Eli Hasco, sr., RB/LB, Big Spring — Hasco was flying to, and with, the ball all night Friday. The Bulldogs routed Camp Hill 42-7, and Hasco pounded anyone in sight. He finished with a team-high 15 tackles (12 solo) and was tied for second with two tackles for loss. He also added a pass breakup. On offense, he hauled in a pair of passes for 21 yards and a TD from Ethan Eisenberg, and he ran for 4 yards on four carries.
Tucker Chamberlin, jr., QB, Shippensburg — Chamberlain has the Greyhounds cooking atop the Mid-Penn Colonial and put together one of his best performances so far with 227 yards and three touchdowns (covering 6, 56 and 13 yards) on 12-of-15 passing. Two of those TDs went to Erby Weller (eight catches, 128 yards) The effort propelled Shippensburg to a 27-7 win over Mechanicsburg. He capped his performance with a 13-yard TD run that made it a 27-0 game in the third quarter, finishing with five runs for 35 stripes.
Parker Lawler, jr. WR/DB, Red Land — The Patriots fell in a 48-41 shootout to Palmyra, but Lawler shined through with a five-touchdown performance and more than 250 offensive yards. Lawler ran 11 times for 125 yards and then caught seven Roman Jensen passes for 126 stripes. His first touchdown was a 50-yard sprint, which he followed up with a second-quarter 15-yarder. In the second half he caught a 40-yard TD pass, ran in a 5-yard TD and caught a 16-yard TD that briefly tied the game at 41-41 with 3:36 left.
Isaac Wilson, jr., WR/DB, Mifflin County — The Huskies fell to 0-6 after a 34-30 loss to Milton Hershey, but Wilson enjoyed a fine night. The junior hauled in a season-high eight catches for 210 yards and three touchdowns to keep Mifflin County in the game. He had an impact in two other phases, wrangling seven tackles (1.5 for loss) and returning a punt 23 yards.
Dion Bryant, sr., RB/QB, Milton Hershey — Typically one of the Mid-Penn’s top runners, Bryant was asked to step in for injured QB Kenny Emile and lead the Spartans offense. He did so, running for a pair of touchdowns and throwing for two more to lead a 34-30 victory over Mifflin County
Max Mosey, sr., QB, Central Dauphin — Three different receivers were the beneficiaries of Mosey’s three touchdown passes, but he also got in on the scoring action with two rushing TDs of his own in guiding the Rams to a 42-21 victory over State College. Mosey’s arm accounted for 231 yards (13 of 23 passing, one INT), completing all three TDs in the first half. His rushing scores went for 1 and 19 yards as he totaled 53 stripes on 11 carries.
Timothy Bonin, jr., QB, Northern — Bonin kept the Polar Bears squarely in the Colonial Division title hunt with a 9-for-14, 201-yard performance that included three touchdowns in a 31-14 victory over West Perry. Twice he connected with Mason Yohn for 34- and 55-yard touchdowns.
Small School: 3A-1A:
Jack Laing, sr., RB/K, Boiling Springs — Laing had 182 of the Bubblers’ 318 rushing yards — which they compiled on just 27 carries, eight of which belonged to him — to lead a 43-7 win over Trinity. Laing sprang the rout with a 95-yard race to the end zone. His day started with a 30-yard field goal to open the scoring, continued with a tackle and three PATs, and concluded with scoring runs of 7 and 64 yards to complete his performance.
Alex Erby, so., QB, Steel-High — One of the youngest starters in the Mid-Penn, Erby added to his growing list of Rollers records that includes TD passes (season and career), adding career yards by passing Lynn Jones’s 4,351. He threw for 259 yards in his toughest challenge this season, a 26-0 win over Middletown, and fired touchdown tosses of 41, 41 and 4 yards, the last of which went to Tyrone Moore, who had nine catches for 113 yards.
Brady Morgan, jr., RB/DB, Upper Dauphin — Morgan played super-sized roles on both sides of the football as the Trojans (4-1, 2-1) kept their hopes alive for a Mid-Penn Liberty championship and a spot in the District 3 Class 2A playoffs with a decisive 36-6 victory at neighboring Line Mountain. Morgan rushed 20 times for 175 yards, scoring on runs of 34 and 2 yards and adding a two-point conversion as UDA opened a 22-6 lead at the halftime break. The diminutive Morgan also swiped two passes from his DB spot.
Christian Snyder, sr., RB/LB Upper Dauphin — The powerful Snyder also left a mark on Line Mountain Friday night, rushing 19 times for 119 yards as Upper Dauphin ran for 443 yards in a 36-6 Mid-Penn Liberty Division backyard scrap. Snyder also closed out the scoring, cashing in from 8 yards out as Kent Smeltz’s squad rang up 36 unanswered points against the struggling Eagles. Snyder added four points to his line by scoring twice on two-point conversions.
Alex Achenbach, so., RB, Williams Valley — Achenbach was up to his expected tricks last weekend as the Vikings (5-1, 1-0) opened Colonial-Schuylkill Blue play with a 44-14 victory over Panther Valley. Achenbach rolled up 334 rushing yards on 21 touches and scored four times — his 50-yard score had Williams Valley sitting on a 20-7 cushion late in the opening quarter — as Tim Savage’s bunch claimed its second victory in a row.
Ezi Hite, jr., OL/DL, Williams Valley — Effective on both sides of the football throughout his most recent outing, Hite’s efforts helped fuel the Vikings’ 44-14 conquest of Panther Valley. Hite authored four pancake blocks, as Williams Valley churned out 530 yards of total offense against the winless Panthers — with 390 yards coming on the ground. Hite also registered seven tackles against PV, with two of those stops occurring behind the line of scrimmage. The powerful junior also recorded one of Williams Valley’s three sacks.
Kameron Wetzel, jr., RB, Tri-Valley — While Wetzel didn’t log many touches, he made those he received count significantly as the Bulldogs romped over Colonial-Schuylkill Blue playmate Marian Catholic 53-0. Wetzel rushed six times for 57 yards, scoring on a 19-yard run. Yet it may have been his 73-yard dash with the second-half kickoff that put any thoughts of an upset out of anyone’s mind while allowing Tri-Valley to ease to the win in its division opener.
As shaky and less-than-impressive as Central Dauphin was offensively the first eight quarters of the season, the Rams have come off a two-week COVID-19 shutdown and are lighting it up. This offense is going to present some serious problems — mostly because of its balance.
Senior quarterback Max Mosey is pulling the strings and playing at a very high level. What is going to be problematic is he’s spreading the ball around in the pass game, picking his spots in the run game and the Rams’ power ground attack behind that offensive line is always available.
Central Dauphin has now scored 92 points since its pause, rolling up 42 on the road at State College Friday night. Mosey accounted for five touchdowns, three passing and two rushing, to stake CD to leads of 22-0 after one quarter and 28-7 at intermission.
All three of Mosey’s touchdown passes came in the first quarter as he found three different receivers in the end zone. There’s real danger in a passing game with multiple options.
Sticking with the Central Dauphin School District, because both schools are crafting strong squads, CD East was pushed by Cumberland Valley and rode its defense to a not-at-all-surprising 17-10 victory where points were not easy to come by.
Mehki Flowers hauls in a pass in this file photo. Flowers made huge plays on both sides of the ball Friday against Cumberland Valley to help the Panthers win their fifth straight. (Aaron Wright/4th Down)
Penn State recruit Mehki Flowers continues to somewhat quietly be a massive two-way star for the Panthers, who won their fifth straight. He hauled in a touchdown pass and came up with a clutch interception. In terms of two-way football, nobody in the conference is playing at a higher level than Flowers.
The fight CV put up speaks to the progress the Eagles are making under second-year skipper Josh Oswalt. When you win a 17-10 game you need defense and a horse to ride at running back, and East RB Marcel McDaniels answered the bell with 30 carries and a tough 136 yards.
Big win for the Carlisle Thundering Herd on many fronts. After starting 3-0, Carlisle had dropped two straight and was the favorite and clearly the better team against Chambersburg. And the Herd proved it, racing to a 24-7 halftime lead and claiming a four-score victory. The mix-and-match offense of multiple weapons was simply too much for the Trojans.
Harrisburg needed a strong second half to pull away from Altoona on the road, the Cougars’ fourth long-range road trip this season. When the defense pitches a shutout, the offense can sputter for a spell and not have any worries. Mahki Hopkins and Kyle Williams Jr. each had two scores for the Cougars, who are 5-1 with their only setback coming at the hands of No. 1-ranked Governor Mifflin.
It’s clear everyone is looking up at Shippensburg in the Colonial Division. The Greyhounds are the class of the bunch this season, and the gap gets a wee bit wider with each passing week.
Ship used a splendid outing from quarterback Tucker Chamberlin, and some stingy defense, to overwhelm Mechanicsburg by three scores. Chamberlin threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for another score and was a tidy 12-for-15.
Northern bottled up West Perry defensively, and QB Timothy Bonin threw for 200 yards and three scores in a comfortable win for the Polar Bears. East Pennsboro needed a pair of Sy Burgos fourth-quarter touchdowns to get the Panthers past winless Susquehanna Township. Late-game wins are an East Pennsboro speciality this season.
Don’t look now, but Palmyra has won three in a row after surviving a shootout with Red Land where the teams combined for 88 points. Nice bounce back win for Milton Hershey thanks to RB Dion Bryant’s four touchdowns. Injury forced Bryant to play quarterback for the second straight contest, and he responded with a pair of TD passes to go along with two rushing scores. Is there anybody that does more for one team than Bryant? I know McDevitt has stars, but in terms of Keystone MVP, my vote would go to Bryant.
Speaking of Bishop McDevitt, it was another night of offensive fireworks in a 66-7 win over Lower Dauphin. WR Mario Easterly had 120 receiving yards and two scores on only four catches. RB Marquese Williams had only five carries, scored on four of them and eclipsed 100 yards. And freshman QB Stone Saunders threw four TD passes. Crusaders have scored 55 or more points in four straight games.
In case you haven’t noticed, Cedar Cliff has surrendered 21 or fewer points in each of its last three games. Just making note of the Colts’ defense as a public service reminder. And RB Jontae Morris has become the show pony of this offense with another 150-plus yard outing with three touchdowns.
Trinity took a 7-3 lead over Boiling Springs midway through the first quarter of an intriguing Capital Division battle. And the rest of the points, 40 of them, belonged to the Bubblers. Boiling Springs piled up nearly 400 yards on the ground, led by 183 and three scores from Jack Laing.
Big Spring continues to chug away, and the Bulldogs are a you-better-be-paying-attention-to-them 5-1 overall with an offense that gets theirs pretty much each and every week. In the 35-point win over Camp Hill, QB Ethan Eisenberg threw for 218 yards on only eight completions with three touchdowns covering 90, 64 and 16 yards.
Shippensburg’s Tucker Chamberlin made it look easy Friday night at John H. Fredrick Field in Mechanicsburg en route to a 27-7 victory. Minus starting running back Traevon Kater, the Greyhounds picked apart their Colonial division foe through the air.
You might have heard this combo before–Chamberlin to Erby Weller. The dynamic duo, who are cousins, have been perfecting their chemistry in their back yards for years.
All that time slinging it sure is paying off now as their Mid-Penn opponents can attest.
Chamberlin wrapped up the evening with 227 passing yards, completing 12 of 15. He tossed three touchdowns including a pair to Weller who hauled in eight of those completions.
Watch our video highlights of all the action including an interview with Shippensburg’s Chamberlin.
In what may well be a 4th Down voting record, Williams Valley receiver Brady Evans is this week’s Small School Player of the Week.
The junior hauled in big passes Friday and a massive number of votes since Sunday, a whopping 4,354, to run away with the Week 5 honor. That totaled dwarfed the total number of votes cast in the big school poll (3,277) and doubled up the total votes for all of Evans’s competition this week — and that’s including a sizable 1,578-vote performance from Halifax RB/LB Isaac Miller. Evans earned 68% of the 6,370 votes cast this week.
The 6-foot-3 pass catcher certainly earned it. He accounted for all but one point in the Vikings’ 13-6 win over Bloomsburg, scoring touchdowns of 21 and 70 yards from two different passers — QB Isaac Whiteash on the first and RB Alex Achenbach on the second.
Evans finished with eight catches for 149 yards in the tight victory, which got WV back in the win column after a Week 4 loss to improve to 4-1. The Vikings next host 0-3 Panther Valley.
Evans pretty much doubled his season output across the board with the Week 5 breakout. He’s now at 18 receptions, 275 yards and three touchdowns.
CD East is white hot, standing 4-1 this season coming off four impressive wins in a row.
They’ve picked up wins thanks to a strong defense, two different starting quarterbacks and a strong run game.
And it’s that run game that produced a stout 34-13 win over State College last week. Leading the charge? Senior Marcel McDaniels, this week’s 4th Down Big School Player of the Week.
McDaniels sliced up the Little Lions defense to the tune of 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns Friday, giving the Panthers win No. 4 in a row and cementing their status as a serious player in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth.
The running back picked up 1,363 votes this week, nearly 42% of the 3,277 votes cast this week. He beat out a division rival, Harrisburg junior RB Kyle Williams, who had 869 votes.
McDaniels leads the Panthers at home this week in a matchup against another surging division rival, 3-2 Cumberland Valley, which is riding a three-game win streak.
Although sophomore Alex Achenbach spent most of the first four weeks squarely in the spotlight following several productive efforts running the ball, Williams Valley (4-1) turned in an entirely different direction last weekend. And the Vikings needed Brady Evans to get loose twice in order to squeeze past gritty Bloomsburg 13-6. Evans racked up touchdown receptions of 21 and 70 yards — the first on a dish from quarterback Isaac Whiteash and the latter on a halfback option pass from Achenbach — and caught eight passes for 149 yards.
Tim Savage’s squad will be at home between the tall pines in Williamstown for a matchup with winless Panther Valley (0-3), the Blue Division opener for both Colonial-Schuylkill sides.
Tri-Valley on the rebound
Staked to an 18-7 halftime lead — Reece Huntzinger’s 83-yard interception return accounted for Tri-Valley’s final first-half score — the visiting Bulldogs (3-1) watched everything crumble after the break as Hamburg cranked up its ground game and rolled over the visitors 36-18. When it was over, Tri-Valley had yielded more than 325 rushing yards to the once-beaten Hawks.
Now, with their Blue Division opener on tap against winless Marian Catholic (0-5, 0-1), Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs hope to reestablish what they had going before COVID-19 protocols forced the West Enders to pause for a week. Quarterback Jonas McGrath was effective prior to Tri-Valley’s layoff, but he was just 9 of 27 passing (137 yards, 1 touchdown) at Hamburg. He also ran six times for a team-high 50 yards in the Bulldogs’ double-digit loss.
Pine Grove hoping to even league mark
While Pine Grove’s White Division opener ended with the Cardinals (1-4, 0-1) dropping a 14-7 decision to Schuylkill Haven, Frank Gaffney’s club will go on the road Friday night to visit a Minersville squad (3-2, 0-1) that two weeks ago tore up Williams Valley through the air.
So, look for the Cards to try to play keepaway when they have the football. That means touches for Lane Lehman and Colin Ibarra.
Andy Shay: Big Spring 38, Camp Hill 14: The Bulldogs have evolved into a handful offensively and are feeling very confident in the direction they are headed. Lions just don’t have enough pieces to keep pace.
Geoff Morrow: Big Spring 50, Camp Hill 22: The Lions won by two touchdowns in last year’s meeting, but the Bulldogs are lining up 60-somethings like a 4:30 p.m. dinner buffet. Plus Big Spring is about to enter a hellish three-week stretch, so a solid result is mandatory here.
Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 44, Camp Hill 21: Points have been remarkably easy to come by for the Bulldogs, who have put up 60 in three straight games. That trend ends this week, but Big Spring still returns to Newville with its fourth straight win.
Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 45, Camp Hill 24: Hey, it isn’t a 60-spot, but the Bulldogs’ offense is going to eat well again Friday night.
Bishop McDevitt at Lower Dauphin, 7
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 49, Lower Dauphin 7: The Falcons have moved the needle forward lately, but this is a different type of ask. Crusaders are averaging more than 10 yards per play this season.
Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 46, Lower Dauphin 6: Since 2008, the Crusaders have simply dominated the Falcons, winning all 13 meetings, including the last five by an average score of 45-13. Meanwhile, since a Week 1 humbling by powerhouse La Salle College, McD has outscored three foes 193-14.
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 44, Lower Dauphin 7: Coach Borelli at LD has done a great job of bringing the best out of his team while also disguising weaknesses. It’s going to be a tough game for the Falcons this week, but that has more to do with their high-powered opponent.
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 37, Lower Dauphin 7: Bishop McDevitt’s Stone Saunders has a QB rating of 138.8 — as a freshman with 13 TDs and a goose egg in the INT column. Yep, he’s going to be pretty good.
Central Dauphin at State College, 7
Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 31, State College 17: Nice to see the Rams’ offense come off the COVID-19 list and show more purpose and pop than it has all season. That might be a warning shot, too. Little Lions will need to show more firepower offensively than a week ago to keep up.
Geoff Morrow: Central Dauphin 38, State College 17: Rams have actually dominated the last two meetings, and I have no reason to believe the Little Lions can change that pattern, even at home. Noteworthy: With a loss here, State High is essentially out of the Commonwealth race, which is a rarity for the Lions this early in a season.
Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 44, State College 13: We were a little concerned about the Rams after two weeks away from football, but it turns out they were just well off enough to put up a 50-spot against Chambersburg. Road trips to SC are always hard, but I think CD is up for the challenge.
Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 34, State College 21: Coach Mac and the Rams sure made the most of their mid-season COVID-forced hiatus, unleashing Max Mosey to drop 50 on Chambersburg. Tougher test on tap this week against State College.
Chambersburg at Carlisle, 7
Andy Shay: Carlisle 34, Chambersburg 29: I don’t think that three-game winning streak to start the season was a mirage for the Thundering Herd. This game is a tight squeeze all the way, but points will be had.
Geoff Morrow: Carlisle 33, Chambersburg 20: Both teams have lost to Commonwealth royalty over the previous two weeks, so this is a chance for each to regroup and get back on the winning track. I just feel the Herd are a bit stronger this season.
Andy Sandrik: Carlisle 36, Chambersburg 27: The Thundering Herd still have a chance to make this a memorable season, but snapping a two-game losing streak against Chambersburg is never an easy ask in this rivalry.
Adam Kulikowski: Chambersburg 28, Carlisle 27: Forcing Carlisle to rely on its aerial attack should be the focal point of the Trojans’ game plan — anything to get the ball out of the hand of the dynamic Ezeekai Thomas.
Cumberland Valley at CD East, 7
Andy Shay: CD East 27, Cumberland Valley 13: The Panthers’ defense eliminates the run game and forces offenses to be one dimensional. Eagles are more balanced, but there will be a lot on the QB’s plate in this one. CD East has been extremely balanced overall, and that’s a big key here.
Geoff Morrow: CD East 33, Cumberland Valley 14: Shout-out to Panthers assistant Jameel Poteat, who at this time last year was helping my wife and I finalize our house-buying process while simultaneously struggling through a winless CD East campaign, including a gut-wrenching 7-6 loss to CV. Poteat is one of those dudes who works hard at everything and hates to lose, and I know this season feels good to him and all the deserving Panthers. I think East gets its first win vs. CV since 2014, and I don’t think it’s particularly close, so long as Harrisburg on the horizon isn’t distracting.
Andy Sandrik: CD East 13, Cumberland Valley 7: Both teams have been trending up for weeks, but someone finally has to lose this Friday. I’m still not sure which way this one goes, but I have a good feeling about taking the under.
Adam Kulikowski: CD East 21, Cumberland Valley 14: This is shaping up to be one of those storybook years for the Panthers and first-year head coach Lance Deane. Good vibes keep rolling in Week 6. And for folks curious about the Eagles donning their black pants last week against Altoona — a kit traditionally held for playoff bouts — Coach Oz confirmed that it was in tribute to Tim Rimpfel.
Greencastle-Antrim at Waynesboro, 7
Andy Shay: Waynesboro 28, Greencastle-Antrim 24: I thought about this one for a long, long time. I believe the Blue Devils can win this game. It’s a toss-up in my book. Going to give the Indians the respect they’ve earned. G-A has to win one of these games, right?
Geoff Morrow: Waynesboro 28, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Though I wasn’t surprised to learn Franklin County is named after Ben Franklin — I was kinda hoping it was Aretha Franklin — I absolutely WAS surprised to learn the county was previously part of Lancaster, York and Cumberland counties before earning its own distinction in the late 1700s, back when former 4th Down picker Jeff Dewees was editor of the Chambersburg Daily.
Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 33, Greencastle-Antrim 22: The Indians were flat in a high-stakes game against Shippensburg last week. Now they find themselves in somewhat of a must-win against an upstart G-A squad perfectly equipped to snap an eight-game losing streak to the ‘Boro.
Adam Kulikowski: Greencastle-Antrim 24, Waynesboro 21: This might be one of the best matchups on the slate. Watching the Blue Devils battle East Penn two weeks ago tells me they have the potential to pull off the upset.
Halifax at Juniata, 7
Andy Shay: Juniata 28, Halifax 0: How about that win for the Indians in Week 5? That’s next-level stuff defensively. The train keeps rolling for Juniata in this one.
Geoff Morrow: Juniata 30, Halifax 6: Indians have posted a couple of baseball-score victories, including last week’s 8-7 triumph over Middletown that I dang near predicted. (I was so mad at myself for not committing to the upset!) Doubtful this final score resembles a baseball result.
Andy Sandrik: Juniata 27, Halifax 7: Teams that lose their starting QB for the season often quit, but not these Indians, who seem to be playing even harder after their field general went down.
Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 40, Halifax 14: That Inidans’ defense has plenty of chops to cause havoc for the gritty Wildcats. Can Halifax offer enough defense to keep this one close?
Harrisburg at Altoona, 7
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 28, Altoona 7: Mountain Lions are good up front defensively, and their run game is functional. Just too one-dimensional for the Cougars, who are taking care of business in efficient order.
Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 44, Altoona 19: Covering the six most recent meetings between these schools, dating to 2005 but including battles in 2018 and ‘19, the Cougars have THOROUGHLY DOMINATED the Mountain Lions by a combined score of 334-44. Don’t think this one will fit into that mercy-rule mold, though I still think Harrisburg wins handily — so long as they don’t start looking ahead to CD East next weekend. (Same warning given to Panthers up above.)
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 33, Altoona 12: Two straight losses for Altoona, which isn’t ever the way you want to go against the Harrisburg Cougars.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 34, Altoona 27: This might be the quickest game of the Week 6 slate with both teams likely to focus heavily on the run. Give me Kyle Williams as the X-factor.
Hershey at Cedar Cliff, 7
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 33, Hershey 7: Are the Colts a running team now? Just asking the question. I still see plenty of balance in this offense. Riding a hot RB is never a bad thing.
Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 35, Hershey 6: If you’re the Colts, you take care of business here and start preparing for next weekend’s showdown at Bishop McDevitt. Trojans just don’t have the offense to compete right now.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 24, Hershey 7: The Trojans’ defense can only keep these games close for so long before the offense needs to start catching up.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 30, Hershey 20: Jontae Morris sure looks like he is fully back from an ACL injury that stole his 2020 campaign. Also looks like the reins are off as the Colts prep for the stretch run.
Marian Catholic at Tri-Valley, 7
Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 34, Marian Catholic 6: Pretty clear Marian is struggling this season, particularly on offense where points have been hard to come by. And the Bulldogs’ defense is no slouch, either.
Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 35, Marian Catholic 0: The perfect tonic for getting over a somewhat surprising and thorough loss to Hamburg is welcoming an 0-5 team that doesn’t seem to know where the end zone is located.
Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 28, Marian Catholic 0: Tri-Valley can’t be happy with the way things slipped away against Hamburg last week. That’s not good news for Marian Catholic, which struggles enough on offense without an angry Bulldogs defense breathing down its neck.
Adam Kulikowski: Tri-Valley 45, Marian Catholic 7: The gents from Tamaqua (I love to say that town’s name!) have posted just 21 points all season. That’s just not enough production to get past the Bulldogs.
Mifflin County at Milton Hershey, 7
Andy Shay: Milton Hershey 28, Mifflin County 14: See how the Spartans respond to being upset victims. One bad quarter will torpedo most teams. This is a good opponent to find that winning feeling again.
Geoff Morrow: Milton Hershey 29, Mifflin County 7: The Huskies have scored 11 points in five games. That’s an ugly stat even if you’re talking about ice hockey.
Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 32, Mifflin County 6: For all their recent struggles, the Spartans have at least been competitive throughout the season. The same can’t be said for MiffCo, which hasn’t scored six points in a game since Week 1.
Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 45, Mifflin County 7: Many would call what happened to the Spartans last week against Palmyra an upset. No such words will be uttered this week.
Panther Valley at Williams Valley, 7
Andy Shay: Williams Valley 42, Panther Valley 6: The Vikings are not a high-wire act anymore on offense, but they are efficient enough to be 4-1. Panther Valley has scored one touchdown in 12 quarters and is winless.
Geoff Morrow: Williams Valley 43, Panther Valley 0: The Panther Valley Panthers will pose minimal risk to the Williams Valley Williamses.
Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 35, Panther Valley 6: The Vikings have often had to struggle for their 4-1 record, but win No. 5 should be their easiest get of the season so far.
Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 31, Panther Valley 7: Vikings are a little beat up right now, but who isn’t heading into Week 6? Plenty in the cupboard to get the ‘W’ and move on.
Pine Grove at Minersville, 7
Andy Shay: Minersville 20, Pine Grove 14: Two losses by a touchdown and another by two scores. PG is in almost every game. Just feel Minersville has enough in the tank to get three or more scores.
Geoff Morrow: Minersville 25, Pine Grove 14: Bounce-back time for the Miners, who two weeks ago put a hurtin’ on Williams Valley. Cardinals aren’t pushovers, but they need to show they can win close games.
Andy Sandrik: Minersville 28, Pine Grove 7: Points seem to come a lot easier for the Battlin’ Miners, but the score could be closer if Pine Grove’s defense turns in another stingy effort.
Adam Kulikowski: Minersville 34, Pine Grove 24: The Battlin’ Miners have no qualms tossing the pigskin around. Senior QB John Adams already has more than 1,200 passing yards with just 3 picks. That’s the steady hand that could cause problems for the Cardinals.
Red Land at Palmyra, 7
Andy Shay: Red Land 27, Palmyra 23: The trendy pick here is to go with the hot team, and that would be the Cougars. I’m going with the Patriots because … well, because I can. This is a “feel” pick for sure.
Geoff Morrow: Red Land 21, Palmyra 14: Definitely among the toughest games to pick this week. Here are two teams with minimal playoff hopes but with enough moxie to play disruptor. But what happens when the disruptors face each other? Patriots have fewer wins, but they’ve been the more consistent side. I guess that’s why I’ll pick ‘em.
Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 18, Red Land 14: Palmyra hit a major level-up last week during an impressive win over Milton Hershey. Now the Cougars have a really good opportunity to nail down their third win.
Adam Kulikowski: Red Land 28, Palmyra 14: To me, having the more established QB is key in this matchup. That checks the box next to Roman Jensen and the Patriots.
Shippensburg at Mechanicsburg, 7
Andy Shay: Shippensburg 33, Mechanicsburg 17: Greyhounds are more balanced, and that makes them more difficult to beat. Both sides of the ball are carrying equal weight. Wildcats will hang around, but over 48 minutes you have to lean toward Ship.
Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 27, Shippensburg 21: Color me naive, but this feels like a potential trap for the Greyhounds. Despite last week’s surprising loss to West Perry, the Wildcats are solid and formidable, especially at home. And maybe, just maybe, Ship will be carrying a bit too much swagger into this game after handling Waynesboro with relative ease last week.
Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 28, Mechanicsburg 14: I wasn’t sure what to make of the Hounds’ quick start considering their strength of schedule, but Ship’s decisive win over Waynesboro last week tells me Eric Foust’s boys just might be the team to beat in the Colonial.
Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 35, Mechanicsburg 28: Shippensburg skipper Eric Foust was confident his team could claim another Colonial Division title. Easy to see why with the way this Greyhounds squad has improved each week.
Susquehanna Township at East Pennsboro, 7
Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 28, Susquehanna Township 7: Not sure what to expect from the Panthers week-to-week. Inconsistent would be a phrase that comes to mind right away. Chance to steer the ship back on course. ‘Hanna is struggling.
Geoff Morrow: East Pennsboro 27, Susquehanna Township 20: All of Susquehanna’s foes from here on out currently boast winning records. While that might seem to spell doom for an 0-5 team, I see signs of improvement. If they’re not careful, the talented but unreliable Panthers could be victimized.
Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 36, Susquehanna Township 14: It’s a good thing I have a lot of hair, because I’ve been pulling it out all season trying to pick Panthers games. Township has been suspect on both sides of the ball, so I’m giving EP the nod.
Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 21, Susquehanna Township 14: Ditto to the comments from my compadres above regarding the Panthers. They are the Colonial’s box of chocolates.
Trinity at Boiling Springs, 7
Andy Shay: Boiling Springs 34, Trinity 20: This will be a full metal jacket test for the T-Rocks and that 3-1 record. Something tells me the Bubblers are going to get pushed as well, though. Dandy matchup.
Geoff Morrow: Trinity 39, Boiling Springs 37: Here you have two clearly impressive teams that are a combined 7-2; however, what stands out to me is the losses by both teams are really the only closely contested games they’ve played. Which tells me both have talent, but both need to prove they can win playoff-type games. It’s one thing to rock overpowered foes to sleep; it’s something else to walk away victorious from a 48-minute grind. I’m going Shamrocks because I think they have slightly less pressure on them.
Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 28, Trinity 17: This is a rivalry game that each team fully expects to win. I think Boiling Springs has been a little more tested up to this point, and that makes a difference in a hard-hitting, four-quarter game.
Adam Kulikowski: Boiling Springs 31, Trinity 21: This is a physical test for the Shamrocks — one that I’m not sure they have faced yet this year. How do they respond to that first shot to the jaw?
Upper Dauphin at Line Mountain, 7
Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 32, Line Mountain 7: Trojans are coming off a COVID-19 bye and will have plenty of gas in the tank to make it a struggle for the Eagles to keep up.
Geoff Morrow: Upper Dauphin 33, Line Mountain 10: While it was good to see the Eagles score a few touchdowns last week, they still haven’t matched through four games this year (29 points) what they easily surpassed in last week’s victory over the Trojans (46 points). Honestly, UD seems like its next level this season anyway.
Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 34, Line Mountain 7: I was sad to see UD’s game against Steel-High get canceled last week. I know a win wasn’t in the cards, but the Trojans have been hitting hard this season and have certainly established themselves as a team to beat in the Liberty.
Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin, 37, Line Mountain 14: The Trojans return from a COVID-forced pause. This was a team just starting to hit its stride before said pause.
West Perry at Northern York, 7
Andy Shay: Northern York 28, West Perry 20: Of course I’m going to continue to pick the Mustangs to lose these tape-measure games. I don’t mind being wrong again, either. Just think the Northern defense has a say in this outcome.
Geoff Morrow: Northern York 28, West Perry 27 (OT): Both programs have been especially difficult to judge this year, which of course makes it fun. I was the only one here to call the Polar Bears’ win over East Penn, but NOBODY saw something like 28-2 coming. Similarly, none of us gave the Mustangs a chance to beat Mechanicsburg. If I was picking one game to watch as a fan this week, this would be it.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 17, Northern 10: No one expected WP to beat Mechanicsburg last week, and folks are going to be just as surprised when the Mustangs ride victorious back to Perry County on Friday.
Adam Kulikowski: Northern York 24, West Perry 21: I haven’t been able to peg West Perry all year, so the Mustangs likely walk away from this one on top. Just saying!
Saturday
Middletown at Steel-High, 1
Andy Shay: Steel-High 40, Middletown 13: Two ships going in different directions. Rollers are coming off a COVID-19 bye, and the Blue Raiders suffered a monster upset loss to Juniata. Is there a chance for a course correction in 2021 on Cottage Hill? I just don’t see it.
Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 55, Middletown 21: “Steamrollers” is an appropriate name for what Steel-High is doing to its overmatched foes this year. Middletown has better pedigree than previous S-H opponents, but there isn’t enough offense there to counterpunch. Only reason I’m giving the Raiders 21 is I figure there’s a late-game touchdown or two once the result is no longer in doubt.
Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 45, Middletown 17: Not sure how this game goes any other way than a Rollers blowout.
Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 54, Middletown 14: I’m just not sure anyone has the right counter punch for this Rollers team at the moment.
CANCELED: James Buchanan at Maryland School for the Deaf; Susquenita at Newport
In this section, we’ll feature one former Mid-Penn player who had a particularly impressive week in college football.
Cody Gustafson has been nothing short of spectacular since joining Grove City’s football team.
The former Shippensburg High School pass catcher has put up one big season after another since his debut in 2017 with the Wolverines.
Gustafson put together his third 100-yard receiving performance Saturday in a 33-32 loss to Westminster, going for 13 catches, 132 yards and two touchdowns. It was the Wolverines first loss of the season after a 3-0 start. His 132 stripes are actually the second fewest he’s had this season — he had 159 yards, 157 and 52 in his previous three games.
He’s already at 37 grabs for 500 yards and five touchdowns through four games for Grove City, putting him on pace for career highs in receptions (102-catch pace in 11 games) and yards (1,375-yard pace). He already has a pair of 1,200-yard seasons (2018 and ‘19) with double-digit touchdowns.
In total, Gustafson has played 40 games in five seasons — like many across college football, Gustafson has taken a fifth year granted by the NCAA because of COVID-19’s impact on college sports — with 281 receptions, 4,408 yards and 43 scores.
Grove City and Gustafson, who owns multiple school records already, return to action Saturday at Waynesburg.
In the pros
Considering the publication time this week, it’s worth mentioning CD East product Chase Edmonds had himself a 75-yard day in Arizona’s 31-19 win over Jacksonville on Sunday. Edmonds ran 11 times for 26 yards and caught seven passes for 49 yards.
Jets corner Bryce Hall (Bishop McDevitt) had five tackles in New York’s 26-0 loss against Denver.
Closer look
In this section, we look at some of the former Mid-Penn standouts that had big weeks a little closer to home.
Saturday’s 51-7 win for Shippensburg University (4-0, 1-0 PSAC) over Bloomsburg featured seven Mid-Penn alumni in action.
Perhaps the best performance belonged to Quentin Gaskill, a Bloom defensive back from Waynesboro who had 11 tackles and a fumble recovery in the loss. Although Central Dauphin grad Trey Paul (DB) showed well on defense for the Red Raiders with four tackles, a pick and two pass breakups.
Receiver Evan Morrill (Lower Dauphin) tied for the most receptions for SU with five and had the third-most yards with 63.
Running back Bill Williams (Camp Hill) had 11 rushes for 42 yards and two catches for 28 stripes; Shippensburg High product Cameron Tinner added three tackles; and Middletown’s Laron Woody had two tackles for SU.
Bloomsburg also got an 8-yard catch from CD East grad Tyshaun Pollard.
In on the action
In this section, we’ll list off some of the performances from former Mid-Penn players now in the college ranks
Cedar Cliff grad Grant Breneman escaped his early season slump with 169 passing yards (14 of 24) and 119 rushing yards (16 carries) in guiding Colgate to its first win of the season, 30-3 over Lehigh. The QB had a pair of touchdowns as well, one on the ground and one through the air.
In Penn State’s 38-17 win over Villanova, Waynesboro grad Forrest Rhyne stood out with 11 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks in the Wildcats’ loss, their first of the season. The Nittany Lions got three tackles from Cumberland Valley alumnus Charlie Katshir, two from State College’s Keaton Ellis (and a pass breakup) and another tackle from Susquehanna Township’s Fatorma Mulbah.
One-time Penn State tight end and former Camp Hill standout Zack Kuntz put up a six-catch, 45-yard, one-touchdown performance in Old Dominion’s 35-34 loss to Buffalo. One of his teammates, Bishop McDevitt playmaker Joe Joe Headen, had a tackle and pass breakup from his cornerback spot. The Monarchs stormed back from a 28-7 third-quarter deficit and got within one on Kuntz’s touchdown grab with 19 seconds remaining, but the extra point was missed.
Back in PSAC action, IUP got six extra points (on seven attempts) from kicker Tyler Luther (Chambersburg), and Central Dauphin product Grant Smith caught two passes for 19 yards and a score from his tight end position in a 48-13 win over Mercyhurst.
A pair of Mid-Penn Keystone grads shared the field again as foes when Trael Seegars’ (Susquehanna Township) West Chester squad beat Jaheim Morris (Cedar Cliff) and Millersville 42-14. Seegars had two tackles, and Morris finished with 8 yards on four carries.
Two former Carlisle receivers made a couple plays over the weekend. Kutztown receiver Kurtis Ravenel Jr. had 38 yards on two grabs, plus a tackle, in a 37-29 win over Shepherd, and Slipper Rock’s Gavyn Barnes had two grabs for 23 yards in a 41-17 win over Seton Hill. (Bishop McDevitt’s Devyn Clair, a linebacker, had a pair of tackles for SRU.)
Back in Division I action, Harrisburg’s Donte Kent, a corner, had six tackles, an interception and two PBUs in Central Michigan’s 31-27 win over FIU. And his former teammate, Andre White Jr., pulled in five tackles for Texas A&M in a 20-10 loss to Arkansas. Another former Cougar, Ronald Kent Jr., had three tackles, half a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery in Western Carolina’s 52-34 loss to Gardner-Webb.
While the numbers might indicate that a one-sided contest is on tap, those unfamiliar with the heated rivalry that’s existed between Line Mountain and Upper Dauphin might just want to take a deeper look inside.
These backyard neighbors have been knocking each other around for decades, so why should anything change this time around. We’ll see Friday night at Ressler Field. Frustrated by a sputtering attack that’s yet to find any sort of consistency, Line Mountain (0-4, 0-2) needs a winning result to remain relevant in the Mid-Penn Liberty and District 4 Class 2A chats.
The Eagles, just one week removed from a COVID-induced respite, dropped a 19-17 decision to Camp Hill even though Brandon Carson’s squad picked off four passes. The Eagles also were turned away on fourth-and-goal at the 1, meaning the Mountain is well beyond a state of testiness. One key will be the availability of freshman back Ian Bates, sophomore QB Nick Snyder and senior Jace Hackenburg — the latter two suffering in-game injuries that forced them to the sidelines.
Another key is remaining disciplined when Upper Dauphin (3-1, 1-1) is on offense since the Trojans will have the ball and players moving in every possible direction. Kent Smeltz’s squad — Smeltz is a Line Mountain grad — will be trying to shrug off its own weeklong COVID shutdown. The Trojans unleashed a potent ground game two weeks back in a 42-12 conquest of Camp Hill, so they’ll likely offer up a similar tactic.
Juniata, Halifax looking to sustain momentum
Taking advantage of two air-mailed punt snaps, Juniata (3-2, 2-0) turned those errant exchanges into a safety and a G.G. Ortiz touchdown that ultimately delivered to the Indians an 8-7 victory over Middletown.
Kurt Condo’s club struggled mightily on offense — senior QB Jacob Condo remains on the mend from a broken collarbone — so the Indians likely will try to reestablish their diverse rushing attack Friday night at Klingensmith Stadium.
They’ve also got a determined defensive unit that’s performed well in all three Juniata victories. Halifax (1-4, 0-2) knocked off Renaissance Academy last weekend, getting 100-plus rushing yards and a pair of second-half touchdowns from Isaac Miller in a 20-0 victory.
QB Carter Enders also ran for a TD, but Earl Mosley’s Wildcats will need to flash balance against a Juniata front that yields little and is capable of putting heat on opposing quarterbacks.
3. Newport, Susquenita hoping to halt skids
Another backyard scrap ticketed for Newport’s Katchmer Field, the all-Perry County matchup between the host Buffaloes (1-4, 1-1) and Susquenita (2-2, 1-0) figures to be quite spirited. Yet while both sides struggled mightily last weekend — Newport lost 42-7 to Trinity, while Susquenita dropped a 58-8 decision to Boiling Springs — both remain in the hunt for Liberty Division gold.
Newport, however, has lost four in a row and has struggled offensively since quarterback Andrew Bates suffered a broken wrist. Susquenita sports a two-game losing streak and has been on the wrong end of several one-sided results. One thing is guaranteed — someone will prevail. … James Buchanan (1-4) won’t be in action until Saturday, but the Rockets will travel to Frederick, Maryland, to face the unbeaten Maryland School for the Deaf Orioles (4-0).
