Mid-Penn Conference News and Notes: Liberty Division

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. 

Mid-Penn Conference News and Notes: Colonial Division

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.

Mid-Penn Conference News and Notes: Capital Division

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.

There’s a darkhorse contender

This division is all about two teams, right? Not so fast, I say. Steel-High and Boiling Springs are the front runners, and their game on the final Saturday of the regular season on Cottage Hill could be for all the marbles. Don’t overlook Big Spring. The Rollers have to travel to Newville and Bulldogs Stadium the week prior, and that’s not going to be an easy one by any stretch of the imagination. Something tells me the Bulldogs have a say in how all this shakes out.

I saw enough out of Boiling Springs last Friday against Big Spring to know the Bubblers have more gas in the tank than they showed offensively, and they are loaded to slow the game down and make you play at their pace. And I still have no clue what’s going to happen. Trinity laid down some film on the Rollers the Bulldogs and Bubblers will want to learn from.

Speaking of the Bulldogs and ‘Rocks

The most intriguing game on the Mid-Penn Conference Week 8 slate is Trinity vs. Big Spring at COBO Field. Both teams are coming off losses and expended a lot of gas in the tank in those setbacks. The T-Rocks pushed Steelton to the brink, and the Bulldogs were in a physical slugfest with Boiling Springs. On several fronts this is a must-win for both teams looking forward. I expect some points to be scored, too. I say it takes more than 32 to win this one.

Mid-Penn Conference News and Notes: Keystone Division

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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.

McDevitt’s math eye popping

Time for some crazy McDevitt numbers update. Keep in mind the Crusaders are blowing out so many teams, most of these players have not participated much if any in the fourth quarter and maybe even the third quarter, too. Freshman QB Stone Saunders is completing 67% of his passes with 22 touchdowns and zero interceptions. The other numbers for him are just window dressing. The two running backs, Marquese Williams and Cyncir Bowers, are averaging an identical 14.6 yards per carry, and all three wideouts with double-digit catches are averaging 17.8 yards per reception or better. All three teams remaining on McDevitt’s regular-season schedule are currently below .500.

Confidence matters

Why do I think Palmyra-Cedar Cliff is going to be an interesting game? Confidence matters, is what I say, and the Cougars have it. Cliff is the better team, but mojo is hard to stop. Why do I think Hershey gets a win and beats Mifflin County? And why do I think Red Land is going to take care of Lower Dauphin and prove they are better than its record?

Mid-Penn Conference News and Notes: Commonwealth Division

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.

Numbers not harming Cougars

Depth and numbers are important, but this Harrisburg team is proving that sometimes they don’t matter one single bit. The Cougars’ roster numbers are down this year. That’s no secret. It was still alarming to see less than 35 in uniform for the game Saturday at CD East. Faced with one of the tougher road schedules in the state, Harrisburg has navigated itself to a 6-1 mark with a cast of characters that has just enough talent, grit and heart to be a legitimate District 3 Class 6A playoff contender. As long as this squad stays away from the you-know-what bug, how many guys they have on the sideline doesn’t really matter because those on the field are getting it done.

Herd in playoff mode now

Biggest game on the slate this week involves Carlisle. The Thundering Herd have a road trip to State College to play the Little Lions. I think Carlisle is a playoff team this season. But this is a must-have game to set the table. Right now the Herd are 4-3, and in Class 6A my gorilla math tells me 6-4 will slide under the wire and make the cut. Altoona at home and a trip to the Speedway to tangle with CD East is still on deck. Lose this game and those become must-have wins. Monster game for the Herd.

How Former Mid-Penn Players did in college last week: Forrest Rhyne turns in a career performance; Andre White a key piece in Texas A&M’s upset of Alabama and more

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Five-star performance

It doesn’t get much better for a linebacker than what Forrest Rhyne pulled off Saturday.

The former Waynesboro stud had a career performance, recording a mammoth 20 tackles (three solo) to lead Villanova in a thrilling 28-27 victory over James Madison. 

The total nearly doubled the number of tackles he had across the previous four games of the season — he came off an 11-tackle performance in last week’s loss to Penn State with 24 takedowns entering Saturday. 

The fifth-year graduate student could challenge his career-high for tackles with the Wildcats; he tallied 116 (57 solo) in 2019 and 14.5 tackles for loss.

Another Mid-Penn alumnus, Steel-High grad Bryce Carter, had three tackles and half a sack for JMU.

In on the action

Harrisburg grad Andre White played a big role in Texas A&M’s stunning upset of No. 1 Alabama, recording eight tackles to finish third on the Aggies in a 41-38 shocker. It tied his season high set last week against Mississippi State and now gives him 29 on the season.

White’s former high school teammate, Donte Kent, had five tackles and two passes defensed in Central Michigan’s 30-27 win over Ohio University.

And another Cougar, Ronald Kent Jr. had a tackle and two PBUs in Western Carolina’s 34-24 loss to Mercer to fall to 0-6.

Cody Gustafson (Shippensburg High) had his fifth 100-yard game and third in a row in Grove City College’s 56-7 route of Geneva. He finished with five grabs for 123 yards and two scores (37 and 32 yards).

Zack Kuntz (Camp Hill) had three grabs for 23 yards in Old Dominion’s 20-13 overtime loss to Marshall.

PSAC performances

Bill Williams (Camp Hill) almost had his first 100-yard game of the season, leading Shippensburg to a 34-18 win over West Chester. He finished with 15 carries, 96 stripes and a touchdown. Lower Dauphin grad also had a big game, recording three catches for a game-high 83 yards and a score. Williams scored on a 39-yard burst, and Morrill recorded a 71-yard catch-and-run from QB Brycen Mussina. SU’s defense also featured several Mid-Penn products, including a four-tackle day from Laron Woody (Middletown), who added a fumble recovery. And Shippensburg High product Cameron Tinner recorded two tackles from his linebacker spot.

Tyler Luther (Chambersburg) was perfect on eight extra point attempts in IUP’s 58-21 win over Clarion. 

Stock Up, Stock Down after Week 7

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We’re taking a look around our coverage area to see who helped themselves this week and who did not as we move into Week No.8 of the high school football season.  

STOCK UP

Harrisburg Cougars

After a win over CD East at home in a game where it was clear Harrisburg was the better team overall, the path for the Mid-Penn Commonwealth title will go through the Cougars this season. This squad doesn’t have a lot of flash, but they play complementary football, are fundamentally sound and are a physical squad.

Boiling Springs

Boiling Springs is going to have a major say in the outcome of the Capital Division this season. And the Bubblers appear to have enough of the right components to be a playoff contender in District 3 Class 3A as well. With more athletes on the roster than you realize, they are methodical and patient on offense and will be tough to run against. Brad Zell’s group is playing its best football, it appears, at the right time.

Shippensburg

Each of the last three weeks, Shippensburg has taken on a would-be Colonial Division contender and completely dominated each game. Waynesboro, Mechanicsburg and Northern each took their shot at the Greyhounds and combined to score 24 total points. Next up is West Perry and a Mustangs offense that has found a consistent groove. And that will most likely end this week at the hands of the ‘Hounds’ D.

STOCK DOWN

Carlisle, Cumberland Valley

Brutal losses for Carlisle and Cumberland Valley. The Thundering Herd gave Central Dauphin a full metal jacket test before the Rams nailed a 39-yard field goal as time expired to win by three. The loss dropped Carlisle to 4-3 and put the Herd below the playoff yellow line. There’s still three more games to make up ground, and the Herd do have a couple winnable games left. A win over CD changes everything, though. To get that close and lose is such a gut-punch. Cumberland Valley had State College on the ropes before stalling a bit offensively, and the Little Lions roared back to force overtime before pulling out a three-point road win at The Chap. Like Carlisle, this loss drops the Eagles to 3-4 overall and below the postseason yellow line. Cumberland Valley still has Harrisburg and Central Dauphin remaining. It’s a big-time uphill climb for the Eagles to even finish .500 this season.

Discipline

I get there’s some bad blood between CD East and Harrisburg when it comes to the football field. But bringing it to the field with you is wasted baggage. If the Cougars and Panthers had put as much effort into the actual game as they did talking trash to each other at close range, that game would have been a whole lot better. The number of 15-yard unsportsmanlike, late hit or personal foul penalties was ridiculous. At one point CD East had two 15-yard violations on ONE play. That’s giving away a quick 30 yards. Good trash talking is awesome and part of the game today. This was just jawing at each other for no reason really. It impacted both teams, and the quality of football was way down because of this nonsense. Both coaching staffs were preaching “be smart, walk away,” and it was falling on deaf ears. 

Eric F. Epler’s State High School Football Rankings after Week 7

Pa. High School Football Rankings (Oct. 12)

Class 6A — Record — Previous rank 

1. North Penn (1)                    — 7-0   — 3 

2. Mount Lebanon (7)             — 7-0   — 6 

3. Central York (3)                   — 6-0   — 5 

4. La Salle College HS (12)       — 6-1   — 1 

5. St. Joseph’s Prep (12)          — 3-2   — 4 

6. Harrisburg (3)                     — 6-1   — 8 

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

8. McDowell (10)                    — 6-0   — 10 

9. Parkland (11)                      — 5-1   — NR 

10. Pittsburgh C.C. (7)             — 5-2   — 2 

Teams to watch: Archbishop Wood (12) 5-2, CD East (3) 5-2, Coatesville (1) 6-1, Emmaus (11) 6-1, Quakertown (1) 7-0, York High (3) 5-1.  

Class 5A — Record — Previous rank 

1. Governor Mifflin (3)            — 6-0   — 1 

2. Imhotep Charter (12)          — 5-1   — 2 

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

4. Cathedral Prep (10)            — 5-1   — 4 

5. Chester (1)                          — 7-0   — 6 

6. Manheim Central (3)          — 6-1   — 7 

7. Unionville (1)                      — 6-1   — 10 

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

9. Academy Park (1)                — 4-2   — 5 

10. West Chester Rustin (1)    — 5-1   — NR 

Teams to watch: Penn-Trafford (7) 5-1, Pine-Richland (7) 4-3, Spring Grove (3) 5-1, Strath Haven (1) 6-1. 

Class 4A — Record — Previous rank 

1. Jersey Shore (4)                  — 7-0   — 1 

2. Belle Vernon (7)                  — 6-0   — 2 

3. Bishop McDevitt (3)            — 5-1   — 4 

4. Thomas Jefferson (7)          — 4-1   — 3 

5. Valley View (2)                    — 7-0   — 5 

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

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

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

9. Berks Catholic (3)                — 5-2   — 9 

10. Lampeter-Strasburg (3)    — 6-1   — NR 

Teams to watch: Bishop Shanahan (1) 6-1, Hampton (7) 7-0, Pope John Paul II (1) 5-2, Pottsville (11) 6-1, Upper Moreland (1)  6-1. 

Class 3A — Record — Previous rank 

1. North Schuylkill (11)           — 7-0   — 1 

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

3. Wyomissing (3)                   — 7-0   — 3 

4. Scranton Prep (2)                — 6-0   — 5 

5. Central Martinsburg (6)      — 7-0   — 7 

6. Neumann-Goretti (12)        — 5-1   — 8 

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

8. Notre Dame-GP (11)           — 5-1   — 4 

9. Bedford (5)                          — 6-1   — 6 

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

Teams to watch: Avonworth (7) 6-1, Boiling Springs (3) 6-1, Fort LeBoeuf (10) 5-1, Lakeland (2) 6-1, Wyoming Area (2) 5-1. 

Class 2A — Record — Previous rank  

1. Farrell (10)                          — 5-0   — 1 

2. Southern Columbia (4)        — 6-1   — 2 

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

4. Washington (7)                   — 6-0   — 4 

5. Bellwood-Antis (6)              — 7-0   — 5 

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

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

8. Steel Valley (7)                    — 6-0   — NR 

9. Richland Township (6)        — 5-2   — 9 

10. York Catholic (3)               — 5-0   — 10 

Teams to watch: Bald Eagle Area (6) 6-1, Berlin Brothersvalley (5) 6-1, Karns City (9) 6-1, Laurel (7) 7-0. 

Class 1A — Record — Previous rank  

1. Steelton-Highspire (3)         — 6-0   — 1 

2. Old Forge (2)                       — 6-0   — 2 

3. Muncy (4)                            — 6-1   — 3 

4. Canton (4)                           — 7-0   — 4 

5. Redbank Valley (9)             — 6-1   — 5 

6. Portage (6)                          — 6-0   — 7 

7. Tri-Valley (11)                     — 5-1   — 8 

8. Homer-Center (6)               — 6-1   — 9 

9. Rochester (7)                      — 5-1   — 10 

10. Williams Valley (11)          — 6-1   — NR 

Teams to watch: Bishop Canevin (7) 6-1, Clairton (7) 4-2, Juniata Valley (6) 5-1, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (7) 5-1, Smethport (9) 6-1, Williams Valley (11) 6-1.

Elite 11: Our top 11 teams after Week 7

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Each week, we’re scouring the Mid-Penn, Lancaster-Lebanon, York, and Berks conferences to determine the top 11 teams in the area regardless of classification. Take a look at which teams made the cut after Week 7. Disagree, let us know on Twitter (@4thdownmag) and Facebook.

11. Steel-High6-011
Had to come up with some fourth-quarter magic to come from behind and knock off Trinity in a game where the Shamrocks pushed the Rollers to the edge.
10. Cedar Cliff5-210
Took a clubbing from No. 4 Bishop McDevitt in a game that was over by halftime. Barely hanging on in the rankings. Favorable schedule down the stretch.
9. Wyomissing7-010
Beat goes on for the Spartans with their first 50-plus point offensive game of the season.
8.Shippensburg7-0NR
Welcome the Greyhounds to the Elite 11. Their defense earned this call by holding six of seven teams to 14 or fewer points. That’s a difference maker.
7. Exeter Township4-38
Hey, losing to No. 1 Governor Mifflin by only five touchdowns isn’t all that bad. Two of Exeter’s three losses are to the Nos. 1- and 2-ranked teams.
6. Central Dauphin4-17
Needed a 39-yard field goal on the final play to subdue Carlisle and avoid overtime. Thundering Herd provided a full test.
5. CD East5-25
Learning-curve loss to No. 3 Harrisburg for the Panthers. Struggled to look like they belonged on the field with the Cougars in the first half, then settled down and stayed in the game.
4. Bishop McDevitt5-14
This was supposed to be the one week where the Crusaders at least were given a little resistance. That didn’t happen. This offense is off the charts with 56 more points.
3. Harrisburg6-13
Cougars showed their balance and overall strength in the win over CD East. The stage of a big game looked very comfortable for Harrisburg. It was the difference maker.
2. Central York6-02
The Panthers faced fellow YAIAA unbeaten Spring Grove, won by 31 points and scored 48. Offense is a difference maker.
1. Governor Mifflin6-01
The Mustangs have now scored 305 points this season in those six games. Yes, they average more than 50 a game and win by an average of nearly 40.

District 3 High School Football Power Rankings after Week 7

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Class 6A:

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

​​

1Central York

7-0 0.817841
2Harrisburg6-1 0.803768
3Central Dauphin4-1 0.775811
4William Penn5-10.767873
5CD East5-20.757216
6Manheim Twp. 5-20.750123
7Dallastown5-20.704000
8Hempfield4-30.695190
9Wilson4-30.668135
10Carlisle4-30.654922
11Cumberland Valley3-40.646720
12Penn Manor4-30.619964
13Cedar Crest3-30.586016
14Chambersburg2-50.500531
15J.P. McCaskey2-50.466082
16Reading1-40.378977
17York County School of Tech.1-60.287036

Class 5A:

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

1.Governor Mifflin5-00.848665
2. Shippensburg7-00.762956
3. Manheim Central6-10.735241
4. Spring Grove5-10.730218
5. South Western5-20.696692
6. Waynesboro5-20.676890
7.Warwick4-30.669177
8. Cedar Cliff5-20.635060
9. New Oxford5-20.632780
10. Ephrata5-20.631837
11. Exeter Twp.4-30.628342
12. Daniel Boone4-30.617546
13. Mechanicsburg4-30.607125
14. Twin Valley4-30.598892
15. Fleetwood4-30.589146
16. Gettysburg4-30.564486
17. Elizabethtown3-40.547815
18. Conestoga Valley3-40.546807
19. Palmyra4-30.537643
20. Lower Dauphin3-30.517033
21. Solanco2-50.474696
22. Red Land2-50.420034
23. Red Lion2-50.414110
24. Dover1-60.399937
25. Northeastern1-60.399180
26. York Suburban1-50.370083
27. Muhlenberg0-70.312671
28. Hershey0-70.283382
29. Lebanon0-70.255944

Class 4A:

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

1.Berks Catholic5-1 0.758983
2. Lampeter Strasburg6-1 0.705625
3. Bishop McDevitt5-1 0.694208
4. Cocalico4-3 0.653285
5. Conrad Weiser5-20.650303
6. Northern York4-20.642042
7. Kennard Dale6-10.640483
8. Big Spring5-20.636656
9.Donegal4-20.599004
10. East Pennsboro4-30.585092
11. Octorara5-20.571771
12. Greencastle-Antrim3-40.516038
13. Susquehannock4-30.494717
14. Milton Hershey3-4 0.483069
15. Eastern Lebanon County2-40.447173
16.Garden Spot2-40.441544
17.Kutztown2-50.395696
18. Eastern York1-60.315958
19. James Buchanan1-40.300541
20.West York0-70.254043

Class 3A:

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

1.Wyomissing7-00.822639
2.Boiling Springs6-10.682379
3. Hamburg5-20.613801
4.West Perry4-30.590004
5. Middletown3-30.500762
6. Annville-Cleona3-30.494231
7. Lancaster Catholic3-40.479446
8. Schuylkill Valley2-50.462083
9. Northern Lebanon3-40.442710
10. Hanover2-40.384649
11. Bermudian Springs2-50.368839
12. Littlestown1-50.323267
13. Susquehanna Twp.0-70.313871
14. Pequea Valley1-50.269968
15.Biglerville0-60.213541

Class 2A:

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

1.York Catholic6-00.684185
2. Columbia5-10.648876
3. Upper Dauphin5-10.608607
4. Trinity3-30.473814
5. Susquenita3-30.446592
6. Camp Hill3-40.443294
7. Newport2-50.344261

Class 1A:

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

1. Steel-High6-00.787705
2. Fairfield4-20.490964
3. Delone Catholic4-30.475140
4. Halifax1-50.261188