For the first time since 2019 the Mid-Penn Keystone Division will crown a champion not named Bishop McDevitt.

That’s because the high-powered Crusaders have made the move to take on the 6A giants of the rugged Commonwealth Division. McDevitt leaves behind Keystone playmates Hershey, Lower Dauphin, Palmyra, Mifflin County, and Red Land, with the new-look division being rounded out by former Colonial squads Gettysburg Mechanicsburg, Northern, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro.

What do all 10 of these teams have in common? None finished higher than third in their respective division last year, meaning that no matter which team wins this fall, it will be a surprise. 

Picking a winner in a division full of underdogs is no easy undertaking, but we’re going to take a shot. 

With defense setting the tone, we like Lower Dauphin and Mechanicsburg to lead the way with their groups of returning players, with Hershey, Northern York, Shippensburg, and Gettysburg giving close chase. We’ve picked Red Land, Palmyra, Waynesboro, and Mifflin County to round out the standings, but make no mistake there are no easy outs in this division.

Our crystal ball tells us this division will beat up on itself every week, and we could very well see a division champion with two or more losses. Buckle up!

Projected division standings: Lower Dauphin, Mechanicsburg, Hershey, Northern York, Shippensburg, Gettysburg, Red Land, Palmyra, Waynesboro, Mifflin County.

Lower Dauphin Falcons

Predicted finish: 1st

Coach: Josh Borreli

Record last season: 6-5, 4-3 Keystone (3rd place)

Team outlook: With a solid group of returning all-stars, Lower Dauphin is optimistic about the prospect of moving up the Keystone pecking order. It starts on defense for the Falcons, who return All-Keystone LBs Hunter Strohm (6-1, 205) and Owen Tucker (6-2, 210), as well as DB Wes Heagy (5-11, 180). Strohm and Tucker combined for more than 130 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss, while Heagy racked up 64 tackles and defended two passes. Expect Lower Dauphin to move the ball offensively, as the team returns its top passer and receiver, along with junior Hunter Stoak, a 6-foot-2, 255-pound OL. The Falcons are projected to return starting QB Carter Burton, who threw for 872 yards and five TDs, while also rushing 120 times for 784 yards and 13 TDs. Heagy, who caught 11 passes for 250 yards and 3 TDs last season, will be counted on for increased production this fall, as will RB Gerald Sanders (89-612-6). Games in the Keystone could be tight this season, so look for punter/kicker Brandon Fritz to be a difference-maker in the win-loss column.

One player to watch: Carter Burton. There’s not a high school football team in America that wouldn’t want an experienced senior QB in saddle for the upcoming season. Lower Dauphin happens to have a good one in 6-foot, 205-pound signal-caller Carter Burton. His presence in the backfield forces opponents to account for his quick legs, which benefit the Falcons in both the passing and rushing attack. Burton can scramble away from a broken pocket and deliver strikes on the run, but his biggest value to Lower Dauphin just might be his efficiency on designed QB running plays. An elusive runner who is good at following his blockers, Burton averaged 6.5 yards per carry last fall and found the end zone 13 times. With Burton running the show, look for Lower Dauphin’s offense to be calm and productive in the storm that is the Keystone Division.

Mechanicsburg Wildcats

Predicted finish: 2nd

Coach: Dave Heckard

Record last season: 5-5, 4-3 Colonial (4th place)

Team outlook: Already known as one of the top wrestling coaches in the area, Heckard will put his football know-how to the test as takes over a Wildcats program seeking its first winning season since 2021. Heckard, also the head coach of Mechanicsburg’s wrestling squad, inherits an intact Wildcats team with quality returners on both sides of the ball. Two returning all-star defensive ends — junior Collin Stare (6-2, 210) and senior Willie Travis (6-1, 180) — combined for four sacks last season and will be looking to once again make life miserable for opposing QBs. Look for the Stare-Travis combo to create rushed passes, creating open season in the secondary for DBs Jack DeLuca (5-10, 155) and Josh Smith (6-1, 170) to go hunting for interceptions. Speaking of Smith, he will be counted on to provide the spark as a WR after generating a 1,000-yard season last fall. Throwing the passes to Smith will be senior QB Eli Reider (6-1, 175), who completed 175 of 278 passes for 2,358 yards, to go along with 25 TDs and nine INTs. Reider’s backfield mate, RB Isaac Dollman, combined for nearly 900 rushing and receiving yards last fall. If the Wildcats can quickly adapt to their new coach, look for them to, at the very least, finish in the top half of the standings.

One player to watch: Josh Smith. Mechanicsburg is lucky to get one more season with senior WR/DB Smith, who set Mechanicsburg’s single-season TD reception record with 16 scoring grabs last fall. Standing at 6-foot-1, 170-pounds, Smith’s height makes him a tough receiver to cover, especially near the end zone, where a pass lofted in Smith’s direction is about the closest thing you can get to a guaranteed TD. Smith, who totaled 72 catches for 1,022 yards last fall, has superb footwork that enables him to shake off diving tacklers and run right around DBs. With crisp route running and reliable hands, look for Smith to once again shine as one of the division’s premier wide receivers. We could stop the conversation right there with Smith’s abilities as a pass catcher, but that would be a disservice to his defensive prowess, which made a First Team Colonial selection at DB last fall. Smith registered 25 tackles, while picking off a pass, recovering a fumble, and blocking two extra points. With a been-there, done-that guy in Smith to lead Mechanicsburg, look for the Wildcats to hang tough in a challenging Keystone Division.

Hershey Trojans

Predicted finish: 3rd

Coach: Mark Painter

Record last season: 9-4, 4-3 Keystone (4th place)

Team outlook: Hershey took a step forward last season with a pound-the-rock offense led by a battering ram of a running back, Angel Cabrera, who accounted for nearly 1,800 yards and 26 TDs. Cabrera is gone this fall, as are fellow First Team Keystone all-star linemen Tucker Valoczki and Cory Schaffer. That leaves Carter Kelin (84-365-2) as Hershey’s top returning rusher, along with QB Cam Sweeney (56-258-3). The Trojans will need increased production from these two players — as well as returning all-star center Ethan Castillo — as Hershey spends the early part of the season discovering its identity. Sweeney, who threw for 737 yards and four TDs last season, will be aiming to deliver the ball to a new stable of ball-catchers: TE Aiden Edelman (6-0, 205) and WRs Grant Later (5-11, 165) and James Campbell (6-5, 215). The Trojans return seven starters on defene, including Keystone First Team DB Sweeney (26 tackles, 3 INTs) and Second Team LB Sean Elliot (70 tackles). Hershey’s success this season will depend greatly on how fast the team’s new group of role-players can gel against a division that is trying to tear the Trojans down on a weekly basis.

One player to watch: Cam Sweeney. The top returning playmaker for Hershey will need a big season if the Trojans are hoping to repeat their success from 2023. Sweeney, a 6-foot-2 QB and DB, showed flashes of greatness as a sophomore last season. At QB, Sweeney showcased his skills as both a runner and a scrambler. When Sweeney is in motion, he is athletic enough to take off and run for the first down, and also possesses the awareness to keep his eyes downfield and deliver clutch throws. Defensively, Sweeney boasts solid field vision and not only has a strong sense of where the ball is, but also where it will be delivered. Sweeney is a solid fundamental tackler, who also has the hops to go up with a receiver and wrestle the ball away.

Northern York Polar Bears

Predicted finish: 4th

Coach: Bill Miller

Record last season: 3-7, 2-5 Colonial (7th place)

Team outlook: There’s no question about it, the Polar Bears are going to miss the mythical Cole Bartram, the man who once ran for NINE touchdowns in a single high school football game. It’s impossible to completely fill the shoes of the Colonial’s Offensive and Defensive POY, but the Polar Bears are set to give it a shot. Northern’s defense should be able to adjust well to the graduation of Bartram, with a solid core of returning all-stars that include DL Trey Tyree, LB Brandon Wiley, and DB Austin Miller, a group that accounted for more than 160 tackles last fall. Replacing Bartram on offense will be much harder, but RBs Tyree (11-63-0) and Gabe Johnson (12-57-1) will look to make the most out of more carries. QB Grady Bonin returns for his junior season after throwing for nearly 700 yards and 4 TDs last season. Our crystal ball tells us points will be hard to come by for Northern, but if the Polar Bears can keep games close this year, look for their special teams to give them a much-needed edge. Northern has a pair of reliable kickers in Nolan Wimbrough (4 for 4 field goals, 49.0 kickoff average) and Anna Lehman (22 of 25 extra points), not to mention a solid punter (33.0 average) and kick returner (15.6 average) in Johnson.

One player to watch: Gabe Johnson. For the past eight years, Northern has developed the blueprint on how to develop the ideal high school RB/LB combo: Find the toughest wrestler, put him on the field as a freshman, and watch him become a stud by his senior year. Opponents who have had to face Cole Bartram, and Kyle Swartz before him, should know this formula all too well. Only time can tell, but it appears Northern has found another man, Johnson, to help shoulder the load for the Polar Bears. As a freshman last fall, Johnson was a regular in Northern’s linebacking corps, and he also gave his team solid reps as a rusher, punter, and kick returner. Did we mention he also won 33 matches and a section title as a wrestler? On the football field, Johnson’s strength is in his defense, where the hard hitter excels in disguising blitzes and tracking down the ball carrier. Even if the play is on the other side of the field, he can create the angles to meet his opponents in a hurry. Johnson’s sample size as an RB is small, but on film, he protects the ball and rumbles through defenders with aggression. If Johnson continues to develop in his sophomore season, look for Northern to surprise opponents with a certain 5-foot-11, 180-pound wrecking ball leading the way.

Shippensburg Greyhounds

Predicted finish: 5th

Coach: Eric Foust

Record last season: 4-6, 3-4 Colonial (6th place)

Team outlook: There’s good news and bad news for Shippensburg, which makes a fresh start in the Keystone after suffering its first losing season since 2006 last fall. The good news is the Greyhounds return almost all of their skill players on offense, including junior QB Brady Maciejewski (5-9, 170), who completed 54 of 110 passes for 762 yards and 4 TDs last fall. He’s joined in the backfield by a trio of RBs who share the workload — Janye Statum (114-486-6), Patrick Eichelberger (108-446-4), and Mark Carothers (57-205-1) — and a couple of reliable WRs in Aydin Mentzer (15-119-0) and Elijah Bailey (7-140-1). A year older and a year stronger, we fully expect this collection of players to improve upon Shippensburg’s 2023 scoring average of 13.4 points per game. Ready for the bad news? The Greyhounds’ defense, which allowed just 16.5 points per contest last fall, has to pick up the pieces after graduating five players who earned Keystone all-star nods. If Ship can plug some of those defensive holes, we see no reason why the Greyhounds can’t return to their winning ways this fall.

One player to watch: Janye Statum. The Greyhounds’ top returning rusher is the prototypical Shippensburg running back. He picks up a head of steam in the backfield and from there, it’s all about using his 6-foot frame to punish defenders and break through one level after another. Statum seems to seek out contact and keeps his legs chugging, even when a tackle is all but completed. It’s not uncommon to see entire piles being moved, with Statum in the center of the scrum. His blue-collar running style generated 4.3 yards per carry and he also showed flashes of bright play catching passes in the flats and bowling over defenders who stood in his way. If Statum and his backfield mates — Patrick Eichelberger (4.1 ypc) and Mark Carothers (3.6 ypc) — can help Shippensburg control the clock on offense, it could make a world of a difference for a fresh-faced ‘Hounds defense looking to find its way.

Gettysburg Warriors

Predicted finish: 6th

Coach: Matt Heiser

Record last season: 4-6, 3-4 Colonial (5th place)

Team outlook: Gettysburg’s Warriors will be the first to tell you that last fall’s losing season — the first since 2015 — was a disappointment. They went 1-3 to start the season and ended their campaign with three straight losses, allowing 32.9 points per game in the process. The good news for Gettysburg is that it gets a fresh start in a new division this fall, with roster pieces that are more than capable of putting together a winning season. It starts with a potent offensive backfield that’s anchored by senior QB Brady Heiser (6-0, 200) and junior RB Preston Burnett (5-10, 180), a pair of Second Team Colonial all-stars who bring back more than 2,500 yards of combined offense. Heiser completed 143 of 242 passes for 1,868 yards, with 18 TDs and six INTs, while also rushing for more than 500 yards and 16 TDs. The offense will need to answer questions in the trenches, where the Warriors lose four all-star caliber players to graduation, and Heiser would be thrilled to have another target in the passing game to complement Shayde Shultz (41-582-5). On the other side of the ball, look for Gettysburg to generate pressure up front on the strength of DLs Charles Norman (6-2, 275) and Chris Miller (5-10, 205). Shultz, a second-team DB in the Colonial, will patrol the secondary alongside Honorable Mention selection Maurici Escobar. These players will be counted on to pick up the slack for a defensive unit that loses four all-star players to graduation. Expect Gettysburg to be competitive on a weekly basis in the Keystone, and perhaps reach a winning record for the 10th time in 12 seasons.

One player to watch: Preston Burnett. This 5-foot-10, 180-pound RB showcased sharp vision and patience while carrying the rushing load for Gettysburg as a sophomore last season. Burnett averaged 5.3 yards per carry in a season where he toted the ball 241 times for 1,279 yards and six TDs. He won’t simply rush a hole, but rather let the blocking develop and use quick acceleration to get himself to the next level and beyond. This field IQ pays off not only in the backfield, where Burnett thrives running between the tackles but also in the kickoff return game, where he can be trusted to make quick decisions in traffic. It takes more than one man to bring down Burnett, who possesses the technical skill to step around opponents and the strength to move entire scrums of players. Capable of catching the ball and making plays in open space, Burnett promises to be the straw that stirs the drink for Gettysburg and could be the difference for a Warriors squad that is trying to quickly back on a winning track.

Red Land Patriots

Predicted finish: 7th

Coach: Eric Depew

Record last season: 2-8, 1-6 Keystone (7th place)

Team outlook: There are no returning all-stars for Red Land, but the Patriots bring back a solid core of players who are hoping to nail down their first winning season since 2016. Junior QB Quinlin Shearer (6-3, 185) and senior RB Dominic Woodruff (5-11, 185) guide a balanced offense that will be aiming to improve upon last year’s scoring average of 13.7 points per game. Look for WRs Brady Seyler (6-1, 195) and Anthony Shay (5-10, 155) to help stretch the field for Shearer, and for OLs Devin Driscoll (6-3, 295) and Isaiah Ambush (6-0, 190) to hold down the front line. On the other side of the ball, Red Land returns a group of defenders that includes the likes of DE Ambush, CBs Seyler and Shay, OLB Woodruff, and NG Jake Owen. All of these returners, and the role players around them, will need to elevate their game on a weekly basis to take steps forward in the gauntlet that is the Keystone Division.

One player to watch: Quinlin Shearer. Just a junior, Shearer is lining up under center for his third year as Red Land’s starting QB. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound signal-caller possesses a good pocket presence and knows how to step into a throw. A great scrambler under duress, Shearer exudes calmness and keeps his eyes downfield, making accurate throws even while being flushed out of the pocket. Blitzers beware, Shearer has the elusiveness to shake off would-be sackers and take off for big yardage. With a well-seasoned Shearer guiding the ship, Red Land has to be confident about its chances of moving up the ladder in the Keystone.

Palmyra Cougars

Predicted finish: 8th

Coach: Chris Pavone

Record last season: 2-8, 0-7 Keystone (8th place)

Team outlook: Palmyra wasn’t feeling sorry for itself after last year’s two-win campaign. That’s because the Cougars have been busy putting in at least three days of work a week in the weight room since Thanksgiving. At the center of the action has been Palmyra’s lone returning Keystone all-star: Senior OL Beau Toler. The 5-foot-11, 245-pound Toler recently power cleaned 275 pounds to shatter the school record, and now he and his Cougar cohorts are eager to test out their gains on a Keystone Division that has done some beefing up of its own. Toler, a 20-game starter in the trenches for Palmyra, will pave the way for a backfield that includes experienced RBs Braxtin Risser (113-661-5) and Justin Kaplan (66-375-3), with senior QB Ryan Kowalski (5-7, 150) ready to return for his second year leading the offense. Last year Kowalksi completed 96 of 194 passes for 994 yards and 7 TDs. Defensively, the Cougars will lean on a core group that includes LB Joey Altebrando (5-10, 165), DE/OLB Xavier Smith (6-1, 215), and LB Kaplan (6-0, 175). We’d be lying if we said this season, the 90th for the Palmyra football program, is going to be easy, but if there’s any Cougars’ group ready to take on the challenge, it’s this one. 

One player to watch: Justin Kaplan. Somewhere, there is a college program that will appreciate the versatility and gumption of RB/LB/KR Kaplan, a 6-foot and 175-pound standout for the Cougars. Using patience and smooth, long strides to average 5.7 yards per carry last season, Kaplan excels at breaking through the initial tackler and reaching the next level. Good acceleration and ball protection make Kaplan an ideal kick returner, a role that saw him take a kickoff 95 yards to paydirt last fall. Look for Kaplan to also take on an increased workload on defense, where he totaled 20 tackles and two TFLs last fall. A breakout senior season from Kaplan could certainly have an impact on Palmyra’s win-loss record, and perhaps his own college stock, as well.

Waynesboro Indians

Predicted finish: 9th

Coach: Mark Saunders

Record last season: 2-8, 1-6 Colonial (8th place)

Team outlook: Just as expected last fall, Waynesboro’s youthful squad was repeatedly punched in the mouth throughout a two-win season. But the way the Indians responded — by spitting out the blood, flashing a smile, and giving it right back to their opponents — has us wondering if Waynesboro could be in for a big rebound season this fall. The Indians made the most of their field time, slugging it out in just about all of their games last season. In the process, several bright spots emerged, including an exciting young QB in Rayshawn Hewitt, a thudding LB in Andrew Florek, and a hard-nosed sibling duo in the Nolan brothers: Nathan and Hayden. With stats reported in nine of 10 games, Hewitt threw for more than 1,000 yards and 8 TDs with a whole stable of targets that includes Nathan Nolan (22-203-0), Hayden Nolan (19-222-5), Tank Benedict (15-118-1), and Calvin Myers (23-246-0). Waynesboro also boasts a wealth of capable ballcarriers in Nathan Nolan (55-427-0), Hayden Nolan (28-141-1), Anthony Ausherman (46-212-3), and Benedict (61-257-6). Defensively, look for senior leadership from Florek, a returning Second Team Colonial all-star, who totaled 88 tackles, including 17 TFLs, and two caused fumbles. Joining Florek as key players on the defense is who else but the Nolan brothers: OLB Nathan (35 tackles, 3 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery) and CB Hayden (42 tackles, 3 INTs, 5 passes defended, 1 caused fumble). Look for the seasoned Indians, still bearing calluses from last season, to at the very least increase their win total from a year ago. 

One player to watch: Rayshawn Hewitt. Waynesboro’s signal-caller showed plenty of flashes after being thrown into the fire as a sophomore last fall. Hewitt fires quick darts and can pick opponents apart with his short- and mid-range throws, with the capability of hitting open receivers with the long ball. There is an element of electricity to Hewitt that makes him a dangerous prospect for opposing defenses. Whether it is a designed run or a broken play, he has the speed to beat the defensive end to the edge. Hewitt’s quick legs also keep passing plays alive, allowing receivers to improvise and find holes in the secondary. Look for Hewitt to keep defenders on their toes all season, and for the big plays to happen more frequently as the confidence rises and the game begins to slow down. 

Mifflin County Huskies

Predicted finish: 10th

Coach: Shane Breon

Record last season: 5-6, 3-4 Keystone (5th place)

Team outlook: The graduation gods have not been kind to Mifflin County, as the Huskies will have to press forward following the graduation of all of their top skill players. Quarterback Landen Eichhorn is gone, and so too are dynamic all-stars Deakon Scheaffer and Parker Kearns. The most notable returning skill player is WR Landon Haigh (21-324-3), so Mifflin County will need to try its luck in the Keystone with a fresh cast of characters. The defense will have to carry the day for the Huskies until the offense can get settled in. Keystone Honorable Mention selection Avery Aurand, a DE, will aim to create chaos at the line of the scrimmage after a junior season where he totaled 61 tackles. Will this be a rebuilding or reloading year for the Huskies? That all depends on how Mifflin County’s newest group of players adjust to playing under the bright lights of Friday night.

One player to watch: Avery Aurand. Mifflin County’s only returning all-star has beefed up since we last saw him and now the DE/TE will be looking to end his career with a boom. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Aurand made an impact as a rushing end last fall, totaling five sacks and two fumble recoveries, while also recording a pass defense. Aurand wrestles for the Huskies and it shows on the football field. He has an unrelenting engine, the strength to bull rush through a blocker, and the fleet of foot to hop around plodding offensive tackles. On the other side of the ball, Aurand will give Mifflin County’s newest QB a tall target with better hands than you’d expect from a tight end. 

There’s only one team in the Mid-Penn Conference that is a clear-cut favorite to win a division: The Susquehanna Township Indians.

Joseph Headen’s squad returns a treasure trove of top-shelf talent in a Colonial Division where most of the teams are dealing with heavy losses. There are no guarantees, but with QB TD Evans and WR Lex Cyrus leading the charge, it’s hard for us to imagine anyone other than the Tribe winning this division.

With that said, predicting the order of the other finishers from runner-up all the way to ninth place is a much tougher task. Every one of these teams has graduated impact players that will make the going difficult this fall, yet all return pieces that lead you to believe they can have success in a division that is rebuilding as a whole.

So as you settle in for another season in the new-look Colonial, expect some quirky results, and perhaps for a new crop of stars to emerge from this wave of young players.

Projected division standings: Susquehanna Township, Big Spring, Trinity, West Perry, Milton Hershey, Boiling Springs, Middletown, East Pennsboro, Greencastle-Antrim.

Susquehanna Township Indians

Predicted finish: 1st 

Coach: Joseph Headen

Record last season: 7-4, 5-2 Colonial (2nd place)

Team outlook: With a loaded squad this fall, Susquehanna Township has a chance to do something it hasn’t done since 2015: Win a division title. That year, the Indians went 10-4 and shared a Keystone Division title with Bishop McDevitt. Susquehanna Township will be aiming to bring home a division title, and perhaps more, with one of the best QB-WR combos you’ll see in the Mid-Penn this fall. Junior TD Evans (6-1, 175) and senior WR Lex Cyrus (5-11, 165) have made a habit of dicing up opposing defenses, with WR Jarrett Kern (47-579-6) also getting in on the action. That group will have plenty of time to do the same this season with the return of all-star OLs Mason Lubold (6-0, 265), Yendor Mack (6-3, 260), and Anthony Burnett (6-2, 285). Take into account a Township defense that brings back DLs Lubold and Jayden Riley (5-10, 250), and DB Alfonso Burnett (6-1, 168), and the Tribe should very much be considered the favorites to win the Colonial this season.

One player to watch: Lex Cyrus. Catch him if you can. Susquehanna Township’s defending state champion in the 100-meter dash is certifiably the fastest man in the Mid-Penn Conference, and it shows on the football field, where he excels for the Tribe as a WR and return specialist. Cyrus’ blinding speed, combined with sharp route running, makes him a nightmare for opponents and a dream come true for South Carolina, the school he will be playing for next fall. He is a very slippery ball carrier and has a knack for turning short passes into big plays. All of these attributes carry over to the return game, where Cyrus becomes even more of a blur for would-be tacklers. With Cyrus spreading the field, look for the Indians to light up the scoreboard this fall.

Big Spring Bulldogs

Predicted finish: 2nd

Coach: Joseph Sinkovich

Record last season: 6-5, 3-3 Capital (4th place)

Team outlook: Vibes are optimistic in Newville for the Bulldogs, who bring back a number of skill players from last year’s playoff team. Big Spring returns seven offensive starters, with QB Chase Fry (6-0, 175) and RB Grant Hall (5-10, 180) set to lead the way. Hall accounted for nearly 1,500 yards as a rusher and receiver, but duplicating those numbers won’t be easy without the help of a new-look offensive line that includes Matthew Paulus (6-3, 200), Preston Alleman (5-11, 200), Davis Moore (6-0, 220), Carson Henry (6-2, 275), and TE Brexton Heckendorn (6-3, 230). Big Spring’s defense returns six starters, including LB Brady Singer (6-2, 200), who is back after logging 59 tackles last fall. Singer will be joined in the linebacking corps by Spencer Cachara (5-10, 180), Paulus, and Hall, with DE Heckendorn and DL Henry looking to make an impact upfront. All-star kicker Landen Mayer (6-2, 175) will be counted on for clutch field goals in tight games. Big Spring returns more talent than many of the teams in the Colonial, so if this group can gel quickly, their experience advantage could pay large dividends.  

One player to watch: Grant Hall. There are plenty of playmakers on the Big Spring offense, but none more dynamic than Hall, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound RB. Not only did Hall give the Bulldogs a 1,000-yard rushing campaign last fall, averaging 8.4 yards per carry and scoring 10 TDs, but he also made an impact in the receiving game where he hauled in 21 catches for 419 yards and 5 TDs. Hall’s feet are always chopping as he bobs and weaves through traffic, and with good balance and acceleration — not to mention a little bit of hustle — he’s able to transform broken plays into first downs and touchdowns. Hall boasts a 4.48 40-yard dash time, and he takes advantage of that speed when he splits out wide to play receiver. If Big Spring’s fresh-faced offensive line can pull together, don’t be surprised if Hall’s numbers — and the Bulldogs’ win total — are even bigger this season.

Trinity Shamrocks

Predicted finish: 3rd

Coach: Kevin Yarnevich

Record last season: 8-4, 4-3 Capital (3rd place)

Team outlook: When it comes to predicting the Trinity Shamrocks, your guess is just as good as ours. They are projected to return several key players, like two-way Capital all-stars Christian Joy and Chris Thompson, but the team will be trying to find their way with a new head coach and quarterback. The team will also be looking to replace the production of star RB Messiah Mickens, who is now at Harrisburg. Joy, an RB, and OL Thompson (5-10, 250) will look to guide an offense that is projected to return RB PJ Dent (29-89-1) and WRs Tanie Young (9-120-4) and Ishmael Palmer (2-97-1). Trinity should be OK on defense, where they return a trio of First Team Capital selections DL Thompson (40 tackles), LB Jacob Ness (133 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2 sacks), and DB Amil Way (33 tackles). The Shamrocks’ defensive unit is also expected to return LBs Hayden Johnson (5-10, 205), Marcus Yeager (6-3, 215), and Quincy Smith (6-2, 220), NG Aiden Arias (5-10, 205), and SS Payton Schaffner (6-2, 190). The parts seem to be there for the Shamrocks, but their season will come down to how quickly they can adjust to a flurry of off-season changes to the program.

One player to watch: Christian Joy. With Messiah Mickens’ transfer to Harrisburg, Joy becomes the primary go-to player in the Trinity offense. Joy, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound RB and return specialist, brings back 719 rushing and 210 receiving yards, to go along with six combined TDs. Joy is a scrappy player with a nice burst. He breaks through arm-tackles and doesn’t give up on plays. Joy is excellent at running the screen play and following his blockers, and he will stiff-arm or juke out defenders that get in his way. Trinity will be counting on Joy to be the portrait of consistency, as the Shamrocks settle into the season and discover their identity.

West Perry Mustangs

Predicted finish: 4th

Coach: Bob Boden

Record last season: 11-2, 5-1 Capital (2nd place)

Team outlook: It’s easy to believe that West Perry will be in a rebuilding year after graduating a strong senior class that helped the Mustangs average 49.9 points per game last fall. But if you take a closer look, WP returns plenty of quality players who can once again make an impact. Leading the charge is Brad Hockenberry (5-10, 180), a two-way Capital all-star at RB and LB last fall. Running behind Honorable Mention all-star center Connor Fleisher (5-10, 200), Hockenberry will be counted on to handle the bulk of the carries as the Mustangs attempt to replace their starting QB and top WR. Three other returning West Perry RBs — Evan Jutba (5-8, 160), Grady Reisinger, and Jenson Hockenberry-Folk — combined for nearly 700 rushing yards and 8 TDs last fall. West Perry returns all-star caliber talent on the defensive side, as well, with DL Quade Boden (5-10, 215) and Hockenberry. Several others were active on the defensive unit last season, including LB Hockenberry-Folk (82 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT), DBs Cole Brown (31 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 pass breakups) and Trent Hockenberry (41 tackles, 1 INT, 8 pass breakups), DLs Cayden Sturgeon (32 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2 sacks) and Nic Oerman (27 tackles, 2.5 TFLs). It would be wise for opponents not to underestimate the Mustangs this season.

One player to watch: Brad Hockenberry. This 5-foot-10, 180-pound RB/LB will is projected to be West Perry’s big man on campus after a brilliant junior season last fall. On offense, he returns nearly 1,200 rushing yards and 12 TDs, to go along with 159 receiving yards and a TD. Hockenberry runs with big, strong strides and won’t be brought down with arm tackles. He’s deceptively quick and can juke out defenders or just run right past them. Hockenberry is a strong blocker who has been known to pancake blitzing linebackers. This strength translates to the defensive side of the ball, where Hockenberry totaled 44 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 2 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 blocked kick. Hockenberry also wears the hat of kick returner, a job that saw him average 26.5 yards per return last season. With Hockenberry helping to guide the ship, look for “rebuilding” West Perry to be competitive on a weekly basis.

Milton Hershey Spartans

Predicted finish: 5th

Coach: Jeff Boger

Record last season: 6-6, 3-4 Keystone (6th place)

Team outlook: After losing many of their prized skill players to graduation, the Spartans will be looking to instead bully their way through the Colonial this fall with a sizable group of trench warriors. Keystone all-stars OL Christian Bryant (6-2, 295) and junior DL Malachi Toles (5-9, 220) highlight Milton Hershey’s group of big men, a unit that also includes the likes of OL/DL Mark Reid (6-1, 265), OL/DL Connor Miller (6-0, 240), Zyair Pernsley (5-11, 174), and Sinai Mayer (6-2, 205). With these dudes controlling the line of scrimmage, lanes should be open for HB/LB Damian Mattos (5-7, 160) and RB/LB Anthony Taylor (5-9, 175) to make plays on both sides of the ball. Receiver and defensive back should also be a strength for the Spartans, who are eager to get to work with a group of players that includes Parris Blackston (5-9, 170), Keon Lovitt (5-10, 155), Isaiah Zoegar (5-8, 160), and Alex Cruz-Wright (5-7, 150). Milton Hershey will need to identify a QB to deliver the ball to this stable of receivers, but whoever the Spartans select should have an extra second or two given the wall of protection they will have in front of them. In a Colonial where nearly every team is dealing with graduation losses, Milton Hershey’s size and physicality could give them a decisive edge.

One player to watch: Christian Bryant. The baddest man on the Milton Hershey offensive line is the punishing left tackle, the 6-foot-2, 295-pound Bryant. In one of the more violent highlight films you can watch, Bryant’s stretch is apparent early. One shove is all it takes to pancake most defenders, and those who are able to stay on their feet usually find themselves getting trucked 10 yards downfield. Bryant is a big man, but he has plenty of spring in his step when he’s hustling to lead block on a screen play. As a defensive end, Bryant generates a strong push toward the QB and can demand the attention of multiple blockers. If Milton Hershey outperforms expectations this season, we presume that Bryant will be a big reason why.

Boiling Springs Bubblers

Predicted finish: 6th

Coach: Brad Zell

Record last season: 2-8, 1-5 Capital (6th place)

Team outlook: With a solid corps of returners, Boiling Springs will be aiming for its first winning season since 2021. The Bubblers return two all-stars — OL Lance Schwang (6-0, 215) and P/K Preston Warner (5-11, 165) — as well as a handful of skill players: QB Zach Porter (5-11, 143), RB Javier Rosario (5-5, 142), and FB Demetri White (6-0, 195). Schwang will help pave the way up front, along with a varsity-tested group of big men that include C/DE Ethan Stouffer (5-9, 185), T/DT Ryan Bush (6-2, 265), G/DE Brodric Deitz (5-9, 189), C/T Ethan Noll (6-1, 230), and DE/TE Jonathan Wonders (6-1, 195). Expect to see plenty of two-way players, including junior SS Ryan Heller (6-0, 160), who should also make an impact at WR. In order to move up the food chain in the Colonial Division, the Bubblers will have to stay healthy and continue to improve every week.

One player to watch: Demetri White. This junior wasn’t an all-star last season, but the game film of the 6-foot, 195-pound FB/OLB stood out for us. Just a sophomore last fall, White ran like a man, using his strength to rumble through tacklers. He has good speed for a large runner, and when he accelerates into the secondary, there isn’t a DB in the Mid-Penn who wants to stand in his way. On the defensive side of the ball, White can use his big frame to muscle through the chaos at the line of scrimmage and put himself in position to make a play. His aggressive nature makes him a prime candidate for blitzing. There aren’t an abundance of superstars on the Boiling Springs roster, but if White makes that next step forward, don’t be surprised if you see him land on an all-star team this fall.

Middletown Blue Raiders

Predicted finish: 7th

Coach: Scott Govern

Record last season: 1-9, 1-5 Capital (7th place)

Team outlook: Two years removed from its “death penalty” season in 2022, the Middletown football program seems to be back on the way up. The Blue Raiders graduated their only all-star, but return seven players on offense and nine on defense to compete in the new-look Colonial Division. A pair of freshman QBs — Harrison Ortiz (6-1, 165) and Benjamin Nordai (5-11, 170) — are set to compete for the starter’s job, and they will be assisted on offense by a supporting cast of skill players that includes RBs Luis Roman (5-9, 170), Adiel Johnson, and Gavin Paul (5-8, 170), and WRs Nickayus Zenon (5-9, 172) and Genesisia Ross (5-10, 150). Look for OL’s Josh Toro (6-0, 245) and Joseph Gassert (6-0, 255) to help pave the way up front, and to help on the defensive side, as well. The Blue Raiders will be looking to improve upon their 26.9 points allowed average from last fall, and could very well do so with an experienced group that includes LBs Johnson and George Hartwick (5-10, 180), DBs Zenon and Ross, safeties Roman and Paul, and DE Annyas Hassan (6-1, 225). Toss in a returning senior kicker in Landon Keyser, and it’s easy to see why Middletown is optimistic about its chances in 2024. 

One player to watch: Genesisia Ross. Coach Govern describes the 5-foot-10, 150-pound Ross as one of the best athletes in the Mid-Penn Colonial Division. That’s high praise for a rising sophomore, but the limited tape on the DB/WR shows that Govern just might be on to something. As a defender, Ross is excellent in both anticipation — which allows him to unleash big hits at the same moment the ball is caught — and pursuit, where he can create angles and chase down a runner on the other side of the field. A capable pass catcher, Ross not only possesses speed but can switch gears to throw off defenders. Look for Ross’ playmaking abilities to not only lift Middletown’s confidence but perhaps the team’s win total, as well.

East Pennsboro Panthers

Predicted finish: 8th

Coach: John Denniston

Record last season: 9-2, 6-1 Colonial (1st place)

Team outlook: East Pennsboro played its best season in years last fall, and the Panthers finished with 20 selections to the Colonial Division all-star squad. Graduation, however, has not been kind to East Penn as only two all-stars return for the 2024 season: Seniors JJ Gossard and Ali Alami. Gossard (5-8, 175) was a two-way all-star at RB and DB last fall. He will be counted on to give East Penn good reps in the running game while the Panthers go to work replacing their starting QB, top receiver, and three offensive linemen. Junior Elliot Bruhn (55-258-2) should also get some carries. As for Alami (6-4, 220), he was also a two-way all-star as a TE, where he caught 14 passes for 196 yards, and as a kicker, where he averaged 34.2 yards on kickoffs, converted 28 of 33 PATs, and was 8 for 8 on field goals with a long of 38 yards. Defensively, DB Gossard will lead a group of returners that includes DB Cel Reed (5-10, 180), OLBs Kolton Keys (5-11, 160) and Ryan Potts (5-10, 160), DL Logan Newman (6-1, 264), as well as Bruhn (5-9, 160) and Henry Ridgley (5-9, 215). If coach Denniston can find a way to cover the Panthers’ graduation losses and contend for the division, he could be well on his way to repeating as the Colonial Coach of the Year.

One player to watch: JJ Gossard. If East Pennsboro secures another winning season, Gossard will be a big reason why. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound RB/DB was a two-way star for the Panthers, and will be the focal point of the East Penn offense this fall. He totaled 776 yards and 6 TDs on 169 carries last season and hauled in nine catches for 180 yards and 3 TDs. Gossard boasts strong acceleration, allowing him to throw would-be tacklers with starts and stops. He has the power to run effectively between the tackles, and the speed to run on the outside. Gossard has sharp footwork and soft, reliable hands that make him a prime target for dump-off passes and screen play. On the other side of the ball, Gossard is a versatile player who totaled 41 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT, and 3 pass breakups. Look for East Pennsboro to turn to Gossard early and often for production and leadership as it breaks in several players who are new to the varsity game.

Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils

Predicted finish: 9th

Coach: Devin McCauley

Record last season: 7-4, 4-3 Colonial (4th place)

Team Outlook: After graduating a senior class that carried the Blue Devils to the District 3 postseason, Greencastle-Antrim finds itself with more than a few holes to fill on both sides of the ball. The QB is gone, as are the Top 8 rushers, and while the Blue Devils’ top receiver — Carter McCauley (6-4, 180) — is back, five other receiving leaders have graduated. McCauley and returning all-star TE Connor Rennekamp will need to provide leadership and production for the offense, and with points coming at a premium, senior kicker Andrew Bowers will have to be just as effective as last season, when he converted 18 of 20 extra points and 4 of 6 field goals, with a long of 39 yards. The Blue Devils defense returns solid players at all three levels in DT Jeremiah Fogle (6-2, 220), MLB JD Flynn (6-0, 197), and FS McCauley. Fogle is Greencastle’s returning sack leader after getting to the QB six times last season. The Blue Devils aren’t the only team in the Colonial trying to rebound after heavy losses, so if their new cast of role players can catch on quickly, they can have a competitive team this fall.

One player to watch: Carter McCauley. Eight years ago McCauley won a Punt, Pass, & Kick competition put on by the Baltimore Ravens. Now a 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior WR/FS for the Blue Devils, McCauley will have to “do it all” more than ever as Greencastle tries to remain competitive after losing a talented group of players to graduation. As a defender, McCauley is good at keeping the ball in front of him and gets low to make sure-handed tackles. When McCauley has a sense of where the ball is going, he becomes a heat-seeking missile that can lay down the hammer. Last year he logged 39 tackles and a TFL. On offense, McCauley is coming off a season where he hauled in 39 catches for 588 yards and 5 TDs, and will provide a tall target for Greencastle’s newest QB this fall. 

The Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division, already regarded as one of the most rugged divisions in the state, is about to get even tougher.

Thanks to division re-alignments from the Mid-Penn, Bishop McDevitt and Cedar Cliff join a group of Commonwealth mainstays that include Harrisburg, State College, Cumberland Valley, CD East, Carlisle, Central Dauphin, Chambersburg, and Altoona. 

Only the strongest will survive the season-long grind in a physical division known for monsters in the trenches and superstars at the skill positions. As we scanned over the division’s 10-team roster, we found ourselves saying “This team could win it all” over and over again.

After careful evaluation, we’re taking Harrisburg to repeat as Commonwealth champion. The Cougars may or may not have the services of all-state QB Shawn Lee Jr., who will be facing a PIAA eligibility hearing, but Harrisburg has more than enough top-shelf talent elsewhere to be considered the favorite in every regular-season game it plays this fall.

State College brings back most of the pieces from its high-flying offense and we like the Little Lions to claim the runner-up spot over division newcomer Bishop McDevitt, a team that has holes to fill but is still as star-studded as any Commonwealth team. Cumberland Valley, Cedar Cliff, CD East, and Carlisle all have the rosters to finish higher than their predicted finish, while we anticipate Central Dauphin, Chambersburg, and Altoona will have to play catch-up in a brutal division.

Look forward to a divisional season where nearly every game will be a must-watch.

Projected division standings: Harrisburg, State College, Bishop McDevitt, Cumberland Valley, Cedar Cliff, CD East, Carlisle, Central Dauphin, Chambersburg, Altoona

Harrisburg Cougars

Predicted finish: 1st

Coach: Calvin Everett

Record last season: 12-2, 7-0 Commonwealth (1st place)

Team outlook: We’d be lying if we said it was a quiet offseason for the Harrisburg Cougars. The team has imported more than 4,000 career rushing yards and 67 TDs in the form of transfers D’Antae Sheffey (State College) and Messiah Mickens (Trinity), while its star QB Shawn Lee Jr. is set to face a PIAA hearing to determine if he’s eligible to play this season. Combine these factors with a Commonwealth Division that has expanded and it’s hard for even the most accurate crystal ball to predict what’s going to happen for the Cougars this fall. Assuming Lee returns to guide the offense, the 5-foot-11 signal caller will give Harrisburg a major dual threat on offense after a junior season where he threw for nearly 2,300 yards and 26 TDs, while also rushing for more than 1,400 yards with 19 TDs. All-star receivers Elias Coke (45-843-12) and Quincy Brannon (40-633-9) will fill their share of highlight tapes, while RBs Sheffey and Mickens could each be primed for career seasons. Trench warriors Kevin Brown (6-5, 250), Tayvon Williamson (6-0, 265), and Jyrell Britton (6-0, 210) — all returning all-stars — will allow Harrisburg to dictate the pace of games on an almost weekly basis. Good luck trying to move the ball against the Cougars daunting defense, led by DLs Brown and Britton (66 tackles, 7 sacks), DBs Lee (47 tackles, 4 INTs, 7 PDs), Brannon (49 tackles, 6 INTs, 21 pass defenses), and Kymir Williams (66 tackles, 4 INTs, 5 pass defenses, 3 caused fumbles). The Cougars have a million questions to answer this season, but even if they answer only half of those questions, they still have an excellent chance to repeat as Commonwealth champs.

One player to watch: Kevin Brown. All it took was a monster sophomore season from Brown — a 6-foot-5, 250-pound powerhouse of a lineman — to catch the attention of Penn State, a school where he is currently committed. We don’t always recommend keeping your eyes on a specific offensive lineman, especially when considering the explosive playmakers on this Harrisburg suad, but it’s worth it to witness  Brown put in a day’s work. He is strong, almost to the point of hilarity, and can be frequently found driving helpless defenders 20, even 30 yards down the field. We’re not exaggerating. Brown pancakes defensive ends and linebackers with regularity, so good luck if you’re the poor defensive back who has to stand in Brown’s way as he lead blocks for a screen play. Every way we described Brown as an offensive lineman can also be applied to the other side of the ball, whereas a DE he accumulated 58 tackles, 22 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 10 hurries, one pass defense, and one caused fumble. So grab your popcorn, and maybe say a prayer for those opposing linemen, as we believe Brown will be locked in for another dominant fall. 

State College Little Lions

Predicted finish: 2nd

Coach: Matt Lintal

Record last season: 7-4, 6-2 Commonwealth (3rd place)

Team outlook: The big news in the offseason was the transfer of nationally-ranked RB D’Antae Sheffey from State College to Harrisburg, but we don’t believe that will be a distraction for a loaded Little Lions squad that is primed to make a run for the Commonwealth Division. Yes, State College will need to find a replacement for Steffey in the running game, but the Little Lions bring back most of the pieces from an offense that generated 32 points per game in the Mid-Penn’s toughest division last fall. State College will count on senior QB Eddie Corkery (6-2, 195) to once again lead the offense after throwing for more than 2,000 yards and 20 TDs last season. Corkery has at his disposal a 1,000-yard receiver in Ty Salazer (5-11, 173), and a gifted supporting cast of pass catchers that includes Michael Gaul (26-383-5), Cooper Brushwood (11-251-3), and Daimear Coad (15-225-2). The Little Lions are even more terrifying on defense, a unit which will be led by a pair of First Team Commonwealth selections in LB Gaul (107 tackles, 10 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 2 INTs) and DB Salazar (47 tackles, 3 INTs, 3 passes defended). Up front, all-star DLs Sam Mayer (6-1, 250) and Nathan Haas will set the table for an experienced group of returners that includes DE Thomas Keller (6-5, 225), OLB Peyton Crane (5-10, 170), MLB Trayce Brennan (6-0, 205), and SS Robert Strayer (6-0, 185). On special teams, State College will need to replace all-star kicker/punter John Zipf, but the unit does return a capable returner in Brushwood, who averages 13.8 yards on kickoff returns and 8.5 yards on punt returns. State College is a powerful team with depth for days. We fully expect the Little Lions to finish in the Top 3 in the Commonwealth, at the very least.

One player to watch: Ty Salazer. It takes a heck of a player to nail down First Team Commonwealth honors on both sides of the ball, but Salazer — a 5-foot-11, 173-pound WR/DB — did just that as a junior last fall. Salazer brings both speed and quickness to the table and uses those gifts to run slick routes and easily get wide open. An elusive ballcarrier in the open field, with the toughness to win 50-50 balls, Salazer totaled 66 catches for 1,079 yards and nine TDs last season. In the secondary, Salazer showcased a great nose for the ball and a knack for sniffing out plays, leading to a season where he totaled 47 tackles, three INTs, three pass defenses, and one caused fumble. With men like Salazer and fellow senior leader Michael Gaul, leading State College, it’s hard to imagine the Little Lions being counted out of any game this fall. 

Bishop McDevitt Crusaders

Predicted finish: 3rd

Coach: Jeff Weachter

Record last season: 13-1, 7-0 Keystone (1st place)

Team outlook: Thanks to re-alignment in the Mid-Penn Conference, the King of the Keystone is now a Contender in the Commonwealth. Bishop McDevitt’s arrival in the Mid-Penn’s big-boy division is exciting news for all, including the juggernauts of the Commonwealth who intend to make the Crusaders work for every inch. Senior QB Stone Saunders (6-2, 200) will have to show his mettle as he works with a receiving corps that has lost its top playmakers. His top returning WRs are Jontai Quick (5-10, 150) and Gage Ruth (6-3, 175), two guys who combined for nearly 600 receiving yards and 10 TDs. Returning RB Nazir Jones-Davis (6-0, 180), who brings back nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 10 TDs, will have plenty of holes through with the return of towering all-star OLs Landon Blauch (6-4, 240), Ja’Kye Logan (6-2, 290), and JJ Torres (6-6, 300). Also keep an eye on freshman RB Jerome Larue Jr. (5-9, 160), a verbal commit to Virginia Tech. Defensively, the Crusaders have to plug holes all over the field, most notably on the defensive line. McDevitt will lean on a core group of returners to carry the load: LBs Maurice Barnes (6-2, 205) and Venny Brooks (6-0, 210), DL Lucas Lawler (6-2, 215), and DB Leon Parson (5-8, 170). With the graduation losses sustained by the Crusaders, we can’t call them the favorites to win the Commonwealth, yet when we look at their schedule and roster, there isn’t a game they can’t win. 

One player to watch: Stone Saunders. By the time Bishop McDevitt’s PA Class 4A Player of the Year leaves the campus, he just may end his high school career as the best high school QB this state has ever seen. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound touchdown-slinging Saunders is coming off a junior season where he completed 213 of 329 passes for 3,522 yards, 56 TDs, and 5 INTs. The Kentucky commit makes big throws look effortless, and he puts the ball where he wants with pinpoint accuracy. Under pressure, Saunders has strong pocket awareness and can make throws on the run. Competing in the Commonwealth Division this fall will give Saunders a chance to showcase his talents against some of the toughest teams in the state. If all goes well, he has a chance to re-write the record books, one year after Steel-High’s Alex Erby did so last fall. Saunders needs 12 TD passes to break Erby’s career record of 167, and less than 3,000 yards to break the passing mark of 12,998 yards, a record also set by the Rollers’ legend. Another Erby record — 61 TDs in a season — is also up for grabs. 

Cumberland Valley Eagles

Predicted finish: 4th

Coach: Josh Oswalt

Record last season: 7-5, 6-1 Commonwealth (2nd place)

Team outlook: The Eagles became the darlings of the Mid-Penn last season when they overcame a 1-4 start to qualify for the District 3-6A dance, an improbable run that saw the team take down Wilson before being knocked out by Manheim Township. But after soaring to a runner-up finish in the Commonwealth last fall, Cumberland Valley graduated nine all-star selections, and will now have to defend itself in one of the scariest divisions in the state. Junior OL Tyler Merill (6-5, 315) has become one of the most sought-after prospects in the nation, and he will have to elevate his game even more this season to account for the loss of three graduated trench mates. The offense is slated to be run led by QB Grant Shepley (6-0, 190), who threw for more than 700 yards and 5 TDs last fall. Shepley will have some nice targets in TE Nolan Buzalka (15-233-1) and WRs Brody Pines (17-118-1) and Ke’aune Green (13-214-1), but finding an RB to replace the graduated Bryce Staretz will need to happen sooner rather than later. Senior Caden Lloyd (6-0, 190) is CV’s top returning rusher. Points may come at a premium for this offense, but the same can be said for the Eagles’ defense, which returns plenty of seasoned players in DEs Buzalka (28 tackles, 9 sacks) and Brady Hubbard (45 tackles, 2 sacks), LBs Brady Hockenberry (98 tackles) and Jaydin Holmes (25 tackles, 3 TFLs), and DBs Gavin Kendrick (66 tackles, 3 INTs) and Ryan Hunter (31 tackles, 1 INT), SS Pines (45 tackles, 4 TFLs). Look for the Eagles to get an edge on opponents with a top-flight special teams group that includes a pair of sharp kick returners in Green (25.6 yards per return) and Elijah Sherman (23.2 yards per return), as well as two capable players who can play both the kicker and punter positions: Andrew Rice and Jackson Waggoner. Overall, CV has the roster to be competitive on a weekly basis, but wins and losses will come down to how much each “next man up” can adjust to life as a starter in the Commonwealth.

One player to watch: Tyler Merrill. If you can’t already tell, this preview is being written by a former offensive lineman, but we’re not the only ones with eyes on CV’s 6-foot-5, 315-pound right tackle. More than 25 college programs have made offers to Merrill, including Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Penn State. Merrill is imposing in the trenches, and with his churning legs generating power, he can overwhelm almost any Commonwealth defender in a one-on-one matchup. Merrill is a superb run blocker who collects pancake blocks in bunches and can shut down an entire defensive line when he blocks his man to the inside and knocks over other defenders like dominoes. Merrill doesn’t lose any strength when he takes a defensive stance for pass blocking and can be seen dropping lesser defensive ends with just one touch. Even the premier pass-rushers in the Commonwealth struggle against Merrill, whose chopping feet and pumping arms will eventually serve him well at the college level. As the season kicks off, we don’t even know who will be running the ball for CV, but we can say with certainty that the player will be successful running behind the blocks of Merrill.  

Cedar Cliff Colts

Predicted finish: 5th

Coach: Colin Gillen

Record last season: 10-2, 6-1 Keystone (2nd place)

Team outlook: With eight returning all-stars and a group of monsters in the trenches that could move a semi-trailer truck, Cedar Cliff possesses a team that we’d be calling a favorite to win the division IF the Colts were still in the Keystone. But now that Cedar Cliff is in the Commonwealth, the best we can call them is a big fish in a big pond. There’s plenty of talent on this Colts roster — six returners on offense and seven on defense — but it’s going to take a full season of play on the field to see how that translates in one of the state’s toughest divisions. Our guess is that Cedar Cliff will, at the very least, be competitive against the giants of the Commonwealth, and that’s because they have a few giants of their own: OL/DL Guner Hiller (6-3, 305), Josh Gillen (6-1, 250), Hezikyah Latini (6-5, 320), and Blake Secrest (6-2, 220). With that kind of support up front, look for senior QB Bennett Secrest, who passed for nearly 1,400 yards and 16 TDs last fall, to have the time to pinpoint returning WRs Julius Tirado (6-0, 160), Owen Anastasi (6-0, 170), and Kade Finkboner (5-9, 180). The top returning rusher on the Colts is the quarterback so they will need to develop a supporting running game to keep opposing defenses honest. Defensively, again look for Cedar Cliff to at least hold its own on the line of scrimmage, with guys like Blake Secrest, Hiller, Latini setting the tone. With those blokes chewing up blocks, look for a well-seasoned defense to make plays, led by returners DBs Tirado (27 tackles, 3 INTs) and Anastasi (17 tackles, 1 INT), LBs Kade Finkboner (24 tackles, 1 INT) and Will Kocher (45 tackles, 9 TFLs). Cedar Cliff has the potential for a big season in the Commonwealth, but they’re going to have to prove it.

One player to watch: Bennett Secrest. You can’t ask for a better QB to guide Cedar Cliff on its maiden voyage through the Commonwealth than three-year starter Secrest. The 6-foot gunslinger has a nice, big right arm that can stretch the field and a stable of receivers who are all capable of making big plays. Secrest would probably prefer to comfortably pile up video-game passing numbers, but he has the legs to impact the game as a runner, like last year when he rushed 82 times for 486 yards and seven TDs. Those quick legs and sharp, technical footwork make Secrest a tough man to tackle for opposing pass rushers. Perhaps Secrest’s biggest asset is his mind: He will be counted on to make reads and adjustments that most high school QBs are not asked to make. With Secrest at the helm, look for Cedar Cliff’s offense to rack up big plays with regularity against the studs of the Commonwealth.

CD East Panthers

Predicted finish: 6th

Coach: Lance Deane

Record last season: 4-6, 2-5 Commonwealth (6th place)

Team outlook: Outside of high school football, coach Deane is known for his prowess as a personal trainer, where his clients include Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons, among others. CD East will need all the training it can get from its coach as it once again enters the fall season as an underdog in the Commonwealth Division. The Panthers return two exciting all-stars in RB/DB Jared Porter (5-9, 170) and WR/OLB Zach Brown (6-2, 220), but will otherwise be fighting an uphill battle against opponents boasting both depth and top-shelf talent. Porter is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball, and should help take the pressure off senior QB Demaj Jalloh (6-0, 180), while Brown is a hard-hitting hustle player. These players alone aren’t enough, so the maturation of young prospects is a must if CD East hopes to stay competitive this fall. If the Panthers can keep games close, they have a trusted kicker and punter in senior Kyle Bloss (6-0, 150) who can deliver points and field position in nip-and-tuck battles.

One player to watch: Jared Porter. This 5-foot-9, 170-pound speedster just might be the fastest football player in the Mid-Penn. A two-way Commonwealth all-star at RB and DB, Porter is electric-in-a-bottle personified and colleges took notice, with Porter choosing to play for Delaware next season. But before he packs his bags and leaves Harrisburg, Porter still has some highlight tapes to fill in his senior season for East. As an RB, Porter can run between the tackles or bounce to the outside, and if he makes it past the first level, it’s off to the races against LBs and DBs who simply can’t match his speed. Tackling a blur is not easy and opponents who are able to make contact can usually only grab a leg or an arm, allowing the elusive Porter to gain bonus yards with frequency. Last season Porter exploded for 1,807 yards on 198 rushes, an average of 9.1 yards per carry. Porter’s speed also translates to the defensive side, where he totaled 53 tackles and 2 INTs last fall. While we can’t forecast an abundance of wins for CD East in 2024, we can guarantee fans will get their money’s worth with Porter on the field.

Carlisle Thundering Herd

Predicted finish: 7th

Coach: Brandon Cook

Record last season: 1-9, 0-7 Commonwealth (8th place)

Team outlook: Despite losing all five of its Commonwealth all-star selections from last fall, Carlisle is optimistic for a solid year in a rough and tumble division. Junior Curtis Stroud (5-11, 170) is slated to take over at QB after previously standing out at WR and CB. Stroud will turn to an experienced receiving corps that includes Devin Vasquez (5-10, 165), Xavier Campbell (5-11, 148), and Mickel Hakim (5-9, 165). With the return of Ryan Wolaver (6-3, 250) and Nathan Carothers (6-2, 288), look for the offensive line to be a strength for Carlisle and open plenty of holes for returning RB Chase Bonner (5-11, 204). Defensively, Carlisle has a scrappy group that is led by SS Vasquez, CBs Stroud, Campbell, and Hakim, DTs Wolaver and Carothers, MLB Bonner, and DE Joshua Smith (5-11, 195). If you haven’t noticed, that’s quite a few Herd players who will be counted on to play two ways. We expect Carlisle to be competitive on the Mid-Penn’s biggest stage, but conditioning and maintained health will be crucial as they navigate through the Commonwealth gauntlet.

One player to watch: Curtis Stroud. After establishing himself as a varsity-caliber WR and CB as a sophomore, Stroud will be counted on to lead Carlisle’s offense as the QB this fall. There is no film of Stroud playing QB, but we can say he has experience slinging a ball as a pitcher for the Herd’s baseball squad. Boasting a 40-yard dash time of 4.3 seconds, we expect Stroud to be able to scramble away from defenders and factor as a threat in the running game. All of the pieces — a quality group of receivers, an effective offensive line, and a solid RB — are there for Carlisle to make a smooth transition at QB, it’s just up to Stroud to do his part.

Central Dauphin Rams

Predicted finish: 8th

Coach: Glen McNamee

Record last season: 6-5, 4-3 Commonwealth (4th place)

Team outlook: Central Dauphin opens this fall with an unproven roster after graduating nearly all of its top players from last season’s winning campaign. The QB is gone, as are the Rams’ Top 5 receivers. Five of the Top 6 runners on CD have departed, as have two all-star interior linemen. To make coach McNamee’s job even harder, the Rams have also graduated their punter and kicker, and the defense will have to make do without six of its Top 7 tacklers. Ouch. And while there’s no such thing as an “empty cupboard” at a proud football program like Central Dauphin, it’s going to be difficult for the new-look Rams to gain traction in a Commonwealth Division against opponents who are already built to win championships. Central Dauphin will lean on senior DL/OL Zack Coleman (6-2, 270), a two-way Commonwealth all-star, to set the tone at the line of scrimmage. Another returning all-star, junior LB Mason Wydra (5-11, 175), could be primed for a big season after establishing himself as a sophomore with 83 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 INTs, one QB hurry, one pass breakup, and one caused fumble. Drew Kurtz, 5-foot-11, 180-pound DB, returns 58 tackles for the Rams. Offensively, look for Central Dauphin to discover its identity behind a beefy offensive line that includes Coleman, Kolton Sheeler (6-0, 268), Elijah McDonald (6-1, 275), and TE Collier Book (6-5, 230). Senior John Harris III is the top returning skill player for the Rams after totaling 168 rushing yards on 41 carries last fall.

One player to watch: Mason Wydra. With the strength of a lineman and the swiftness of a DB, Wydra established himself as quite the prospect as Central Dauphin’s full-time sophomore OLB last fall. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Wydra is a hard tackler, and those hits sting a little bit more when he comes charging in on a perfectly-timed blitz. Teams that like to pick on LBs in the passing game might want to rethink that strategy against Wydra, who runs a 4.65 40-yard dash and picked off three passes last season. He closes in fast on receivers and uses his athleticism to win his share of 50-50 balls. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a receiver that can generate a good block on Wydra, a 27-match winner as a wrestler last winter. Central Dauphin is known for its strength and conditioning program, and we’re eager to see what Wydra brings this fall following a full offseason of training.

Chambersburg Trojans

Predicted finish: 9th

Coach: Mark Luther

Record last season: 4-6, 2-5 Commonwealth (5th place)

Team outlook: Chambersburg comes into this season with a solid senior class prepared to give the unforgiving Commonwealth Division one last go-around. Two of those seniors are a couple of RBs with incendiary speed, Imari Watson (5-6, 160) and Antonio Harrison (5-9, 175), who will be running behind the blocks of returning OLs Dominick Curtis (6-1, 280) and Cole Edwards (6-1, 265), as well as TE Kevin Demory (6-3, 230). Chambersburg will be young at QB, but the signal-caller will have a couple of experienced pass-catchers in Trever Luther (5-11, 175) and Evan Brown (6-0, 180). The Trojans are highlighted on defense by a linebacking corps that includes Commonwealth all-star Stanley Lozius (5-11, 195) and Dylan Panfili (5-9, 190), who combined for nearly 180 tackles and 5 INTs last fall. Joining Lozius and Panfili on the defensive side are CBs Watson, Luther, and Brown, FS Jason Chambers (5-9, 180), and DE Demory. It’s going to be an uphill battle for the Trojans in the Commonwealth, but a big surge from a strong senior class will go a long way in earning respect for Chambersburg’s football program and setting the tone for seasons to come.

One player to watch: Stanley Lozius. This 5-foot-11, 195-pound senior is Chambersburg’s only returning all-star this fall. He earned Commonwealth Honorable Mention honors as an MLB after grinding to a season where he totaled 85 tackles, 10 TFLs, 2 INTs, and a sack. Lozius has good vision of the backfield and has a strong sense of where the ball is going to go. Lozius sets the example with hustle and solid fundamental tackling and is strong enough to shed blockers who get in his way. He knows how to time a blitz, and uses explosive acceleration to reach his destination. With these attributes, there’s a good chance we’ll also see Lozius take on an increased role as an RB this fall.

Altoona Mountain Lions

Predicted finish: 10th

Coach: Vince Nedimyer

Record last season: 5-7, 2-6 Commonwealth

Team outlook: The road through the Commonwealth will always be a tough one, but that’s not news to the Mountain Lions, who have been an underdog in the division since they joined in 2018. This fall will be no exception for Altoona, as it enters the season with just three returning all-stars: OL Calvin Troutamn, P/MLB Mark Harrington, and LB Logan Wukovich. Troutman will help pave the way up front for a group of RBs that include Amar Emeigh-Ballos (25-155-0), Julian Hazelwood (19-125-1), and Zion Patterson (34-107-0). Those players will need to increase their production to support the offense as it looks to replace graduated QB Brennan Freiwald. On the other side of the ball, look for the Mountain Lions to lean on a core group of defenders that includes Wukovich (6-1, 210), Harrington (6-3, 225), and Wes Baumgartner (6-1, 235). Big special teams play from junior KR Julian Hazlewood (23.9 average) could also make a difference as Altoona navigates through another black & blue season in the Commonwealth.

One player to watch: Mark Harrington. The football future of Harrington — a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior — could very well be as a punter, a position that saw him nail down Second Team Commonwealth honors last fall. But for his final season of high school ball, we’re just going to enjoy watching the big man play the more fun positions. Harrington certainly left his stamp on defense as an MLB last season, filling the entire stat sheet with 62 tackles, two sacks, 12 QB hurries, two INTs, two pass defenses, two fumble recoveries, one caused fumble, and one blocked field goal. He plays an exciting and violent brand of defense, often overwhelming solo blockers in the process. Harrington also plays a little bit of receiver (11-62-0) and has a booming leg for kickoffs, where he averages 52.3 yards per kick. We haven’t even talked about Harrington as a punter, where he averaged 39.0 yards per punt and landed 13 punts inside of the 20-yard line. Altoona is going to need all the help it can get in a loaded Commonwealth, and with Harrington helping to control the field position battle as both a defender and a punter, the Mountain Lions have an even better chance of playing competitive football. 

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Durrell Ceasar Jr., sr., WR/DB, Steel-High: Heckuva run for these Rollers seniors, who capped a four-year run with a third state title after routing Fort Cherry 42-8 in the PIAA Class 1A championship. Caesar was electric again, catching 13 passes for 147 yards, plus a 32-yard touchdown before halftime.

Alex Erby, sr., QB, Steel-High: No surprise here. Erby led the Rollers to his third state title in four years, already had state career passing yards and touchdowns marks and then set the single-season TD record. He’s one of the best in state history. But just to fill in his stats here for your consideration, Erby went 29 of 39 for 340 yards and five touchdowns (5, 17, 77, 32 and 3 yards), and ran four times for 36 yards and a 37-yard score.

Eugene Green, sr., DE/OL, Steel-High: Gotta throw a defender onto this list after the Rollers held a very good Rangers team to just eight points, and only in the fourth quarter. Green swarmed the ball, snagging 12 tackles, eight unassisted and a tackle for loss. Steel-High held Fort Cherry to just 180 total yards on 55 plays and forced three turnovers.

Nazier Fuller, jr., WR/DB, Steel-High: A first-time nomination for Fuller, who was only targeted three times but was incredibly efficient in the championship game, catching two passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns, including the game’s longest of 77. 

Jaeion Perry, sr., WR, Steel-High: Another favorite target of Erby all season, Perry finished with nine catches for 84 yards and the game’s first touchdown, a 5-yarder just 3:37 into the game.

Alex Erby has been around the block a round or two. He knows how to answer a less-than-stellar postgame question.

The Steel-High record-setting quarterback had just completed an undefeated season Thursday afternoon with a commanding individual performance as part of a complete domination across the board of WPIAL champion Fort Cherry.

It was the Rollers’ second consecutive PIAA Class 1A title and third in four years with Erby as the signal caller.

Erby, a United States Naval Academy commit, was asked – unfairly, because the premise of the question is flawed – where this team stacks up in the long and storied winning legacy at Steel-High.

Essentially, is this team the best ever?

First, the answer is an emphatic no! If you were around 30-40 years ago and remember when Steel-High played football as part of the Mid-Penn Conference Division I starting in 1982 when the conference formed with 27 schools for football, there are several teams from that era that stood above the rest.

Those Mid-Penn I teams competed against the big dogs, including Harrisburg and Cumberland Valley. And the Rollers not only held their own, they were one of the teams at the top of the food chain on a fairly consistent basis.

That was a different era. Times have changed dramatically in the tiny hamlets of Steelton and Highspire.

The real question to answer: is this the best Steel-High team in the modern football era, competing as a Class 1A school?

Erby, smarter and more savvy than most, knew exactly what to say.

“This puts (our team) in the conversation with guys like Jordan Hill and Jordan Smith, all those guys right there. They won in ‘07 and ‘08 … to put our names with the likes of those guys is great,” Erby said. “It’s truly amazing. Those guys are legends at Steel-High.”

He is 100% right.

This does put them in that conversation, and history will remember him as one of those legends, as well.

Going back 15 years, and for argument’s sake, let’s call this the modern era of Steel-High football, the Rollers have won five state titles at the PIAA Class 1A level since 2007.

Which one of these five championship teams is the best in the modern era?

Let’s narrow it down to the 2008 and 2023 Rollers squads for starters. The second state title victory for each team was built on elite talent and veteran savvy blending to form an unstoppable machine.

Both finished 16-0 and featured a plethora of high-end players who for the most part went both ways.

The late Rob Deibler’s 2008 squad had a quartet of uber elite players, Jordan Hill, Jordan Smith, Andre Campbell and Jeremiah Young. Andrew Erby’s 2023 version had a similar quartet in Alex Erby, Jaeion Perry, Ronald Burnette and Amari Williams.

In that respect the team are eerily similar in how they won two in a row.

In my 30-plus years of covering high school football in Pennsylvania, all I know is Alex Erby is one of the 10 best quarterbacks I have ever seen. Jeremiah Young was one of the Top 10 running backs I watched play, and Jordan Hill is inside my Top 10 of most complete two-way interior players.

This is all classifications over 30-plus years. They are each one of the best of the best at their positions.

A big difference for me between the 2008 and 2023 team was the level of competition. The 2007-2008 champions were part of the four PIAA classifications era. The playing field was simply deeper at the state level back then. It was a harder minefield to navigate in those days.

Having said that, I would have enjoyed watching this 2023 team navigate its way through the Class 1A field in that era. They’d stack up pretty darn good.

Because let’s be honest, what this 2023 Rollers team did during this state playoff run was show they were of a completely different class than the rest of the field. And that’s a testament to the players and their coaches.

One final point of parliamentary procedure in a debate where any answer isn’t necessarily the right or wrong one: I would dearly love to see the 2023 Steel-High offense play four quarters against the 2008 Steel-High defense. That, folks, is modern Rollers football nirvana right there.

Your reward for sticking with me until the end is the 2008 Rollers are the modern era kingpin in my book. I contemplated the co-champions route, but you deserve my honest answer – backed into a corner I might add.

My reason is a tougher and more level Class 1A playing field made the month-long grind to a perfect season for that 2008 squad somewhat of a minor miracle. The 2008 squad beat the likes of Susquehanna Township, CD East and the Camp Hill Lions twice to complete a perfect regular season and win the District 3 title.

Then they had to overcome Bishop McCort, Schuylkill Haven and Clairton in the state playoffs to run it back for the second year in a row. The only loss for each of those teams was Steel-High.

And comparing apples to apples, I think the 2023 team would have matched up well against all three of those teams from the 2008 state playoff run. Winning was very difficult for the ‘08 squad, and this 2023 team would have faced the same long odds but with the tools and pieces to make it happen.

What figured to be one final test for this talented bunch of Steel-High Rollers turned into just another day at the office in the PIAA Class 1A title game.

The District 3 champions simply outclassed WPIAL champion Fort Cherry. The Rollers were too big, too strong and too fast for the Rangers to handle Thursday afternoon at Chapman Field on the campus of Cumberland Valley High School.

Led by quarterback Alex Erby, the Rollers came out flying offensively and never let their foot off the gas the opening 24 minutes. Steel-High had its second consecutive state title wrapped up by halftime, leading by five touchdowns on its way to a commanding 42-8 triumph.

It was complete domination on both sides of the ball.

“I knew some things had to go our way in the early going. This is the first team we’ve faced this season, Steel-High, that I felt was complete from front to back defensively,” Fort Cherry coach Tanner Garry said. “We knew we were going to have a hard time against that defense. Their offense demands that you be where you are supposed to be every single time without fail, or they are going to take advantage of it. They are a hard team to prepare for, and they are very good at what they do.”

Steel-High came out on point, ran its first 10 plays from the script as planned and enjoyed a 14-0 lead less than seven minutes into this state title bout.

Erby completed his first 10 passes, was mixing and matching based on what the defense gave him, and had the Rangers’ defense completely guessing the rest of the way.

“This was all about preparation, and we have the weapons to spread the ball around and stretch a defense,” said Erby, who threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth TD. “That’s a good defense they have. And we put in the work and got ready, and it showed up in our execution. Our guys came out and put on a show today. We earned the right to celebrate our accomplishment. We put a lot into this game, one last time together.”

Steel-High kept the pressure on by adding three more touchdowns in the second quarter while the defense made it extremely difficult for Fort Cherry to even make a first down. It was a two-headed hammer that crippled the Rangers.

Erby completed 12 of his first 13 passes for 123 yards and two scores. And then the second quarter started. Yeah, he was in the zone. Erby went to intermission leading 34-0 with a stat line of 18 for 22, 275 yards and four touchdown passes with a 37-yard touchdown run thrown in for good measure. 

And he departs as Pennsylvania’s record holder for single-season passing touchdowns (61), which he secured in his final game, career passing touchdowns and career passing yards.

Overall, Steel-High ran 37 plays in the first half for a staggering 392 yards. The Rollers averaged a difference-making 10.6 yards per play. 

Time to hand out some postseason grades.

STEEL-HIGH ROLLERS

Quarterback: What a way for the record-setting United State Naval Academy recruit to go out, winning his third state title in four years as a starter and helping his team win back-to-back PIAA championships. Erby is one of the greats in Pennsylvania history, and his first half showed the next-level player he became. He completed 12 in a row to start the game, making it look so easy. The lefty’s first incompletion was a drop on a 52-yard TD pass that would have padded his already ludicrous numbers to start. He finished with 335 passing yards and five touchdowns. The numbers are one thing, it’s how he commanded and ran the offense that will be remembered most by me. It was nearly flawless. Grade: A+

Running back: This was going to be tough sledding for Ronald Burnette Jr. The hallmark of the Fort Cherry defense is the speed of its linebackers, who close down gaps and get to the ball in a hurry. And they played well. Last year the senior stole the show in the state title game to carry the Rollers across the line. Today he dug deep and ran extra hard just to accumulate 67 yards on 16 carries. There’s nothing wrong with 4.2 yards per carry. He never flashed or ran away from defenders, he just leaned hard and moved the chains several times when his number was called. Grade: A-

Wide receivers: The wealth of riches here at Erby’s disposal is borderline ridiculous. No high school secondary can cover this much talent. Durrell Ceasar and Jaieon Perry combined for 23 catches and 231 yards with one touchdown each. If that wasn’t enough, Nazier Fuller chipped in with two catches for 94 yards, and both his catches went to the house. There were two big-time drops that each would have gone the distance for touchdowns. But on this day those mistakes fell into the “who cares” category because they were running such great option routes and blocking downfield for each other. Nearly uncoverable. Grade: A+

Offensive line: It was a struggle to run the ball inside the tackles all day, but I will say the interior trio of Eugene Green, Devon Reid and Andrew Erby Jr. were on point when it came to pass blocking and not allowing a single pressure up the middle. That was so key for this offense. Erby had clean sightlines all day. And can we talk about Amari Williams at right tackle protecting the QB’s blind side? Never a hint of pressure from behind. Grade: A

Defensive line: Take a bow Kameron Chisholm, Andrew Erby Jr., Green and Samerus Rivers, ya’ll made life miserable on every front for the Fort Cherry offense. The Rangers didn’t have either the time or space to get anything they wanted going. And that extended well into the second quarter as the Rollers built a 34-0 halftime cushion. The pressure on pass attempts altered the course of this game because it removed that from the table. Grade: A+

Linebackers: Outside linebackers Williams and Angel Luciano turned into predators in this game. They were getting so much cover from the group in front of them they could just be homewreckers based on what they were seeing and reading. The inside calming presence of Taevon Legrande allowed his partners on the outside even more leverage to take chances and cut corners to make splash plays. Best overall effort of the season from this group? I think it might have been. Grade: A+

Secondary: The Rollers’ defense created four turnovers, but the secondary set the table with interceptions by star wideouts Perry and Ceasar to really limit the playbook for the Rangers. Only 21 passing yards allowed on the day. Keep in mind the Fort Cherry QB came in with more than 2,200 yards through the air. Nobody was open and it was too hot in his kitchen, forcing him to get the ball out in a hurry. Grade: A+

Special teams: Here’s a shocker: the Rollers didn’t punt. I will say everybody on the planet knew that fake punt late in the first quarter was NOT going to be a punt. And still they couldn’t stop Perry from picking up 19 yards. Why do I love those squib kickoffs for the Rollers? I just do. Kick coverage was average, and on this day that was good enough. The missed PAT just before the half delayed the mercy rule, but it also fell into the previously mentioned “who cares” category. Grade: A-

Steel-High can win its third PIAA football championship in four years and its second in a row  Thursday afternoon. 

The undefeated Rollers face District 7 champion Fort Cherry at 1 p.m. at Cumberland Valley High School, a hop, skip and a jump from their home turf. It’ll be the final game of quarterback Alex Erby’s career. The Naval Academy recruit is one of the best to ever do it in the Keystone State, owning the career passing yards and touchdowns records with a chance to set the single-season TD mark in his last hoorah.

As always, bookmark this page on your phone, laptop or tablet to follow every matchup and see every highlight from the Mid-Penn and some of the teams in the Colonial-Schuylkill League. We’ll update scores throughout the night on this page (refresh the page to see new updates), and you can follow our Twitter feed below for minute-by-minute updates.

PIAA football playoffs: State championships analysis, staff picks and previews

Each week 4th Down Magazine will preview the weekend slate, predict the winners and provide extra analysis. Here’s everything to get you ready for the PIAA championship games:

• Who’s gonna win? The 4th Down crew picks who will win the state championships
• PIAA football rankings: See Eric Epler’s state rankings from Class 6A to 1A

2023 PIAA football championships schedule and scores: 

Follow along for every result from the PIAA football championships this weekend at Cumberland Valley High School:

Thursday, Dec. 7

• Class 1A championship: 3-1 Steel-High 42, 7-1 Fort Cherry 8 Final
• Class 4A championship: 2-1 Dallas vs. 7-1 Aliquippa, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 8

• Class 2A championship: 4-1 Southern Columbia vs. 8-1 Westinghouse, 1 p.m.
• Class 5A championship: 12-1 Imhotep Charter vs. 7-1 Peters Township, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 9

• Class 3A championship: 11-1 Northwestern Lehigh vs. 7-1 Belle Vernon, 1 p.m.
• Class 6A championship: 12-1 St. Joseph’s Prep vs. 7-1 North Allegheny, 7 p.m.

Pennsylvania high school football live updates and highlights

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