| 11. | Ephrata | 2-0 | NR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat Manheim Central for the first time in more than a quarter century – last win was 1997 – to grab the always transitional No. 11 spot. Not sure if the win over the Barons was an upset? | ||||
| 10. | Lampeter-Strasburg | 2-0 | 11 | |
| Still plenty of landmines ahead, but defense has been nothing short of impressive to date. | ||||
| 9. | Wyomissing | 1-1 | 8 | |
| Was competitive all the way against Haverford School and was the underdog in this game. Didn’t score a touchdown and that is a concern for the big picture going forward. | ||||
| 8. | Wilson West Lawn | 2-0 | NR | |
| Bulldogs have drifted a little into the middle of the Class 6A pack of teams. Looks like 2024 might be a bounce back into the upper tier. Favorable early schedule as well. | ||||
| 7. | Cumberland Valley | 1-1 | 10 | |
| Nice bounce back for the Eagles, but CV was always going to roll over Carlisle. Still not sure about this team, but I’ll ride the wave. | ||||
| 6. | Dallastown | 2-0 | 6 | |
| They have been solid through eight quarters, but more of a full metal jacket test will come this week from Manheim Central. Then we’ll know more. | ||||
| 5. | Bishop McDevitt | 1-1 | 1 | |
| Had more than enough opportunities to put away Harrisburg in a game that went back and forth with big swings. The Crusaders defense wilted down the stretch and couldn’t finish this one off. | ||||
| 4. | Harrisburg | 1-1 | 7 | |
| Not sure the Cougars could have faced any more adversity than what they faced to pull off an improbable win at McDevitt in the renewal of what once was known as the Market Street Madness game. | ||||
| 3. | Central York | 1-1 | 3 | |
| Competitive all the way with the No. 1 ranked Blue Streaks, just didn’t have enough offense in the tank to be the difference maker on an otherwise pretty level playing field. | ||||
| 2. | State College | 2-0 | 4 | |
| More than 100 points scored in eight quarters to kick off the season. Barometer test this week with Harrisburg on the schedule. | ||||
| 1. | Manheim Township | 2-0 | 3 | |
| Wins over Cumberland Valley and Central York to start the season. Wins were convincing victories as well backed by a defense that has surrendered 17 total points. | ||||
Andy Shay’s Elite 11 Rankings After Week 2
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Brad Hockenberry, RB, West Perry: Hockenberry had a historic night for the Mustangs racking 291 rushing yards on just nine carries. He reached paydirt four times in a 44-21 romp of Boiling Springs.
Josh Smith, WR, Mechanicsburg: Mechanicsburg is off to a 2-0 start and Josh Smith was a big reason why on Friday as he hauled in four catches for 138 yards and four total touchdowns—all in the first half as the Wildcats cruised past Palmyra 35-14. The recruit with offers from Richmond and Lehigh also added an interception and 41 rushing yards.
Christian Joy, RB, Trinity: Much has been made about the changes at Trinity, but Christian Joy’s performance Friday against East Pennsboro should speak volumes for the talent still present. He busted loose for 223 yards and four scores to help Trinity even its record at 1-1 on the season.
Rayshawn Frazier-Hewitt, QB, Waynesboro: The dual-threat quarterback did it all for Waynesboro Friday night in a 33-21 victory against Gettysburg. Frazier-Hewitt completed a tidy 18-of-23 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. He also added another 60 stripes on the ground and a rushing score to cap the evening.
Eddie Corkery, QB, State College: Corkery only played the first half of Friday night’s matchup against Altoona but the senior gunslinger put on quite the show tossing the rock for 238 yards and six—yes, six—scores in a 57-0 blanking of the Mountain Lions.
Fletcher Wilson, QB Mifflin County: The Huskies aren’t afraid to sling the rock this year. And why not with Fletcher Wilson under center. The senior threw for 221 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-34 double-overtime loss to Northern York Friday night.
Grady Bonin, QB, Northern York: When Northern York needed someone to carry them, Bonin stepped up. All the junior did was throw for 145 yards and four scores and rush for a team-high 90 stripes on 17 carries.
Lane Peiper, RB/LB, Juniata: Peiper made his presence known on both sides of the ball against Steel-High in Week 2. He recorded a team-high 13 tackles, including a sack and chipped in another 127 yards of production on offense as the Indians beat the Rollers, 29-14.
Jayion Lewis, QB, Harrisburg: Welcome to The Show, kid. In his first career start at quarterback, Lewis orchestrated a game-tying drive with just minutes left in the final stanza against powerhouse Bishop McDevitt. He finished the thriller with 236 yards and a score on 14-of-19 passing.
Sunday Morning QB: Trinity makes a Week 2 jump; an instant classic in Harrisburg; CV finds balance in victory and more
When it comes to the second week of a high school football season, flipping the script and bouncing back from a less-than-impactful opening four quarters is where my attention goes first.
Two teams jumped off the Week 2 docket to grab our Sunday Morning Quarterback attention.
Nobody has been rocked by more upheaval than the crew from the Catholic-based education private school in Shiremanstown. Trinity lost more than half its key players/starters from a year ago to graduation and transfers. The T-Rocks also lost their head coach and plenty of the assistants as well. Former Steel-High, Cedar Cliff, and Trinity assistant Kevin Yarnevich was inserted as “interim” head coach at the 11th hour.
Mix all that together and it showed up in spades in Week 1 whitewash to an equally ravaged Allentown Central Catholic outfit, 18-0. This team has been through the offseason ringer and it wasn’t a bad opening result and the expectation was more struggles would ensue.
Let’s just say the T-Rocks embraced that mantra of good teams making their biggest jumps in the time between the end of game No. 1 and the final horn of Week 2.
Powered by do-everything running back Christian Joy and his 223 rushing yards and four touchdowns, the T-Rocks turned a tight and tense contest at halftime into a runaway by leaving East Pennsboro in picking-up-the-pieces mode following a 37-14 victory.
Joy earned all the accolades and headlines he is getting after averaging a staggering 11.2 yards per carry on 20 totes. This victory had some well-rounded ingredients that could serve the T-Rocks well as they head into Week 3 with a little pep and zip in their step.
Fellow RB Jacob Ness pitched in 92 yards on 11 carries and helped power Trinity to 319 rushing yards against the Panther’s defense. Quarterback Mason Boyer completed 12 of 16 passes for 101 yards, which is a perfect number for him based on what the Shamrocks want to accomplish as an offense by using the run to set up the pass.
Finally, and this might be the hidden key to more wins for Trinity going forward, the Shamrocks’ defense played a major role in victory No. 1 in 2024. Hey, surrendering 18 points to ACC is a job well done. To follow up the T-Rocks D pitched a second-half shutout in a tied game at halftime and limited East Penn to fewer than 200 total yards and only 91 on the ground. Eight quarters and 32 total points allowed. That’s a foundation right there.
Cumberland Valley is not going to win or most likely even be a major player in the race to decide the new-look Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division in 2024. The Eagles, though, do fancy themselves as a Class 6A playoff contender. Week 1 was a reality check for CV as they were manhandled by a bigger, stronger, and faster Manheim Township outfit that played with a purpose. It wasn’t even a fair fight, really.
Unlike previous years when the first month of the season was a complete uphill battle, the Eagles caught a Week 2 schedule break and took full advantage of a Carlisle team that will struggle to compete. There will be mighty challenges ahead for CV, but putting a 35-0 victory on the board is the kind of all-around effort the Eagles desperately needed. From my chair it’s not that the Eagles beat Carlisle, more it was how they went about their business.
The Commonwealth is a crowded house at the top with State College, Bishop McDevitt, and Harrisburg all with clear “Top Dog” intentions. CV is in the next tier and needs to find continued balance in the run game to help out its QB to reach that playoff goal.
How would you like your very first start at the quarterback position to be against Bishop McDevitt on the road in the best high school football game rivalry these eyes have ever witnessed – Market Street Madness: Harrisburg vs. McDevitt?
Less than two weeks ago Jayion Lewis would have been considered the No. 3 option for the Cougars when it came to the quarterback position. Saturday afternoon he was QB1 and made his first start for Harrisburg.
The return of Harrisburg-McDevitt to the schedule for the first time since 2017 was an instant classic and Lewis will never forget his performance and the somewhat improbable overtime victory registered by the short-handed Cougars.
After getting smacked around by La Salle College HS in Week 1, Harrisburg was left with a laundry list of questions that left them as clear underdogs in this game. Lewis provided enough answers to sway the outcome in favor of the visitors from the city.
Lewis had an 80-yard touchdown run, threw an 80-yard catch-and-run TD pass to Elias Coke, and marched Harrisburg 62 yards in the dying minutes scoring a touchdown from four yards out with 76 seconds remaining in regulation. His two-point conversion run forced OT and set up the Cougars to win it all in extra time.
There was nobody else to play QB for the Cougars. Lewis was it. And he answered the bell with 353 total yards (236 passing, 117 rushing). More importantly, in case you forgot, this was a Commonwealth Division victory for Harrisburg. All championships matter and are celebrated on Market Street under head coach Calvin Everett.
The rebirth of the rivalry will go into the history books as another in a fairly long list of classics. Jayion Lewis will be the name that will roll off tongues when the 2024 clash is talked about a decade from now.
TWO WEEKS, TWO WINS
Keep an eye on Mechanicsburg and the combination of QB Eli Reider and WR Josh Smith. They are two known talents that every team knows they have to extinguish in order to keep the Wildcats offense from lighting up the scoreboard. The duo is no secret. And nobody has slowed them down through eight quarters.
Palmyra had no idea what hit them Friday as Reider and Smith connected for three touchdowns and 138 yards in the opening half as Mechanicsburg raced to a 35-0 lead to invite Mr. Mercy Rule to John H. Frederick Field for the second half. Smith not only had 138 receiving yards, but he also carried the ball twice for 41 yards and had an interception all in the first half.
Sometimes the hard is what makes it great, right? Cedar Cliff traveled the very hard road to pick up its first win as a Commonwealth Division side by nudging past Central Dauphin in overtime. Make no mistake this is a massive victory for the Colts in their first season with the biggest of the dogs in the MPC.
Glory seemed to be secured in the dying minutes when the Colts’ Secrest brothers, QB Bennett, and TE Blake, hooked up for a 17-yard touchdown with 2:31 to play on a fourth-and-10 play. That TD pulled the Colts and Rams level at 13-all. Extra point to follow, right? Bad snap – remember snap, hold, kick still matters.
With momentum on its side, the Colts were dominant in the extra session. Cedar Cliff is 2-0 and that’s very important. Because taking this massive step up in weekly competition will take its toll in the long run on their record. A perennial playoff squad under coach Colin Gillen has a tough road to a second-season invitation in 2024. The Rams are going to struggle this season and dropped to 0-2. They put in the work though after getting embarrassed in Week 1 and showed up. That still matters. Cliff is still finding its footing and this will help massively.
Mid-Penn Football Week 2 Rapid Reports: Final Scores, Stats, and Notes
Week two of the PA high school season is upon us and this article is your home for all Mid-Penn final scores, stats and biggest notes in real time.
West Perry 44, Boiling Springs 21
Brad Hockenberry got 9 carries for 291 yards and 4 TD’s en route to a big Mustang win to advance to 2-0 starting the season, thanks to a 37-0 lead at half. Without veteran QB Marcus Quaker, the Mustangs are relying on the run game much more and it’s worked so far. Next up for West Perry is Upper Dauphin, while Boiling Springs visits a tough Susquehanna Township team.
Mechanicsburg 35, Palmyra 14
It’s hard to stop Mechanicsburg right now, off a 2-0 start with wins over Carlisle and Palmyra. The game today began at 11 AM, postponed from last night’s rain. Josh Smith hauled in four catches for 138 yards and 3 TD’s in the win. The Wildcats take a visit to Mifflin County next week, while Palmyra hosts nearby Hershey.
Camp Hill 14, Big Spring 13
The Lions were down late to the Bulldogs, but came back to edge the win by one, in a game that came down to the (controversial) wire last season. The Lions pass often, so QB Drew Branstetter having a veteran presence helped the Lions to their first win. The Lions host again with Susquenita next week, while Big Spring falls to 0-2 after a Little Brown Jug loss in week one. Bulldogs turn the page to hosting Trinity next week.
Cumberland Valley 35, Carlisle 0
It was certainly time to see a big win out of CV and week two was the right opportunity to do it. Carlisle completes their rivalry back to back with Mechanicsburg and Cumberland Valley, and come out of both with a combined six points. Cumberland Valley makes the Mid-Penn’s longest trip next week visiting Altoona, while Carlisle takes Central Dauphin for their home opener.
Cedar Cliff 21, Central Dauphin 13 (OT)
An unexpected nail biter in the Commonwealth for a struggling CD team, but forcing double overtime is big on the road at West Shore stadium. PJ Dent, a sophomore was big for the Colts, rushing 17 times for 100 yards and a touchdown, plus a two point conversion. Veteran QB Bennett Secrest slung the ball for 138 yards and a touchdown.
CD East 50, Chambersburg 2
Not a typo. Chambersburg, after beating a difficult Gettysburg team, completed a safety but that’s about it for the positives. Next week is the always tough McDevitt team back at home, their second straight home game, but that’s only because this game was moved from Landis Field to Franklin County because of ongoing stadium construction in Harrisburg. For a CD East team with something to prove, it’s a 2-0 start, outsourcing their first two opponents 90-8. Their next chance: Cedar Cliff at Landis.
Susquehanna Township 35, Greencastle 13
It’s a really strong start for a once young, now-veteran Township team, beating Penn Hills in a close battle, then Greencastle. A 21-6 halftime lead for the Indians, then 14 more fourth quarter points allowed for the win. Greencastle, replacing their QB Logan Alvey, takes an 0-2 start after a close, 30-27 loss to Waynesboro in week one. On the docket is a trip to Middletown, and for Township, it’s hosting Boiling Springs.
Juniata 29, Steel-High 14
This one turned out to be one of the more entertaining games in week two, as Juniata had to climb back to beat Steel-High, snapping a 29-game win streak for the Rollers, including two PIAA title wins. Juniata was down 14-0 early and clawed back for a big win, setting themselves up for a 1-1 start entering an ultra competitive Line Mountain game next week. Steel-High has a District III championship rematch next week against Halifax.
Milton Hershey 21, Middletown 19
It’s time for Middletown to come out and win some “trap” games and they got close with their two-point loss in week two. Milton Hershey put together 377 yards rushing, thanks to a 125 yard day for Lex Morales-Monzon and 189 more rushing yards from Khy’Dyn Gann-Luckett. It puts the Spartans back on track after a 28-0 Cocoa Bean Bowl loss to Hershey. Middletown started with a win over Donegal, and fall to 1-1. The teams have East Penn and Greencastle coming up.
Northern 41, Mifflin County 34 (2OT)
Perhaps the most exciting game of the week came at Bostic Field between these two. Grady Bonin punched in a six yard touchdown run, with the XP from Anna Lehman good, putting the Polar Bears ahead 41-34, where the game finished. Northern visits Hersheypark Stadium next week against Lower Dauphin, a huge test early. Mifflin County returns to their brand new stadium to host a red-hot Mechanicsburg team.
Shippensburg 28, Hershey 13
While Milton Hershey bounced back from the Cocoa Bean Bowl loss, Hershey did the opposite. Shippensburg has a lot to play for right now, and they are off to a great start. The Greyhounds are 2-0 and visit Waynesboro next week. Hershey drops to 1-1 before a visit to Palmyra next week.
State College 57, Altoona 0
State College continues to roll. They’ve outscored their first two opponents – Gateway and Altoona – 106-14 before really diving into the Mid-Penn Commonwealth schedule, which will dive right in with Harrisburg. Altoona hosts the 1-1 Cumberland Valley Eagles next week.
James Buchanan 16, Susquenita 0
Most surprising week one score? This one. Susquenita is working through a QB and head coaching shift, but this was certainly unexpected as the Blackhawks are still slated to put together a serviceable season. So far, it’s been a 58-0 West Perry loss and now this one to start 0-2. The Blackhawks visit Camp Hill next week, while the Rockets start 2-0 with wins over York Tech and ‘Nita, with the next challenge being Newport at home next week.
Trinity 37, East Penn 14
Don’t let the scoreline fool you, this was a battle between West Shore schools at COBO. Christian Joy, one of the few studs staying the course at Trinity, broke out for 200 yards and 4 TD’s. Jacob Ness added 92 yards and a touchdown off 11 carries for the ‘Rocks, who get to 1-1 with the win, while East Penn falls to an 0-2 start. The Shamrocks visit Big Spring next week, while the Panthers host Milton Hershey.
Waynesboro 33, Gettysburg 21
It’s an unlikely 0-2 start for the Warriors after two surprising losses under veteran QB Brady Heiser, and perhaps a just as unlikely 2-0 start for Waynesboro. Waynesboro takes Shippensburg in a western Mid-Penn battle between two undefeated squads in week three. Gettysburg looks to get back on track at West Shore stadium, visiting Red Land next week.
Line Mountain 40, Newport 0
Line Mountain prepares for a huge Capital division battle against Juniata next week, and they proved their dominance tonight with a shutout against the Buffaloes. The Eagles lost by three, 26-23, to Lewisburg last week and start 1-1, while Newport falls to 0-2 before visiting James Buchanan next week.
MORE LOCAL SCORES:
YAIAA: Delone Catholic 35, Lancaster Catholic 21
YAIAA: Biglerville 21, York Catholic 6
YAIAA: Bermudian Springs 42, York Suburban 14
YAIAA: Susquehannock 44, Littlestown 0
YAIAA: New Oxford 21, Cocalico 0
BCIAA: Berks Catholic, 22, Executive Education 18
BCIAA: Wilson 21, Plymouth-Whitemarsh 7
BCIAA: Haverford 20, Wyomissing 3
LL: Annville-Cleona 48, Hanover 20
LL: Lampeter-Strasburg 21, Warwick 0
LL: Manheim Central 28, Central York 10 (Thursday)
LL: Cedar Crest 45, Spring Grove 7
LL: Hempfield 27, York 6
SATURDAY GAMES:
Bishop McDevitt (1-0) vs Harrisburg (0-1)
York Tech (0-1) vs Kutztown (0-1)
CD East QB Damaj Jalloh nabs Week 1 Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week honors
Central Dauphin East quarterback Demaj Jalloh took home our Week 1 4th Down Magazine Player of the Week Sponsored by Vertical Raise of PA. Jalloh edged West Perry running back Brad Hockenberry by a razor thin three votes to capture the honor.
Damaj completed 50 percent of his passing attempts for 265 yards and a score as well as a pair of rushing touchdowns in a 40-6 victory against York High in Week 1.
Results: Week 2 Picks and Predictions
Thursday, August 29
Keystone
Mechanicsburg 35, Palmyra 14:
Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 31, Palmyra 14: Cougars showed some moxy in that opener, but this will be a different level in terms of competition. Wildcats have already been tested at another level.
Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 33, Palmyra 25: Here we have two confident squads each coming off big opening-night wins. Expect a tight battle that might not be settled until the final possession.
Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 45, Palmyra 21: The Cougars appear to be on the rise. Just not sure they are quite ready for the test the Wildcats will provide.
Capital
Upper Dauphin 42, Halifax 8:
Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 34, Halifax 6: Something tells me the Trojans are better this week, just don’t have the Week 1 win to prove it. I’m not sure Halifax has the tools to put UDA on tilt.
Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 28, Halifax 7: The Trojans are still stinging after that loss to Williams Valley, but they should be able to find their way against a Halifax squad that had an even tougher time in its opener.
Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 33, Halifax 13: You know Halifax will bring their best effort, but the Trojans simply possess more weapons in this battle.
Friday, August 30
Non-League
Camp Hill 14, Big Spring 13:
Andy Shay: Camp Hill 35, Big Spring 25: A couple of solid teams that are searching for answers at this early juncture. Something tells me the Lions find a victory but it won’t be easy.
Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 28, Big Spring 21: Considering the talent on these rosters, it’s hard to imagine either of these teams being 0-2 after this weekend, but that will undoubtedly happen now.
Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 41, Big Spring 33: Give the edge to the team with the best gunslinger–and that’s the Lions with senior Drew Branstetter.
Commonwealth
State College 57, Altoona: 0:
Andy Shay: State College 45, Altoona 7: Death by a thousand paper cuts. That’s what this Little Lions team feels like to me. They grind and lean on you to the point of submission.
Andy Sandrik: State College 40, Altoona 12: I can’t find one guy on State College that had an “unreal” performance last week, yet the Little Lions were still able to put up 49 points against a quality opponent, seemingly at will. Balanced and lethal, this State College team is the last squad Altoona wants to see on Friday night.
Adam Kulikowski: State College 33, Altoona 14: The Little Lions can kill you in any number of ways. That doesn’t bode well for an Altoona team still searching for its identity.
Cumberland Valley 35, Carlisle 0:
Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 35, Carlisle 7: Eagles learned a few valuable lessons last week for sure. The playing field will be a little more level. Expect CV to prosper because if nothing else this group is resilient.
Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 38, Carlisle 7: I thought I’d see a tighter battle between Carlisle and Mechanicsburg last week, but the Wildcats proved to be too much. Now the Herd has to face an even tougher team in Cumberland Valley.
Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 48, Carlisle 6: Can the Eagles improve upon a rushing effort that yielded just four yards against Manheim Township in Week 1? Getting that ground game going will be critical this season.
Cedar Cliff 21, Central Dauphin 13:
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 35, Central Dauphin 20: Colts romped with a 50-burger in their opener, but you can expect more pushback, if nothing else, from the Rams this week. Right now, Cliff appears to be the better team, though.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 42, Central Dauphin 7: Welcome to the Commonwealth, Cedar Cliff. The Colts should make a safe landing in the division against the Rams, who are still looking for their first TD after a lopsided loss to Central York on opening night.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 48, Central Dauphin 13: The Colts enter this Commonwealth tussle fully ready to showcase their mettle against a rebuilding Rams squad.
Central Dauphin East 50, Chambersburg 2:
Andy Shay: Central Dauphin East 26, Chambersburg 15: This is a sneaky interesting tilt in my book. If consistency has found the Panthers they have the chops to be dangerous. Trojans will grind and demand a 48-minute performance.
Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin East 28, Chambersburg 14: All signs point to the Panthers being better than advertised. They sure looked that way while clobbering York. Chambersburg won a hard game in Week 1 and also believes it can win.
Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin East 27, Chambersburg 24: If you think the Trojans will go lightly in this fray, think again. Just ask Gettysburg what kind of test Chambersburg can provide.
Keystone
Waynesboro 33, Gettysburg 21:
Andy Shay: Gettysburg 27, Waynesboro 20: There’s thinking you are a quality team and then there’s showing it. Time for Gettysburg to show it. Waynesboro will demand the best of the Warriors.
Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 28, Waynesboro 21: This is a game that Gettysburg is expected to win, yet I’m having a hard time pulling the trigger against Waynesboro, riding a nice wave of momentum after a rivalry win over Greencastle-Antrim.
Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 41, Waynesboro 28: The Warriors were stunned last week against Chambersburg. Don’t bet on Gettysburg being snake-bitten again in Week 2.
Shippensburg 28, Hershey 13:
Andy Shay: Hershey 21, Shippensburg 14: I’m riding the Trojans defense to victory in this one. Competitive all the way, though, is how I see it.
Andy Sandrik: Hershey 24, Shippensburg 21: The Greyhounds showed plenty of heart and desire, not to mention potential, in their emotional season opener. But beating this Hershey side is certainly a tall ask.
Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 28, Hershey 27: The Greyhounds will need to bring their best effort against a Hershey team primed to make a run at a Keystone Division title.
Lower Dauphin 14, Red Land 0:
Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 30, Red Land 20: I need another four quarters at least from each of these teams before I have any idea what the heck to think and expect. Makes this matchup very intriguing for sure, though.
Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 21, Red Land 14: Thanks to a Red Land team that overperformed, and an LD squad that underperformed, we now have quite a compelling Week 2 matchup.
Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 34, Red Land 28: We picked the Falcons to walk away with the new-look Keystone Division. Was their shaky start to the season in Week 1 an anomaly or an indication of things to come this year?
Northern York 41, Mifflin County 34:
Andy Shay: Mifflin County 34, Northern York 14: Big fan of the Huskies coming out and slinging it all over the lot and stretching a defense. Polar Bears offense isn’t quite built for this caliber of a shootout.
Andy Sandrik: Mifflin County 33, Northern York 21: The key matchup for me is the Northern secondary vs. the Mifflin County passing attack, which saw two QBs throw for five TDs last week.
Adam Kulikowski: Mifflin County 47, Northern York 14: Huskies senior QB Fletcher Wilson turned in a tidy performance in Week 1, slinging the rock for 159 stripes and four TDs. A similar performance in Week 2 should be more than enough to topple the Polar Bears.
Capital
James Buchanan 16, Susquenita 0:
Andy Shay: James Buchanan 14, Susquenita 7: Stab in the dark here by taking the Rockets. If you asked me for a reason, I’d struggle to give you one.
Andy Sandrik: Susquenita 21, James Buchanan 7: The Rockets scrapped to a season-opening win over York County Tech. Can they again stay competitive long enough to turn this into a “winnable” game, too?
Adam Kulikowski: Susquenita 28, James Buchanan 14: One team is riding high after a Week 1 victory (JB) while the other is still looking for its first points of the season. However, the quality of the opponent matters, and Nita faced a much more difficult task. Look for the Blackhawks to get on track in this tilt.
Juniata 29, Steelton-Highspire 14:
Andy Shay: Juniata 28, Steelton-Highspire 13: This is where the rubber meets the road for the new-look Rollers. The flash we’ve come to expect showed up in Week 1. Pretty sure Juniata will ask plenty more questions.
Andy Sandrik: Juniata 21, Steelton-Highspire 14: It’s hard to make any meaningful reads on the new-look Rollers after a 69-0 win over Fairfield. Now, if Steel-High goes out and does the same thing to a battle-hardened Juniata squad, then we’ll have something to talk about.
Adam Kulikowski: Steelton-Highspire 24, Juniata 21: We’re about to learn more about what this re-load Rollers squad is composed of in what should be a quality early season test on the road in Juniata County.
Line Mountain 40, Newport 0:
Andy Shay: Line Mountain 47, Newport 7: This is a very opportunistic spot for the Eagles to find their footing and return to form.
Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 38, Newport 7: Assuming Line Mountain can shake off its season-opening loss to Lewisburg, I still believe the Eagles have the firepower to make a run at the Capital Division.
Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 45, Newport 6: These are two teams in very different places. Eagles bag a Dub and move on to Week 3.
Colonial
West Perry 44, Boiling Springs 21:
Andy Shay: West Perry 26, Boiling Springs 20: You could make a solid case both of these clubs overachieved in their performances in Week 1. Congrats to both squads. Now go out and trade some paint and let’s see what happens. Interesting matchup.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 28, Boiling Springs 25: Let me be the first to say I may have been off target about Boiling Springs. There are some bad dudes in Bubbletown and they showed it in their opener. Another underappreciated team is WP, who brushed off heavy graduation losses and put 58 points on the scoreboard last week.
Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 34, Boiling Springs 28: Both teams entered intriguing evidence last week as to why they should be the chosen winner in Week 2. Give me the Mustangs in a tight battle.
Trinity 37, East Pennsboro 14:
Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 28, Trinity 7: Offense is going to be an ongoing challenge for the T-Rocks. The Panthers proved their mettle despite a Week 1 loss. East Penn is comfortable in their own skin.
Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 24, Trinity 10: Don’t sleep on East Penn senior Aaron Angelo, who had a big week against Bethlehem Catholic last week. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry on the way to a 163-yard night, while also catching two passes for 43 yards.
Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 31, Trinity 7: The Shamrocks completed just 36 percent of their passes in a Week 1 shutout loss to Allentown Central Catholic.
Susquehanna Township 35, Greencastle-Antrim 13:
Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 35, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Too many options for the Hanna Tribe to expect the Blue Devils to keep them inside the box over four quarters. Only a sliver of space is needed for the Indians to light up the scoreboard.
Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 42, Greencastle-Antrim 21: I loved the fight I saw from Greencastle in its rivalry game against Waynesboro, and I think the Blue Devils will battle again this week. But the Indians have too many weapons that can break this game open to make any other pick than ‘Hanna beating G-A for a third-straight year.
Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 31, Greencastle-Antrim 27: The Indians should be considered the class of Colonial Division until someone proves otherwise.
Milton Hershey 21, Middletown 19:
Andy Shay: Milton Hershey 21, Middletown 14: Are the Blue Raiders making strides on the road to being competitive again? Are the Spartans going to struggle on a weekly basis? Valid questions that will be answered.
Andy Sandrik: Middletown 21, Milton Hershey 14: This game should be much more competitive for Milton Hershey than the Cocoa Bean Bowl was last week. The Blue Raiders showed in their opener they can win a tight game, and I think they do it again this week.
Adam Kulikowski Milton Hershey 17, Middletown 14: Both teams have major question marks to answer. Can Week 2 provide some clarity?
Saturday, August 31
Commonwealth
Harrisburg 35, Bishop McDevitt 33 (OT)
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 21, Harrisburg 14: They are no longer residents of Market Street and it’s been several years since they renewed acquaintances. I think this game will have a different tone and tenor than what you might expect. Cougars are picking up the pieces after Week 1. Can they collect enough to corral the Crusaders? Tough ask.
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 28, Harrisburg 21: I still think the Cougars can be the class of the Commonwealth, but they have a few things to sort out after last week’s 38-point loss to La Salle College. This seems like a great spot for the Crusaders to steal a win, and perhaps carve their own path toward a division title.
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 34, Harrisburg 28: The jury is still out on what the Cougars will look like without star QB Shawn Lee Jr. There are no such questions on the McDevitt sideline.
Andy Shay’s Elite 11 after Week 1
| 11. | Ephrata | 2-0 | NR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat Manheim Central for the first time in more than a quarter century – last win was 1997 – to grab the always transitional No. 11 spot. Not sure if the win over the Barons was an upset? | ||||
| 10. | Lampeter-Strasburg | 2-0 | 11 | |
| Still plenty of landmines ahead, but defense has been nothing short of impressive to date. | ||||
| 9. | Wyomissing | 1-1 | 8 | |
| Was competitive all the way against Haverford School and was the underdog in this game. Didn’t score a touchdown and that is a concern for the big picture going forward. | ||||
| 8. | Wilson West Lawn | 2-0 | NR | |
| Bulldogs have drifted a little into the middle of the Class 6A pack of teams. Looks like 2024 might be a bounce back into the upper tier. Favorable early schedule as well. | ||||
| 7. | Cumberland Valley | 1-1 | 10 | |
| Nice bounce back for the Eagles, but CV was always going to roll over Carlisle. Still not sure about this team, but I’ll ride the wave. | ||||
| 6. | Dallastown | 2-0 | 6 | |
| They have been solid through eight quarters, but more of a full metal jacket test will come this week from Manheim Central. Then we’ll know more. | ||||
| 5. | Bishop McDevitt | 1-1 | 1 | |
| Had more than enough opportunities to put away Harrisburg in a game that went back and forth with big swings. The Crusaders defense wilted down the stretch and couldn’t finish this one off. | ||||
| 4. | Harrisburg | 1-1 | 7 | |
| Not sure the Cougars could have faced any more adversity than what they faced to pull off an improbable win at McDevitt in the renewal of what once was known as the Market Street Madness game. | ||||
| 3. | Central York | 1-1 | 3 | |
| Competitive all the way with the No. 1 ranked Blue Streaks, just didn’t have enough offense in the tank to be the difference maker on an otherwise pretty level playing field. | ||||
| 2. | State College | 2-0 | 4 | |
| More than 100 points scored in eight quarters to kick off the season. Barometer test this week with Harrisburg on the schedule. | ||||
| 1. | Manheim Township | 2-0 | 3 | |
| Wins over Cumberland Valley and Central York to start the season. Wins were convincing victories as well backed by a defense that has surrendered 17 total points. | ||||
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Drew Branstetter, QB, Camp Hill: Branstetter accounted for six touchdowns and 463 all-purpose yards in a 42-41 double overtime loss to Lancaster Catholic.
Brad Hockenberry, RB, West Perry: Mr. Hockenberry racked up 147 stripes and three scores as the Mustangs cruised to a 58-0 victory against Susquenita.
Demaj Jalloh, QB, CD East: Demaj completed 50 percent of his passing attempts for 265 yards and a score as well as a pair of rushing touchdowns in a 40-6 victory against York High.
Ja’nye Statum, RB, Shippensburg: In an emotional contest, Statum chugged to 162 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help his Greyhounds take home the Little Brown Jug, 28-7 against Big Spring.
Dominic Diaz-Ellis, WR, Bishop McDevitt: Diaz-Ellis hauled in seven receptions for 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Bishop McDevitt’s 45-13 victory against Mount St. Joseph.
Sunday Morning QB: Tragedy rocks Shippensburg community; Colts-Patriots combine for 80; Branstetter ignites and more
More than 30 years have shown me to practice caution when it comes to making big-picture assertions after four quarters of football. You can learn a little bit in Week 1, but it takes at least 8-12 quarters of football to drill down on the 2024 season.
Still no harm, though, in peeling back a few layers on the Mid-Penn Conference onion to see what grabbed our fancy.
Tragedy rocked the Shippensburg community earlier this week when the 13-year-old son of Shippensburg University head football coach Mark Maciejewski was found dead in the backyard of the family home from an apparent gunshot wound.
Older brother to Levi Maciejewski, Brady, is the starting quarterback for the Shippensburg Greyhounds and revealed his character for all to see by taking the field Friday night in the Little Brown Jug game against Big Spring.
He rushed for a touchdown and Ship won this nearly seven-decade-old rivalry comfortably. Peace to Brady and the entire Maciejewski family.
On the football front, the return of Greyhounds RB Ja’nye Statum, who missed 2023 with an injury, gives Ship some extra bite. He ripped off 162 yards and scored twice in his return to action.
HEY NOW, REALLY?
Friendly reminder, this is only one game and there are still 36 long quarters ahead for everybody. However, these tidbits grabbed our attention for the right reasons.
Sparked by versatile back Sawyer Young, Boiling Springs thumped Littlestown by four touchdowns. Not a whole lot is expected of this Bubblers outfit after a rough 2023 campaign. Young scored four touchdowns including a 90-yard kickoff return, a 48-yard TD reception, and a pair of rushing scores. The seven points Boiling Springs surrendered on defense is the key, though. It was the side of the ball where progress had to be made in order to be competitive this year. Job well done!
I did not think WSSD rivals Cedar Cliff and Red Land would combine for 80 points. The Colts of Cedar Cliff accounted for 50 of those points and won comfortably. Still, 80 is a very big number. Colts RB Princeton Dent galloped for 187 yards and a couple of scores on debut as a potential RB1. That’ll work.
Hershey winning the annual Cocoa Bean Bowl is worthy of recognition on its merit. However, the way the Trojans grabbed the trophy against rival Milton Hershey – posting a shutout – tells you a little something.
WINNING IS DEFINITELY BETTER THAN LOSING
If you’ve known greenhorn Mechanicsburg head football coach Dave Heckard as long as I have – watched him grow up around Twilight baseball, I covered him as a player at Cumberland Valley and wrote about his college career – then you will understand his quote following the Wildcats victory over Carlisle “winning is better than losing” is vintage Dave. Congrats coach.
The win also halted a streak of nine consecutive losses for Mechanicsburg against throwback rival Carlisle. Kind of surprised the Herd were that dominant in recent years considering Mechanicsburg has put some quality playoff caliber teams on the field during that time frame. The 28-point gap could indicate some very tough sledding ahead for Carlisle, though.
GO SEE HIM PLAY
If you enjoy high octane football and a quarterback who has zero fear of making any throw or failing, go watch the Camp Hill Lions and quarterback Drew Branstetter this season.
Branstetter accounted for more than 450 yards of offense and threw for six touchdowns to kick off his 2024 campaign. Now the Lions did lose to Lancaster Catholic in double overtime, but that is a toss-up game the other team just happened to win.
The 382 passing yards by the Lions quarterback came on only 22 completions. That’s a staggering 17.4 yards per completion. He also rushed for 81 yards. Do yourself a favor if you just enjoy the game and go see the Lions and Branstetter this season. You’ll be glad you did.
HEY NOW, REALLY? PART II
This is the other side of the coin. These were the game that made us internally say “what” or ask the are you sure that score is right question.
It was pretty obvious based on the preseason Central Dauphin is going to struggle this season and that starts up front in the trenches. I must admit my jaw dropped when I sat down at halftime Friday night at Chapman Field and pulled out my phone and saw on social media a post that said Central York 44, Central Dauphin 0 with 4:48 to play in the first half. Whoa!
I’m waiting for more body of work, but my initial reaction to Cedar Crest 45, Lower Dauphin 16 had me thinking red flags of all sorts for the Falcons from Dauphin County. It’s not that you lose more the how you lose that is relevant in my book early in the season. And clearly LD was not competitive.
Manheim Township is still a very good football team despite losing its All-State quarterback. Cumberland Valley had zero say in the outcome, a 42-14 drubbing by the Blue Streaks, at Chapman Field. What grabbed my attention was how overwhelmed the Eagles were up front on both sides of the ball. It was a massive mismatch. Plus Township was in late season form in terms of execution and discipline. I will say Cumberland Valley showed plenty of dog in the fight and that’s expected. This was just a matter of being outclassed football-wise.
Results: Week 1 Picks and Predictions
Standings:
Name, Week 1, Overall:
Andy Shay: 21-10, 21-10
Andy Sandrik 21-10, 21-10
Adam 19-12, 19-12
Friday, August 23
Week 1:
Hollidaysburg 27 Altoona 14:
Andy Shay: Altoona 27, Hollidaysburg 17: Like the way the Mountain Lions charged into the offseason and brought back a solid group of experienced seniors. Defense needs to be better and finding an answer at RB will be vital to success.
Andy Sandrik: Altoona 28, Hollidaysburg 21: I’ll give the Mountain Lions the benefit of the doubt in their home opener, but they still have a lot of questions that need to be answered before they can start climbing the ladder in the Commonwealth Division.
Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 21, Hollidaysburg 14: Look for the Mountain Lions to lean on a defense that features a pair of returning all-star linebackers, Mark Harrington and Logan Wukovich.
Mechanicsburg 34, Carlisle 6:
Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 31, Carlisle 20: Not much is expected of this Thundering Herd outfit and the Wildcats have more quality-developed talent than normal. First game for Dave Heckard as the M’Burg skipper. Feels like he gets victory No. 1.
Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 28, Carlisle 13: I’m going to be hounded at Carlisle Elementary School pick-up for taking the ‘Cats over the Herd in the season opener, and when that happens I’ll talk about all the things I like about this Mechanicsburg team until they get annoyed and walk away.
Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 28, Carlisle 14: In what should shape up as a wide-open Keystone Division look for the Wildcats to get win No. 1 under coach Dave Heckard.
Cedar Cliff 50, Red Land 30:
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 42, Red Land 7: Very few in the MPC have been as solid as the Colts the last half-decade. That’s expected to continue with several horses up front and a veteran QB. Skill positions need answers, but rival Red Land has way too many questions that require answers to make this WSSD match-up tight.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 44, Red Land 10: Now that the Colts have a team that can win the Keystone Division, they get moved to the Commonwealth. Look for CC to take some of that frustration out on WSSD rival and Keystone representative Red Land.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 48, Red Land 14: The Colts haven’t lost to the Patriots since 2012. Look for that trend to continue.
Central York 47, Central Dauphin 0
Andy Shay: Central York 34, Central Dauphin 17: Last season ended with a Rams loss to CY, and all indicators are CD will start 2024 in a similar fashion. Not sure the CD offense can keep pace with the York County kingpin offensively, so any whiff of an upset will be fueled by the Rams defense.
Andy Sandrik: Central York 32, Central Dauphin 14: Too many question marks on the CD side for me to justify picking the Rams to win a high-tilt matchup like this.
Adam Kulikowski: Central York 45, Central Dauphin 14: Rams are looking to break in new talent at nearly every position on offense. I’ll need to see what the youngbloods can do at all the skill positions before picking coach McNamee’s crew against powerhouse Central York.
Central Dauphin East 40, William Penn 6:
Andy Shay: CD East 33, William Penn 29: Everything tells me York High is better equipped to win this game over an emerging talent base at CDE that hasn’t shown enough consistency at this level. I’m taking the Panthers to take the first next step anyway!
Andy Sandrik: CD East 28, William Penn 21: Call me a Mid-Penn homer (I am) but I have a good feeling about the Panthers in their opener.
Adam Kulikowski: William Penn 32, CD East 31: The Panthers possess two home-run hitters in all-stars in Jared Porter (RB) and wideout Zach Brown. The question is if they have enough support pieces to notch win No. 1 of the season.
Chambersburg 24, Gettysburg 17:
Andy Shay: Gettysburg 28, Chambersburg 20: Warriors have one of the top quarterbacks and a way better-than-average running back to unleash on opposing defenses. Firepower will not be a problem for Gettysburg. Holding the opposition in check will be the key to next-level success. Not sure the Trojans have the pop to push the envelope here.
Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 24, Chambersburg 14: The best shot at victory for the Trojans would be not allowing this game to turn into a shootout. That’s a pretty tall ask for a team facing an offense as potent as Gettysburg’s.
Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 41, Chambersburg 13: Warriors QB Brady Heiser racked up nearly 2,000 passing yards last season. That experience should pay dividends against a Trojan defense that will be leaned on heavily if Chambersburg is to make strides this season.
Manheim Township 42, Cumberland Valley 14:
Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 28, Manheim Township 21: Well this is just a fun Week 1 matchup in Class 6A. Eagles just have better football bones in their arsenal right now and that should show. Blue Streaks will be learning on the fly while CV knows exactly who they are.
Andy Sandrik: Manheim Township 20, Cumberland Valley 17: These teams have met four times over the last two years and the Blue Streaks have won all four of those games. This is a winnable game for CV, but Manheim Township is a proud program that won’t bow out quietly.
Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 27, Manheim Township 17: Don’t call it a redemption game for the Eagles who were knocked out of the District 3 6A playoffs by the Blue Streaks (37-27) last year, but there’s no doubt it’ll feel good to start the season on a high note against Manheim Township
State College 49, Gateway 14:
Andy Shay: State College 24, Gateway 21: Quality WPIAL foe for the Little Lions, who lost a superstar at RB to transfer. Still think State College has the muscle to endure what promises to be a slugfest.
Andy Sandrik: State College 21, Gateway 14: The Little Lions always seem to be a team that’s deep at every position, and I think that will go a long way for SC to stay fresh as it takes Gateway’s toughest shots for four quarters.
Adam Kulikowski: State College 28, Gateway 7: Yes, the Little Lions lost a tremendous talent to transfer at running back, but this is still a team with plenty in the cupboard to contend in the refreshed Commonwealth.
Hershey 28, Milton Hershey 0:
Andy Shay: Hershey 27, Milton Hershey 20: Nothing like a little Cocoa Bean Bowl action in August to stir up the competitive juices. The Trojans have a massive offensive hole to cover up at RB and everyone knows it. The Spartans have some dangerous weapons, but for me, Hershey’s defense is key to victory.
Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 25, Hershey 23: If the Spartans win this game, it will be because of their work in the trenches. This is a big group capable of bullying some teams.
Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 31, Milton Hershey 30: Trojans aim to make it three straight Cocoa Bean Bowl championships. Think that doesn’t mean something to this crew? Think again.
Cedar Crest 45, Lower Dauphin 16:
Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 35, Cedar Crest 14: Just feels like the Falcons and all those weapons have enough to overpower the other “Falcons” in this tilt.
Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 34, Cedar Crest 10: I took LD to win the Keystone Division this fall, so I would be remiss to pick against Josh Borreli’s Falcons in Week 1.
Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 28, Cedar Crest 21: You have to go all the way back to 2013 when LD last topped the Keystone Division standings. If we’re correct, the Falcons can again reach the top of the mountain.
Mifflin County 42, Central Mountain 6:
Andy Shay: Mifflin County 34, Central Mountain 13: All indicators are the Huskies could have a little more zip offensively than a year ago and the Wildcats aren’t quite ready to go up and down the field at this point.
Andy Sandrik: Mifflin County 28, Central Mountain 16: The Huskies have plenty of questions to answer this season, but they should have more than a puncher’s chance against this depleted Central Mountain squad.
Adam Kulikowski: Mifflin County 21, Central Mountain 20: Call this a hunch with the Huskies reloading nearly all of its skill position starters.
Spring Grove 31, Northern York 14:
Andy Shay: Northern York 27, Spring Grove 24: Coming off a losing season and replacing a do-everything RB will be a challenge for the Polar Bears. Good first test before diving into the Keystone Division pond.
Andy Sandrik: Spring Grove 21, Northern York 14: There’s no longer such a thing as “easing” into your schedule thanks to the formation of four super conferences in the Mid-Penn. This is a tough opening assignment for the Polar Bears, who would love to build some confidence going into a tough Keystone slate.
Adam Kulikowski: Spring Grove 28, Northern York 13: Spring Grove has big ambitions to reach the postseason in coach Tom Trone’s second circuit at the helm. A win against the rebuilding Polar Bears would be a good way to start.
Palmyra 43, Lebanon 8:
Andy Shay: Palmyra 30, Lebanon 6: Look the Cougars are not a powerhouse, but the Cedars have a whole new staff and precious few varsity veterans to build with. Cougars offense should spread its wings here.
Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 28, Lebanon 7: The fruits produced from dedicated offseason labor will taste sweet for Palmyra this week before games start getting much tougher in Keystone Division play.
Adam Kulikowski: Palmyra 21, Lebanon 6: The Cougars have some nice pieces returning to build on a two-win season. Can Chris Pavone’s crew see dividends on the experience gained last year?
Shippensburg 28, Big Spring 7:
Andy Shay: Shippensburg 27, Big Spring 14: The biggest difference in this tilt for me is the Bulldogs will be a work in progress up front. Big Spring has the offensive weapons to compete. Trenches will be where the Greyhounds show their mettle.
Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 24, Big Spring 18: Little Brown Jug game seems like a 50-50 call to me. Both teams have weapons that can turn the tide in their favor. I’m leaning toward Ship, but this is nothing more than an educated guess.
Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 31, Big Spring 20: Greyhounds aim to rebound from an uncharacteristic 4-6 campaign in 2023. Claiming the Little Brown Jug would be a great way to start.
Waynesboro 30, Greencastle-Antrim 27:
Andy Shay: Waynesboro 28, Greencastle-Antrim 27: Not sure which way to lean on this one. Feels like the Blue Devils have less known weapons than the Indians, but G-A is coached to play inside a comfortable box that allows it to win those close games.
Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 35, Greencastle-Antrim 28: I expect this to be one of the feistiest matchups we’ll see in the opening week. The Indians have a nice group of hardened returners, and that gives them the advantage.
Adam Kulikowski: Greencastle-Antrim 31, Waynesboro 24: Our crew sees this game as one of the tightest matchups of Week 1. I agree, but lean toward the Blue Devils.
Lancaster Catholic 42, Camp Hill 41 (2OT):
Andy Shay: Camp Hill 31, Lancaster Catholic 20: Four vital ingredients return for a Lions squad that won District 3 gold and showed up in the PIAA quarterfinals. Sure they lost some dudes, but LC isn’t ready for a mature offense at this point.
Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 28, Lancaster Catholic 24: From where I’m sitting — the reclining chair in my living room — it seems like the Lions have a core group of guys that just live and breathe for these heart-stopping games that come down to the last possession. That is a good thing, because I think Camp Hill is going to be in more than a few of those games this fall.
Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 35, Lancaster Catholic 21: The Lions brand of football is built on slinging the rock–and with all-state QB Drew Branstetter back for another circuit at the helm, the Lions should feel good even as they search for the next set of receivers to compliment its offense.
Minersville 39, Halifax 0:
Andy Shay: Minersville 35, Halifax 14: Too many questions at the skill positions for a Halifax side that took some steps forward a year ago but was hit pretty hard by graduation. Tough opening matchup for the Wildcats no way around it.
Andy Sandrik: Minersville 32, Halifax 9: The Miners return way too many varsity-seasoned guys for me to see this matchup going any other way.
Adam Kulikowski: Minersville 45, Halifax 14: Experience pays and the Miners have it while the Wildcats are looking to rebuild again.
James Buchanan 15, York County Tech 14:
Andy Shay: York County Tech 21, James Buchanan 14: Still feels like a toss-up game but until JB wins one of these 50-50 affairs going with the winner of this close tilt from a year ago.
Andy Sandrik: York County Tech 19, James Buchanan 7: This is probably the most winnable game on the schedule. For both teams.
Adam Kulikowski: York County Tech 27, James Buchanan 6: Both clubs likely have circled this one on their calendar as a moment where they could potentially enjoy some celebratory root beers.
Lewisburg 26, Line Mountain 23:
Andy Shay: Line Mountain 27, Lewisburg 14: I expect the Green Dragons to offer some serious resistance and give the Eagles a stern test. Just the firepower and defensive prowess of what is known about LM pushes them to favorites status.
Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 30, Lewisburg 17: This pick is less about what I think about Lewisburg and more about what we know about Line Mountain. The Eagles have all the pieces to put together a splendid season, and could very well seize this opener.
Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 41, Lewisburg 14: It wasn’t long ago that we were waiting for this group of young bucks to find their footing. They did that last year, ticking off nine victories. Can this club make the next step this year?
Steelton-Highspire 69, Fairfield 0:
Andy Shay: Steelton-Highspire 35, Fairfield 14: After a four-year run where 40 points were expected, a lot has changed for the Rollers entering 2024. This season will be a grind and might include as many losses as wins perhaps. This game still feels like vintage Rollers, though.
Andy Sandrik: Steelton-Highspire 45, Fairfield 9: The Rollers just graduated their best class in school history, but it won’t seem that way when this game goes final.
Adam Kulikowski: Steelton-Highspire 48, Fairfield 13: Expectations might not be as high for the Roller this season, but on this day that high-octane offense will look just fine.
West Perry 58, Susquenita 0:
Andy Shay: West Perry 28, Susquenita 7: Mustangs suffered some massive production losses, but have enough meat on the bone to be very intriguing and competitive for sure. The Blackhawks lost practically all of their offensive firepower and once again are breaking in a new coaching staff.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 36, Susquenita 7: The Mustangs will be playing with 12 men on the field — the 12th being the spirit of former player Tyler Wonders, who passed suddenly this week — so it’s hard to imagine the Blackhawks staying in this ballgame for any extended period of time.
Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 34, Susquenita 7: Even with a slew of losses to graduation, the Mustangs program simply has more firepower and a more established coaching staff.
Boiling Springs 35, Littlestown 7:
Andy Shay: Littlestown 32, Boiling Springs 14: Yeah the T-Bolts have some losses to overcome, but right now the Bubblers seem behind the York County squad in terms of the power curve. BoS defense has to be better to be competitive, that’s the bottom line.
Andy Sandrik: Littlestown 23, Boiling Springs 14: The Thunderbolts lost some talent to graduation, much like everyone else, but they have been a consistent program with seven winning seasons over the last eight years. A win is possible for the Bubblers, but they’ll have to earn it.
Adam Kulikowski: Littlestown 30, Boiling Springs 21: Ok, I’m speculating a bit here as we know Littlestown will be reloading at many of its skill positions. Call it recency bias, but I’ll run with the team with more recent success–and that is Littletown.
Bethlehem Catholic 28, East Pennsboro 14:
Andy Shay: Bethlehem Catholic 31, East Pennsboro 14: A year ago this would have been a tough tilt for the Panthers with all their talent and experience. A good bit of that is gone and BC is reloading and that will show.
Andy Sandrik: Bethlehem Catholic 28, East Pennsboro 14: Whether East Pennsboro is in a rebuilding or reloading season, it might not make a difference against BC, the defending District 11 4A champion.
Adam Kulikowski: Bethlehem Catholic 48, East Pennsboro 21: Last year Bethlehem Catholic streaked from a five-game winning streak to a five-game losing streak to a District 11 4A championship. Steadying the ups and downs will help BC make a run at defending its title.
Middletown 31, Donegal 24:
Andy Shay: Middletown 21, Donegal 14: Not sure the Blue Raiders are going to be relevant in the division, but this is an opportunity where it feels like they are on more equal footing. Have to be better up front to have any shot.
Andy Sandrik: Middletown 21, Donegal 20: Middletown has to like its chances at home against an Indians squad that lost most of its skill players from last fall’s three-win season.
Adam Kulikowski: Middletown 28, Donegal 14: Can the Blue Raiders begin to reestablish themselves as a contender? The jury is still out. But a win in Week 1 would be a good way to set the tone for the season.
Allentown Central Catholic 18, Trinity 0:
Andy Shay: Allentown Central Catholic 28, Trinity 7: Yeah these two clubs are embarking on “seasons of change” but the T-Rocks have simply been turned upside down this offseason.
Andy Sandrik: Allentown Central Catholic 18, Trinity 10: The Vikings have been ravaged by graduation losses and the transfer of their starting QB and top receivers. Trinity, a team replacing a blue-chip RB and a head coach, can relate.
Adam Kulikowski: Allentown Central Catholic 33, Trinity 10: These are uncertain times at Trinity where a their stud running back transferred and their esteemed head coach departed after the conclusion of last season. It’ll take some time to regain their footing.
Saturday, August 24
Selinsgrove 14, Juniata 7:
Andy Shay: Selinsgrove 28, Juniata 17: Make no mistake about it, the Indians are going to make some noise in the Capital Division this season. Playing a team of this caliber will only help, but winning would be an upset. I could be wrong, often am.
Andy Sandrik: Selinsgrove 21, Juniata 14: Talk about getting thrown into deep waters! This is a tough matchup for Juniata, but the Indians have a defense that can keep this game much closer than most folks might expect.
Adam Kulikowski: Selinsgrove 35, Juniata 28: If Juniata plays up to its potential, this matchup will be a one-score difference in the final stanza.
Williams Valley 21, Upper Dauphin 7:
Andy Shay: Williams Valley 27, Upper Dauphin 25: Both these squads are looking to find answers to serious production questions on the offensive side of the ball. True flip the coin game for me here.
Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 39, Williams Valley 34: Gosh, this matchup has me feeling nostalgic about the old TVL. I have no idea who’s going to win, but I get the sense there could be a thousand TDs on the board before the end of the night.
Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 34, Williams Valley 27: The Vikings relied so much on Alex Achenbach last year that it makes you wonder how quickly they will be able to turn the page in 2024.
Bishop McDevitt 45, Mount St. Josephs 15:
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 32, Mount St. Joseph 14: The league the Gaels play in is high quality and they will ask some interesting questions of the Crusaders. I’m riding McD enjoying an advantage up front to pull away and separate.
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 30, Mount St. Joseph 21: I don’t think this is necessarily a blowout kind of game for the Crusaders, who have to reload at several defensive positions before they can officially be considered a contender for the top spot in the Commonwealth Division.
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 35, Mount St. Joseph 24: Stone Saunder’s quest to top recently-graduated Steel-High QB Alex Erby’s career passing record of 13,562 begins tonight for the senior Kentucky commit. Saunders enters play in Week 1 with 10,142 yards.
La Salle College 45, Harrisburg 7:
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 28, La Salle College 21: Before the first real snap is taken the Cougars are facing major adversity as Pitt recruit and starting QB Shawn Lee Jr. was ruled ineligible for the 2024 season earlier this week. Not like the Cougars are a one-trick pony by any stretch, but La Salle is no easy out, either.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 34, La Salle College 21: I wouldn’t recommend ever picking against Harrisburg this regular season, but if you’re insistent on doing so, make sure it’s early while the Cougars are still working on ironing out the kinks.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 28, La Salle College 27: Look for the Cougars to lean on their highly touted transfers at running back as they adjust to life without QB Shawn Lee Jr.
Juniata Valley 35, Newport 7:
Andy Shay: Juniata Valley 36, Newport 7: Being competitive over four quarters is a stretch for the Buffaloes recently and this JV squad has some bark to its bite.
Andy Sandrik: Juniata Valley 30, Newport 12: The Hornets bring back too many returners from their 7-4 season to have me believe the Buffs can stay in this game for a full four quarters.
Adam Kulikowski: Juniata Valley 45, Newport 7: No one likes to predict blowouts, but the reality is that the Buffaloes face another uphill battle as they look to regain their form.
Susquehanna Township 36, Penn Hills 30:
Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 27, Penn Hills 14: This won’t be a soft opener for the Tribe, but the stability at QB and an elite weapon on the outside will be a difference-maker on the road.
Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 28, Penn Hills 21: Penn Hills has to start over at QB thanks to the graduation of Julian Dugger, now a freshman for the Pitt Panthers. Hanna’s stability at QB with TD Evans, combined with a deadly receiver in Lex Cyrus, gives me plenty of reason to believe the Tribe can steal a win on the road.
Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 45, Penn Hills 28: Our odds-on favorite to win the Colonial Division, Twp. will showcase the firepower on offense that makes them a fearsome bunch.