Colonial division offering plenty of entertainment:
We call this the Crazy Colonial for a reason, and as the Mid-Penn Conference gets ready to enter division play for 2021, this division will once again live up to its billing. I’m convinced of this. All you need to know after three games: Shippensburg is the only undefeated club, and Susquehanna Township is the only winless squad.
The other six teams are 2-1 overall. Saddle up and enjoy this ride because something tells me there could be some dramatic week-to-week shifts in the power table for this group. The matchup this week that will give us a taste is Greencastle-Antrim at East Pennsboro.
Waynesboro a wild card who could shake the division standings:
The team I’m eyeing as the potential standings wrecker in the Colonial is Waynesboro. The Indians outlasted Gettysburg in a wild triple overtime affair to complete a solid three-game test in terms of a schedule to open the season, finishing 2-1 during that stretch.
They are primed to enter Colonial action because they have experienced a little bit of everything already. Waynesboro can come at you in waves on offense, and that presents some problems. It starts with RB’s Aidan Mencia and Mikel Holden. Mencia is averaging 9.2 yards per carry so far. QB Louis Lindsay is a dual threat with more than 600 total yards. The Indians have five receivers with four or more catches. Their defense has been shaky, but when you bring a diverse and deep offense to the table you ride that firepower as far as it will take you.
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.
Clean play a key to the Blue Raider’s success:
Lost in the shuffle during this early part of the season is Middletown. The perennial Capital kingpin for the last half-dozen years is going through the process of a regime change in terms of its coaching staff, and they are a little light on the talent front right now. The Blue Raiders lost their opening game against Lower Dauphin to COVID-19 and then had to play McDevitt — there was nothing to gain for them in that contest. I would argue the Line Mountain game was Middletown’s Week 1 game.
And as expected it was a little choppy in spots, but the end result was a comfortable and efficient three-score win. Defensively they were solid against the Eagles. Nice matchup with Juniata this week to put some more of the foundation in place. I will say that 9-95 in terms of penalties has to stop. This club no longer has the talent and firepower to overcome mistakes at that level. In years past it wasn’t a big deal. Now it is.
Could Big Spring be a player in the Capital?:
The sleeper team I have my eye on in the Capital as we enter division play is Big Spring. On many fronts this team looks and feels ready to compete. Are the Bulldogs potential division champions? No. That’s not what I’m talking about. My hunch is Big Spring is going to be a tough out in 2021, forcing teams to earn a hard W. They feature a pair of running backs in Dillon Wakefield and Logan Schmidt who combined have nearly 450 yards, seven touchdowns and average 7.9 and 10.4 yards per carry, respectively.
QB Ethan Eisenberg is averaging nearly 100 yards a game and has three touchdowns. He’s also thrown three picks, which is a big-time target area to improve in terms of the passing game for the Bulldogs. On the other side of the ball, they have 15 TFLs, five sacks and five interceptions in three games. Those are key measuring sticks that tell me they are physically competing up front, which was an issue in the recent past. I’m keeping an eye on this club. I think they are going to be a prickly squad.
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.
Palmyra puts a tally on the good side of the ledger:
Add another team to the winning side of the ledger in the Keystone as the Palmrya Cougars picked up victory No. 1 this season by doubling up West York in a Monday evening affair. The Cougars are the fifth squad in the eight-team division to get a win in 2021. Senior running back Richie Kowalski had himself a career night at Buck Swank. Kowalski carried the load with 30 totes for a staggering 246 yards and a pair of touchdowns. I think he should be the Monday Night Football Player of the Week with that kind of performance. Cougars have to turn around on a short week and play a rested McDevitt squad.
Cedar Cliff’s test against speedy CD East should pay dividends later:
Watching Cedar Cliff struggle on offense like it did against CD East was a mild surprise. I was certain the Colts were not going to come out and continue to light it up against the Panthers, but I was surprised the struggles lingered all game. CD East is FAST on defense. You can only play against that kind of speed. Something tells me the Colts offense will be better moving forward because they had a taste of that kind of in-your-face speed. It was good to see the Colts defense throw their hat in the ring and try to stake a claim to having a say in the final outcome of that contest. They had sort of been along for the ride with the offense keeping the scoreboard moving to help them out. Cliff’s defense kept it a game the entire way. Cedar Cliff will take the lessons it learned from loss No. 1 and apply them against West Shore School District rival Red Land, which is 0-3 this season. The Patriots are going to get a taste of the angry Colts. Not like this rivalry needs any more juice to ignite the sparks.
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.
Marquee matchup on tap at Ken Millen Stadium
Ken Millen Stadium is home to a marquee matchup for the first time in a long time Friday when the Carlisle Thundering Herd welcome the Eagles of Cumberland Valley from just down Route 11. Carlisle is 3-0 with a couple of blowout wins the last few weeks against Hershey and Cedar Crest. This is a big game for the Herd because, well, it’s been forever since Carlisle beat CV. And it was close last year, going to the Eagles 20-14. QB Louis Shank is comfortable and has a live arm. His weapons on the outside are wicked slick and fast. Ezeekai Thomas is a natural RB1, and we hope he returns after missing the last game. The Eagles counter with a defense that is growing rapidly in confidence. You could make a fair argument CV could easily be 2-1 instead of 1-2 the way Josh Oswalt’s defense played against Central York in a loss. The win over Spring-Ford was a huge confidence boost, too. This matchup, taking place on a real grass surface, comes down to the Carlisle offense vs. CV defense. Who wins that battle? I know the Eagles are the more battle tested side.
Terrence Jackson-Copney and the Panthers travel to Mansion Park in Altoona to battle the Mountain Lions Friday night. (Aaron Wright/4th Down)
Undefeated Mountains Lions welcoming CD East to Mansion Park
CD East will take a trip headed west on the Pennsylvania Turnpike most likely to pay a visit to Mansion Park (aka The Ravens Den) in Altoona to square off with the undefeated Mountain Lions. This is going to be a physical chess match. Altoona has some horses up front and a tailback in Ethan Stroup who is averaging 127 yards a game, 6.2 yards per carry and has six touchdowns. He’s not the only weapon, but he’s the big gun. The Panthers defense has been a lockdown crew all season against the run. I also wonder if both quarterbacks at CD East, Tony Powell and Terrence Jackson-Copney, are healthy, who is the QB1 for the Panthers? It’s not an easy call. Powell wasn’t available last week, so Jackson-Copney took over as the starter and was solid. He’s a run threat that opens up options. Powell is the better pure passer. Mix-and-match, perhaps? The keys for CD East, no matter who plays quarterback, are its defense and avoiding mistakes. When the Panthers play clean, they are a tough out this year.
Statistic not reported for the following teams as of Tuesday evening: Boiling Springs, Carlisle, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, West Perry, Tri-Valley, Pine Grove and James Buchanan
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. 4 of the high school football season.
STOCK UP
CD East exceeding expectations:
You have to like where CD East is at right now and where these Panthers, under first-year head coach Lance Deane, are headed. Three quality opponents to start the season — Manheim Township, Warwick and Cedar Cliff — and a 2-1 record from those three is exceeding expectations. They are more physical than you think and rely on line play to fire the engines instead of being skill-position focused. The 12 penalties for 131 yards in the win over Cedar Cliff will require some course correction moving forward. Can’t do that in big games down the line and expect positive results. The bonus in this start is they now know they have two options at quarterback, Tony Powell and Terrence Jackson-Copney.
Bubblers aim to keep rolling behind high-powered offense
When you think of Boiling Springs you don’t think of the Bubblers as a 50-points-a-game squad. Steel-High scoring 50-plus a game is no surprise. The Bubblers hitting for 50-plus a night on average so far is a mild surprise. Maybe? This team is a beast up front, has weapons they know how to use and is comfortable in its own skin. Boiling Springs has scored 157 points to date in 2021. And don’t expect it to slow down with Line Mountain on deck. Remember that taste of the postseason this club enjoyed in 2020? They are playing like that taste isn’t nearly good enough this year.
Susquenita quarterback Derek Gibney, seen in this file photo from Week 2, helped ‘Nita outgun Camp Hill Friday night. (Adam Kulikowski/4th Down)
‘Nita’s Week 3 performance sends a statement:
Susquenita is 2-0 after shutting down Line Mountain in its opener and going up-and-down the field with Camp Hill before coming away with a 39-34 victory. Not sure ‘Nita was viewed as having much of a chance in either game. Beating Camp Hill in a track meet is a statement win. Big Spring is on deck this week, followed by Boiling Springs. That duo from Cumberland County will provide a different kind of complete test. Hey, the Hawks winning in convincing fashion out of the gate is the biggest surprise so far in 2021 in my book.
STOCK DOWN
COVID causing havoc, lost opportunity in the Mid-Penn:
Central Dauphin and Bishop McDevitt battling COVID-19 inside their squads and being forced to cancel games is a part of the world we live in today with this pandemic. It’s going to happen. What is the real bummer is WHO the Rams and Crusaders didn’t get to play. Central Dauphin was slated to play Manheim Township and McDevitt was going to renew acquaintances with former Market Street resident Harrisburg. Those are quality opponents, and losing those games puts each club at a competitive disadvantage going forward. It’s especially troubling for Bishop McDevitt because its division schedule is lacking in quality competition.
… especially among the Cougars:
Harrisburg is getting kicked in the teeth by COVID-19, and yet the Cougars aren’t the problem. It’s the Cougars’ opponents. Last week it was McDevitt who had to cancel the game. Head coach Cal Everett went out and found a game with Manheim Township and pulled out a stellar overtime victory over the Blue Streaks on less than 36 hours notice. Now this week Harrisburg’s game with Central Dauphin is already canceled. Everett is looking for a game, any game, but the pickings are bound to be slim. It’s starting to feel like 2020 again in some respects. Harrisburg has lost games to McD and CD in back-to-back weeks. That’s brutal.
Keystone Division clubs falling behind
The Mid-Penn Keystone Division had a rough Week 3, and overall this group of teams is struggling in 2021. Only Lower Dauphin and Palmyra picked up wins. The Falcons picked up their first under new head coach Josh Borreli against Elizabethtown while Palmyra handed West York a Monday evening setback, 23-13. Overall, this division collectively owns a 6-16 record entering division play the rest of the way.
