Dillon Wakefield, sr., FB/LB, Big Spring — A huge night for Wakefield that continued a promising season for Wakefield and the Bulldogs. The bruising runner grounded up Trinity for 264 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries in a 42-33 home victory for the likely playoff-bound ‘Dogs. Wakefield opened his scoring with a 7-yard TD to cut a 10-0 deficit to three points and a 4-yarder to cut it to 17-14. He then boosted Big Spring’s second-half lead with a 15-yard score and a 58-yarder to finish off the Shamrocks.
Jontae Morris, sr., RB, Cedar Cliff — As part of a 502-yard Colts’ offensive outburst, Morris recorded his second 200-yard night of the season with 219 stripes and three scores (covering 26, 2 and 9 yards) in a 42-14 victory over Palmyra. The senior toted the rock 26 times for the 6-2 Colts. Morris crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season as well and currently sits at 1,152 with 16 TDs.
Stone Saunders, fr., QB, Bishop McDevitt — The result (63-0 over Milton Hershey) was never in question, but Saunders sure took advantage of a team-wide mismatch to throw a career-high seven touchdowns on seven completions, going 7-of-9 for 393 yards. In order, he threw TDs of 32 yards (to Rico Scott), 79 yards (Kamil Foster), 37 yards (Scott), 51 yards (Foster), 38 yards (Jeffrey Penn), 38 yards (Marquese Williams) and 59 yards (Scott). Foster finished with 145 yards and Scott added 128.
Aiden Mencia, sr., RB, Waynesboro — Waynesboro shut down East Pennsboro 28-3 thanks to the two-headed attack of Jaylan Bean and Mencie. The latter finished with 155 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) on 23 carries. Mencia’s first score came before halftime to make it 7-3 Waynesboro on a 10-yard pass, his only reception, from Bean. Then Mencia added a 28-yard TD in the fourth.
Braden Landis, sr., QB, Lower Dauphin — The Falcons resurgence remains alive and well, with Landis leading the charge. The senior propelled LD to an entertaining 34-28 victory over Red Land to keep the Falcons’ (4-3, 3-2 Keystone) playoff chances alive as well. He finished an efficient 12-of-17 for 197 yards and four touchdowns, adding another 38 yards on 11 carries. Landis’s four touchdowns went for 5, 20, 38 and 59 yards, two each to Ty Millhimes and Charlie Fortney.
Sam Sklar, sr., WR, Red Land — Gotta give credit to this blossoming Patriots passing game for keeping the team in Friday’s 34-28 loss to Lower Dauphin. While his quarterback went for 259 passing yards (19-of-30), Sklar was on the receiving end of nearly half of the production, going for nine receptions, 157 yards and two TDs — covering 71 and 36 yards.
Marcel McDaniels Jr., sr., RB, CD East — Four runners cracked the 200-yard mark this week, with McDaniels Jr. among them. The talented back ran Chambersburg off Landis Field in a 40-7 win, finishing with 205 stripes on 23 carries to put him over the 1,000-yard plateau for the season. He scored a third-quarter TD from 4 yards out to further put the Panthers (6-2, 4-1 Commonwealth) out of reach.
Max Mosey, sr., QB, Central Dauphin — Altoona had no answer for Mosey in a 52-48 Rams (5-1, 4-0 Commonwealth) win. The senior carved up the Mountain Lions through the air (259 yards, 17-of-26 passing) and on the ground (206 yards, 26 carries), becoming the fourth Mid-Penn player this week to crack 200 ground yards. Mosey, whose lone blemish was an interception, scored all six of his touchdowns with his legs, including the game winner with 28 seconds left from 7 yards out.
Justin Cook, sr., WR/DB, Harrisburg — There have been lots of big passing and rushing performances this week, but how about a big defensive performance? Cook got his on offense — four catches, 41 yards — but he made the biggest impact in a 45-7 rout of Cumberland Valley on the other side of the ball. Cook pulled down two interceptions, including an impressive 102-yard pick-6 that ended the third quarter. It was one of three Cougars (7-1, 4-0 Commonwealth) TDs scored off turnovers in this one.
Seth Laub, so, FB/LB, Juniata — While the Indians have been getting lots and lots of props for their splendid defensive performances — and Laub’s been a part of that — just check out what this guy did last weekend with a limited number of touches. Try 135 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on nine carries. And while Laub’s 67-yard burst midway through the opening quarter provided Juniata with a 7-0 lead, he also scored from 15 yards out early in the final stanza to close out the Indians’ fourth straight victory.
Small School: 3A-1A:
Tyrone Moore, sr., WR/DB, Steel-High — Alex Erby has gotten plenty of pub this season, deservedly so, so let’s give this one to one of his favorite targets from the weekend. Moore was on the receiving end of three of Erby’s five touchdown passes — Erby finished with 391 yards — in a 67-22 shootout win over Camp Hill to push the undefeated Rollers to 7-0 (3-0 Capital).
Ian Goodling, so., WR, West Perry — It came in a 48-14 loss to unbeaten Shippensburg, but Goodling stole the show early with a pair of long touchdowns that briefly gave the Mustangs a 14-7 lead. Those scores covered 85 and 55 yards, and he added both extra points. The Greyhounds’ defense locked down after that, but Goodling still finished with five catches for 173 yards.
Nolan Baumert, so., RB/DB, Line Mountain — Although Brandon Carson’s struggling Eagles suffered even more heartbreak over the weekend — a 20-19 loss at North Penn-Mansfield that was decided by a touchdown that came on a successful fourth-and-long conversion — Baumert was charged up throughout his stay in Pennsylvania’s Northern Tier. Baumert rushed 17 times for 175 yards, pushing Carson’s bunch in front early in the third quarter on a 29-yard TD run.
Wil Laskowski, sr., QB/DB, Upper Dauphin — Back on the ballot for a second straight week, Laskowski accounted for a bunch of points as the Trojans motored past Executive Education 38-14. Laskowski rushed 16 times for 57 yards, scoring three times in the opening half as UDA opened a 30-6 advantage. Laskowski also completed three of his four pass attempts for 70 yards — including a 29-yard TD toss to Aiden Wiest. As if that wasn’t enough, Laskowski also scored three times on successful two-point conversions as UDA won its fifth straight outing.
Carson Lengle, fr., QB, Pine Grove — Forced to throw throughout the Cardinals’ 31-14 loss at Catasauqua, Lengle completed 13 of his school-record 30 attempts for a school-record 288 yards. Although he was picked off four times in the Colonial-Schuylkill White encounter, Lengle did throw a pair of scoring passes to erstwhile Pine Grove QB Mason Kroh. Kroh hauled in seven of Lengle’s throws, totaling 155 yards on that bundle of catches.
Bryce McKee, so., RB/DB, Susquenita — Getting his first extended action at the running back position, McKee rushed 17 times for 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Blackhawks overwhelmed James Buchanan 42-7. McKee’s scores covered 4 and 66 yards as ‘Nita opened a 42-0 lead at the halftime break, but he also caught two passes for 50 yards — including a 27-yard score that was part of the Blackhawks’ first-half eruption.
Jake Scheib, jr., FB/DL, Tri-Valley — Scheib provided the oomph in Tri-Valley’s potent one-two attack, rushing 10 times for 100 yards and three touchdowns. Scheib converted on rushes of 17, 44 and 2 yards as the Bulldogs muscled past Panther Valley 49-0. Last weekend’s triumph — with Williams Valley idle — lifted Tri-Valley into sole possession of the Colonial-Schuylkill Blue Division lead with two regular-season weekends remaining.
Kameron Wetzel, jr., RB, Tri-Valley — As for the flashy part of Tri-Valley’s productive running game, that distinction falls to the energetic Wetzel. He didn’t touch the football all that often in the Bulldogs’ 49-0 conquest of Panther Valley, but he made every one of them count. Wetzel, in fact, carried the ball just seven times yet piled up 154 yards. Although he didn’t lug a kickoff to the house for the third straight weekend, his lone touchdown against the outmatched Panthers came on a 77-yard scamper.
Cedar Cliff coach Colin Gillen didn’t mind sporting a new head piece Friday night at West Shore Stadium after the Colts’ 42-14 victory against Palmyra.
Not after his team rebounded from last week’s loss to Bishop McDevitt Friday night at West Shore Stadium.
That’s the result of a friendly wager between Gillen and stud running back Jontae Morris that vested when the Colts surpassed 40 points.
Morris certainly did his part to ensure that sparking do-rag sat atop Gillen’s dome, rushing for 219 and three scores while Ethan Dorrell added three more passing TDs to accompany his 233 stripes through the air to pace the Colts (6-2, 4-1) past the Panthers (4-4, 3-2).
That’s two-time 4th Down Small School Player of the Week Brady Evans to you.
Williams Valley’s impressive wide receiver is the first 4DM repeat POTW champ this season after putting together one of the top receiving lines of last week. The junior hauled in five passes for 121 yards, scoring twice, in the Vikings’ 35-7 win over Marian Catholic. Williams Valley improved to 6-1 (4-0 Colonial-Schuylkill) with its third straight victory.
The performance adds to an already impressive season for Evans, who now has a team-best 28 catches, 471 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 16.8 yards a grab.
Evans was last POTW two weeks ago with an eight-catch, 149-yard, two-TD performance. That week he earned a 4DM best 4,354 votes.
This week’s numbers weren’t quite as jaw-dropping, but Evans’ fans still showed out with 1,513 votes for the junior. That was 39% of the 3,872 votes cast this week and a good step better than Upper Dauphin QB Wil Laskowski (1,072 votes, 28%).
Evans and the Vikings return home Friday for a Week 8 tilt against 2-4 Shenandoah Valley before closing the season against Nativity BVM and Tri-Valley.
Waynesboro has thrived this season on a two-headed running attack that has produced more than 1,100 yards and 19 touchdowns (and nearly 1,900 yards and 27 TDs in total).
Some weeks its junior Mikel Holden putting up the big numbers. Other weeks, like in Week 7’s 52-7 thumping of Susquehanna Township, it’s senior Aidan Mencia.
Mencia shined in Friday’s victory, running for 96 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries in the Indians’ fourth Mid-Penn Colonial victory, earning himself this week’s 4th Down Big School Player of the Week. Most of the damage was done in the first half. (Stats were updated by the team on MaxPreps this week to indicate Mencia had 96 yards, rather than 120 like previously reported.)
Mencia is either first or second on Waynesboro in carries (84), yards (693), yards per carry (8.3) and touchdowns (eight) this season alongside Holden, making for one of the top one-two punches in the Mid-Penn. He has the Indians sitting comfortably in second in the Colonial at 5-2 (3-1) behind only unbeaten Shippensburg.
Mencia’s blowout performance earned him 1,074 votes, just narrowly edging out Harrisburg receiver Justin Cook’s 1,004 in one of the tightest votes of the season. Mencia picked up 44% of the 2,428 total votes cast, with Cook just behind at 41%.
The Indians next face East Pennsboro before closing out division play with Mechanicsburg and Northern.
Andy Shay provides his analysis and predictions for three of the top matchups across our coverage area in Week 8.
Friday’s Games
Big Spring at Trinity, 7
Andy Shay: Big Spring 34, Trinity 21: Couple of squads coming off tough losses to quality teams. “Bounce back” is the theme this week for both. The Bulldogs’ offense has a bit more explosiveness with the deep threat, and that could be the difference maker.
Geoff Morrow: Big Spring 33, Trinity 27: I think this game is huge for the Bulldogs, one of their biggest in years. I say that because last week’s loss to the rival Bubblers undoubtedly stung. The strongest programs have innate ability to harness that frustration and use it to their advantage the next week, while weaker programs sulk and struggle. THIS game — not last week’s — will more accurately define Big Spring and determine its 2021 future.
Andy Sandrik: Trinity 26, Big Spring 21: Nobody else wants to take Trinity at home after the ‘Rocks pushed Steel-High to the limit? OK, I will.
Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 35, Trinity 33: Bulldogs beware: Trinity has shown that it has the ability to pull off an upset — just ask Delone Catholic. Big Spring missed some opportunities down field last week against Boiling Springs that it had connected on throughout the season. If their vertical passing game gets back on track, it should bode well for the Bulldogs Friday night.
Bishop McDevitt at Milton Hershey, 7
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 56, Milton Hershey 7: Holding teams down defensively has been a trouble spot at times for the Spartans, and this McDevitt offense finds a way to get seven or eight touchdowns a game.
Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 62, Milton Hershey 7: I hang my head in shame that, last week, I actually predicted McDevitt to lose in a game the Crusaders ended up winning 56-0. I’m not religious, but I’m pretty sure that’s a sin.
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 54, Milton Hershey 14: The Crusaders have been averaging 63 points per game since their season-opening shutout loss to La Salle College. I think Milton Hershey holds them below that average, but still, this is an awfully tough assignment for the Spartans.
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 54, Milton Hershey 7: Can anyone test McDevitt before we get into the district playoffs? Just asking for a friend.
Carlisle at State College, 7
Andy Shay: Carlisle 28, State College 24: Couple of 4-3 squads looking to avoid falling to .500. Good matchup on fairly equal terms. Thundering Herd have been close to winning one of these get-over-the-hump games with a couple of losses by a field goal. Taking Carlisle to get that win.
Geoff Morrow: State College 26, Carlisle 21: Arguably the most intriguing game on the schedule. Inarguably, the outcome matters a whole lot more to the Herd because they’re currently outside the playoff bubble in the latest District 3 power rankings. But, as I’ve written before, Carlisle just doesn’t have a track record of winning games against upper-tier Commonwealth foes. Until they do, it’s tough to pick the Herd, especially on the road. Playing teams tight is one thing; the next step is actually winning those games.
Andy Sandrik: State College 28, Carlisle 21: We keep waiting for Carlisle, an obviously talented team, to get that signature win. The Herd almost got it done against CD. They almost came back against CV. And something tells me they almost get a road win against the Little Lions.
Adam Kulikowski: State College 33, Carlisle 27: The status of Little Lions QB Finn Furmanek makes a difference in this one. Give the Herd the edge if State College’s QB1 is a no go again. But, right now, I’ll go with the team with a history of success against stiff competition.
Central Dauphin at Altoona, 7
Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 31, Altoona 14: That was a clutch win by the Rams against a Carlisle team that showed up to win, not just play well. Altoona’s offense and that ground game fit right into the CD defense’s wheelhouse.
Geoff Morrow: Central Dauphin 34, Altoona 19: A nice feel-good win on the road for the Mountain Lions last week to snap a three-game skid, while CD survived a fight from Carlisle. But I noticed on Twitter the Rams are irked about not being ranked in the state, so maybe they’ll play angry and win decisively.
Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 33, Altoona 17: The Commonwealth seems a lot more balanced than in recent years, so much so that Altoona, near the bottom of the standings, has at least a puncher’s chance against the contending Rams.
Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 45, Altoona 7: Mountain Lions have struggled to move the ball through the air while the Rams have to be riding high after that game-winning field goal last week against Carlisle. Rams check all the boxes here to find themselves on the winning side of the ledger.
Chambersburg at CD East, 7
Andy Shay: CD East 28, Chambersburg 14: How do the Panthers respond to a big loss at Harrisburg? When they lost in Week 1, they had an impressive response. Expect more of the same here.
Geoff Morrow: CD East 38, Chambersburg 13: You have to take every Commonwealth foe seriously or you’ll get smacked. But let’s just say this is good timing for the Panthers after last week’s tough loss at Harrisburg. It’s my opinion that it’s better for everybody involved (teams, but mostly fans) that CD vs. East is NEXT weekend and not this weekend.
Andy Sandrik: CD East 28, Chambersburg 0: This seems like a good spot for an angry CD East squad to pitch its first shutout of the season.
Adam Kulikowski: CD East 35, Chambersburg 14: The Commonwealth Division can be a meat grinder — just ask the Trojans who, after opening the season winning two out of three, have dropped their first four division battles.
Executive Education Academy at Upper Dauphin, 7
Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 28, Executive Education Academy 14: Trojans offense will provide EEA a bit more of a test that it has faced the last couple weeks with those back-to-back shutouts. Raptors’ offense won’t be able to keep pace.
Geoff Morrow: Upper Dauphin 22, Executive Education Academy 14: Trojans have ably handled all comers since a Week 2 loss vs. Juniata. This late-addition opponent won’t be a pushover, but I expect UDA to survive.
Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 14, Executive Education Academy 7: Smart money seems to be on the Trojans here, but don’t sleep on that Raptors defense, which has pitched back to back shutouts.
Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 28, Executive Education Academy 14: After losing its game against Halifax, Upper Dauphin quickly picked up the Allentown charter school to fill the void in its schedule. It’s EEA’s second straight week facing off against a Mid-Penn Liberty opponent, but this one provides a much bigger test than the boys from Herndon could muster.
Greencastle-Antrim at Northern York, 7
Andy Shay: Northern York 27, Greencastle-Antrim 21: Blue Devils have come close a few times to scoring big wins and have found ways to take the L instead of the W. That’s a big hurdle to clear. Polar Bears are coming off a loss to Ship and will be in rebound mode.
Geoff Morrow: Northern York 28, Greencastle-Antrim 21: It’s a good week for the Polar Bears to claw up the competition, and I say that because former Northern standout and current assistant coach Kyle Goss hand-delivered new business cards to my office in the Capitol this week. That’s good karma, folks!
Andy Sandrik: Northern York 33, Greencastle-Antrim 10: If Ship only managed 21 points against the Polar Bears, who am I to predict the Blue Devils putting up more than 10? Northern bounces back this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Northern York 35, Greencastle-Antrim 27: Battling the Blue Devils is like playing Russian roulette. Someone is going to get stung by this team. It’s just a matter of who because they are knocking on the door each week.
Harrisburg at Cumberland Valley, 7
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 27, Cumberland Valley 16: Eagles will make this game sticky in spots for the Cougars. Harrisburg is patient, doesn’t panic and sticks to its guns no matter what is happening. There’s a lot to be said for that kind of confidence. The results speak for themselves.
Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 32, Cumberland Valley 17: With Harrisburg and CD still on their schedule, the Eagles really, REALLY needed to beat State College last week to have a good chance at the playoffs. It’s not impossible, but the path to the postseason is packed with poisonous snakes and spiders now. Cougars, meanwhile, are confidently rounding into playoff form.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 23, Cumberland Valley 19: I’m done playing the pick-against-Harrisburg game. Love what the Eagles are doing, but the Cougars sure seem like a squad that can complete its run on the Commonwealth.
Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 28, Harrisburg 27: The Eagles nearly toppled State College last week. Can they parlay that effort into a win against the Cougars? It’s a tall feat against a physical club, but it’s one Cumberland Valley could be ready for.
Hershey at Mifflin County, 7
Andy Shay: Hershey 14, Mifflin County 7: Trojans find a way to erase that zero under the win column. It will be a struggle and might be something crazy. Hershey’s defense will be a difference maker.
Geoff Morrow: Mifflin County 20, Hershey 14: No fibbing, but I think after Carlisle vs. State College, this is the most intriguing game of the week. Look, sometimes programs have bad seasons. Sometimes they have bad decades. These two are a combined 0-14 this year, but each has made waves at times. The Huskies’ best game came two weeks earlier when they nearly knocked off Milton Hershey; at home, I’m banking MiffCo can put another big effort together and secure that first W.
Andy Sandrik: Hershey 24, Mifflin County 14: The Trojans have been struggling to put up points, just like MiffCo, but their defense seems a couple notches better than that of the Huskies.
Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 21, Mifflin County 7: Both of these clubs have struggled to find their footing in this campaign, but the Trojans seem to have more pieces in place to get into the win column.
James Buchanan at Susquenita, 7
Andy Shay: Susquenita 40, James Buchanan 19: Been a rough October for the Blackhawks, who are riding a three-game slide. I think they pick up the pieces in this one and get a little confidence back with a W.
Geoff Morrow: Susquenita 49, James Buchanan 8: With blowout losses against top-tier Big Spring, Boiling Springs and Upper Dauphin over its last three games, ‘Nita welcomes the opportunity to exact some level of misplaced revenge.
Andy Sandrik: Susquenita 38, James Buchanan 12: The ‘Hawks are on a three-game losing streak, but a win here puts ‘Nita at .500 and back in the thick of things in the Liberty.
Adam Kulikowski: Susquenita 45, James Buchanan 7: This is just what the ‘Hawks need to get their season back on track.
Line Mountain at North Penn-Mansfield, 7
Andy Shay: North Penn-Mansfield 28, Line Mountain 7: The Panthers have shown more pop on offense by scoring 28 or more in their three victories. The Eagles have scored only 35 points in six games.
Geoff Morrow: North Penn-Mansfield 26, Line Mountain 6: When you can’t trust a team to score points, it’s tough to pick them to win ball games. Eagles, unfortunately, have desperately struggled to find paydirt this year.
Andy Sandrik: North Penn-Mansfield 28, Line Mountain 7: Three games remain for the Eagles to nail down that first win. Panthers will be a tough out, though, especially if Line Mountain struggles to put up points.
Adam Kulikowski: North Penn-Mansfield 25, Line Mountain 7: Points will be at a premium when these two clubs square off Friday night. Give an edge to the Panthers, who will sport the best weapon on the field in Kohen Lehman, a junior running back with over 500 yards on the ground.
Middletown at Boiling Springs, 7
Andy Shay: Boiling Springs 31, Middletown 13: The Blue Raiders don’t offer much variety on offense, and the Bubblers’ defensive front and linebackers are rock solid against the run. There’s a lean factor from the Boiling Springs offense that will be in play as well. It hogs the rock.
Geoff Morrow: Boiling Springs 23, Middletown 16: Bubblers are deservedly heavy favorites to claim their first victory over the Blue Raiders since 2014, but take note of what the Middletown defense has done lately. I doubt this will be as easy as my mates predict it to be.
Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 38, Middletown 14: Playing at Bubbletown has been like taking a one-way ticket to blowout city. At home, Boiling Springs is 3-0 and outscoring opponents 147-15.
Adam Kulikowski: Boiling Springs 45, Middletown 17: The Bubblers haven’t scored fewer than 35 points all season. Combine that with a defense that has plenty of chops to shut down the run, and you have a Mt. Everest-like climb for the Blue Raiders.
Newport at Juniata, 7
Andy Shay: Juniata 28, Newport 7: The Indians have surrendered only two touchdowns over the last 12 quarters, including a shutout. Can you say “winning with defense?” That doesn’t change here.
Geoff Morrow: Juniata 30, Newport 6: While the Buffaloes have won four of the last five in this series, this year is playing out much differently than previous seasons. I fully expect Juniata to be 8-2 and entering the playoffs on a six-game winning streak come November.
Andy Sandrik: Juniata 22, Newport 0: Every time I drive to work near Mechanicsburg, I see the Juniata College billboard teaching passers-by how to pronounce JOO-NEE-AT-UH. Didn’t realize it was that hard to say, but I digress. Indians’ defense throws down a shutout this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 35, Newport 14: Juniata’s defense has carried this team for weeks, but the offense — post Jacob Condo — has quietly started to find its groove (see 400+ yards of firepower last week against Midd-West).
Palmyra at Cedar Cliff, 7
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 31, Palmyra 20: There’s a McDevitt PTSD the Colts have to deal with in order to move forward. Leave last week in the past and focus on the task at hand. Otherwise these Cougars will gladly take over the game. Counting on the Cliff defense to bounce back and show some grit here. It will be required.
Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 33, Palmyra 26: Cougars have rattled off three in a row against sub-.500 competition, so this would be heavier than a feather in a cap for the visitors. Having picked the Colts to actually beat McDevitt last week, I’m stunned at how quickly and decisively they were routed, and that concerns me moving forward. But Cliff is a virtual lock to make the playoffs, and now’s the time to start getting things right. But this one should be a battle.
Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 48, Cedar Cliff 39: I’ll probably regret this pick, but I love this hot streak the Cougars are on.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 35, Palmyra 26: The Cougars have shown plenty of positive signs during this three-game winning streak. But knocking off a Cedar Cliff team that is sure to respond well after taking a licking against Bishop McDevitt would take their season to another level. Just not sure Chris Pope’s crew is ready to take that step.
Panther Valley at Tri-Valley, 7
Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 42, Panther Valley 7: The Panthers are winless and have scored only 41 points. The T-V defense surrenders only 10 points a game and has scored 215 points in six outings. All Bulldogs in this one.
Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 43, Panther Valley 0: It wasn’t close last year, and it won’t be close this year. Only family, cheerleaders and band should watch.
Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 39, Panther Valley 14: Oh hey, it’s time for me to go on my once-a-year rant on how the Panther Valley Panthers have the most lazily named mascot in the state of Pennsylvania.
Adam Kulikowski: Tri-Valley 35, Panther Valley 7: Bulldogs should have no trouble handling the winless Panthers, especially with a defense that has yielded just 60 points all season.
Pine Grove at Catasauqua, 7
Andy Shay: Catasauqua 30, Pine Grove 7: The Rough Riders have a couple of quality wins in tight, low-scoring affairs and are tested. PG is struggling with only one win.
Geoff Morrow: Catasauqua 37, Pine Grove 14: Writing about the Rough Riders reminds me of a 1990s standup routine from comedian John Caponera in which he amusingly pointed out that, at the time, the Canadian Football League was home to TWO teams with the same nickname: the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the now-defunct Ottawa Rough Riders.
Andy Sandrik: Catasauqua 28, Pine Grove 6: Catasauqua lost two of its last three, but this seems like a good spot for the Rough Riders to regain traction.
Adam Kulikowski: Catasauqua 45, Pine Grove 7: The Rough Riders enter this fray with an effective two-quarterback system which has produced nearly 1,000 passing yards and plenty of effective ball carriers to make this a tough nut to crack for the Cardinals.
Red Land at Lower Dauphin, 7
Andy Shay: Red Land 28, Lower Dauphin 24: Nobody has run away from the Patriots all season, and they could easily have one or two more wins. Will require a full 48 minutes against the Falcons, which has been a problem for Red Land. This game could go either way. Confidence favors the Falcons.
Geoff Morrow: Red Land 23, Lower Dauphin 20: I was leaning toward LD when I sat down, but closer inspection now has me believing that, despite an unimpressive record coupled with LD’s feel-good rebuild, the Patriots have been slightly more dangerous throughout most of the season. Coming off last week’s blowout victory of Mifflin County, I expect a confident RL squad can — and will — post a narrow road win.
Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 23, Red Land 21: This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Lower Dauphin, but the Falcons aren’t all that far from knocking on the door to the district tournament.
Adam Kulikowski: Red Land 34, Lower Dauphin 28: Can the Patriots find a way to seal the deal in the fourth quarter? Frank Gay’s crew let several wins slip away late over the last few weeks. Week 8 is as good a time as any to break that habit.
Shenandoah Valley at Williams Valley, 7
Andy Shay: Williams Valley 38, Shenandoah Valley 13: With each passing week, the Vikings take another step forward. This is a squad that has grown into its 6-1 record, and that makes it very dangerous.
Geoff Morrow: Williams Valley 39, Shenandoah Valley 7: This is all just window dressing until we get to WV vs. Tri-Valley in Week 9.
Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 42, Shenandoah Valley 14: We were wondering about the legitimacy of the Vikings earlier this season. Then we turn around for two seconds, and WV is suddenly 6-1 and getting it done with a balanced offense. Make it 7-1 for the Vikings.
Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley, Shenandoah Valley 10: The Vikings seem to be playing their best ball of the season right as we enter the home stretch of the regular season. Just how you draw it up, right?
Steel-High at Camp Hill, 7
Andy Shay: Steel-High 49, Camp Hill 7: Rollers were given a full scare by Trinity, but, in the end, the result was the same. Lions just don’t have the horses to run with this group, and that will be evident.
Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 49, Camp Hill 13: There’s a false sense that this is a rivalry that has provided a bunch of entertaining games in recent years. But I just checked, and only one of the last 14 meetings has been played within single digits. When one team is good, the other isn’t. And right now the Rollers are pretty darn good.
Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 55, Camp Hill 0: Man, I’ve still got goosebumps from the Rollers’ win over Trinity last week. I think Steel-High builds from that and comes out sharp this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 56, Camp Hill 14: Anyone think the boys from Cottage Hill were a little upset after nearly dropping one to Trinity last week? My guess is yes. But don’t expect another matchup up for grabs in the fourth quarter when the Rollers kick off against Camp Hill Friday evening.
Susquehanna Twp. at Mechanicsburg, 7
Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 42, Susquehanna Twp. 7: The struggles for ‘Hanna continue as this Wildcats team will run the ball and control the clock most of the way. Mechanicsburg wins the games it should.
Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 35, Susquehanna Twp. 14: Despite its up-and-down season, Mechanicsburg is in playoff position with two tougher games coming up. So this is a must-have against a dangerous but winless bunch. Just take care of business, as simple as that sounds.
Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 44, Susquehanna Twp. 14: The Wildcats haven’t had an opportunity to breathe easy all season. If they punch in and do their job here, there could be a running clock by the second half.
Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 37, Susquehanna Twp. 14: Yes, the Indians have taken their lumps this season. But it’s important to remember that Joe Headen’s crew is largely freshmen and sophomores, which should pay dividends next year. But until then…
Waynesboro at East Pennsboro, 7
Andy Shay: Waynesboro 35, East Pennsboro 13: Something went sideways for this Panthers team, and they can’t get the train back on the tracks. Waynesboro is not a squad against whom you fix what’s broken.
Geoff Morrow: Waynesboro 33, East Pennsboro 14: One team has been consistently tough throughout the season; the other has produced more wild swings than an amusement park. That it’s a home game means the Panthers have a fighter’s chance, but not enough for me to pick them.
Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 44, East Pennsboro 12: Was anyone else surprised to see EP fall behind 38-0 to West Perry last week? Panthers need to get back to the drawing board, and fast, because Waynesboro can absolutely do the same thing this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 37, East Pennsboro 14: Never quite seem to know what Panthers squad is going to show up each Friday night. That’s not the case with the Indians at all. We know exactly what Aiden Mencia and his punch-you-in-the-mouth crew bring to the table each week.
West Perry at Shippensburg, 7
Andy Shay: Shippensburg 42, West Perry 14: The Greyhounds just frustrate teams like crazy with their offensive balance and that lockdown defense. West Perry has evolved into a better-than-anticipated squad, but this is next-level stuff.
Geoff Morrow: Shippensburg 30, West Perry 14: Much credit to the Greyhounds, who’ve handled every challenge this season with aplomb. This will be a fun outfit to watch come playoff time. So, too, will the Mustangs. But this is a tough spot for them.
Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 44, West Perry 21: There’s absolutely no pressure on the Mustangs here against the state-ranked ‘Hounds. Look for WP to pull out all the stops to put points on the board.
Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 35, West Perry 21: Mustangs are next in line to try to stop the Tucker Chamberlin-to-Erby Weller connection. That’s one tall task.
POSTPONED: None.CANCELED: Upper Dauphin at Halifax.
Holding a 21-17 lead when the first half came to a close, Tri-Valley’s narrow advantage didn’t last long once the ball went up in the air some time later as Kam Wetzel returned the second-half kickoff to the house for the second week in a row.
That electric score suddenly had Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs (5-1, 2-0) leading Nativity by double digits, with a 42-17 victory the eventual outcome. Wetzel added 89 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Jake Scheib hammered for 107 more on just 12 carries. Scheib also ignited the Tri-Valley defense, racking up a team-high eight stops and recovering one fumble as the Bulldogs maintained their advantage in the District 11 Class 1A power rankings and atop the Colonial-Schuylkill Blue standings. Up next for Sampson’s Bulldogs is an encounter with visiting Panther Valley (0-5, 0-3), which last weekend fell 44-14 to Williams Valley.
2. Williams Valley continues to roll
Building an imposing lead by the end of the third quarter, Williams Valley parlayed its considerable cushion into a 35-7 triumph at Marian Catholic. Quarterback Isaac Whiteash targeted 11 of his 15 pass attempts for 195 yards and two touchdowns, both to rangy wideout Brady Evans (5-121). Feature back Alex Achenbach had a pedestrian outing by his typical standings, motoring 16 times for 121 yards and two scores.
He also caught three passes for 44 yards, just one weekend after wheeling for 334 yards and four touchdowns in the Vikings’ rout of Panther Valley. Tim Savage’s bunch allowed 100-plus yards to Matt Martin but limited the winless Colts to 171 total yards. Inside linebacker Jackson Yoder paced the Vikes (6-1, 2-0) with 10 stops, including one of Williams Valley’s five tackles for losses. Assuming the Vikes escape Shenandoah Valley (2-4, 2-1) this weekend in Colonial-Schuylkill Blue play, they’ll meet Nativity and Tri-Valley in their final two regular-season scraps.
3. Pine Grove hoping to halt three-game slide
Playing for the second straight week against programs with Canadian Football League mascots — last weekend it was the Palmerton Blue Bombers while this week it’s the Catasauqua Rough Riders — Pine Grove (1-6, 0-3) hopes to bring an end to its lengthy skid when it visits the Lehigh Valley for a Colonial-Schuylkill White clash. Unable to sustain a running game last weekend in their 51-7 setback to Palmerton, Frank Gaffney’s Cardinals were able to move the ball somewhat through the air as freshman quarterback Carson Lengle completed 16 of his 30 pass attempts for 201 yards and one score. He was picked off twice.
While Lengle hooked up with QB-turned-target Mason Kroh (3 receptions, 53 yards) for his lone score, he was able to find Nick Wolff eight times for 55 yards. Wolff also paced the Cards with 16 tackles. Catty tumbled to Minersville last weekend, falling 43-27 despite getting 79 rushing yards and one TD apiece from Elijah Soler and QB Christian Fye. Minersville’s John Adams went off, throwing for 384 yards and five touchdowns, three to Jason Cullen (5-189).
Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Juniata starting to perk up offensively
For those who might have thought Juniata was relying almost entirely on its defensive unit to turn back opposing football teams, Kurt Condo’s Indians (5-2, 3-0) seem to be figuring out a few things when they have the rock in their collective hands.
Just last weekend, at home and with the engines roaring at nearby Port Royal Speedway, Juniata piled up more than 400 yards of offense and had six players locate the end zone en route to a decisive 44-0 conquest of Midd-West.
While Condo’s Indians rushed for 297 yards — only battering ram fullback Seth Laub (4 carries, 115 yards, a TD) cracked the 100-yard barrier — quarterbacks Aaron Kanagy and Wyatt Ehrenzeller combined to throw for 110 yards and a pair of scores. And while Newport (2-5, 2-1) will visit The Kling this weekend following a 41-7 drilling of James Buchanan that featured 247 rushing yards and two scores from Aiden Dishman, the stingy Juniata defense figures to make things really tough on Todd Rothermel’s Buffaloes.
Against Midd-West, Juniata yielded 45 total yards to the struggling Mustangs (minus-65 on the ground) and chased beleaguered quarterback C.J. Regester relentlessly. Middle linebacker Waylon Ehrenzeller may not be a household name in Mid-Penn Liberty homes, but the undersized junior always seems to find the football. He paced the Indians with nine tackles last weekend, including several QB sacks. Sitting on a three-game winning streak, Juniata can move one sizable step forward toward a Liberty crown by pocketing a victory over Newport.
Upper Dauphin still wheeling and dealing
Just when opposing defenses were beginning to concentrate on slowing down Upper Dauphin’s dependable stable of running backs — Brady Morgan, Christian Snyder and Alex Hepler — quarterback Wil Laskowski stepped squarely into the spotlight in the Trojans’ 40-8 triumph over Susquenita (3-3, 2-1). Laskowski ran seven times for 95 yards and completed just one of his three pass attempts for 29 yards, but the first-year senior accounted for three touchdowns … and all of them came in the first quarter. After running for scores covering 50 and 15 yards, Laskowski located tight end Aiden Wiest for a 29-yard touchdown with one second remaining in the opening stanza.
That pushed the Trojans (5-1, 3-1) to a 20-0 advantage. Up next for UDA, which has won four in a row since falling to Juniata in Week 2, is a Halifax club (1-5, 1-2) trying to deal with numbers issues that will pull into Elizabethville. While the Wildcats conceded a 38-7 loss to Juniata at halftime two weeks back due to injuries — including one that sidelined sophomore quarterback Carter Enders, Earl Mosley’s club opted out of last weekend’s dust-up with Line Mountain.
This and that
Susquenita will keep its dimming hopes for an outright or share of the Mid-Penn Liberty crown when the Blackhawks entertain James Buchanan (1-5, 1-2). The big question in Cove is who will be at quarterback when the game begins — Derek Gibney, Laiken Miller or Mason Figard. Gibney (concussion) sat out last weekend’s game against Upper Dauphin, causing first-year skipper Augie Glass to move Figard to QB. Since Figard was ineffective (0-for-2), Miller moved behind center and targeted eight of his 31 pass attempts for 96 yards.
He was picked off once. JB, which has dropped four straight, managed just 105 total yards in its loss to Newport. … After making a lengthy jaunt to Allentown’s Muhlenberg College to play pass-happy Executive Education, winless Line Mountain (0-6) will pay a visit to Pennsylvania’s Northern Tier for a non-league scrap with North Penn-Mansfield (3-4). The Eagles banked 173 of their 181 total yards before the break — the game was scoreless at the time — but ExecEd’s Darmel Lopez threw four second-half touchdown passes and wound up with 371 passing yards before the game was over. NPM also is coming off a loss, having dropped a 44-14 decision to Athens.
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.
Shippensburg leaving little doubt
Three straight weeks Shippensburg has taken on would-be contenders in the Colonial and knocked them down with relative ease. First it was Waynesboro. Who thought they were contenders to start? The Hounds’ made their answer known with a 19-point win.
Then it was Mechanicsburg and a solid defense backed up by a running attack. Again, no dice. A 20-point Ship victory and only one touchdown for the Wildcats. Last week it was Northern. Maybe the Polar Bears could turn the apple cart upside down. Yeah, that was not even close, either. An 18-point win by Shippensburg where the defense limited Northern to a field goal. Good luck this week, West Perry.
Bears, Devils meet with playoff stakes
Right now five of the eight teams in the (Crazy) Colonial have the look of being playoff teams. I see a scenario where up to six teams could make it but the right number is five. The depth of this division makes for great, high-stakes matchups down the stretch. This week is the Northern vs. Greencastle-Antrim tilt. The Blue Devils are already in win-or-go-home mode. The Polar Bears don’t want to be on that postseason bubble. A win here gives them a wee bit more breathing room.
