Stock up, stock down after week 9 of the high school season

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We’re taking a look around our coverage area to see who helped themselves this week and who did not as we move into the final week of the high school football regular season.  

STOCK UP

Big Spring

Nobody shook the ground in Week 9 like Big Spring. The Bulldogs not only beat previously unbeaten Steel-High, they won going away and put 49 on the board. As I wrote last week, the Capital Division was a three-horse shootout down the stretch and Big Spring was capable of springing an upset here. This was much more than an upset, though. This was setting the table for the second season and what lies ahead. The defensive backfield holding the Rollers passing game in check and surrendering only 14 points was the hidden key.

Middletown

Remember when Middletown was 2-3 and lost in the flood after getting upset by Juniata 8-7 and followed that up with a shutout loss to Steel-High? Well, the worm has certainly turned for the lads along the banks of the Susquehanna River. The Blue Raiders have won two of their last three and that loss was a 26-23 setback to Boiling Springs.

That’s a 50-50 game loss where Middletown didn’t need a win to make a statement. It just thrashed Trinity by 35 last Friday and has a high-flying Big Spring on deck. This team has found what it was looking for at the right time it appears.

Marcel McDaniels

Did you know that CD East running back Marcel McDaniels, the 155-pound wrecking ball inside the tackles who also has the jets to do damage in open spaces, never played running back before this season?

I ran into Panthers RB coach Jameel Poteat, the former Bishop McDevitt standout, after McDaniels shredded Central Dauphin for 178 yards on 30 totes with a couple touchdowns, and he was sharing how much of a blank canvas his star pupil was when they first looked at him playing RB. Behind an OL that leans on a defense, McDaniels has that you-can’t-teach vision and feel in tight spaces that makes him so effective. The Panthers are a running team that likes to be physical. And they have found a RB1 who can do a little of everything including 30 carries against the Rams.

STOCK DOWN

Steel-High

I fully expect Steel-High to bounce back this week against Boiling Springs. But there have been signs this team wasn’t hitting on all cylinders, and the floodgates opened up big time in a 35-point loss to Big Spring. All teams, even good ones, lose games. But getting trucked by five scores isn’t your garden variety loss. Picking up the pieces and showing up for the finale this week against Boiling Springs will serve the Rollers well heading into the second season. They don’t have to beat the Bubblers. Just show up.

Some teams’ playoff odds

I have several concerns as we get ready to put a bow on the regular season as it relates to potential District 3 playoff teams from the Mid-Penn Conference. Why do I think unless Big Spring wins their season finale, the No. 8-seeded Bulldogs who currently own a 7-2 mark could be in serious jeopardy of missing the 10-team Class 4A field?

That would tick me off. Both Lower Dauphin and Mechanicsburg rest squarely on the 14-team Class 5A bubble currently occupying the last two spots. Why do I think only one of them makes it? Middletown and West Perry are going to make the eight-squad Class 3A bracket, but only one of them is going to get a home game.

Week 10 is all about playing in friendly confines for the Mustangs and Blue Raiders. Bummer that Greencastle-Antrim has to play undefeated Shippensburg to wrap up the 2021 campaign. Winning is unlikely, and without a win the playoffs appear mathematically impossible. As a lower seed, that team would have given a top seed fits. Don’t argue with me on that one, either.

Eric F. Epler’s State High School Football Rankings after Week 9

Class 6A — Record — Previous rank 

1. North Penn (1)                    — 9-0   1 

2. Mount Lebanon (7)             — 9-0   2 

3. Central York (3)                   — 8-0   3 

4. La Salle College HS (12)       — 7-1   4 

5. St. Joseph’s Prep (12)          — 5-2   5 

6. Harrisburg (3)                     — 8-1   6 

7. Garnet Valley (1)                 — 9-0   7 

8. Parkland (11)                      — 7-1   8 

9. Pittsburgh C.C. (7)               — 7-2   10 

10. CD East (3)                        — 7-2   NR 

Teams to watch: Coatesville (1) 8-1, Downingtown East (1) 8-1, McDowell (10) 7-1, Northampton (11) 9-0, Quakertown (1) 9-0, York High (3) 7-1. 

Class 5A — Record — Previous rank 

1. Governor Mifflin (3)            — 7-0   — 1 

2. Imhotep Charter (12)          — 7-1   — 2 

3. Moon (7)                             — 9-0   — 3 

4. Cathedral Prep (10)            — 7-1   — 4 

5. Manheim Central (3)          — 8-1   — 5 

6. Unionville (1)                      — 8-1   — 7 

7. Shippensburg (3)                — 9-0   — 8 

8. West Chester Rustin (1)      — 7-1   — 9 

9. Penn-Trafford (7)                — 7-1   — NR 

10. Academy Park (1)             — 6-2   — 10 

Teams to watch: Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1) 7-1, Spring Grove (3) 7-1, Strath Haven (1) 8-1, Waynesboro (3) 7-2. 

Class 4A — Record — Previous rank 

1. Jersey Shore (4)                  — 9-0   — 1 

2. Belle Vernon (7)                  — 7-0   — 2 

3. Bishop McDevitt (3)            — 7-1   — 3 

4. Valley View (2)                    — 9-0   — 5 

5. Aliquippa (7)                       — 7-1   — 6 

6. Northwestern Lehigh (11)  — 9-0   — 7 

7. McKeesport (7)                   — 8-1   — 8 

8. Lampeter-Strasburg (3)      — 8-1   — 9 

9. Hampton (7)                       — 9-0   — 10 

10. Thomas Jefferson (7)        — 5-2   — 4 

Teams to watch: Berks Catholic (3) 6-3, Chichester (1) 5-2,North Pocono (2) 8-1, Pope John Paul II (1) 7-2, Pottsville (11) 7-2. 

Class 3A — Record — Previous rank 

1. North Schuylkill (11)           — 9-0   — 1 

2. Central Valley (7)                — 9-0   — 2 

3. Wyomissing (3)                   — 9-0   — 3 

4. Scranton Prep (2)                — 8-0   — 4 

5. Central Martinsburg (6)      — 9-0   — 5 

6. Neumann-Goretti (12)        — 7-1   — 6 

7. North Catholic (7)               — 9-0   — 7 

8. Notre Dame-GP (11)           — 7-1   — 8 

9. Bedford (5)                          — 8-1   — 9 

10. Clearfield (9)                     — 9-0   — 10 

Teams to watch: Boiling Springs (3) 8-1, Fort LeBoeuf (10) 7-1, Lakeland (2) 8-1, St. Mary’s (9) 8-1, Wyoming Area (2) 7-1. 

Class 2A — Record — Previous rank 

1. Farrell (10)                          — 6-0   — 1 

2. Southern Columbia (4)        — 8-1   — 2 

3. Sto-Rox (7)                          — 9-0   — 3 

4. Washington (7)                   — 8-0   — 4 

5. Serra Catholic (7)                — 9-0   — 6 

6. Windber (5)                         — 8-0   — 7 

7. Steel Valley (7)                    — 8-0   — 8 

8. Richland Township (6)        — 7-2   — 9 

9. York Catholic (3)                 — 8-0   — 10 

10. Laurel (7)                           — 9-0   — NR 

Teams to watch: Bald Eagle Area (6) 7-2, Bellwood-Antis (6) 8-1, Cambria Heights (6) 9-0, Columbia (3) 7-1, Karns City (9) 8-1, Mount Carmel (4) 7-2. 

Class 1A — Record — Previous rank 

1. Old Forge (2)                       — 8-0   — 2 

2. Muncy (4)                            — 8-1   — 3 

3. Steelton-Highspire (3)         — 7-1   — 1 

4. Canton (4)                           — 9-0   — 4 

5. Redbank Valley (9)             — 8-1   — 5 

6. Tri-Valley (11)                     — 7-1   — 6 

7. Williams Valley (11)            — 7-1   — 9 

8. Homer-Center (6)               — 7-2   — 7 

9. Clairton (7)                          — 6-2   — 10 

10. Juniata Valley (6)              — 7-1   — NR 

Teams to watch: Bishop Canevin (7) 8-1, Cornell (7) 7-1, Portage (6) 6-2, Rochester (7) 6-2. 

Elite 11: a ranking of the top 11 teams after Week 9

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11. Cedar Cliff7-210
Ended up in a running back shootout in Week 9 where the RB1 for the Colts and Milton Hershey ended up combining for nearly 600 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
10. Wyomissing8-09
You have to remind yourself at times that this team was in a little bit of a retooling mode this season in some key spots. Offense is just as powerful as ever, and getting a couple scores on this defense is very difficult.
9. Shippensburg9-08
Probably had its most pedestrian overall effort of the season but was never in any danger against East Pennsboro. There’s something to be said for that.
8.Central Dauphin5-26
Ran into sister school CD East, the No. 5-ranked squad, and was simply overpowered up front on both sides of the ball consistently. Stayed in the game, but never had a say in the outcome.
7. Manheim Central8-1NR
Welcome the Barons back to the rankings. MC has scored 105 points with back-to-back shutouts in its last eight quarters.
6. Exeter Township6-37
Has played a quality non-conference schedule that is showing up down the stretch. The Eagles have all the pieces to make some playoff noise.
5. CD East7-25
In a matchup full of emotion against rival Central Dauphin, the Panthers leaned on their identity of physical running and aggressive defense to overpower the Rams.
4. Bishop McDevitt7-14
Seven straight games the Crusaders have scored 55 or more points. Part of that is the quality of their schedule, but it’s largely based on a ridiculous wealth of riches on offense.
3. Harrisburg8-13
Was pushed to the limit by a State College team that came in riding the struggle bus. Not losing to the Little Lions when playing below average could be helpful moving forward.
2. Central York8-02
Nice to see Panthers get a test from Dallastown, and the way Central York responded validates they have some football mettle to go along with all that flash.
1. Governor Mifflin7-01
Lost another game to COVID-19 issues for the opposing team. It’s been a tough season for the Mustangs on that front. This is at least the third game out of nine where GM either had to scramble to find an opponent or lost a game.

4th Down Magazine Players of the Week sponsored by Crown Trophy of Harrisburg

Big School 6A-4A:

Jeremiah Hargrove, so., WR, Carlisle — Hargrove did his best (while playing out of position) to aid the Thundering Herd’s playoff push, rushing for 136 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-20 rout of Altoona. Carlisle (6-3, 3-3 Commonwealth) nudged up to No. 8 in the District 3 Class 6A power rankings from ninth, currently holding onto the final spot in the bracket with a game to go. Hargrove’s first score came from 27 yards out, then scored on a 53-yard burst a drive later. He capped his night with a 6-yarder in the fourth quarter and finished with nine tackles.

Isaac Sines, jr., QB, Cumberland Valley — Sines was responsible for the first 16 points of the game as Cumberland Valley popped Chambersburg 23-14 and finished with all of the Eagles’ points by game’s end. He punched in an 8-yard rushing TD in the first, threw a 27-yard pass in the second, drilled a 20-yard field goal in the third and threw one more 10-yard TD. Sines, who also kicked three extra points, finished with 80 rushing yards on 21 carries and 104 passing yards on 5-of-10 passing.

Marcel McDaniels, sr., RB, CD East — The Panthers continued to assert their dominance in the Commonwealth, and took it to district rival Central Dauphin 31-14, Friday night. McDaniels did his part, rushing 30 times for 178 hard-earned yards and two scores, both of which came in the second half to extend the Panthers’ lead. He rushed in from 2 and 18 yards out.

Ethan Eisenberg, jr., QB, Big Spring — The Bulldogs pulled off the upset of the season, dismantling the defending Class 1A state champion Steel-High Rollers 49-14 and ending their 17-game win streak. That deserves TWO nominees this week (see below for the second). Eisenberg gets the first nod after a night in which he threw for 156 yards and ran for 10 more (which produced a rushing TD) while accounting for four scores. Eisenberg tossed touchdowns of 31, 28 and 23 yards on a 9-of-14 night through the air and had three carries.

Dillon Wakefield, sr., RB, Big Spring — One of Eisenberg’s targets in Friday’s monumental Big Spring victory (which almost surely locks in the Bulldogs for their second ever playoff appearance, was Wakefield, who caught the 28-yard TD and ran in three more scores of 7, 23 and 17 yards. He finished with a game-high 18 carries for 125 yards and added two grabs for 29 stripes. 

Jontae Morris, sr., RB, Cedar Cliff — Closing out the nominees with a pair of backs that went toe-to-toe and put up insane numbers. Morris torched Milton Hershey in the Colts’ 45-33 shootout win with a career-high 331 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries. He now sits 17 yards shy of 1,500 for the season and one TD away from 20. It’s his third game with 200 or more rushing yards.

Dion Bryant, sr., RB, Milton Hershey — The Spartans were handed the loss, but Bryant still successfully dueled Morris in a thriller for old-school football fans. The senior produced 336 yards of offense — 261 rushing, 58 receiving and 17 passing — and scored three times. Those TDs came from 7 yards out, 71 and 73, the last of which briefly drew the Spartans within two, 33-31.

Richie Kowalski, sr., RB, Palmyra — Kowalski kept the Cougars playoff hopes alive with an efficient night. While the Cougars were popping Mifflin County 42-13, the senior took 10 handoffs and finished with 109 yards, including two scores. Most of that yardage came on a 70-yard sprint to the house in the first quarter that made it 6-0. He added a 15-yard TD minutes later to put Palmyra up for good and added an interception. Kowalski is now over 800 yards this season.

This poll has ended (since 3 years).
Marcel McDaniels, sr., RB, CD East
48.35%
Jontae Morris, sr., RB, Cedar Cliff
32.50%
Jeremiah Hargrove, so., WR, Carlisle
7.20%
Dillon Wakefield, sr., RB, Big Spring
5.45%
Ethan Eisenberg, jr., QB, Big Spring
2.35%
Richie Kowalski, sr., RB, Palmyra
2.25%
Dion Bryant, sr., RB, Milton Hershey
1.25%
Isaac Sines, jr., QB, Cumberland Valley
0.65%

Small School: 3A-1A

Ian Goodling, so., WR/S/K, West Perry — The Mustangs lost a 37-34 thriller in triple overtime to Greencastle-Antrim, but Goodling did his darnedest to avoid the outcome. The sophomore returned a fumble recovery 38 yards for the game-opening score in the second, then nailed a 39-yard field goal to make it 10-0. After the Blue Devils forced overtime, Goodling caught a 10-yard touchdown in the second OT period, then kicked a 24-yard field goal in the third. He finished with 14 catches for 118 stripes and was good on all four extra-point attempts. Also recovered an onside kick — he kicks off for the Mustangs — during the Colonial Division scrap.

Tate Leach, sr., QB/DB, Middletown — Leach was solid through the air, but it was a pair of pick-sixes 31 seconds apart in the fourth quarter that defined his night. With the Blue Raiders up 27-6 midway through the fourth quarter, Leach ensured Trinity would not come back, swiping two passes and returning them 47 and 59 yards to the house to secure a 41-6 victory. Leach also tossed a 27-yard TD in the second, finishing 5-of-10 for 60 yards and an INT while rushing 12 times for 93 stripes.

Nolan Baumert, so., RB/DB, Line Mountain — Uncorking his second productive offensive effort in as many weeks, the diminutive Baumert rushed 18 times for 140 yards and one touchdown as the Eagles downed Newport 13-10 for their first victory of the season. Baumert’s haul featured three runs in excess of 25 yards, including a 28-yard burst early in the second quarter that gave Brandon Carson’s squad a 13-0 lead at the halftime break. Right after his score, Baumert made a diving interception at midfield that handed the ball back to Line Mountain.

Alex Achenbach, so., RB/DB, Williams Valley — Achenbach’s stamp was all over yet another Williams Valley performance as the gifted youngster rushed 22 times for 187 yards and four TDs in the Vikings’ 37-14 triumph over Nativity BVM. In fact, Achenbach cleared the 100-yard mark by halftime, collecting 120 yards and two scores on 16 first-half totes. Achenbach also played a role defensively, swiping a pair of passes as Tim Savage’s club prepped for its Week 10 showdown with neighboring Tri-Valley. 

Ezi Hite, jr., OL/DL, Williams Valley — While Hite obviously played a role clearing space for the explosive Achenbach, his efforts on the defensive side of the ball were extraordinary for a down lineman. Hite racked up a team-high 16 tackles — including three for losses — and posted one sack as the Vikings came from behind to knock off Nativity 37-14.

Wil Laskowski, sr., QB/DB, Upper Dauphin — Our reigning Small School Player of the Week was at it yet again last weekend, registering a terrific all-around performance as Upper Dauphin wheeled past Fleetwood 46-29. While Laskowski rushed nine times for 68 yards and a two-point conversion, he also completed eight of his nine pass attempts for 119 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Laskowski made five tackles and swiped a pair of passes as the Trojans claimed their sixth consecutive victory.

Christian Snyder, sr., RB/LB, Upper Dauphin — Snyder proved to be an offensive workhorse in UDA’s latest success, rushing 19 times for 124 yards and four touchdowns as Kent Smeltz’s Trojans stretched their winning streak to six games by decking Fleetwood 46-29. Snyder also caught three passes for 54 yards in UDA’s non-league conquest of a Fleetwood side hoping to land a spot in the District 3 Class 5A playoffs, but his work defensively resulted in six stops.

Kameron Wetzel, jr., RB, Tri-Valley — Wetzel wreaked havoc in several phases again, scoring on the return of the second-half kickoff for the third time in four weeks as Tri-Valley blistered Shenandoah Valley 45-0. Wetzel also rushed 15 times for 83 yards — his lone TD from scrimmage came on a 10-yard run — as Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs set up a showdown with Williams Valley that will decide the Colonial-Schuylkill Blue Division crown.

This poll has ended (since 3 years).
Christian Snyder, sr., RB/LB, Upper Dauphin
34.20%
Kameron Wetzel, jr., RB, Tri-Valley
31.35%
Ian Goodling, so., WR/S/K, West Perry
8.69%
Alex Achenbach, so., RB/DB, Williams Valley
8.63%
Tate Leach, sr., QB/DB, Middletown
7.88%
Ezi Hite, jr., OL/DL, Williams Valley
6.58%
Wil Laskowski, sr., QB/DB, Upper Dauphin
2.30%
Nolan Baumert, so., RB/DB, Line Mountain
0.37%

District 3 Power Rankings after Week 9

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Class 6A:

The top 8 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 6A playoffs.

1Central York

9-00.818229
2Harrisburg8-10.810223
3CD East7-20.775209
4William Penn7-10.770251
5Manheim Township6-30.736319
6Central Dauphin5-20.735992
7Wilson6-30.713673
8Carlisle6-30.694942
9Hempfield5-40.686726
10Cumberland Valley4-50.654753
11Dallastown5-40.631608
12Penn Manor5-40.613730
13Cedar Crest4-40.592074
14Chambersburg2-70.463585
15J.P. McCaskey2-70.417632
16Reading1-60.337890
17York County School of Tech.1-80.277602

Class 5A:

The top 14 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 5A playoffs.

1.Governor Mifflin6-00.869636
2. Shippensburg9-00.763757
3. Manheim Central8-10.749960
4. Spring Grove7-10.745727
5. Waynesboro7-20.710839
6. Cedar Cliff7-20.680749
7.Exeter Township6-30.671339
8. South Western6-30.664861
9. Warwick5-40.648938
10. Twin Valley6-30.634002
11. Gettysburg6-30.621985
12. Daniel Boone5-30.620390
13. Mechanicsburg5-40.586592
14. Lower Dauphin5-30.580695
15. New Oxford5-40.565057
16. Fleetwood5-40.559444
17. Ephrata5-40.553546
18. Palmyra5-40.536889
19. Solanco3-60.501808
20. Elizabethtown3-60.498648
21. Conestoga Valley3-60.497110
22. Red Lion2-70.462703
23. York Suburban2-60.414268
24. Red Land2-70.391256
25. Dover1-8 0.378399
26. Northeastern1-80.376351
27. Hershey1-80.368488
28. Muhlenberg0-90.310445
29. Lebanon0-90.254149

Class 4A:

The top 10 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 4A playoffs.

1.Berks Catholic6-20.719132
2. Bishop McDevitt7-10.717331
3. Lampeter Strasburg8-10.716128
4. Cocalico6-30.699926
5. Conrad Weiser7-20.673429
6. Northern York6-20.669477
7. Kennard Dale8-10.663135
8. Big Spring7-20.655081
9.Donegal6-20.638897
10. Octorara7-20.604121
11. Greencastle-Antrim4-50.516459
12. East Pennsboro4-50.512394
13. Susquehannock5-40.501300
14. Eastern Lebanon County3-50.457224
15. Garden Spot3-50.457127
16.Milton Hershey3-60.431974
17.Eastern York2-70.364120
18. Kutztown2-70.350997
19. James Buchanan1-50.302461
20.West York0-90.263396

Class 3A:

The top 8 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 3A playoffs.

1.Wyomissing9-00.817455
2.Boiling Springs8-10.702242
3. Hamburg5-30.564045
4.West Perry4-50.524558
5. Middletown4-40.492346
6. Lancaster Catholic4-50.489181
7. Bermudian Springs4-50.451949
8. Northern Lebanon4-50.439932
9. Annville-Cleona3-50.432984
10. Schuylkill Valley2-70.411433
11. Hanover2-50.403842
12. Littlestown2-60.357603
13. Susquehanna Twp.0-90.306448
14. Pequea Valley1-70.251939
15.Biglerville0-80.218190

Class 2A:

The top 4 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 2A playoffs.

1.York Catholic8-00.698872
2. Columbia7-10.680037
3. Upper Dauphin7-10.645467
4. Susquenita5-30.522955
5. Trinity3-50.408202
6. Camp Hill3-60.392430
7. Newport2-70.312309

Class 1A:

The top 2 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 1A playoffs.

1. Steel-High7-10.707321
2. Fairfield5-30.479233
3. Delone Catholic5-40.463604
4. Halifax1-60.229542

Sunday Morning QB: Big Spring pulls off an epic upset; Carlisle validates their mettle; Lower Dauphin a playoff team?, Jontae Morris and Dion Byrant go off and more

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Of course Big Spring knocking off the defending PIAA Class 1A state champion and No. 1-ranked Steel-High Rollers is an upset. It wasn’t a complete shocker after getting eyes on the Bulldogs a few weeks ago, though.

What the Bulldogs did was more than spring an upset. They won by five touchdowns going away. That is a program-changing victory. To win that convincingly speaks volumes about where this team is going and the potential that lies ahead. For a program that has made exactly one District 3 appearance in its history, I can hear opportunity knocking at the next level.

Four touchdowns apiece from RB Dillon Wakefield and QB Ethan Eisenberg is the 1-2 punch formula that fuels the Bulldogs. The Rollers had no answers. Tip of the cap to the Big Spring secondary. They’ve been shaky and cuffed around at times this season but saved their best for this one.

One week after getting over the big-win hump against State College, the Thundering Herd from Carlisle validated they are an up-and-comer with their sights on the second season by rolling Altoona. Nearly 400 yards of offense, 56 points and a defense that limited the Mountain Lions to less than 200 total yards. Carlisle is 6-3 overall and has a big one remaining with CD East, a game where the Thundering Herd will be the underdog.

CD East played a complete game against rival Central Dauphin to take a huge step toward securing a home game for the upcoming postseason. The Panthers’ 17-point victory was powered by a ground game and some tenacious run defense. See how the Rams and Panthers fared in Making The Grade . It was a bit unusual to watch these two teams play and the Rams have almost no say in the outcome. The Panthers were that good.

I don’t care who won the game, what running backs Jontae Morris and Dion Bryant did in their head-to-head matchup is something you don’t get to see very often. Two backs at the top of their game that completely dominate all night is ultra rare. The duo combined for 592 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Morris had 331 yards and three scores, and Bryant went for 261 yards on the ground and three touchdowns in Cedar Cliff’s 12-point victory over Milton Hershey. Two backs going for nearly 600 yards is something I’m not sure I’ve heard of in my 30 yards covering the Mid-Penn Conference. Tip of the cap, gents, to each of you, and your offensive lines.

Harrisburg survived a full-metal-jacket scare from State College in a defensive battle at Severance Field. The Cougars thwarted a two-point conversion try by the Little Lions with only seconds remaining to scrape out a 15-13 victory. Really good teams find ways to win games they otherwise shouldn’t, or when having an off day. The Cougars are no worse for the wear just because they won by two points. There are no style points when a win goes up on the board.

Don’t look now, but Middletown is rounding a corner and headed down the stretching playing its best football of the season. Scored a season-high 41 points in a blowout of Trinity, including a pair of pick-sixes from Tate Leach. The Blue Raiders are 4-4, in the hunt for a District 3 Class 3A berth and have a tough Week 10 contest with Big Spring.

Lower Dauphin making the playoffs would qualify as the biggest surprise of the 2021 season, hands down. The Falcons are 5-3 overall after rallying to nudge Hershey in a game that was tight for a long, long time. Jacob Kauffman continues to produce in the run game, adding 129 yards and another TD to his 2021 résumé.

Congratulations to Line Mountain for holding off Newport 13-10 to get the Eagles’ first win of the season. A 140-yard night with a touchdown from Nolan Baumert was a difference maker.

Making the Grade: CD East vs. Central Dauphin

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The last time CD East had the ball in the first half, the Panthers raced 57 yards in 50 seconds to grab a two-score lead. On their first possession of the second half they went 80 yards on the ground in 11 plays to increase their lead to 21 points.

That was how CD East beat rival Central Dauphin on the scoreboard Friday night. Everywhere else the Panthers were far and away the better team. When it became 21-0 early in the third quarter, it was clear the winner was going to be CD East.

If you know Central Pennsylvania football, in this rivalry, that is not normal. It’s almost always the other way around. NOT this time. CD East was balanced and played complementary football across the board to overpower the Rams. And make no mistake, this wasn’t about speed and flash. This was all about power, being physical and aggressive.

Time to hand out some grades.

CENTRAL DAUPHIN EAST PANTHERS

Quarterback: Terrence Jackson-Copney started for the Panthers and played well, but Tony Powell saw plenty of snaps as well. Combined, the duo threw for more than 200 yards with a pair of touchdowns. They are very different quarterbacks. Jackson-Copney, who doubles as a pretty good wideout, brings an element in the run game that Powell doesn’t have. But Powell is the better pure passer and throws an enticing deep ball. Both were very good. I don’t know if the plan was to use both equally, but on this night it worked well. Grade: A-

Running Back: Marcel McDaniels, all 160 pounds of him, is a horse. He is durable and consistent. He carried the ball 30 times for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He’s fast to the edgenbut is at his very best inside the tackles and making cuts and reads at the second level. He did a double stick his foot in the ground and cut move on the same carry. It was a difference maker. When Powell was under center you knew he was getting the ball, too. Grade: A

Wide Receivers: Penn State 2022 recruit Mehki Flowers was a huge asset in the short passing game. It’s not a flashy role, but he was very effective at getting yards after the catch, and that’s what the defense was giving him. So, he took it. I thought taking those short passes and making them work was the hidden key to victory. Nine catches for 94 yards with a touchdown in this game was a huge night. Tymere Thornton had three grabs for 80 yards. At 6-foot-6, he’s a nightmare matchup and the Panthers exploited his size with deep shots. He had another 50-yard grab that was inches out of bounds. Those two were a wicked 1-2 punch.  Grade: A

Offensive Line: When your running back goes for 178 and a couple tuddy runs and you average 5.8 yards per carry, you did your job. But in my book, this group was the ultimate difference maker. Enjoy the weekend, lads. You earned it. The pass blocking was simply stellar. Neither quarterback faced much pressure at all. Don’t overlook the value of that ’cause the other team blitzes a lot. Grade: A+

Defensive Line: When you play Central Dauphin’s offense, gap discipline and not getting shoved out of your lane is critical. And on that front this group was very good. I don’t recall a big run that wasn’t a scramble by the quarterback. And the heat on the QB was there all game and produced results. Marcario Clark and Cameron Livingston both were on point most of the night.  Grade: A

Linebackers: Thaddeus Krebbs is a 150-pound big-school linebacker who plays like he’s a 220-pound wrecking ball. The catch is he’s fast and tackles very well. He was everywhere. Jekari Rivera-Mauldin brought plenty of heat off the edge and held serve on plenty of those jet sweeps. Grade: A

Secondary: This group struggled and allowed this game to be closer on the scoreboard than it really was. Got beat on too many deep shots, got nabbed for DPI and holding a few times and looked sluggish in coverage all game. I know they are better than this. This night, though, they were not good. Grade: C-

Special Teams: The short kickoffs were a testament to trusting the defense, because that’s a lot of field position to surrender. Kicking game was fine on extra points, and Nickolas Bloss was 1-for-2 on field goals. That first one on the opening drive from 39 yards wasn’t really all that close. Something went wrong with the snap and hold it appeared.  Grade: B

CENTRAL DAUPHIN RAMS

Quarterback: Max Mosey is asked to do a lot for this offense, and from what I saw, against a defense that is hard-charging and aggressive, he did his part. He threw with touch on the deep shots and was elusive in the pocket to keep plays alive. He didn’t have much time. His numbers, 8-20-1, aren’t great. But if you watched the game, you know he was pretty darn good. I wish the Rams offense had a little more in between the hashes for him in the passing game. He spins a nice ball. Grade: B

Running Back: Tyrell English runs hard and can push a pile by himself, but he’s not a pure running back. He’s a pounder, and against CD East those yards are hard to come by even for a 220-pound physical back. Zion Allen is the jet-sweep guy and never found an edge that was open. Combined, this duo managed only 71 yards on 20 carries. Grade: C+

Wide Receivers: The Rams have some options, and they made some tough catches in tight windows. Andre Noel finds his way open short and deep. But he had only four catches for 59 yards in a game CD trailed by 21 early in the third quarter. David Chase III is a multi-use guy who also gets carries in the run game but ran a stellar route in the seam for his 61-yard grab. Grade: B-

Offensive Line: It is not easy to run the ball against this CD East defense, so there is an expectation you have to put in play here. They were efficient at the point of attack but could not sustain blocks long enough to get those second- and third-level yards. It was tough sledding. They struggled in pass protection. The pressure was consistent, and it came from everywhere.  Grade: C

Defensive Line: For most of the night this group was going nowhere or backwards. They were simply overpowered in the run game and created very, very little or no pressure up the middle in the pass rush.  Grade: C-

Linebackers: After getting burned a couple times early, OLBs Chase III and Randy Rudy made the adjustments on the fly and held the edge pretty solid the rest of the way. It was the inside linebackers that really struggled. CD East did most of its damage on inside run plays or QB draws. The Panthers ILBs never impacted the game up the middle. It was open season. The outside ‘backers saved this grade from being lower.  Grade: B-

Secondary: Overall, the corners, who played well all night, did a respectable job. Not too many big plays, they tackled well in space. The deep safety, sometimes 20-25 yards off the ball, didn’t allow any monster big plays to do much damage, and Zion had an interception. The couple completions right before the half on the quick touchdown drive were killers, though. Grade: C+

Special Teams: In the return game, the short kicks were not a problem, and the Rams set themselves up in good field position all night. Offense just couldn’t take advantage of it. A short punt just before the half, covering only 24 yards, gave CD East really good field position and eventually led to a score. Grade: B-

Marcel McDaniels fuels CD East past Central Dauphin, 31-14

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Offensive balance and depth, along with some stingy run defense, allowed CD East to overwhelm Central Dauphin over the course of 48 minutes Friday night.

Panthers running back Marcel McDaniels had a big night on the ground to power East to a convincing 31-14 victory at The Speedway.

KEYS TO VICTORY

McDaniels flashed inside and outside on his way to 178 yards on 30 carries with a pair of touchdowns. CD East mixed and matched at the quarterback position with Terrance Jackson-Copney (who started) and Tony Powell each garnering equal snaps. The duo combined for 201 yards through the air with each QB notching a touchdown pass.

CD East led 14-0 at halftime, but Central Dauphin had the ball first to start the second half. After surrendering a 37-yard pass, the Panthers defense went into lockdown mode and turned the ball back over to its offense by getting a stop on downs at its own 20. Eight snaps later, all running plays, the Panthers had a comfortable 21-0 lead when McDaniels finished off the 80-yard march with a 2-yard touchdown run. Daniels carried the rock six of the eight plays and accounted for 71 of the 80 yards.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Copney-Jackson did a little bit of everything offensively for CD East. He rushed for 46 yards on eight carries, threw for 102 yards including an 11-yard touchdown pass and had a key 37-yard reception on a Panthers scoring drive right before the half. …. Penn State 2022 recruit Mehki Flowers played a huge role in the short passing game, hauling in nine receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. … The two teams combined for only four total punts. … CD East won despite 9-94 in penalties. … CD quarterback Max Mosey was very good, throwing for 158 yards despite serious pressure with a touchdown. He also added a 6-yard touchdown run. … The Rams averaged only 3.1 yards per carry. … Panthers LB Thaddeus Krebs had two of his team’s three sacks.

WHAT WE SAW

The Rams closed the gap to 10 points (24-14) early in the fourth quarter, but the only place the game felt that close was on the scoreboard. CD East did what it wanted on offense all game, and only some dodgy play calling on a couple drives slowed the Panthers down. In a rivalry dominated by Central Dauphin, it was unusual to watch a game where the Rams had little or no say in the outcome.

Up front on both sides of the ball was where this game was won for CD East. The Panthers’ offensive line was calling the shots and running the show, and the defensive line was stout against the run and created plenty of pressure in the passing game.

THEY SAID IT

“We had our ups and downs at times, but played well overall defensively even though we gave up a couple long shots. We wanted to get after the quarterback, blitz a lot and make him throw the ball. It was a great win.” — CD East linebacker Thaddeus Krebs

“It felt really good out there tonight. My offensive line, I think, is the best in the Mid-Penn Conference. They’ve been working so hard. I’ve been working hard in practice on getting to the second level and making a move. It helped and paid off tonight. A big part of our offense tonight was the passing game. The quarterbacks did a good job.” – CD East running back Marcel McDaniels

PANTHERS 31, RAMS 14

CD East                        0-14-7-10 – 31 

Central Dauphin         0-0-7-7 – 14 

Second quarter 

CDE-Mehki Flowers 11 pass from Terrence Jackson-Copney (Nickolas Bloss kick), 6:43 

CDE-Tymere Thornton 10 pass from Tony Powell (Bloss kick), :11 

Third quarter 

CDE-Marcel McDaniels 2 run (Bloss kick), 6:01 

CD-Max Mosey 5 run (Ahren Stauffer kick), 1:00 

Fourth quarter 

CDE-FG Bloss 23, 9:13 

CD-David Chase III 61 pass from Mosey (Stauffer kick), 8:03 

CDE-McDaniels 18 run (Bloss kick), :41 

Team statistics           CDE                 CD 

First downs                 24                    15                     

Rush-yards                  39-226             42-129  

Passing                        201                  158 

Comp-Att-Int               13-21-1           8-20-1  

Fumbles-lost               0-0                   0-0 

Punts-Avg.                   2-26.5              2-29 

Penalties-yards           9-94                 4-36 

Individual statistics 

RUSHING: CD East, Marcel McDaniels 30-178, Terrence Jackson-Copney 8-46, Mohamed Aly 0-2, Team 1-0; Central Dauphin, Tyrell English 10-36, Zion Allen 10-35, Max Mosey 17-31, David Chase III 5-27. 

PASSING: CD East, Terrence Jackson-Copney 7-12-1-102, Tony Powell 6-9-0-99; Central Dauphin, Max Mosey 8-20-1-158. 

RECEIVING: CD East, Mehki Flowers 9-84, Tymere Thornton 3-80, Terrence Jackson-Copney 1-37; Central Dauphin, David Chase III 2-77, Andre Noel 4-59, Randy Rudy 1-15, Zion Allen 1-7. 

Picks and Predictions for Week 9

WEEK 9

RECORDS (Week 8 — Overall — Perfect Picks):

Andy Shay: 20-1 — 154-34 — 0

Andy Sandrik: 18-3 — 140-48 — 0

Geoff Morrow: 18-3 — 139-49 — 3

Adam Kulikowski: 18-3 — 134-54 — 1

Andy Shay breaks down three of the top matchups of the week, offering his analysis and predictions.

Friday’s Games

Altoona at Carlisle, 7

Andy Shay: Carlisle 34, Altoona 14: Notice the last few Carlisle games and the points their opponents have scored: 7, 24 and 14. Defense!! Defense!!

Geoff Morrow: Carlisle 28, Altoona 20: Congratulations to the Thundering Herd, who finally bagged a win against Commonwealth royalty by beating State College last weekend. That’s the good news. Now all they need? Two more wins to close out the season and give themselves a chance at the playoffs. CD East awaits next week.

Andy Sandrik: Carlisle 33, Altoona 17: You never want to use the phrase “must-win,” but that’s exactly what Carlisle faces this week, sitting at No. 9 in the District 3 Class 6A power rankings. Only eight teams advance to the postseason.

Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 28, Carlisle 24: My place in the standings calls for a bit of chance-taking. If I were a betting man, I’d have the odds of an Altoona win at something like +160. Not a longshot, but certainly not the probable outcome. 

Bishop McDevitt at Red Land, 7

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 56, Red Land 7: This is my standard points total for the Crusaders against Keystone opponents, because they aren’t having much trouble getting there.

Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 65, Red Land 7: Look, it’s a rather blunt way to put it, but the Keystone Division is (relatively) terrible this year. However, Bishop McDevitt is clearly NOT terrible. But we really won’t know just how good the Crusaders are until we get to the playoffs. It really would have been nice to see McD vs. Harrisburg this year.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 49, Red Land 0: Pretty much every play from Week 2 to present has been a highlight for the explosive Crusaders, who are also looking post their third consecutive shutout.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 55, Red Land 6: Freshman Bishop McDevitt QB Stone Saunders has yet to throw an interception through seven games and 111 attempts. Yeah, this kid is pretty good.

Camp Hill at Boiling Springs, 7

Andy Shay: Boiling Springs 41, Camp Hill 14: There was a lesson in that narrow victory over Middletown by the Bubblers: Show up each week in the Capital with your best stuff or you can go down. There’s depth to this division, but the Lions are struggling.

Geoff Morrow: Boiling Springs 49, Camp Hill 13: Bubblers will take care of business to set up next weekend’s potential winner-take-all clash for the Capital crown. The question is, will Steel-High do its part?

Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 44, Camp Hill 7: The Bubblers aren’t allowed to look ahead to Steel-High, but I sure can, and man, I can’t wait. 

Adam Kulikowski: Boiling Springs 55, Camp Hill 21: Don’t blame us for all looking ahead to the must-see matchup next week between Steel-High and Boiling Springs. We’re all just fans of the game at heart.

In this week’s Spotlight with Andy Shay, we caught up with Central Dauphin quarterback Max Mosey.

CD East at Central Dauphin, 7

Andy Shay: CD East 27, Central Dauphin 24: The Central Dauphin School District rivalry game has more meat on the bone than normal. Rams have the offense, while Panthers bring some big-time defense to the table. Wondering what gives. If CD quarterback Max Mosey gets rolling, the Rams will win. Panthers have a more solid foundation all around.

Geoff Morrow: CD East 30, Central Dauphin 26: The Rams remain unbeaten in the Commonwealth and need to win to feel like they have a chance to share the division title with Harrisburg, whom they won’t play this regular season. The Panthers have been more consistent on both sides of the ball this year, though, and could snag just their third win vs. CD in a decade-plus (2012, 2017). This one should be fun.

Andy Sandrik: CD East 43, Central Dauphin 28: I don’t feel great about predicting the No. 3 team in the District 3 Class 6A power rankings to give up this many points, but the Rams’ defense has surrendered at least three scores during each one of its five consecutive wins. CD can also put up points, but turnovers against the scrappy Panthers defense could blow this game wide open for East.

Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 35, CD East 34: It’s taken come-from-behind wins the last few weeks for the Rams to keep rolling, but that moxie Coach Mac’s crew exhibited should come in handy this week against a disciplined Panthers club.

Cedar Cliff at Milton Hershey, 7

Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 38, Milton Hershey 14: Very impressed with the way the Colts rebounded from that loss to McDevitt and went right back to doing it their way. Expect more of the same here.

Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 46, Milton Hershey 13: The three teams the Spartans have beaten have a combined record of 1-23. They’re not built to pull a stunner against the Colts.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 44, Milton Hershey 14: A big congrats to Cliff’s Jontae Morris, who eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the season with a monstrous 219-stripe effort against Palmyra. More of the same this week?

Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 45, Milton Hershey 14: Last week, Jontae Morris and his cronies had a little wager with Coach Gillen — drop 40 on the board, and the coach would sport a sparkling durag after the game. Colts hit the remix this week.

Cumberland Valley at Chambersburg, 7

Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 28, Chambersburg 14: I know the Eagles are in a bit of a tailspin right now and, at 3-5 overall, don’t have much light on the horizon. Pride matters, though, and CV will put some on display in this one.

Geoff Morrow: Cumberland Valley 27, Chambersburg 14: While the wheels have wobbled off the Trojan horse over the last month or so, the Eagles still have an impressive early-season, three-game win streak on which to cling. Playoffs aren’t an option, but win here and stun CD next week, and CV goes 5-5 at least.

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 35, Chambersburg 21: Two teams on losing streaks, and I guarantee both squads see this matchup as a “can win” game. I see the Trojans keeping within striking distance for two, maybe three quarters before the Eagles put on the finishing touches.

Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 28, Chambersburg 21: Eagles are another team looking to add building blocks to the foundation of their ‘22 campaign. Finishing strong is important.

East Pennsboro at Shippensburg, 7

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 35, East Pennsboro 14: The Greyhounds carve up good teams with a thousand paper cuts over 48 minutes. The Panthers are up-and-down, and Ship has the pieces to exploit any weakness.

Geoff Morrow: Shippensburg 44, East Pennsboro 6: It’s not every year you can say this about the Colonial champ, but this year the Greyhounds have earned the right to be called a legit District 3 playoff contender. The top four teams in the Class 5A power rankings are loaded.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 34, East Pennsboro 7: In the preseason, I always like to predict a two-loss team taking the Colonial because this division has a tendency to beat itself up. But Ship has answered the bell with authority in every game this season, and, at this point, I believe the ‘Hounds are going to run the table.

Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 45, East Pennsboro 7: The only team the Greyhounds are looking up at in the District 3 Class 5A playoff field is Governor Mifflin. That should speak volumes.

Juniata at James Buchanan, 7

Andy Shay: Juniata 38, James Buchanan 0: Indians are on a four-game winning streak and have surrendered a meager 13 points over their last 16 quarters of football. Rockets are 1-6 and up against a stone wall in this one.

Geoff Morrow: Juniata 51, James Buchanan 0: Wins this week vs. JB and next week vs. ‘Nita will complete Juniata’s impressive and unbeaten run through the Mid-Penn Liberty.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 44, James Buchanan 0: Believe it or not, the struggling Rockets have yet to get shut out this year. Juniata could very well be the team that bucks that trend. 

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 38, James Buchanan 6: The Indians control their own destiny in the Liberty Division with just the Rockets and ‘Nita left on the docket.

Line Mountain at Newport, 7

Andy Shay: Newport 17, Line Mountain 7: Both squads have struggled to score points this season, and defense has been an issue as well. Buffaloes find a way to keep the Eagles winless.

Geoff Morrow: Line Mountain 22, Newport 21: A long time ago (Week 1), the Eagles played first-place Juniata within 6-3. It’s often not been pretty since then, but the offense finally showed some life in last week’s loss. I’m calling on a road victory for the Mountain of Lines.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 21, Newport 17: How many different ways can the winless Eagles have their hearts broken this year? They’ve been competitive at times but have finished on the losing side of one-, two-, and three-point games this year. I’ve got a feeling LM finally breaks the streak this week.

Adam Kulikowski: Newport 7, Line Mountain 6: Take away a victory against James Buchanan, and the Buffaloes haven’t scored more than a touchdown since Week 1. That one score still may be enough to get a victory against an Eagles team that also has struggled mightily to put points on the board.

Lower Dauphin at Hershey, 7

Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 21, Hershey 7: The Concrete Palace Bowl pits the squads that call Hersheypark Stadium home. The Falcons have some postseason skin in the game here. Win the games you should. Still don’t think this will be easy.

Geoff Morrow: Lower Dauphin 24, Hershey 14: However they’re doing it, the Falcons are finding a way to get it done against slightly inferior foes. Despite pocketing their first ‘W’ last weekend, the Trojans fit that description.

Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 28, Hershey 14: It took everything Hershey had to outlast winless Mifflin County. But for some reason, I think this could be a close game. Lower Dauphin has outperformed expectations all season and certainly deserves to be the favorite.

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 34, Hershey 17: Gotta hand it to the Falcons. I’m not sure any of us saw this team achieving what they have this year. But isn’t that the beauty of high school sports?

Mahanoy Area at Pine Grove, 7

Andy Shay: Pine Grove 20, Mahanoy Area 15: This one is going to be a tight one all the way. It’s a coin flip game for sure. The struggle is real for both clubs with a combined three wins in 16 games. Taking a flyer on the Cardinals.

Geoff Morrow: Mahanoy Area 25, Pine Grove 14: Neither team is lighting it up this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have an exciting game in Schuylkill County. Golden Bears pull away late.

Andy Sandrik: Mahanoy Area 21, Pine Grove 12: I’m basing my pick off common opponents, with Minersville tipping the scales for me. The Battling Miners are 6-2, with a win over Pine Grove and a loss to the Golden Bears.

Adam Kulikowski: Pine Grove 24, Mahanoy Area 17: Both teams have faced their own set of challenges this year. Taking a flyer on the Cardinals to put the ball in freshman gunslinger Carson Lengle’s hands and let it fly against the Golden Bears. 

Mechanicsburg at Waynesboro, 7

Andy Shay: Waynesboro 27, Mechanicsburg 14: Jumping on the Waynesboro defensive train for this one. The Indians’ D has surrendered only 24 points over the last three games. And it likes to stop the run, while the Wildcats make hay on the ground.

Geoff Morrow: Waynesboro 30, Mechanicburg 16: The only two losses for the ‘Boro this year are against Spring Grove and Shippensburg, two of the top teams in District 3 Class 5A. Wildcats will need to find a gear they’ve lacked for over a month to pull this upset, but it’s definitely possible.

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 26, Mechanicsburg 12: Waynesboro has been solid against the run, but that’s probably your best path to paydirt against this defensive unit, which has racked up 12 interceptions in eight games.

Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 38, Mechanicsburg 21: Aidan Mencia posted back-to-back Player of the Week performances to help the Indians extend their winning streak to three games. He’ll be a key to keeping the Wildcats from breaking that run in Week 9.

Mifflin County at Palmyra, 7

Andy Shay: Palmyra 28, Mifflin County 7: Too much struggle for the Huskies to see the Cougars NOT coming out on top, even if it’s not their very best. Big plays find their way into the Cougars’ half of the box score. Opportunity will knock on that front in this one.

Geoff Morrow: Palmyra 40, Mifflin County 14: I really thought the Huskies might pull out a victory vs. Hershey last week, but it wasn’t meant to be. I do NOT think they have another chance this season.

Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 38, Mifflin County 12: OK, maybe I got a little overzealous taking Palmyra over Cedar Cliff last week, but the Cougars still have plenty to fight for — like a winning season — and there’s still wind in Palmyra’s sails.

Adam Kulikowski: Palmyra 35, Mifflin County 7: Sometimes steps forward aren’t measured in wins and losses. That’s the case in Mifflin County. Finding things to build upon for ‘22 over the last two weeks should be the Huskies’ main focus.

Northern York at Susquehanna Twp., 7

Andy Shay: Northern York 32, Susquehanna Twp. 7: The team picked with 32 points is having a good season, and the team picked with 7 is winless. Sometimes results make themselves apparent.

Geoff Morrow: Northern York 24, Susquehanna Twp. 13: Young ‘Hanna has hung tough against decent foes in two of its last three games. Not enough for me to pick an upset, though I don’t think the P-Bears control Roscoe Warner as easily as my mates think.

Andy Sandrik: Northern York 40, Susquehanna Twp. 12: Remember when we were calling the Polar Bears a rebuilding team? A victory here gives Northern its sixth win and sets the stage for an epic showdown with Waynesboro to end the regular season.

Adam Kulikowski: Northern York 42, Susquehanna Twp. 14: Polar Bears should be tuning up for a postseason berth against a squad that has yet to put a slash in the win column.

Steel-High at Big Spring, 7

Andy Shay: Steel-High 48, Big Spring 38: Something tells me defense is going to have a rough night in Newville, and both teams will take their shots. Rollers land more haymakers than the Bulldogs, but it’s a scrap all the way.

Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 43, Big Spring 29: Honestly, this is one of those games where I think program history and pride factor into it. I don’t think there’s a big-enough gap in talent for the Rollers to be so casually picked to win by double digits on the road; however, I think Steel-High enters this game expecting to win, while the Bulldogs expect to pull an upset. Read that last sentence carefully. It’s a different mindset, and I think that matters. However, this is one of those that if we’re all wrong, we legit owe the Big Spring faithful an apology for not believing.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 49, Big Spring 38: Sitting eighth in the 10-team district playoff picture, the postseason kind of starts here for Big Spring with a home opportunity against a state champ.

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 55, Big Spring 42: This is a big game for both clubs. For the Rollers, it keeps them in the driver’s seat for the division title — just one of many goals this club has for ‘21. For Big Spring, the Bulldogs are clinging to an elusive playoff berth.

Susquenita at Halifax, 7

Andy Shay: Susquenita 42, Halifax 7: Another struggling squad for the ‘Hawks to pick up valuable playoff points against. ‘Nita beats the teams it should, and there’s merit in that.

Geoff Morrow: Susquenita 45, Halifax 14: It’s the Wildcats’ first game since Oct. 1. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are suddenly in playoff position, and their postseason chances could come down to who wins the game listed directly below (Trinity at Middletown).

Andy Sandrik: Susquenita 35, Halifax 12: The ‘Hawks are clinging on to a playoff spot. Thankfully, this should be a comfortable must-win for ‘Nita.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquenita 45, Halifax 20: Tip of the cap to the Wildcats for fighting through all sorts of injuries, illnesses and a limited roster to get to Week No. 9. Enjoy homecoming, Wildcats.

Trinity at Middletown, 7

Andy Shay: Middletown 28, Trinity 21: Blue Raiders took a step forward last week against Boiling Springs despite the loss. That should help them against a Trinity team that is in almost every game but can’t get across the finish line when the stakes get high. That’s not a knock on the T-Rocks. Learning to win is a process. They are capable, though.

Geoff Morrow: Middletown 25, Trinity 21: Quietly but steadily, the Blue Raiders have made strides this season and have become a pretty good team. In fact, if the playoffs started today, they’d face Boiling Springs again, and I know the Bubblers want to avoid that rematch at all costs. The rebuilding Shamrocks, meanwhile, need a win to keep playoff hopes alive but haven’t yet shown they can beat a quality team on the road.

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 33, Middletown 28: Coin flip game for me. The ‘Rocks have had Steel-High on the ropes this season, while Middletown just gave Boiling Springs all it could handle.

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 35, Middletown 28: The Shamrocks have shown plenty of fight through this season but haven’t always been able to put the final nail in the coffin. Is this the week they notch a signature victory?

Tri-Valley at Shenandoah Valley, 7

Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 44, Shenandoah Valley 14: Bulldogs average more than 230 yards a game on the ground and use two or three backs who get a defense coming and going. And for fun they pop a big pass play into the equation every now and then. That grinds on a struggling team.

Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 33, Shenandoah Valley 16: While the Blue Devils have been playing significantly better football over the last month, attempting to take down the growling Bulldogs is another level they aren’t likely to reach. TV vs. WV next weekend.

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 28, Shenandoah Valley 0: The Bulldogs have already pitched four shutouts this season. I have no qualms picking them to get a fifth.

Adam Kulikowski: Tri-Valley 27, Shenandoah Valley 6: Tri-Valley’s stingy defense — yielding just 60 points all season — plus a power rushing attack equals a long night for Shenandoah.

Upper Dauphin at Fleetwood, 7

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 35, Fleetwood 21: One of the few matchups this week where each squad has a winning record. Trojans have more meat on the bone of their 6-1 mark than Fleetwood does on its 5-3 record.

Geoff Morrow: Fleetwood 28, Upper Dauphin 26: While my colleagues might not agree, I think this is among the more intriguing games on the Week 9 schedule. Trojans’ victory over Executive Education Academy last week is impressive because it was vs. a last-minute foe — one of decent quality, too — and UDA took ‘em out. The Tigers of Berks County, meanwhile, have won three straight and, with some high-quality opponents (like Wyomissing) on their schedule, won’t be intimidated by UDA’s 6-1 mark. Who makes a stop when it matters? When in doubt, go with the home side.

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 36, Fleetwood 16: Wow, the Trojans are averaging over 300 rushing yards per game, yet don’t have a single rusher who averages 100 yards. Fifteen different players have carried the ball for UD. Talk about a team effort.

Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 42, Fleetwood 14: The Trojans have held each of their opponents over the last five weeks to 14 points or less. Make that six weeks.

West Perry at Greencastle-Antrim, 7

Andy Shay: West Perry 26, Greencastle-Antrim 21: This is a tricky spot for the Mustangs. They have to bring their best to the table because anything short of it, and the Blue Devils will snatch this one no problem.

Geoff Morrow: West Perry 30, Greencastle-Antrim 19: Believe it or not, the Mustangs have won four straight in this series and have been the more reliable team throughout 2021. The Blue Devils have lost three in a row, though they’re never blown out. In a week short on interesting games, this one qualifies.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 28, Greencastle-Antrim 24: Did you know that West Perry is 3-0 when coming off a loss? Last week the Mustangs held a lead against a state-ranked team before momentum eventually shifted. I think they learn from that and win an important road game.

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 35, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Could the Mustangs host a home playoff berth in Elliottsburg? A strong finish down the stretch for a West Perry club, which currently sits fourth in the District 3 Class 3A field, would get the job done.

Williams Valley at Nativity BVM, 7

Andy Shay: Williams Valley 28, Nativity BVM 7: Sophomore RB Alex Achenbach is already over 1,100 yards in only seven games and is hitting for 150 on the ground per outing. Balance is key, and the Vikings have it. Plus only one team, Minersville, has scored more than 14 on WV.

Geoff Morrow: Williams Valley 32, Nativity BVM 13: While the Vikings stayed home after a last-minute cancellation last week, the Hilltoppers fell to .500 with a stunning OT loss to previously winless Marian Catholic. That’s not how you want to enter Williams Valley week. Plus I think WV will be hungry, with Tri-Valley awaiting in Week 10.

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 39, Nativity BVM 14: The Hilltoppers would really like to end their losing streak before it reaches three games, but it’s going to be a challenge finding a groove against a Vikings defense that has allowed an average of nine points over the last three games.

Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 37, Nativity BVM 6: The one-two punch the Vikings throw each week with QB Isaac Whiteash and RB Alex Achenbach will keep any opponent guessing. That balanced attack should be more than enough to keep the root beer flowing in Tower City Friday night.

Saturday’s Games

State College at Harrisburg, 1

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 33, State College 14: The Little Lions have dropped three of their last four, and you don’t march into Severance Field looking to right the ship and expect positive results. That almost never ends well. Cougars have the ingredients to keep a squad on the “struggle bus,” and SC is on that bus.

Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 45, State College 20: The Little Lions certainly aren’t as dangerous as we’ve come to expect. Are they capable of putting everything together and battling for 48? Maybe. But I don’t think the Cougars allow it. Not on a Saturday. Not at Severance. Not in Week 9. 

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 48, State College 21: If you were an out-of-stater watching this game, would you favor the team with 80-plus rostered players or the one with 30ish? As folks have learned this season, it’s awfully hard to just “wear down” the Cougars.

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 35, State College 24: The Cougars don’t have a ton of flash this year, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t a dangerous team as we edge toward the postseason.

POSTPONED: None.

CANCELED: None.