Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Perhaps a coronation awaits
While Kurt Condo’s front-line players may have started planning for Week 10 adversary Susquenita at halftime of Juniata’s dismantling of James Buchanan — the Indians led 42-0 at the break, and that’s how it ended — the lengthy bus ride from Mercersburg home also might have featured plenty of pointed chatter. Especially since Juniata (7-2, 5-0) can wrap up the Mid-Penn Liberty Division title by defeating Susquenita (5-3, 4-1) in Cove, possibly sealing a journey through Mifflintown on the back of a fire truck. Condo’s Indians have won their last five — three straight by shutout, but who’s counting — behind a multi-pronged ground game and some helmet-rattling defense.
Seth Laub uncorked a pair of 100-yard efforts leading up to the JB whitewash, but last weekend it was Waylon Ehrenzeller who sparked the run-heavy attack by posting 82 yards and four touchdowns on just seven tries. If Augie Glass’ Blackhawks worry too much about those two, Zachary Harr will cause problems once he finds space with the ball in his hands or as a potential receiver. D-linemen Trent Martin and Jon Kauffman anchor things up front when the other fellas have the ball, and they each had two sacks last weekend. Martin and inside linebacker Ehrenzeller paced the Indians with six stops, one fewer than Makih Hunt. While Juniata will be the No. 1 seed in the District 6 Class 4A playoffs, Susquenita is trying to gain entry to the District 3 Class 2A field by hanging on to the No. 4 spot. The Blackhawks have won two straight, including last weekend’s 70-18 crunching of Halifax.
Running back Mason Figard cleared the 100-yard mark for the first time in his high school career — he also scored twice — while QB Derek Gibney threw for 100-plus yards for an opportunistic Blackhawks group that scored in just about every way imaginable against Halifax. And lest we forget, a Susquenita win will give Glass’ bunch a share of the Liberty Division championship.
Trojans hoping to remain in form
Unleashing its high-powered attack last weekend in Berks County, Kent Smeltz’s Upper Dauphin Trojans (7-1, 3-1) extended their winning streak to six by clocking Fleetwood 46-29. Christian Snyder accounted for 178 yards from scrimmage, rushing 19 times for 124 yards and four touchdowns while catching three passes for 54 more. He also paced the Trojan defense with six tackles. QB Wil Laskowski continued his progression by running nine times for 68 yards and completing eight of his nine pass attempts for 119 yards and a TD throw to Aiden Wiest. All told, UDA piled up 507 offensive yards.
The Trojans also registered seven tackles for loss — Dillon Johns led with two — one sack and Laskowski swiped two passes. Todd Rothermel’s Newport outfit (2-7, 2-3) has been heading in the opposite direction unfortunately, as the Buffaloes dropped a 13-10 decision to Line Mountain despite 116 rushing yards and one score from junior Aiden Dishman. The ‘Port trailed 13-0 at the half, but played lights out in the third quarter, slicing a double-digit deficit to three on Gage Wirth’s field goal.
Buffs defensive coordinator George Miskinis may need to dial up something special in order to slow down the Trojans, but preparing for UDA in a week’s time is an unbelievably difficult proposition — particularly since Smeltz’s Trojans have their sights set on playing for a District 3 Class 2A championship in two weeks.
Line Mountain hoping to make it two straight
Frustrated throughout the first eight weeks of the season by a sputtering offense and several close setbacks, Line Mountain (1-7, 1-3) finally broke through last week by fending off Newport 13-10. Soph running back Nolan Baumert rushed for 140 yards and one touchdown, while freshman QB Blake Readinger fired a 59-yard TD pass to Aidan Herb to put Brandon Carson’s Eagles on the board first.
What’s next is a visit from James Buchanan (1-7, 1-4), which sports a six-game losing streak after tumbling 42-0 to Juniata. Line Mountain also picked up several sparkling efforts defensively as inside backer Beau Keim recorded 18 tackles, 3.5 stops for loss and sacked the quarterback once. Chandon Maurer added 10 tackles, but it was his tip of a Mason Messick pass in the closing minute that preserved the Eagles’ first win. Yari Johnson and Quinn Dunkelberger shared 17 more stops, while Baumert picked off Messick in the opening half. … Halifax (1-6) will try to close out 2021 on a positive note when the Wildcats visit winless Midd-West (0-9).
Carter Enders threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns in last weekend’s 70-18 loss to Susquenita, completing 16 of his 31 pass attempts. Eleven of Enders’ throws were hauled in by Peter Ranck, who piled up 162 receiving yards and scored twice.
Andy Shay: Shippensburg 21, Greencastle-Antrim 10: You won’t catch the Greyhounds looking forward and getting surprised by the Blue Devils. There is a lot of fight in G-A, but Ship has easily countered teams that bring their very best to the table.
Geoff Morrow: Shippensburg 26, Greencastle-Antrim 15: First, kudos to the Blue Devils for snapping a three-game skid and winning one of the wildest games of the year last week. Second, I think the Greyhounds are ready for the playoffs to begin, as the Colonial cannot contain them. A win likely earns Ship a first-round playoff bye, too.
Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 33, Greencastle-Antrim 13: Ship has made a habit of making good teams look bad, and I don’t see Greencastle bucking that trend.
Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 28, Greencastle-Antrim 17: Congratulations to the Greyhounds, your outright Colonial Division champions.
Friday’s Games
Altoona at State College, 7
Andy Shay: State College 21, Altoona 17: Pretty sure that District 6 title game win by the Mountain Lions a year ago is part of the conversation this week inside the State College meeting rooms. This one is a toss-up in my book all the way. Calling State College to come from behind and snatch the win!
Geoff Morrow: State College 24, Altoona 21: I generally believe the “revenge” factor is overrated, but I have little doubt the Little Lions snarl when remembering last year’s District 6 Class 6A championship loss to the Mountain Lions. Altoona erased a two-TD deficit in the final 8 minutes, then won its first district title in 18 years on a 2-point conversion with 1:22 remaining. If that heartbreak doesn’t motivate you, nothing will.
Andy Sandrik: Altoona 28, State College 21: I’m going to go against the grain with the experts here and take Altoona. The Mountain Lions beat State College last season, and they know they can do it again.
Adam Kulikowski: State College 28, Altoona 21: The Little Lions are getting healthy at just the right time to upset the applecart.
Big Spring at Middletown, 7
Andy Shay: Big Spring 34, Middletown 20: No rest for the Bulldogs after tipping over the applecart by rolling previously unbeaten Steel-High by 35. Will require the same effort and precision because the Blue Raiders are playing their best ball of the season and have put some puzzle pieces together.
Geoff Morrow: Big Spring 28, Middletown 21: I said last week that if Big Spring defied our four “expert” picks and knocked off unbeaten Steel-High, we owed the Bulldogs an apology. Well, you earned it. We apologize and should have believed in you. But, seriously, that triumph last weekend is the biggest regular-season win for Big Spring I can remember. Following up against red-hot Middletown will not be easy, but if we pick against the Bulldogs again, none of us will be allowed in Newville ever again.
Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 45, Middletown 28: If you told me in the preseason that Big Spring was going to blow out Steel-High this year, I would have laughed. Loudly. Fast forward to Week 10, where the Bulldogs sure seem like a formidable favorite on the road.
Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 35, Middletown 28: Both teams just might be playing their best football of the season — that’s how you draw it up in training camp, right? Give me the gents who took down the Rollers a week ago in a drubbing.
Carlisle at CD East, 7
Andy Shay: CD East 21, Carlisle 14: Carlisle will be in this game because the Thundering Herd believe they belong this year. CD East doesn’t give games away and is very confident in what it is doing and doesn’t get rattled. If Carlisle loses this one, I’m still rooting for the Herd to be a playoff team.
Geoff Morrow: CD East 27, Carlisle 20: I don’t know that it’s impossible for the Herd to qualify for the District 3 Class 6A playoffs with a loss (especially if Hempfield loses to Penn Manor), but Carlisle needs a win to guarantee its first playoff berth since 2015. The Panthers, though, are headed to the postseason for the first time since 2017 and have earned the right to be favorites.
Andy Sandrik: CD East 21, Carlisle 7: The Panthers are 7-0 in games where opponents score 21 points or less. Carlisle has its best squad in years, but I’m not sure the Herd offense can break that 21-point barrier against this East defense.
Adam Kulikowski: CD East 28, Carlisle 21: Look, the Thundering Herd NEED this game to reach the postseason, so you know they are going to pull out every trick in the book to get out of The Speedway with the W. This one should be close, but the Panthers just seem to have a few more playmakers.
Central Dauphin at Cumberland Valley, 7
Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 28, Cumberland Valley 24: I like what the quarterbacks in this game bring to the table. I see this as a 60-40 game in terms of CD winning. The window is going to be tight. The Rams have a few more weapons in their arsenal, and that’s the difference maker in my book.
Geoff Morrow: Cumberland Valley 23, Central Dauphin 21: Hey, if CV pulls what could be considered a minor upset here, and Carlisle and Hempfield both lose, the playoffs seem within the realm of possibility for the Eagles. But I don’t have 12 math degrees, so I can’t — and won’t — try to do the actual power ranking arithmetic to figure this out. I just know that it’s tough to predict most CD vs. CV tussles.
Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 35, Central Dauphin 27: This game isn’t exactly the district championship preview we’ve seen in years past, but make no mistake, there are plenty of playoff implications that come with this contest.
Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 35, Cumberland Valley 28: The Eagles have an outside shot at a postseason berth — and that says a lot about the direction this team is headed.
Halifax at Midd-West, 7
Andy Shay: Halifax 20, Midd-West 12: It’s been a rough year on many fronts for both of these clubs. Just getting to the finish line has been a real struggle. Wildcats get to sip root beer from the victory mug.
Geoff Morrow: Halifax 18, Midd-West 13: While the one-win Wildcats have struggled with numbers throughout the season, the winless Mustangs have barely been competitive. Both teams are looking at this as a chance to end the season on a high note.
Andy Sandrik: Midd-West 21, Halifax 20: I know it’s been a rough season for the Mustangs, but with a full nine games under their belt, you’ve got to believe Midd-West has a puncher’s chance at home.
Adam Kulikowski: Halifax 28, Midd-West 14: Tip of the cap to the Wildcats on what must have felt like running an ultramarathon with the numbers with which they entered the season. Hoping a more robust crew emerges in the offseason to build reinforcements.
Harrisburg at Chambersburg, 7
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 34, Chambersburg 7: Wasn’t the best we’ve seen of the Cougars last week, but State College had something to say about that. Still, it was a win. And the momentum continues. Harrisburg won’t struggle in back-to-back games.
Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 35, Chambersburg 14: Barring a hometown miracle, the Trojans will end this season on a seven-game losing streak. The Cougars, meanwhile, will clinch the Mid-Penn Commonwealth crown with a victory and wrap up a top-two seed in the upcoming District 3 Class 6A playoffs.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 50, Chambersburg 7: Expected rain shouldn’t slow the Cougars down on Chambersburg’s beautiful turf field.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 45, Chambersburg 14: Harrisburg holds the keys to a home playoff game as the current No. 2 seed in 6A. No let down on tap from these Cougars.
Hershey at Bishop McDevitt, 7
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 49, Hershey 0: In some respects, you could easily say this has been a little bit of a grind for the Crusaders navigating the Keystone Division portion of their schedule. Every single game is a blowout. Hershey struggles to score, and McDevitt will not.
Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 67, Hershey 7: Not only will this be the Crusaders’ eighth straight win, it will be their eighth straight mercy-rule win. This 2021 Keystone Division slate can’t end soon enough.
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 63, Hershey 0: I know the Crusaders can only play the opponents that line up across from them, but, man, this season in the Keystone has been a yawn-fest. I’m excited to see McDevitt’s true potential in the postseason.
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 64, Hershey 7: Only question in this one is when do the Crusaders pull the starters with the playoffs on tap.
James Buchanan at Line Mountain, 7
Andy Shay: Line Mountain 33, James Buchanan 14: The season doesn’t seem quite so long and as much of a struggle when you close with a pair of wins after losing week after week after week. The Eagles have earned this.
Geoff Morrow: Line Mountain 39, James Buchanan 15: Break out the Eagles, who have a very real chance to end an otherwise forgettable campaign with two straight wins.
Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 35, James Buchanan 13: What better way to end your season than with a home game against the Rockets?
Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 28, James Buchanan 14: Nice to see a little spark from the Eagles at the end of the season. Closing out a tough season with a second win would be huge for the gents in Herndon.
Juniata at Susquenita, 7
Andy Shay: Juniata 20, Susquenita 7: This is a more level playing field and, in those games, the Blackhawks have struggled a bit. Juniata’s defense is a machine, and points are nearly impossible to come by. That continues here.
Geoff Morrow: Juniata 22, Susquenita 14: Even if they lose, the Blackhawks are a good bet to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2012. Meanwhile, the Indians haven’t allowed a single point since Oct. 1. They also haven’t played a quality opponent since Sept. 24, so they might forget what it means to be smacked.
Andy Sandrik: Juniata 21, Susquenita 7: No doubt about it, the ‘Hawks are confident after rolling up 112 points in two games, but this Juniata defense is no joke and will be looking to pitch its fourth consecutive shutout.
Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 28, Susquenita 20: Amazing to see what the Indians have been able to accomplish after star QB Jacob Condo went down in the West Perry game.
Mechanicsburg at East Pennsboro, 7
Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 27, East Pennsboro 20: If you are talking about the 2021 Wildcats, then you are talking about a tight squeeze all the way, right? Win here and earn a playoff berth in a year when a LOT had to be different? That speaks volumes.
Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 23, East Pennsboro 19: The Wildcats only seem to play close games. Can’t be good for the coach and parental blood pressure. But, hey, a team that’s tested will be headed to the District 3 Class 5A playoffs when this is over.
Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 24, Mechanicsburg 21: East Penn’s inconsistencies have been well documented this season, but I’m curious to see how much the Wildcats have left in the tank after having their hearts ripped out by Waynesboro with a split-second remaining in last week’s game.
Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 28, East Pennsboro 21: I never quite know what to expect from the Panthers. As my cronies stated above, the Wildcats have plenty to play for with a postseason berth within reach.
Mifflin County at Cedar Cliff, 7
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 48, Mifflin County 13: The focus this week for the Colts is getting what you need on offense and getting the defense in a better place moving forward. This is a working opportunity, so take advantage of it.
Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 55, Mifflin County 20: We know the Colts can rack up yardage and put points on the scoreboard; but before they open the District 3 Class 5A playoffs, they need to clean up a few things on the defensive side, or the postseason will be a short one.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 49, Mifflin County 12: Finish strong. Finish healthy. Those should be Cedar Cliff’s two main goals in the regular season finale.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 48, Mifflin County 21: Another tough season for the Huskies concludes without much success on the scoreboard. For the Colts, this has to be a tuneup for what Colin Gillen and crew hope to be an extended run in the 5A postseason.
Newport at Upper Dauphin, 7
Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 39, Newport 7: This is all about tuning up the engine for the second season, and that should not be a problem for a Trojans squad that is consistent on a weekly basis and flourishes in chaos.
Geoff Morrow: Upper Dauphin 40, Newport 14: Impressive road win at Fleetwood last week for the Trojans, who will enter the upcoming District 3 Class 2A semifinal vs. Columbia on a seven-game winning streak after hunting Buffalo this weekend.
Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 45, Newport 6: As dominant as the Trojans have been this season, they’re still looking for their first shutout. Newport seems like a prime candidate.
Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 45, Newport 14: Six Trojans have accumulated more than 200 yards rushing this year — nearly 2,600 as a team.
Palmyra at Lower Dauphin, 7
Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 29, Palmyra 21: This is an interesting scrap, with the more boxed-up Falcons knowing what they have to do in order to succeed against the more combustible Cougars. Defense for the Falcons might be the hidden key here.
Geoff Morrow: Lower Dauphin 25, Palmyra 20: Give it up for the Falcons, who’ve won three straight competitive games to move into playoff position in Class 5A. One more win against a formidable foe in the Cougars, and LD is dancing in the postseason for the first time since 2015.
Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 14, Palmyra 7: This Palmyra team kind of reminds me of my senior year at West Perry, when we got off to an awful start, but gained traction and won four of our last five games with an explosive offense. Our only loss during that stretch came to Northern in the pouring rain. If you’ve checked the weather for Friday, it’s going to be raining all day. Advantage: Lower Dauphin.
Adam Kulikowski: Palmyra 28, Lower Dauphin 27: I believe the Falcons are the favorites to win this scrap. Richie Kowalski, however, is an X-factor who could help tip the scale toward the Cougars.
Pine Grove at Marian Catholic, 7
Andy Shay: Marian Catholic 26, Pine Grove 13: This has been an uphill climb all year for the Cardinals. Although this matchup has some elements of being on equal footing, MC has won two straight, and confidence matters.
Geoff Morrow: Marian Catholic 20, Pine Grove 14: The Colts, winless just weeks ago, could close the season with three straight wins. The one-win Cardinals, meanwhile, just want something to celebrate. There’s a chance here.
Andy Sandrik: Marian Catholic 22, Pine Grove 7: Winning breeds winning. That’s what’s happening in Tamaqua as the Mustangs are looking to end a previously winless season on a three-game winning streak.
Adam Kulikowski: Pine Grove 21, Marian Catholic 20: This might be a homer pick, but I’m pulling for the Cardinals to end the season on a high note.
Red Land at Milton Hershey, 7
Andy Shay: Red Land 33, Milton Hershey 27: I respect how much is asked of Spartans RB Dion Bryant and the results he’s delivered. It’s a LOT. And Red Land knows it’s coming and won’t be able to fully contain him. But the Patriots have more options and haven’t had trouble finding ways to get some.
Geoff Morrow: Red Land 29, Milton Hershey 22: This would probably be described as a disappointing season for both programs, though less so for the Spartans who, remember, didn’t play at all in 2020. The Patriots’ only two wins are shutouts. While I don’t think another shutout is in the cards, I do think Red Land can close with a road victory.
Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 35, Red Land 27: It’s been a coulda, woulda, shoulda type of season for both teams, but with Dion Bryant on Milton Hershey’s squad, this story can have a happy ending for the Spartans.
Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 28, Red Land 27: Closing games has been a challenge for the Patriots this season, and this one should be close coming down to the wire. Give the edge to the Spartans.
Susquehanna Twp. at West Perry, 7
Andy Shay: West Perry 33, Susquehanna Twp. 7: ‘Hanna has had trouble staying competitive, and this is the end of the rope. That’s always a tough scenario. And the Mustangs are juiced despite a crazy OT loss last week, and they always bring plenty of dog to the fight.
Geoff Morrow: West Perry 28, Susquehanna Twp. 13: Even at just 4-5, the Mustangs are still on track to host a District 3 Class 3A playoff game. But this is a worthy team that fights and competes and knows how to score. Young ‘Hanna, though, is facing a winless campaign and will post back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in a long time.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 35, Susquehanna Twp. 14: Life is not easy for the Mustangs in this meat-grinder Colonial Division, but the battles they’ve fought will pay dividends in the playoffs after they get through winless Township this week.
Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 28, Susquehanna Twp. 14: A challenging season comes to an end for the Indians while the Mustangs are hoping to host a playoff game.
Trinity at Camp Hill, 7
Andy Shay: Trinity 40, Camp Hill 20: The T-Rocks have been more up-and-down than most, but change isn’t easy, and there are more bright spots when you peek into the near future under a new regime. The struggle has been very real for the Lions on many fronts. This is a rivalry game, though.
Geoff Morrow: Trinity 37, Camp Hill 21: The poor Lions have just been getting thumped by the upper-tier Mid-Penn Capital crew over the last four weeks, while the Shamrocks’ up-and-down rebuilding season has provided glimpses of a rosy view of the future under first-year head coach Jordan Hill.
Andy Sandrik: Trinity 45, Camp Hill 7: I’m just not seeing this being a close game. While the Shamrocks have had down-to-the-wire games against Capital studs Big Spring and Steel-High, Camp Hill hasn’t been nearly as effective in its matchups with the Bulldogs and Rollers.
Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 45, Camp Hill 20: The final results haven’t always shown the fight that the Shamrocks illustrated this year. But this is a team that has plenty to be proud of in ‘21.
Tri-Valley at Williams Valley, 7
Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 28, Williams Valley 20: This is vintage small-school, town-team football at its finest. A couple of one-loss squads that know exactly what they need to do and aren’t afraid to take chances. This pick is literally a wild guess at best. Box-of-chocolates game for me. No idea what’s going to happen. The best kind, right?
Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 27, Williams Valley 26: Valley vs. Valley. 7-1 vs. 7-1. Four-game winning streak vs. four-game winning streak. The Vikings have won three straight in the series, but in this coin-flip contest. I’m going with the Bulldogs on a late touchdown. This is, by far, 4th Down Magazine’s BEST game of Week 10.
Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 27, Williams Valley 14: The Vikings are back to their usual winning ways, but Tri-Valley won’t be scared when the game kicks off. Give me the Bulldogs’ defense, which has pitched five shutouts over its last seven games, to decide this contest.
Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 28, Tri-Valley 21: If you have five Sacagaweas, punch a ticket to this one. If you have five more, buy yourself a 50-50 ticket and take a stab at what might be a cool ‘G’ in winnings from the packed house watching two of the best small-school Schuylkill League clubs.
Waynesboro at Northern York, 7
Andy Shay: Waynesboro 21, Northern 7: Couple of squads bound for the second season get to start the next level a week early. I’m a big fan of defense having a big-time say in this result.
Geoff Morrow: Waynesboro 27, Northern 21: Two pretty darn good programs — both ticketed for the District 3 playoffs — meet for what is essentially the Mid-Penn Colonial’s runner-up trophy. This year, that is no small feat. Good luck to both in the postseason.
Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 14, Northern 7: Rain-soaked Bostic Field is not a fun place to play, but I actually like the smashmouth Indians to excel in this environment.
Adam Kulikowski: Northern 28, Waynesboro 21: Two quality clubs thinking of bigger accomplishments in the second season. The Polar Bears, to me, still seem a bit underrated.
Saturday’s Games
Boiling Springs at Steel-High, 1
Andy Shay: Boiling Springs 35, Steel-High 20: There is a script for the Bubblers, and they don’t stray very far off the reservation. That’s tough for a team that needs possessions to impact a game. Boiling Springs like to grind on the clock and keep the chains chugging along. The Bubblers, two years removed from an 0-10 season that this senior class experienced, are keen on winning a division crown outright. And that’s what is at stake here.
Geoff Morrow: Boiling Springs 33, Steel-High 28: This is suddenly such a difficult game to predict. The Rollers’ roll through the regular season ended with a thud last week at Big Spring. So what happens next? The Bubblers, who can clinch the outright Capital Division crown with a win, aren’t exactly the right opponent on which to find easy answers. Then again, this is a late October afternoon on Cottage Hill, so Steel-High might rebound in impressive fashion. Nothing here would surprise me.
Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 28, Steel-High 21: I think we all expected a good, hard losing effort from Big Spring against Steel-High last week. Then the Bulldogs blew out the Rollers. That makes Boiling Springs, which outclassed Big Spring in Week 7, the favorite here, no?
Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 35, Boiling Springs 33: Big Spring last week punched the Rollers in the mouth. That shocked just about everyone. How will the Rollers respond in a game where they are no longer the favorite?
Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Big game for the Rollers
Something tells me we are going to learn a lot about this 2021 Steel-High squad this week. It was a pretty smooth and comfortable ride until last week. Oh, there was a speed bump or two. Trinity, for example, but nothing really to shake this team. And then Big Spring dropped a 35-point victory bomb in the Rollers’ lap. Was that a one-week thing?
Well, another full-metal-jacket test awaits the defending PIAA Class 1A champions Saturday when one-loss Boiling Springs pays a visit to Cottage Hill. Some Rollers fans might argue Steel-High needs to bounce back and win this game to get back on stable ground. I 100% disagree. Show up and give a good accounting of yourself. Even before the result last week, I saw the Rollers as a clear-cut underdog in this game all along. Make it a game. Another blowout loss and the apple cart is suddenly on shaky ground when it comes to big-picture goals.
Big Spring gets no rest
No rest for the weary who pulled off the most shocking result of the regular season. Of course I’m talking about Big Spring. Beating Steel-High is not the reason I see it as such a shocking result. It’s the 35-point difference and holding the Rollers to only 14 points.
THAT is the real shocker. Anyway, the Bulldogs better not have the least little hangover with a postseason berth on the line. Big Spring hits the road to play a Middletown team that has found its game and is playing its best football of the season. The work for the Bulldogs is far from done. They have the pieces to win this game and are the favorite in my eyes. Middletown will not make it easy, though.
Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
A win away from perfection
Shippensburg has one final hurdle to clear to post an undefeated regular season. It’s a sticky game with a tough-to-beat Greencastle-Antrim side that finds ways to stick its nose into games and stay competitive despite a 4-5 record. And the Blue Devils still have playoff aspirations to go along with that upset as they currently sit only one spot below the yellow line at No. 11 in Class 4A.
The Greyhounds have been consistent and methodical if nothing else against quality teams this year. And that won’t change here. You can expect Greencastle-Antrim to make some noise at times, but over 48 minutes Ship makes a big ask of a Colonial Division opponent.
Get your tickets!
One of the best games in the entire conference to close out the regular season will be at Bostic Field in Dillsburg. The 6-2 Polar Bears will play host to the 7-2 Waynesboro Indians. Both squads are almost assured of making the second season in their respective classifications. The Indians might harbor hopes of a home game in the first round, but that is an outside shot at best even with a win. This will be a good one.
Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Morris the real MVP
I’m well aware Bishop McDevitt has more talented skill players than anybody else. And they have been impressive over the course of eight games. And that depth and level of talent will be a weapon when the second season rolls around. But based on the regular season, my vote for Keystone Division MVP goes to Cedar Cliff RB Jontae Morris.
Not because he’s the “best” player in the division, but because he’s performed at such a high level his value to the Colts has become off the charts. He was coming back from a knee injury and needed a few weeks to settle in and get comfortable. The Colts offense allowed that to happen by throwing the ball more early on to win games. Once he was comfortable in his own football skin toting the rock he took over this offense. He’s rumbled for more than 1,400 yards, has 200-plus carries and 19 touchdowns in nine games. Last week he went for 331 and three scores with a staggering 39 carries. That’s riding a horse right there. He’s my runaway winner.
Falcons need a win, help
Can Lower Dauphin hang on? The upstart Falcons, who didn’t win a game last season, currently reside in the 14th and final playoff spot in Class 5A with 5-4 Palmyra paying a visit to the Concrete Palace. The Cougars are 18th in the power rankings, and like LD are dragging a very low OPW (opponent’s winning percentage) to the table.
I think the Falcons need to beat the Cougars to ensure they get a second season game. The Cougars have to knock off the Falcons and get some help. Either way, these two teams being mentioned with the playoffs was not something anyone expected in August. Well done!
Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Commonwealth Division
Cougars creep closer
Harrisburg is on the cusp of winning the Commonwealth crown outright and halting the two-year run by Central Dauphin. The Cougars only need to take care of business with what else: a road game at Chambersburg. It’s sort of fitting this Harrisburg team will be on the road one final time this season.
That air-tight win over State College was a mild surprise, but getting the result sometimes is enough to keep the momentum rolling. The consistent production of this team over the long haul with a small roster has been impressive. They are good in so many ways that isn’t typical of a Harrisburg team. And that’s what makes them so hard to beat.
Herd face must-win
I don’t think Carlisle can beat CD East this week to nail down a District 3 Class 6A playoff berth. The Thundering Herd are capable of winning this game if they get some help from the Panthers. And CD East has been extremely consistent all season on too many fronts. They aren’t a very “giving” 7-2 squad. Outside of upsetting the Panthers, I have trouble seeing the Herd at 6-4 overall qualifying for the second season.
And that’s a shame. It still could happen, but they would need a LOT of help. Right now, Carlisle occupies the eighth and final spot. The problem lies in their OWP (opponent’s winning percentage). It’s the second lowest of any team in the Top 10 of the power rankings behind only No. 1-seed Central York. When you are on the bubble and scraping to find a way in, that OWP number really matters.
If Cumberland Valley springs an upset of Central Dauphin to get to 5-5 overall, the Eagles have a better outside shot at the postseason than a 6-4 Carlisle team because the Herd’s OPW is so much lower than the Eagles’.
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.
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.
Wyomissing
8-0
9
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.
Shippensburg
9-0
8
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 Dauphin
5-2
6
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 Central
8-1
NR
Welcome the Barons back to the rankings. MC has scored 105 points with back-to-back shutouts in its last eight quarters.
6.
Exeter Township
6-3
7
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 East
7-2
5
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 McDevitt
7-1
4
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.
Harrisburg
8-1
3
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 York
8-0
2
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 Mifflin
7-0
1
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.
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.
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.
