective on the defensive side of the ball, registering 12 tackles as Sampson’s squad improved to 2-0.
Dainn Vassallo (jr, TE-DE) and James Cartier, Notre Dame-Green Pond (sr., LB): OK, we’re cheating a bit on this one. Each of these gents could easily stand alone for this nomination, but when a pair of teammates rack up 21 tackles each in a game, both deserve the nod. Vassallo and Cartier carried the water for Notre Dame-Green Pond Friday night in a heartbreaking loss to Southern Lehigh, 29-28.
Connor Dillion, Tamaqua, jr., WR-DB: Just call him the do-it-all kid. Dillion made the most of 13 touches Friday night against Lehighton in a 32-29 victory, carrying the rock nine times for 107 yards and a TD. He also pulled down four receptions for another 134 stripes and a pair of golden tickets. Not bad for a night’s work.
Isaac Whiteash, Williams Valley, sr, QB/DB: Deftly directing the Vikings’ combustible attack, Whiteash completed 7 of his 9 pass attempts for 179 yards and a trio of scores as Tim Savage’s squad popped Pine Grove 38-13. All three of Whiteash’s touchdown strikes arrived before the break – the biggie was a 41-yard effort to Brady Evans – as Williams Valley (2-0) constructed a commanding 32-0 lead. Whiteash also picked off one pass before his night was over.
Kole Miller, Tri-Valley, sr, QB/DB: Miller channeled his inner Doug Flutie in terrific fashion – he wears jersey No. 22 – by throwing for 187 yards and rushing for 23 more as the Bulldogs rolled up 462 total offensive yards in a decisive 48-0 conquest of Panther Valley. Miller only attempted eight throws, but completed seven of them with two going for scores. His 55-yard strike to Jolten Flory in the opening quarter popped Tri-Valley in front early, while his 30-yard TD toss to Layne Yoder late in the third upped the Bulldogs’ advantage to a comfortable 35-0.
Camp Hill has definitely made some noise to start the 2022 season with back-to-back wins. Not a whole lot was expected of these Lions, so a 2-0 start qualifies Camp Hill as the early big surprise.
Quarterback Drew Branstetter will continue to power the Lions’ offense on a weekly basis. Throwing 50 times a game isn’t unrealistic. The Lions have the wideouts, it’s just a matter of getting enough consistent protection.
Branstetter and the Lions went on the road and took out perennial District 3 contender York Catholic 20-17 in overtime to drop the Fighting Irish to 0-2. Branstetter connected with Michael Shartle for the walk-off TD after the Lions’ defense limited YC to a field goal.
Defense is the hidden gem so far. Through eight quarters against Newport and York Catholic, the Lions’ D has surrendered three touchdowns. Look, the Lions’ meat of their schedule is coming in the stretch run. This good start helps the cause.
Susquehanna Township ended its double-digit losing streak by drubbing Northern Lebanon in a Thursday evening contest. The ‘Hanna Tribe scored 21 first-quarter points and cruised to its first victory since Oct. 30, 2020 when it upended West Perry. The Indians’ defense posted a shutout and allowed only 51 total yards.
Cumberland Valley surged to 2-0, and you know Eagles alumnus and head coach Josh Oswalt enjoyed this one just a little more beating his former program at Central York. Both CV wins have been tight squeezes, but winning 50-50 games is a complete difference maker.
The Eagles blasted to a 35-14 halftime cushion then held on for dear life down the stretch as CY rallied to score all 19 second-half points. CV senior quarterback Isaac Sines had another balanced outing, going for 206 total yards (112 passing, 94 rushing) and three touchdowns. RB Bryce Staretz chipped in with a team-high 114 rushing yards and a pair of first-half touchdowns. Going back to last season, the Eagles’ last three wins are over Central Dauphin, Manheim Township and Central York. Not too shabby.
Shippensburg extended its stranglehold on the Little Brown Jug by using big plays to hold off Big Spring by a couple touchdowns in the annual rivalry showdown. ‘Hounds QB Tucker Chamberlin completed only three passes, but those three completions covered 139 yards and two of them went for touchdowns. Erby Weller, the right guy to connect with, was on the receiving end of all three of those passes. Big Spring is now 0-2, but clearly the Bulldogs played better overall than in their opener.
The marquee shine was off this game, but for each program it was a must-have and Wilson edged Central Dauphin to get its first win of the season after getting blasted by Roman Catholic. This was a 50-50 game all the way, but the seminole moment was provided by Wilson RB Cameron Jones in the form of a tackle-breaking 53-yard TD scamper in the third quarter. The Rams, a desperately young and inexperienced team, are 0-2 and face Coatesville in Week 3. More likely the Rams are 0-3 than 1-2.
Four Colonial squads — Greencastle-Antrim, East Pennsboro, West Perry and Shippensburg — are all off to 2-0 starts. The Blue Devils waxed Berkeley Springs, from West Virginia, behind two punt returns for touchdowns by Austin Wyand. He now has three kick returns for touchdowns. The Panthers powered past Palmyra behind 116 yards and a rushing TD from Dakota Campbell. He also added a couple field goals. West Perry is the Perry County Champion for 2022 after dusting Newport behind seven total touchdowns (5 passing, 2 rushing) from quarterback Marcus Quaker. Waynesboro and Northern are each 1-1 and figure to have a say in this division, as well. The Indians edged Hershey despite Trojans QB Daniel Painter throwing for 253 yards, and the Polar Bears fell to Chambersburg by a touchdown.
Lower Dauphin played its first game of the season but is 2-0 thanks to a freebie win courtesy of the Middletown hazing debacle. The Falcons edged Twin Valley on a 24-yard field goal by Brandon Fritz with 79 seconds remaining to post a 17-14 triumph. Cedar Cliff grabbed its first win by holding off Mechanicsburg 16-7 in a defensive struggle. The Wildcats don’t have much offensive firepower, but they are difficult to beat. This is a quality win for the Colts.
Trinity was never going to beat Roman Catholic and all that firepower. But it was a good game for the Shamrocks to taste if they reach some of the lofty goals head coach Jordan Hill and company have for this team in 2022. That skirmish on the T-Rock sideline ended the game just past the halfway mark of the final quarter, but the result was already solidified. Still a fight to end any game shows a lack of discipline all-around from both clubs because it takes two to tango and reach that point.
Westinghouse QB Keyshawn Morsillo put on a show at Cottage Hill, accounting for nearly 350 total yards and four touchdowns as Steel-High dropped to 1-1 overall with a 21-point setback.
Dakota Campbell did it all for East Pennsboro. He rushed for 116 yards on a night when the Panthers didn’t pass for a single yard and he even kicked a pair of field goals to push the Panthers past Palmyra, 27-7 Friday night at George R. Saxton Memorial Field.
A week after Panther’s QB Keith Oates threw for more than 200 yards, John Denniston’s crew relied on its ground game against the Cougars, racking up 281 stripes.
They needed to after Oates left the game with an apparent injury.
Nathan Eisenhooth paced the Cougars on 11-of-22 passing for 118 yards for Palmyra.
Juan Figueroa added 109 yards of combined offense.
East Pennsboro (2-0) hosts Milton Hershey next Friday at 7 while Palmyra (1-1) welcomes Donegal.
EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: The 4th Down Magazine crew picks all games involving Mid-Penn Conference teams, as well as Colonial-Schuylkill League games featuring former members of the now-defunct Twin Valley Conference. Come playoff time, they’ll expand to include all District 3 teams, as well as the local District 4, District 6 and District 11 programs. Then they’ll get really bold in the state semifinals and start picking games across the state. The predictions are meant for entertainment purposes only because, truth be told, these guys aren’t very bright. Three of them are former full-time sportswriters (dummies), and the other decided to start a high school football magazine despite the fact he already works a full-time job. But, dangit, they like to watch football, think about football, write about football, and eat. That last one isn’t related to picking football games unless you count the mustard on the keyboard. As always, enjoy, and don’t take it too seriously. Nobody here hates any program. Any perceived disrespect is a figment of your imagination. Except Sandrik, who absolutely DESPISES … (transmission interrupted) …
2021 FINAL PICKER STANDINGS
Picker: Overall record — Perfect Picks Andy Shay: 240-64 — 1 Geoff Morrow: 222-82 — 3 Andy Sandrik: 220-84 — 0 Adam Kulikowski: 209-95 — 1
Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 29, Northern Lebanon 7: So many steps forward were evident in Week 1 for ‘Hanna despite the loss. This wicked skid it’s on feels like its time has passed. It ends here.
Geoff Morrow: Susquehanna Township 27, Northern Lebanon 14: ‘Hanna’s last victory came Oct. 30, 2020, so a victory here would snap a 13-game losing streak. Triskaidekaphobia is real!
Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 33, Northern Lebanon 0: All ‘Hanna, all night. The losing skid comes to an end.
Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 28, Northern Lebanon 14: Can the Tribe be the next Mid-Penn team to bust a season-plus losing streak? Consensus among our gaggle of experts says yes.
Friday, Sept. 2
NON-LEAGUE
Greencastle-Antrim 53, Berkeley Springs (W.Va.) 7
Andy Shay: Greencastle-Antrim 37, Berkeley Springs 13: I knew the Blue Devils were going to have more bite to them in ‘22 compared to a year ago, but that was some opening act by rolling Big Spring. Confidence is high in the southern reaches of Franklin County.
Geoff Morrow: Greencastle-Antrim 30, Berkeley Springs 17: Obviously we don’t know much about West Virginia football. Nor, apparently, do we know much about Greencastle-Antrim football, considering all four of us predicted a loss last week before the Blue Devils rolled to victory over Big Spring. Meanwhile, the Berkeley Springs side gave up 54 points in a loss.
Andy Sandrik: Greencastle-Antrim 44, Berkeley Springs 14: We picked the Blue Devils to finish seventh in the Colonial, but there’s a good chance they’ll be 3-0 and brimming with confidence entering division play in Week 4.
Adam Kulikowski: Greencastle-Antrim 34, Berkeley Springs 20: Can we get a redo on our views of the Blue Devils? Based on their Week 1 clubbing of a Bulldogs team expected to be a player in the Capital Division, this might be a revival year for G-A.
Shippensburg 35, Big Spring 21
Andy Shay: Shippensburg 41, Big Spring 14: Tough spot for the Bulldogs as they have to be a little off their game after getting upset by Greencastle in the opener. And the Little Brown Jug has spent more than a decade in Ship. Bottom line is Greyhounds are simply better.
Geoff Morrow: Shippensburg 38, Big Spring 13: This rivalry hasn’t been much of one for the last decade, with the Greyhounds winning 10 straight in the series, including 34-14 last year. Bulldogs’ last beat Ship in 2010, and I expect it’ll stay that way for at least one more year.
Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 35, Big Spring 17: How many Little Brown Jug wins does Shippensburg need to get before it can get a stadium half as nice as Big Spring’s?
Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 48, Big Spring 28: That trio of Tucker Chamberlin, Erby Weller and Trae Kater is going to cause fits for foes of the Greyhounds this year. Little Brown Jug will continue to collect dust in Shippensburg.
Boiling Springs 44, Bermudian Springs 7
Andy Shay: Boiling Springs 42, Bermudian Springs 7: Yeah so much for finding skill players to replace all the horsepower the Bubblers lost. Still not sure competition-wise what they are getting here, but either way all indicators point to Boiling Springs moving to 2-0.
Geoff Morrow: Boiling Springs 55, Bermudian Springs 14: Bubblers did a lot better than many of us expected last week, and the Eagles, meanwhile, lost 41-0 to New Oxford. Does not bode well for the hosts.
Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 49, Bermudian Springs 0: Believe it or not, Bermudian has won four of the last five, but all signs point to the Bubblers taking a road trip to blowout city.
Adam Kulikowski: Boiling Springs 55, Bermudian Springs 7: There’s no way I’m going against the Bubblers after they took Littlestown to the proverbial woodshed in Week 1.
Camp Hill 20, York Catholic 17 (OT)
Andy Shay: York Catholic 36, Camp Hill 21: Something tells me the Lions have a say in the outcome of this one for a long time before a late surge closes the deal for the Irish.
Geoff Morrow: York Catholic 30, Camp Hill 16: No real shame for the Fighting Irish in last week’s loss to Lancaster Catholic, as their late comeback bid fell just short. And while the Lions are 6-0 vs. York Catholic in playoff games since 2008, this would really be a victory worth celebrating if they can swing it.
Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 30, York Catholic 16: I’m charmed by this Camp Hill squad and its underdog status in most every game this season. York Catholic will be favored this week, but I think the pieces are all there for a competitive game – and just maybe an upset.
Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 38, York Catholic 33: Is Week 2 too early to call an upset? The Lions aren’t afraid to be in a firefight, and they have a new gunslinger under center who seems ready for the war.
Cedar Crest 29, CD East 22
Andy Shay: CD East 28, Cedar Crest 21: Another slow start out of the gate will put the Panthers behind the curve in this one. Small steps forward building off the second half of Week 1’s triumph will be important. Falcons will definitely provide more pushback.
Geoff Morrow: CD East 35, Cedar Crest 20: Two recent battles vs. Mid-Penn Commonwealth foes have NOT gone well for the Falcons, who lost 45-0 to Carlisle last year and 36-6 to Central Dauphin in 2019.
Andy Sandrik: CD East 33, Cedar Crest 14: I could have done a little more research on this pick, but I went down a rabbit hole reading the history of Crest’s last opponent: The Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters.
Adam Kulikowski: CD East 35, Cedar Crest 14: I’m a big believer in the work Lance Deane is doing as head honcho of the Panthers. The improvements this squad will make from Week 1 to Week 2 should help tame the Falcons.
Cedar Cliff 16, Mechanicsburg7
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 21, Mechanicsburg 14: This feels like a grinder all the way. The Wildcats are not easy to beat, and the Colts have to eliminate some of the mistakes/missed opportunities to have success.
Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 28, Mechanicsburg 21: First meeting since Mid-Penn realignment landed these programs in different divisions after 2019, and the Colts had enjoyed lopsided success vs. the Wildcats when they were Keystone playmates. Cedar Cliff has won seven straight in the series dating to 2012.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 21, Mechanicsburg 7: The ‘Cats are tough; I saw enough of that watching them against Carlisle last week. But I’m not sure what this group of two-way players is going to do to fool a sturdy Cedar Cliff squad that should be sharper than it was in a loss to Ship a week ago.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 35, Mechanicsburg 21: Miscues hampered the Colts’ chances a week ago against Shippensburg, but Colin Gillen’s crew moved the ball well with their tandem QBs. Betting big that a cleaner product hits the field in Week No. 2.
Chambersburg 23, Northern York 16
Andy Shay: Northern York 28, Chambersburg 23: You had to be impressed with what the Polar Bears laid down for 48 minutes in their opener. The Trojans were up against it competition-wise in Week 1, and this might be their spot. Toss-up game for me.
Geoff Morrow: Chambersburg 17, Northern York 14: Relying on the strength of their respective divisions to nudge toward picking the Trojans, though I expect it will be a battle. Just hopefully not one involving spaceships, because some of us believe aliens live in Dillsburg based on one creepy moment observed in the sky 15-20 years ago. (We sportswriters are a weird bunch.)
Andy Sandrik: Northern York 44, Chambersburg 28: Love this matchup. Also, the only person I know who launches more daytime fireworks than Northern is my neighbor.
Adam Kulikowski: Northern York 35, Chambersburg 33: The Polar Bears relied heavily on the arm of Timmy Bonin against Red Land in Week 1, and Bonin responded with a tidy 16-of-23 for 250 stripes and three TDs. This brand of Northern football could wreak havoc on the Trojans.
James Buchanan 14, Clear Spring (Md.) 6
Andy Shay: James Buchanan 27, Clear Spring 20: Are the Rockets ready to be 2-0 for the first time in more than a decade? No riding the coattails of last week and still enjoying the fruits of a ‘W’ to start the year. Would be nice to see Jimmy Buck 2-0 in the standings.
Geoff Morrow: James Buchanan 23, Clear Spring 18: The Blazers from Washington County, Maryland, haven’t posted a winning season since 2010, though they did blank JB 24-0 three years ago. However, I’m looking at this as Jimmy Buck’s prime opportunity for its first 2-0 start since 2011.
Andy Sandrik: James Buchanan 27, Clear Spring 14: The older you get, the more you can appreciate how special it is for JB’s program to get off to a winning start. Make it 2-0 for the Rockets.
Adam Kulikowski: Clear Spring 28, James Buchanan 27: Clear Spring enters Friday night playing in honor of three classmates killed in a car accident last week. Tough challenge for Blazers.
Cumberland Valley 35, Central York 33
Andy Shay: Central York 28, Cumberland Valley 24: Another high-wire act for the Eagles after a big rally at home in the opener. Run defense for CV has to be solid because Mr. Goff from Central is going to ask some questions from his RB1 spot. Quarterback play could decide the winner here, and that favors CV.
Geoff Morrow: Central York 30, Cumberland Valley 24: I believe in Central York, which is a sentence none of us could have written with a straight face about ANY big-school YAIAA team a decade ago. One of the reasons I believe? The Panthers stack their non-league schedule with foes like CD and CV. They’ve gotten tougher. They’ve earned their reputation. And now it’s teams like CD and CV who need to bring their best to beat the Panthers.
Andy Sandrik: Central York 21, Cumberland Valley 14: My brain is telling me Central York while my Mid-Penn homer heart is telling me CV. If the Eagles can slow down Juelz Goff, they’ll be in a position to win this game.
Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 21, Central York 20: Year three of the Josh Oswalt tenure is off without a hitch. If anyone knows what buttons to push to beat Central York, it’s Oswalt.
Danville 52, Line Mountain 0
Andy Shay: Danville 48, Line Mountain 14: Just struggle to see how the Eagles prevent the Ironmen from keeping the scoreboard rolling on a consistent basis.
Geoff Morrow: Danville 50, Line Mountain 12: The Eagles will need a lot to go their way to hang tough in this one. But even if they don’t, that’s OK. There’s time to get this program pointed in the right direction this season, and a game like this can teach you some things about yourself.
Andy Sandrik: Danville 40, Line Mountain 21: The Ironmen put up 58 last week while Line Mountain allowed 41. Could be a recipe for a rout if the Eagles aren’t sharp.
Adam Kulikowski: Danville 38, Line Mountain 20: The Eagles’ scoring struggles seem to have carried over from 2021. That doesn’t bode well against a Danville crew who lit up the scoreboard like a casino jackpot erupting last week.
Midd-West 48, Halifax 14
Andy Shay: Midd-West 29, Halifax 27: Stepping out here and calling some wild, crazy ending that happens inside the final few minutes to decide the winner. Both teams are hunting for building blocks, and they get some answers here.
Geoff Morrow: Midd-West 40, Halifax 25: The Mustangs have two wins since the 2020 season, and one of those was a 49-12 rout of the Wildcats in last year’s regular-season finale. Anything can happen here, but I’m going with recent history and home-field advantage to make my choice.
Andy Sandrik: Midd-West 25, Halifax 14: I’m giving the Mustangs home-field advantage, but neither team has shown us a whole lot through one week of football.
Adam Kulikowski: Midd-West 14, Halifax 7: Midd-West mustered just three first downs against Mifflinburg while Halifax netted five. Which team shifts out of neutral first?
Carlisle 48, Governor Mifflin 14
Andy Shay: Governor Mifflin 20, Carlisle 17: I see plenty of opportunities for the Herd to win this game, but they need to clear this level to take that next step as a program. The Mustangs do present some problems Carlisle didn’t face in Week 1.
Geoff Morrow: Carlisle 27, Governor Mifflin 20: For years, our group of pickers has been wondering aloud if and when Carlisle would turn the corner and start actually beating quality opponents. Well, last year’s regular season ended with three straight impressive wins over State College, Altoona and CD East – before a lopsided playoff loss to Harrisburg. Won’t hold that against the Herd, but THIS is an early test that might go a long way to determining the program’s 2022 trajectory.
Andy Sandrik: Carlisle 21, Governor Mifflin 13: Key matchup for me is Carlisle’s run defense vs. Mustangs RB Brayden Reis, who averaged 10.3 ypc in a loss to Spring-Ford.
Adam Kulikowski: Carlisle 28, Governor Mifflin 21: This one should be well worth the price of admission. Scales tip to the Thundering Herd purely on their offensive firepower.
Selinsgrove 17, Juniata 14
Andy Shay: Juniata 21, Selinsgrove 19: This is one battle-tested group at Juniata, a team that is not rattled easily. That will be tested here because the Seals have a big-play weapon who can wreck a game in a hurry.
Geoff Morrow: Selinsgrove 14, Juniata 13: The Seals, much like Juniata, are always a tough nut to crack. While the attention is rightfully on Selinsgrove’s playmaker, let’s not forget that defense blanked Bellefonte last week. I expect a low-scoring, hard-hitting crunch-fest.
Andy Sandrik: Selinsgrove 23, Juniata 21: Big Red would be wise to keep an eye on Seals super sophomore WR Gavin Bastion, who needed just five catches to pile up 155 yards and two TDs last week.
Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 27, Selinsgrove 24: Love this match up if for no other reason than it provides that stingy Juniata defense with a legit test right out of the gate.
Lower Dauphin 17, Twin Valley14
Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 28, Twin Valley 21: The Raiders bring some offensive pop to the table in this one. It’s been an extra week of waiting for the Falcons to play their ‘22 opener. I like when LD is on the grind in a tight game.
Geoff Morrow: Twin Valley 26, Lower Dauphin 20: The thing that always annoys me about forfeit victories, which LD picked up last week vs. season-long-suspended Middletown, is the artificial 2-0 score inevitably messes up a team’s points-per-game averages, at least according to the auto-math websites that track that kind of thing.
Andy Sandrik: Twin Valley 21, Lower Dauphin 14: Lower Dauphin had its first week of football spoiled by the whole Middletown mess. Now, without the benefit of a varsity game under their belt, the Falcons have to take on a 1-0 TV program led by former Blue Raiders coach Brett Myers.
Adam Kulikowski: Twin Valley 27, Lower Dauphin 24: Old friend Brett Myers steps back into the Mid-Penn fray against a foe he knows quite well. Give the savvy vet the nod in a game that might come down to the final possession.
New Oxford 28, Gettysburg14
Andy Shay: New Oxford 27, Gettysburg 14: The Colonials bring some balance on offense and a quarterback in Jett Moore who account for five total touchdowns in the opener. The Warriors are also 1-0; just wondering if they have the firepower to hold serve over four quarters?
Geoff Morrow: Gettysburg 20, New Oxford 19: Warriors have had the better of the series in recent years, though the Colonials have really made some impressive strides as a program under head coach Jason Warner and staff. I waffled on this one a lot before surrendering to the home squad.
Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 21, New Oxford 18: Coin flip game to me. Give me the Warriors for their fourth straight home win.
Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 20, New Oxford 7: Is it too early to call picking the new-to-the-Mid-Penn Gettysburg a homer pick? Asking for a friend.
West Perry 55, Newport 0
Andy Shay: West Perry 49, Newport 7: No surprise the Mustangs rolled over Susquenita, but holding the ‘Hawks to single digits caught my eye. Newport offense won’t present enough challenges to be considered a real test.
Geoff Morrow: West Perry 49, Newport 0: It was 49-0 a year ago, and I’ve not seen anything to convince me it won’t be a similar result this year. Especially up in Elliottsburg.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 42, Newport 7: One Perry County squad down for WP, one more to go. Mustangs move to 2-0.
Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 47, Newport 13: Marcus Quaker, a.k.a ‘Spark,’ was just that for the Mustangs last week, combining for five touchdowns with Trent Herrera. Not sure there’s enough water in Newport to snuff out West Perry’s flame.
Northeastern 18, Red Land10
Andy Shay: Red Land 21, Northeastern 14: Both teams face an uphill climb when it comes to offense and scoring points. This will be a nip-and-tuck scrap right to the bitter end.
Geoff Morrow: Northeastern 14, Red Land 7: It was a 16-14 Bobcats win in 2021, and I’m not sure the Patriots’ home-away-from-home is enough of an advantage to tilt this year’s result in their favor. Somebody will taste victory for one of the very few times this year, though.
Andy Sandrik: Red Land 28, Northeastern 21: Both teams have a bad taste in their mouths after blowout losses last week. Maybe each squad will have more room to run this week?
Adam Kulikowski: Red Land 35, Northeastern 28: Patriots give their hometown coach, Eric Depew, his first ‘Dub’ as a Patriot.
East Pennsboro 27, Palmyra 7
Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 29, Palmyra 13: In a couple key spots, it just feels like the Panthers are on more solid ground in terms of knowing what to expect. Cougars’ defense could be a difference maker if EP is scratchy on offense.
Geoff Morrow: East Pennsboro 25, Palmyra 14: Always a toss-up when these teams used to get together regularly as division foes. I wonder, though, if the Cougars need another week or two to find a rhythm offensively.
Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 28, Palmyra 20: I like the improvement shown by East Penn QB Keith Oates, as well as the Panthers’ defense, which stopped York Suburban from finding its rhythm last week. EP moves to 2-0 with the home win.
Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 31, Palmyra 24: Both teams appear to be on the upswing in the early stages of the 2022 circuit. The Panthers relied on dual threat QB Keith Oates to carry the load in Week 1. For the good times to continue, they will need more of his cronies to chip in.
Tri-Valley 48, Panther Valley 0
Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 20, Panther Valley 14: Love how the Bulldogs’ defense responded after getting rocked a bit in the first quarter. Zero points allowed over the final three quarters with three interceptions. That is why TV gets the nod in what could be another tight one.
Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 34, Panther Valley 13: It was Blowout City each of the previous two seasons when these teams met, and Tri-Valley ain’t the one getting blown out. Might be a lot tighter this year, but the Panthers enter with a psychological disadvantage of knowing 49-0 greeted them last year.
Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 21, Panther Valley 7: As long as I’m still breathing, I will always call out Panther Valley for having the Panthers as their mascot. Lazy. Unlike their football team, which should make this a pretty competitive game.
Adam Kulikowski: Tri-Valley 28, Panther Valley 16: Three Bulldogs rushers racked up at least 5.6 yards per carry last week against Minersville. For a team that relies heavily on its ground attack, that bodes well for their success.
Roman Catholic 41, Trinity14
Andy Shay: Roman Catholic 38, Trinity 14: That would be the Roman Catholic that took Wilson out behind the woodshed in Week 1 with a 30-plus point victory. Nothing to lose for the T-Rocks, and iron sharpens iron.
Geoff Morrow: Roman Catholic 31, Trinity 21: Believe it or not, the Cahillites haven’t posted a winning season since 2012. And I say “believe it or not” because this program smoked Wilson last week and upset La Salle College last year. Seems like this year’s talent might actually translate into consistent triumph on the scoreboard, though don’t expect the Shamrocks to hand the Philly Catholic League visitors anything.
Andy Sandrik: Roman Catholic 44, Trinity 21: This sure seems like a mismatch for me, but Trinity’s Messiah Mickens and Co. will make sure fans at least get their money’s worth.
Adam Kulikowski: Roman Catholic 35, Trinity 14: When you’re playing with house money, so to speak, you can pull out all the stops. Just not sure there’s enough tricks in the bag to match Roman Catholic in this one.
Mifflin County 35, Shikellamy 13
Andy Shay: Shikellamy 21, Mifflin County 7: That was a great opener for MC, springing the upset to set the wheels in motion. Shik is 0-1 after falling in OT and will bring some extra heat to this contest. Huskies’ defense is the key.
Geoff Morrow: Mifflin County 22, Shikellamy 20: Considering this is a relatively straight shot across 522 from one school to the other, I’m surprised this is the first meeting. But it could and should be an entertaining contest, as the long-struggling programs both put up good fights (a win & an OT loss) in their respective openers.
Andy Sandrik: Mifflin County 21, Shikellamy 7: Give me the battle-hardened Huskies over a Braves team still trying to replace its top QB, RBs and WRs from last year’s 1-9 campaign.
Adam Kulikowski: Shikellamy 27, Mifflin County 26: The vibes are good in Huskie Land, and that should help the gents in purple and black take this one to the wire. Can they pull off back-to-back triumphs? Jury is out.
State College 32, Downingtown East31
Andy Shay: State College 28, Downingtown East 24: This is going to be a dandy matchup of teams considered Top 15 in the state in Class 6A. Somehow the Little Lions find a way to make the tempo of this game suit their needs and leave suburban Philly with a 2-0 mark.
Geoff Morrow: Downingtown East 27, State College 24: If it’s a trip to Exton you want, it’s a trip to Exton you get. I have a hard time picking against the Little Lions because I think they’re really on a roll right now, but the Cougars from Chester County have something of their own cooking.
Andy Sandrik: Downingtown East 30, State College 24: State College sparingly used three different senior QBs last week as the running game took over against Williamsport. Something tells me the Little Lions will need more balance in the offense to stay with the Cougars.
Adam Kulikowski: State College 34, Downingtown East 31: It’s hard not to get fired up for a matchup featuring two of the top 6A teams in the state as ranked by the Dean of High School football, Eric F. Epler. Whoever wins this slobberknocker will have earned their root beers!
Susquenita 42, Biglerville0
Andy Shay: Susquenita 14, Biglerville 13: Neither offense produced a lot to open the season, so defense is going to play a major role in this one. Canners had a shutout in Week 1. Flip-a-coin game for me.
Geoff Morrow: Biglerville 19, Susquenita 13: Throw out the records when the Blackhawks and Canners meet. Not because it’s a rivalry, but mostly because I have no idea what to expect here. Going with the hosts because my dad used to pick fruit with his cousins in and around Biglerville when he was a kid.
Andy Sandrik: Susquenita 17, Biglerville 14: I’m notorious for incorrectly picking the games of my former high school rival. Taking the ‘Hawks in a nail-biter, which probably means Biglerville will win big. You’re welcome, Canners fans.
Adam Kulikowski: Susquenita 21, Biglerville 13: If I had to bet on which offense rebounds from a lackluster performance in Week 1, I’m siding with the ‘Hawks and gunslinger Derek Gibney.
Altoona 35, Taylor Allderdice 14
Andy Shay: Altoona 20, Taylor Allderdice 7: So the Dragons opened the season getting shut out by North Allegheny, and Altoona scored 19 points to squeeze out a victory. Difference maker for me here is the Mountain Lions’ defense putting the squeeze on Allderdice.
Geoff Morrow: Altoona 33, Taylor Allderdice 20: Mountain Lions have won all five meetings in this series since 2016, and the teams’ respective openers show Altoona is better positioned for triumph this time, too. But did you know both Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller went to Allderdice? As did Broadway performer Billy Porter and NFL Hall of Fame RB Curtis Martin.
Andy Sandrik: Altoona 24, Taylor Allderdice 12: It’s always good for the psyche of a football team when it can grind through a close game for victory, like Altoona did last week against Hollidaysburg. I’m expecting another one of those scrappy types of games this week, so advantage Mountain Lions in my book.
Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 34, Taylor Allderdice 6: When your wife is from Altoona, you pick the Mountain Lions. Happy wife, happy life! Go ‘Toona!
Upper Dauphin 49, Shenandoah Valley 8
Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 42, Shenandoah Valley 14: Sometimes how you lose reveals everything, and the Trojans went down swinging against Williams Valley in a game they were in all the way. In a matchup of 0-1 squads, I’m taking the one who kept the scoreboard rolling.
Geoff Morrow: Upper Dauphin 45, Shenandoah Valley 7: As my colleagues mentioned, the Trojans were actually quite impressive in defeat last week. Whereas the tough-luck Blue Devils haven’t been particularly impressive in a long time in terms of win-loss success. Last winning season for SV was 2012. They’ve accumulated a total of nine wins across parts of 10 seasons since then.
Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 35, Shenandoah Valley 10: Already loads of offensive rhythm for this Upper Dauphin squad, but don’t be surprised if the Trojans add to the workload of RB Brady Morgan, who last week totaled 160 yards on just nine carries for two TDs, including a 97-yard scoring scamper.
Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 45, Shenandoah Valley 14: The UD boys had no trouble moving the ball against Williams Valley. They won’t be facing that level of defense in Week 2.
Waynesboro 13, Hershey 7
Andy Shay: Waynesboro 21, Hershey 13: Going to take the Indians here, but after getting steamrolled by Spring Grove in the opener, I’m not sure what to expect from this club. Just not sure Hershey has the pieces to keep Waynesboro on tilt.
Geoff Morrow: Waynesboro 20, Hershey 14: While it was a somewhat curious result for the ‘Boro last week, bear in mind that Spring Grove has now beaten Waynesboro three times in two seasons. Sometimes a team just has your number. But they’ll need a nice bounce-back, because I don’t think this is the same 1-9 Hershey team from last year.
Andy Sandrik: Hershey 28, Waynesboro 21: It’s quite a long ride from Waynesboro to Hersheypark Stadium, and it will be an even longer ride home if the Indians can’t find a way to disrupt the big-play connection between QB Daniel Painter and WR Marcus Sweeney.
Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 28, Hershey 21: Hmmm, the Dollar General version of Andy Shay goes against his head coach friend and the Indians. I’ll side with the original Andy, who sees a rebound coming from the Indians.
Westinghouse 39 at Steel-High 18
Andy Shay: Steel-High 26, Westinghouse 14: I know the shine is off Clairton’s program these days, but seeing Westinghouse beat the Bears by 30+ makes you pause for a second and wonder if the Rollers are up against it here. And then I remember Steel-High’s defense has some big-time chops.
Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 28, Westinghouse 20: The Bulldogs and Rollers have two of the state’s oldest and proudest programs, and this is truly a neat matchup of historic relevance. I’m sure somebody out there has the answer, but these teams must have a combined 8 million wins, right?
Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 28, Westinghouse 21: We’ve known for years the Rollers can outscore just about any opponent you put in front of them, but none of us thought they’d hold Bishop Canevin to 14 points last week. That tenacious ‘D’ will keep them just a few steps ahead of Westinghouse this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 35, Westinghouse 14: Head coach Andrew Erby has never shied away from testing his troops from Day 1. They passed the first Hell Day with flying colors. I think they ace the second as well.
Williams Valley 38, Pine Grove 13
Andy Shay: Williams Valley 42, Pine Grove 14: Not sure the Pine Grove defense, which had a solid opening outing, is ready for Alex Achenbach and the Vikings’ offense. Achenbach had 305 rushing yards with five tuddies to subdue Upper Dauphin a week ago.
Geoff Morrow: Williams Valley 28, Pine Grove 14: Ahh, thinking back to the glorious days of the ol’ Twin Valley Conference. Anyway, this was actually kind of a close game when they met last year. Cardinals might struggle recently to tote the victory worm back to their nest, but they certainly make opponents earn it.
Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 36, Pine Grove 9: Someone called me the Dollar General version of Andy Shay this week, but you know what? It doesn’t take a brand-name analyst to pick the winner of these two undefeated squads.
Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 45, Pine Grove 7: That smashmouth version of the Vikings got revved up early this year with stud ’back Alex Achenbach filling up the box score with more than 300 rushing yards and nearly half a dozen golden tickets.
Wilson 17, Central Dauphin 10
Andy Shay: Wilson 14, Central Dauphin 10: Strange to see this matchup where both clubs are 0-1 and really trying to find some answers to tough questions after getting rolled convincingly in their openers. Not sure what’s going to happen here.
Geoff Morrow: Central Dauphin 17, Wilson 14: CD has lost the last two in this often entertaining cross-conference series, including a 27-21 defeat last year. However, this feels like a better chance for the Rams to rebound from Week 1’s loss at Central than it does the Bulldogs rebounding from a surprisingly lopsided loss to Roman Catholic.
Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 14, Wilson 10: This is my “who knows” game of the week. A dartboard might be a better way to pick a winner than any of us experts.
Adam Kulikowski: Wilson 21, Central Dauphin 20: This is the first time in ages where I’ve looked at this matchup and wasn’t fired up to visit Landis Field. That says more about the length of time that each of these squads have been top notch than the question marks that each is looking to answer right now.
Saturday, Sept. 3
NON-LEAGUE
Harrisburg 32, Delaware Valley 3
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 35, Delaware Valley 14: Cougars are more than ready to get some real seat time after lightning delays wrecked their scheduled opener. Delaware Valley is a quality out-of-the-gate test despite losing in Week 1. Just what Harrisburg needs, too.
Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 38, Delaware Valley 20: Delaware Valley: not from Delaware, not from Delaware County, and technically considered part of the New York Metropolitan area. However, the Warriors DO play some pretty good football up in Milford, Pike County, and should give the anxious Cougars a contest.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 41, Delaware Valley 7: Man, normally I’d say not playing the previous week is a detriment to a high school team, but I think the Cougars are more than good enough to shake off any rust they might have.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 48, Delaware Valley 20: When you are missing your head coach, an extra week of time before suiting up probably isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Canceled:Middletown at Milton Hershey; West Toronto Prep (Ont.) at Bishop McDevitt
We were as shocked as anyone when the news broke that Middletown would not take the field in 2022. The community lives and breathes Blue Raider football. But it was the right call. I’ve seen far too many similar situations during my tenure at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. What’s worse is the coaching staff fell woefully short of protecting the children who should have been at the very forefront of every decision they made. Coaches and caregivers have a responsibility as mandated reporters to intercede. Hopefully, coaches across the Commonwealth and beyond take note to protect the children with which they are entrusted. Click here for more information on who is a mandated reporter and what that means.
NO SHOCKER THIS YEAR:
Last year, Trinity pulled off a stunning upset of Delone Catholic when the Shamrocks — led by first-year head coach and former Penn State standout Jordan Hill — knocked off the Squires 34-14. Fast-forward a circuit and the ‘Rocks were at it again to kick off its 2022 campaign with a 35-7 victory against the Squires. Only this time, no one should have been shocked by the outcome. Yes, Trinity is coming off a three-win campaign (which easily could have been a five-win performance), but with junior Caleb Wray back under center and Capital Division First-Teamer Max Schlager helping to anchor the defense, this is a team that just might be a thorn in the sides of perceived favorites Steel-High and Boiling Springs.
