Eric Epler’s State High School Football Rankings after Week 2

Class 6A — Record — Previous rank 

1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12)          — 1-0 — 1 

2. Archbishop Wood (12)        — 2-0 — 2 

3. Pittsburgh C.C. (7)               — 1-1 — 3 

4. Central York (3)                   — 2-0 — 4 

5. North Penn (1)                    — 2-0 — 5 

6. Emmaus (11)                       — 2-0 — 6 

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

8. La Salle College HS (12)       — 2-0 — 9 

9. Garnet Valley (1)                 — 2-0 — 10 

10. Parkland (11)                    — 1-0 — NR 

Teams to watch: Coatesville (1) 2-0, Downingtown East (1) 2-0, Harrisburg (3) 2-0, Nazareth (11) 2-0, North Allegheny (7) 1-1, Wilson (3) 1-1.  

Class 5A — Record — Previous rank 

1. Imhotep Charter (12)          — 2-0 — 1 

2. Governor Mifflin (3)            — 2-0 — 2 

3. Cathedral Prep (10)            — 2-0 — 4 

4. Upper Dublin (1)                 — 2-0 — 5 

5. Penn-Trafford (7)                — 2-0 — 6 

6. Whitehall (11)                     — 2-0 — 7 

7. Gateway (7)                        — 1-1 — 3 

8. Academy Park (1)                — 2-0 — 9 

9. Moon (7)                             — 2-0 — 10 

10. Manheim Central (3)        — 2-0 — NR 

Teams to watch: Cedar Cliff (3) 2-0, Chester (1) 2-0, Exeter Township (3) 1-1, Peters Township (7) 2-0.  

Class 4A — Record — Previous rank 

1. Thomas Jefferson (7)          — 1-0 — 1 

2. Jersey Shore (4)                  — 2-0 — 2 

3. Belle Vernon (7)                  — 1-0 — 3 

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

5. Aliquippa (7)                       — 1-0 — 5 

6. Valley View (2)                    — 2-0 — 6 

7. Allentown C.C. (11)             — 2-0 — NR 

8. Berks Catholic (3)                — 1-1 — 7 

9. Cocalico (3)                         — 1-1 — 8 

10. Pope John Paul II (1)         — 2-0 — NR 

Teams to watch: Bishop Shanahan (1) 2-0, Bonner-Prendergast (12) 2-0, McKeesport (7) 2-0, Shamokin (4) 1-1.  

Class 3A — Record — Previous rank 

1. North Schuylkill (11)           — 2-0 — 1 

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

3. Wyomissing (3)                   — 2-0 — 3 

4. Notre Dame-Green Pond (11) — 2-0 — 4 

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

6. Bedford (5)                          — 2-0 — 6 

7. Central Martinsburg (6)      — 2-0 — 9 

8. Neumann-Goretti (12)        — 1-1 — 7 9. North Catholic (7)               — 2-0 — 10 

10. Clearfield (9)                     — 2-0 — NR 

Teams to watch: Avonworth (7) 2-0, Danville (4) 2-0, Montoursville (4) 2-0, Western Wayne (2) 2-0.  

Class 2A — Record — Previous rank  

1. Southern Columbia (4)        — 2-0 — 1 

2. Farrell (10)                          — 2-0 — 2 

3. Richland Township (6)        — 2-0 — 3 

4. Sto-Rox (7)                          — 2-0 — 4 

5. Wilmington (10)                  — 1-0 — 6 

6. Bellwood-Antis (6)              — 2-0 — 7 

7. Washington (7)                   — 2-0 — 8 

8. Windber (5)                         — 2-0 — 9 

9. Serra Catholic (7)                — 2-0 — NR 

10. York Catholic (3)               — 1-0 — 10 

Teams to watch: Beaver Falls (7) 0-2, Chestnut Ridge (5) 1-1, Conwell-Egan (12) 2-0,Karns City (9) 2-0, Northern Lehigh (11)    1-1, Wellsboro (4) 1-1. 

Class 1A — Record — Previous rank  

1. Steelton-Highspire (3)         — 2-0 — 1 

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

3. Rochester (7)                      — 1-0 — 6 

4. Clairton (7)                          — 0-1 — 3 

5. Muncy (4)                            — 1-1 — 5 

6. Tri-Valley (11)                     — 2-0 — 7 

7. Williams Valley (11)            — 2-0 — 8 

8. Canton (4)                           — 2-0 — NR 

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

10. Juniata Valley (6)              — 2-0 — 10 

Teams to watch: Bishop Guilfoyle (6) 1-1, California (7) 1-0,Keystone (9) 2-0, Our Lady of Sacred Heart (7) 2-0, Portage (6) 2-0. NR-not ranked

Stock up, Stock down after Week 2 of the high school football season

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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. 3 of the high school football season.  

STOCK UP

• Cedar Cliff Colts offense. Led by quarterback Ethan Dorrell, a junior, the Cliff has totaled 89 points in eight quarters against Red Lion and Cocalico. Dorrell has thrown for 500 yards, added another 154 on the ground and has accounted for eight total touchdowns (six passing, two rushing). He’s not the only weapon on this offense, but Dorrell is off to a flying start. 

• As big as Harrisburg’s road win against defending PIAA Class 5A champion was in terms of upsetting the apple cart in the state, the validation by the Cougars in beating Hazleton on the road in Week 2 was of equal importance in my book. Bishop McDevitt is one deck and this was a made-to-order trap game. The Cougars took care of business in workmanlike fashion and that speaks volumes about where this squad is heading.

Carlisle’s Ezeekai Thomas shined as a full-time running back in Week 2 against Hershey. (Adam Kulikowski/4th Down)

• Carlisle running back/defensive back Ezeekai Thomas started this season as the Thundering Herd’s quarterback. He’s a running back trying to play quarterback, and it was never going to end well for this team. Enter junior Louis Shank, a pure quarterback who has thrived in his first varsity snaps. This allows Thomas to slot at running back full-time and against Hershey had 124 yards and a touchdown in a 49-point blowout of Hershey. Being able to focus solely on the RB position, his natural talent shines and the offense functions at another level. Plus he’s a wicked good defensive back.

STOCK DOWN

• One week after East Pennsboro running back Sy Burgos set the single-game school rushing record, he didn’t play against New Oxford in Week 2 and the Panthers offense didn’t get out of neutral and was shut out. Not sure the reason for his absence, but if he’s injured long-term or is going to miss more than this one game for any other reason East Pennsboro is going to struggle. Hope he’s back in the line-up this week.

J.D. Hunter (3) looks to cut past Manheim Central’s Larry Marley Friday. (Christina Hoy/4th Down)

• Cumberland Valley is the only Commonwealth Division team off to an 0-2 start. Only three Keystone Division squads have wins: Cedar Cliff, Milton Hershey and Bishop McDevitt. The other five — Red Land, Lower Dauphin, Mifflin County, Palmyra and Hershey — are a combined 0-9. It has been a rough start for those six squads in the top two divisions of the MPC.

• The Steel-High Rollers and this early schedule stinks. It’s not really the Rollers’ fault because not too many small-school squads want to play them. They have to get what they can get. Winning a pair of games 138-6 is no help to this team at all. I would argue it’s probably not even as good as a intra-squad 7-on-7 scrimmage. A trio of former Tri-Valley League — RIP to the TVL — squads is on deck before the Capital portion of the schedule kicks in. Stacking up too many non-competitive game quarters has an impact on a team. There’s no magic fix, just an unfortunate situation that impacts one team.

How Mid-Penn alums did in college this week: Kobay White makes Boston College return, Grant Breneman climbs the Colgate record book and more

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Five-star performance

In this section, we’ll feature one former Mid-Penn player who had a particularly impressive week in college football.

Kobay White looked ready to conclude his college career with another solid season at Boston College.

But the wide receiver tore his ACL prior to the 2020 season, ending his swan song before it could begin. Except for the fact that the former Bishop McDevitt stud was granted another year of eligibility due to the pandemic and his injury, giving him a sixth school year with the Eagles.

White returned to the field Saturday, hauling in one pass for 25 yards to mark the end of his recovery. Boston College routed Colgate 51-0 to open the 2021 season, with QB Phil Jurkovec going 16-of-24 for 303 yards and three scores.

The sixth-year senior is now three receptions away from 100 in his BC career. He’s closing in on 1,500 career yards and is already at 10 TDs. 

Colgate featured a former Mid-Penn foe of White’s at quarterback (more on that in a moment).

Closer look

In this section, we look at some of the former Mid-Penn standouts that had big weeks a little closer to home.

Shippensburg University opened its season with a tidy 25-17 victory over visiting West Virginia State. It was the first Red Raiders game in two years after the PSAC canceled the 2021 season due to the pandemic.

That also meant it was a return to action for several former Mid-Penn studs. 

One-time Camp Hill Lion Bill Williams, who joined the Red Raiders in 2019, had a solid 15-carry, 64-yard performance as SU’s backup running back (he also had a 24-yard kick return), and Lower Dauphin’s Evan Morrill hauled in four passes for 31 stripes. Middletown’s Laron Woody snagged a sack and seven tackles from his linebacker spot, Altoona ‘backers Tyler Petucci and Josh Russon added four and three takedowns, respectively.

But it was linebacker Cameron Tinner, formerly a Shippensburg High Greyhound, who found paydirt on a 22-yard scoop and score. He also added a tackle in the season opener.

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

• Former Cumberland Valley linebacker Christian Arrington (r-so.) recorded four tackles in Rhode Island’s 45-21 season-opening win over Bryant. During a shortened spring season in March, he had four tackles and an interception in two games. 

• Colgate redshirt-senior Grant Breneman moved into seventh in program history in passing yards (5,283) and total offense (6,318 yards) in a season-opening 51-0 loss to Boston College. The former Cedar Cliff QB threw for 77 yards and two picks (9-of-16 passing) and rushed 11 times for 25 yards against the Eagles.

• Lehigh linebacker Pete Haffner led the Golden Hawks with 11 tackles (1.5 TFLs and half a sack) in a 47-3 loss to Villanova. Wildcats’ linebacker Forrest Rhyne (Waynesboro) had three tackles (half a TFL) in the win.

• Texas A&M linebacker Andre White (Harrisburg) had two tackles in the Aggies’ 41-10 win over Kent State.

• William & Mary’s Kane Everson (Harrisburg) had a 6-yard rush and two catches for 12 yards in a 43-0 loss at Virginia.

• Tight end Zack Kuntz (Camp Hill) made his Old Dominion debut after several years at Penn State, grabbing three passes for 19 yards.

• Damion Barber (Harrisburg), formerly at Penn State, had four tackles and a TFL in Austin Peay’s 30-20 win over Chattanooga. 

Elite 11: A ranking of our top 11 teams after Week 2

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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 2. Disagree, let us know on Twitter (@4thdownmag) and Facebook.

11. Conrad Wieser1-111
Nice rebound from opening loss to Cocalico with a balanced offensive output against Muhlenberg where the Scouts threw for 217 yards and added nearly another 170 on the ground.
10. Steel-High2-010
Rollers have scored 138 points through eight quarters and based on the upcoming schedule you can expect the blowouts to continue. Win on Saturday was No. 800 for the program. Elite territory.
9. Cocalico1-18
Went back-and-forth with Cedar Cliff on the road and came up short after giving up a late touchdown. Still a quality team, but it’s well oiled formula for victory is being tested. And No. 1 Governor Mifflin is one deck.
8.Wyomissing2-09
Back-to-back games with 40-plus points for an offense that has a ton of new faces. OL play and defense are providing the cover for the 2021 offense to get to the next level.
7. Cedar Cliff2-0NR
Big win over Cocalico and it looks like the Colts have the elements for a special offense that has put serious points on the board through eight quarters. Another test with CD East on deck.
6. Central Dauphin1-17
Shook off the fog that was hanging over the Rams with a 21-point outburst that put away Berks Catholic at home. CD has struggled more than it’s rolled this first eight quarters of ‘21. Next opponent, Manheim Township, is struggling.
5. Wilson1-14
For the second year in a row was taken to the woodshed by No. 1 Governor Mifflin. That is going to be a common theme for Mifflin opponents this season, though. Wilson was just next.
4. Bishop McDevitt1-16
Found plenty of offense against a vastly overmatched Middletown squad that didn’t provide resistance. Another major test of whether this is just a bunch of assembled talent or can this group play as a team with a welcome match-up against the No. 3 Cougars.
3. Harrisburg2-03
What the Cougars did by going on the road for the second week in a row and bump off Hazleton was to validate it’s HUGE win over Pine Richland in the opener. No. 4 Crusaders are on deck in a former rivalry game that has very few elements of why that rivalry mattered anymore. Still a couple of talented squads, though.
2. Central York2-02
Got a thorough test from former CY head coach Josh Oswalt and his Cumberland Valley Eagles. QB Beau Pribula gives this team a chance to win any game, and he delivered with a 99-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter.
1. Governor Mifflin2-01
Star RB Nick Singleton had 130 yards and three touchdowns in 28-point win over No. 5 Wilson. That’s a pretty good job by the Bulldogs defense against the Penn State recruit and it struggled to avoid the mercy rule. Speaks about the depth for the Mustangs beyond their star RB.

Results: Picks and Predictions for Week 2

RECORDS (Last week — Overall):

Andy Shay: 23-6 — 42-15

Andy Sandrik: 22-7 — 38-19

Adam Kulikowski: 20-9 — 36-21

Geoff Morrow: 18-11 — 35-22

Thursday:

Cedar Cliff 33, Cocalico 27

Andy Shay: Cocalico 41, Cedar Cliff 35: The double whammy at RB and the beef along the Eagles’ front line is just a wee bit too much of an advantage in this one. I think each defense will be put to the test, and points will be bountiful.

Geoff Morrow: Cocalico 54, Cedar Cliff 42: There are obviously a horde of game-breaking players suiting up in this one, which could mean 100 points are scored in a highly competitive game. It’s the side that makes a few defensive stops that walks away exhausted … probably into the end zone.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 35, Cocalico 28: Anthony Bourassa (9.8 ypc) and Steven Flinton (8.3 ypc) were carrying the ball so well last week, Cocalico only needed to attempt three passes in a win over Conrad Weiser. The Colts also have a cast of playmakers that put up 56 in their opener. Definitely take the “over” on this game.

Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 31, Cocalico 28: This Thursday night showcase should be filled with fireworks. The Colts will need a big performance from their big men in the trenches — especially on defense to limit the damage Cocalico can do on the ground. 

CD East 28, Warwick 21

Andy Shay: CD East 31, Warwick 28: The Panthers convert the FG to win it this week. Both teams were impressive in their openers, despite CD East losing to Manheim Township. New Warriors QB Jack Reed will present some problems. Great Thursday night special.

Geoff Morrow: Warwick 35, CD East 28: A popular upset pick, the Panthers haven’t won a game since Oct. 11, 2019 (Carlisle), while the Warriors haven’t lost a regular-season game since the exact same date (Wilson). Warwick didn’t even lose an actual played game last year, departing the playoffs via forfeit to Governor Mifflin. A victory is a big ask of the rapidly improving East program. It’s certainly impossible, but I don’t want to dismiss the Warriors so easily.

Andy Sandrik: CD East 28, Warwick 21: Panthers were down but never out against Manheim Township last week and very nearly stole victory. I think CD East grows from that and picks up that first win this week. 

Adam Kulikowski: CD East 37, Warwick 33: Mehki Flowers shows up in big games. Is a dynamic performance from the Penn State recruit enough to push the Panthers into the win column?

Greencastle-Antrim 21, Lower Dauphin 14

Andy Shay: Greencastle-Antrim 21, Lower Dauphin 13: It’s been some lean times on the southern tier of Franklin County for the Blue Devils. And they are 0-1. However, putting up a dog fight against a much bigger school like Chambersburg is a very good sign. Falcons’ opener was postponed, which puts them behind the 8-ball.

Geoff Morrow: Lower Dauphin 17, Greencastle-Antrim 14: The Falcons’ last time out in 2020 ended in victory and the erasure of a 16-game losing streak. No idea the last time these teams met, but just a reminder to Blue Devils fans to NOT go to Lower Dauphin High School.

Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 14, Greencastle-Antrim 10: Blue Devils could very well be 1-0 right now, but they let Chambersburg off the hook. If G-A doesn’t put that loss in the rear view mirror quickly, it could be 0-2 by the end of this weekend.

Adam Kulikowski: Greencastle-Antrim 14, Lower Dauphin 7: Points should be at a premium in this battle at Hersheypark Stadium. The G-men have just enough to make the return trip south enjoyable. 

Friday:

Camp Hill 38, Biglerville 0

Andy Shay: Camp Hill 26, Biglerville 20: That was a real confidence boost of a victory for the Lions to start the season. They will still be a work in progress, but momentum matters, and they have some.

Geoff Morrow: Camp Hill 27, Biglerville 14: My dad, who is a CD East grad, used to visit family in Adams County as a youth and pick fruit. I’m sure in his day, he also passed the time by kicking cans. These Canners get kicked in their season opener.

Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 21, Biglerville 17: We were questioning last week whether Camp Hill had enough practice under its belt to get the job done last week. Now the script has flipped, and the Lions have four more quarters of football than the Canners. Advantage Camp Hill. 

Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 31, Biglerville 14: The Lions know the non-league schedule is their time to shine. Make it two straight for Tim Bigelow’s boys. 

Bishop McDevitt 55, Middletown 7

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 34, Middletown 7: Losing that first game to postponement did the Blue Raiders no favors for this matchup. Crusaders are sure to be miffed after getting shut out a week ago, and their rushing game was locked down completely.

Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 28, Middletown 13: So, let me get this straight: McDevitt goes unbeaten in 2020 and can’t make the playoffs. Now they’re 0-1 with zero points, and I’m guessing this unit is a HANDFUL come November.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 42, Middletown 14: While we were researching high school football picks, Geoff was doing whatever people do in Vegas. And he was the only one to correctly pick McDevitt’s loss in Week 1. Now that he’s back to the real world with the rest of us, I’m looking for momentum to return to logic and reason. 

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 35, Middletown 28: Who had the Crusaders putting up a goose egg this season at any point, let alone in Week 1? There are question marks to answer with McDevitt’s running game, but a step forward in Week 2 is likely. 

Central York 21, Cumberland Valley 3

Andy Shay: Central York 35, Cumberland Valley 7: Eagles’ offensive struggles continue, especially up front, and that translates to points on the board being a difficult accomplishment. And that guy Pribula is going to create some offense for CY.

Geoff Morrow: Central York 36, Cumberland Valley 17: The big-class runners-up a year ago, the Panthers cannot afford to take CV lightly, even after another offensive dud by the Eagles last week. Last time these teams met, early in 2019, CV posted a 13-12 victory.

Andy Sandrik: Central York 28, Cumberland Valley 14: Anyone old enough to remember when picking CY over CV was a laughable offense? Much has changed, in part due to the legwork put in for the Panthers by former coach Josh Oswalt, who is now tasked with keeping CV competitive against an explosive QB in Beau Pribula. 

Adam Kulikowski: Central York 41, Cumberland Valley 7: People keep saying that dude Pribula is pretty good. (Umm, yea!) Eagles are still working to find a groove.

Waynesboro 47, Red Lion 14

Andy Shay: Red Lion 30, Waynesboro 21: The Lions had no problem getting theirs and scoring points against Cedar Cliff, and that bodes well for them in this matchup. Indians have to find a way to make this game a slow crawl and less of an up-and-down track meet.

Geoff Morrow: Red Lion 27, Waynesboro 14: You don’t want to make a habit out of losing to YAIAA teams … oh, wait. It’s a new decade, and now YAIAA football is to be taken seriously. Lions roar to victory.

Andy Sandrik: Red Lion 21, Waynesboro 7: The Indians are a dangerous team when you’re playing their brand of football, but they’re a little more vulnerable if you can force them to play from behind. Red Lion put 5 TDs on the board last week, and if the Lions get ahead early, it’s their game to lose.

Adam Kulikowski: Red Lion 28, Waynesboro 10: The Indians are a tough out, but the firepower from the Lions should be able to put the Indians on their heels. 

New Oxford 21, East Pennsboro 0

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 28, New Oxford 7: First meeting ever between these two schools, and the Panthers offer a difference maker on offense who set a school record in his 2021 debut. Not sure the Colonials have enough zip to keep pace.

Geoff Morrow: New Oxford 22, East Pennsboro 21: The Colonials haven’t surrendered more than 14 points in a game since getting walloped by Cedar Cliff in the 2019 playoffs. That includes a 7-0 victory last week over Bermudian. Now, obviously slowing the Panthers’ new rocketship RB is key, but good defenses find a way.

Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 21, New Oxford 0: The obvious matchup to watch is the New Oxford defense — fresh off a shutout victory — against Panthers RB Sy Burgos, who rolled up a school-record 366 yards last week. Something tells me the difference maker, though, will be East Penn’s defense. 

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 35, New Oxford 7: The question here isn’t whether the Panthers advance to 2-0, but rather how many yards does the new school record holder, Sy Burgos, end up with by night’s end. 

James Buchanan 50, Halifax 39

Andy Shay: James Buchanan 28, Halifax 14: Couple of programs that are in 2021 struggle mode, as both suffered lopsided defeats to open the campaign. I’ll take the Rockets in a complete guess because it could easily go either way.

Geoff Morrow: Halifax 19, James Buchanan 15: Like Shay says, this is a guessing game, two slumping programs passing in the mountain night. But somebody shall triumph, and I’m banking on the home team.

Andy Sandrik: James Buchanan 28, Halifax 20: This could very well be one of Halifax’s few realistic chances to nail down a win in the near future. My concern is with the Wildcats’ small roster numbers, how long can these guys keep themselves standing?

Adam Kulikowski: James Buchanan 28, Halifax 7: This, to me, is a straight numbers game. Halifax simply needs to get out healthy with a crew that numbers in the teens.

Milton Hershey 52, Susquehanna Township 14

Andy Shay: Milton Hershey 30, Susquehanna Township 27: Very concerned about the Spartans’ defense giving up nearly 50 points to South Western. That was unexpected. The Indians surrendered 44 to Kennett. Both teams are searching for a lot in this one.

Geoff Morrow: Susquehanna Township 22, Milton Hershey 20: I doubt I would have made this type of prediction if I were picking this game a week ago. I don’t think any of us knows enough about these typically strong programs yet to pick with confidence.

Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 28, Susquehanna Township 21: Two promising squads that each took a beating in Week 1. Your guess is as good as mine.

Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 20, Susquehanna Township 14: Dion Bryant will likely be the best athlete on the field Friday night. Can the Spartans ride his legs to victory? 

Boiling Springs 35, Bermudian Springs 0

Andy Shay: Boiling Springs 35, Bermudian Springs 7: Some might say you can expect the Bubblers to expect a full test this week from the Eagles. I say maybe a little more, but not nearly enough. I think this is another one-sided affair for the lads in purple and white.

Geoff Morrow: Boiling Springs 33, Bermudian Springs 21: While I recognize the Eagles might not be as grand as they often are, and the Bubblers put a CAPITAL “L” on Littlestown last week, this would still be the Bubblers’ first victory over Bermudian since 2015. So I don’t think it will be easy.

Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 44, Bermudian Springs 14: I’m just here to say at least two other media outlets spelled Bubbler players names wrong last week, which means that I’m now officially off the hook. Now that that’s out of the way, time for the prediction. Boiling Springs wins big. 

Adam Kulikowski: Boiling Springs 38, Bermudian Springs 7: Bubblers have to be feeling pretty good about themselves after dropping 69 on Littlestown in Week 1. Another repeat performance isn’t out of the question.

Shippensburg 34, Big Spring 14

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 24, Big Spring 21: Is this the Little Brown Jug game? Why, I believe it is! And this is going to be a dandy matchup. 

Geoff Morrow: Shippensburg 25, Big Spring 23: My gut is telling me the Bulldogs have a good shot at their first win in this legendary series since 2010, but Ship superfan Jay Rotz lectured me for picking his ‘Hounds to lose to Hershey last week. And he was right. If you know Jay, you know how utterly painful it is to admit that. I won’t give him the satisfaction this week.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 28, Big Spring 14: I feel like this is the most competitive Big Spring team Ship has played in years, yet I still can’t shake the thought of the ‘Hounds being two steps ahead for the duration. 

Adam Kulikowski: Big Spring 24, Shippensburg 23: Do I have to call my shot to go for the upset pick? This would be an upset, but my gamble is more a reflection of the promise we see in Big Spring than a reflection of any downturn in a Shippensburg program that we know will be a contender in the Colonial. 

Williams Valley 26, Pine Grove 14

Andy Shay: Williams Valley 21, Pine Grove 14: Neither offense showed much pop in their opener, and I have a feeling both will score more than a single touchdown like they did last week. Defensive battle?

Geoff Morrow: Williams Valley 20, Pine Grove 13: Cardinals won the last battle between these rivals in 2019, but that doesn’t sway me here. Weird note: This is the Cards’ second straight game against a sideline full of Vikings. Maybe time to sign Uhtred Ragnarsson as spiritual leader.

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 24, Pine Grove 14: Two teams that finished on opposite sides of Week 1 struggles. I’ll take the Vikings to once again find a way to win in the face of adversity.

Adam Kulikowski: Pine Grove 28, Williams Valley 21: Defense ruled for both teams in Week 1. Which team can find another gear on offense? I’ll take the Cardinal in a close one. 

Hollidaysburg 28, Mifflin County 0

Andy Shay: Hollidaysburg 27, Mifflin County 14: Couple of 0-1 squads that scored a combined total of nine points in Week 1. Of course they played Altoona and State College, so there’s THAT as a factor. Just think the Tigers have a bit more cooking right now.

Geoff Morrow: Hollidaysburg 28, Mifflin County 7: Good news is if I wanted to catch this game, I could just hop on my bike and pedal 14 days to Lewistown.

Andy Sandrik: Hollidaysburg 26, Mifflin County 10: Tough loss for the Golden Tigers against rival Altoona last week, but the sledding should be just a touch easier against MiffCo this week. 

Adam Kulikowski: Hollidaysburg 30, Mifflin County 7: The Huskies are battling to find their footing. Showing signs in this Week 2 matchup would bode well for the rest of their slate. 

Mechanicsburg 14, Elizabethtown 7 (OT)

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 21, Elizabethtown 7: There’s some elements on defense for the Wildcats that I think are enough to carry them across the finish line in this matchup. Both teams will rely on a ground attack, so big plays through the air will be difference makers.

Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 28, Elizabethtown 14: The Bears haven’t danced with a Mid-Penn program since pounding Hershey in 2017. Plus I’m using this pick to toast the late, great Skip Hutter, a Mechanicsburg legend and longtime Patriot-News sportswriter. Grateful to have called you a friend, Skip!

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 29, Elizabethtown 14: First off, last week’s GoMechanicsburg.com live stream — complete with a clock, down and distance, and knowledgeable commentators — was one of the best I’ve seen in recent years. Secondly, I liked what I saw from the Wildcats against a tough Carlisle squad. I think they’ll be just fine moving forward.

Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 21, Elizabethtown 14: The Wildcats had an opportunity to steal one from Carlisle in Week 1 before a Thundering Herd kickoff return put the game out of reach. This one should be easier.  

Downingtown East 42, State College 21

Andy Shay: State College 21, Downingtown East 14: Honestly, I like this matchup and think it could be a wicked good game. I’m just not sure who I like more, or why. So I’m gonna make the rare homer pick and ride with the Little Lions.

Geoff Morrow: State College 44, Downingtown East 33: Sometimes we see the others’ picks before we make our own. This is one of those cases when I see AShay’s choice. And I just wanna say, I LOVE that he considers picking the school that’s about 97 miles from his front porch the “homer pick.”

Andy Sandrik: State College 28, Downingtown East 14: You always have to hold your breath when a good team loses some quality players. Except for State College, there always seems to be talent waiting in the wings for the Little Lions, as they showed last week in a trouncing over Mifflin County.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 30, Downingtown East 20: The retooling Little Lions tuned up against Mifflin County in Week 1. This is a more stringent test for the Lions to pass. 

Carlisle 49, Hershey 0

Andy Shay: Carlisle 21, Hershey 7: The Thundering Herd will present some matchup problems offensively that the Trojans aren’t quite ready for. The Hershey offense struggled in its opener, and this DL for Carlisle has some bite to it.

Geoff Morrow: Carlisle 30, Hershey 13: I got both of these teams’ games wrong last week, so don’t take my advice here. But I will say, confidently, that driving repeated round trips from Hershey to Carlisle along Route 81 is former 4th Down picker Jeff Dewees’ version of hell.

Andy Sandrik: Carlisle 28, Hershey 14: Everything I thought I knew about Carlisle before the opener was pretty much right, except for the whole backup-QB-having-a-cannon-arm part. A balanced Herd offense is going to make those guys up front even more terrifying than they currently are. 

Adam Kulikowski: Carlisle 27, Hershey 14: Judging from Week 1 against Mechanicsburg, it looks like the Thundering Herd found their quarterback in Louis Shank. That could create even more intrigue for a Carlisle team trending up. 

Ephrata 28, Palmyra 7

Andy Shay: Ephrata 30, Palmyra 21: I think that ground game Ephrata boasts with a solid 1-2 punch at running back, plus a passing attack that catches you playing run first, will give the Cougars some problems.

Geoff Morrow: Ephrata 27, Palmyra 22: The last time I was a full-time sportswriter, Ephrata was awful at this sport. Kudos to the coaches and kids who turned that program around, because the Mountaineers are hunting a third straight winning season. Color me impressed.

Andy Sandrik: Ephrata 28, Palmyra 21: Run offense was great for Ephrata in Week 1; run defense not so much for the Cougars, who allowed 5 TDs on the ground last week.

Adam Kulikowski: Palmyra 21, Ephrata 20: OK, I’ll play contrarian. Key to this game for the Cougars lies with their experienced big men up front. If they can get a consistent push, this one will come down to the wire.

Altoona 31, Williamsport 24

Andy Shay: Altoona 27, Williamsport 14: For me, this one is all about the Mountain Lions’ defense putting a mute button on the Millionaires’ offense. That’s just how I see this one going down.

Geoff Morrow: Altoona 33, Williamsport 26: For all who are suffering COVID fog (literally or figuratively), here’s a reminder that these teams met in the playoffs last year, with the Mountain Lions posting a two-score victory.

Andy Sandrik: Altoona 35, Williamsport 20: Got a text from an old colleague in Altoona saying that I, along with the Mid-Penn, had better start respecting the Mountain Lions. I don’t want to get stabbed, so yeah, I’m going with Altoona.

Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 27, Williamsport 14: The Mountain Lions made Mrs. 4th Down very happy in Week 1, as her alma mater notched win No. 1 of the season. That adage that says happy wife, happy life holds true. I’ll double up on the maroon for another week.  

Northern York 31, Dover 0

Andy Shay: Northern York 21, Dover 20: Each team had an impressive opening salvo to begin the season. Polar Bears were pushed a little more, and maybe that’s enough to push them over the top. Dover will provide another full test.

Geoff Morrow: Dover 28, Northern York 21: These schools aren’t terribly far apart, but there’s not much history to go on. The Eagles took some lumps last year, but that was mostly against the YAIAA big schools. This is a toss-up to me.

Andy Sandrik: Northern 28, Dover 21: Lot more fight from these fresh-faced Polar Bears than we initially thought. Another tough game on tap this week, but I’m encouraged by how strong Northern has come out of the gate. 

Adam Kulikowski: Northern York 28, Dover 24: Just when you think the Polar Bears may not have that dynamic rushing attack, new faces emerge to take the baton. 

Central Dauphin 41, Berks Catholic 22

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 28, Berks Catholic 17: Rams are licking their wounds a little bit after that opening loss to Wilson. The Bulldogs were the better team and deserved to win that one for sure. CD has some matchup advantages; it’s just a question of whether the Rams are better in Week 2 and can take advantage of them.

Geoff Morrow: Central Dauphin 26, Berks Catholic 20: We know CD lost to Wilson; some Bulldogs fans gleeked all over themselves making sure we knew that much. But did you know Berks Catholic beat Executive Education Academy Charter School? True story. Hey, at least it wasn’t Bishop Sycamore.

Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 21, Berks Catholic 7: We got dragged pretty hard last week when all four of us took CD. I think the Rams will be improved and ready for BC, and once again have us looking like experts.

Adam Kulikowski: Central Dauphin 35, Berks Catholic 14: The Rams are still finding the right mix to surround standout QB Max Mosey. A tinkering Central Dauphin team has enough pieces in place to survive this Week 2 battle. 

West Perry 49, Newport 0

Andy Shay: West Perry 28, Newport 25: Why has it been a quarter century between games for these county mates? Glad to see this game. I’m taking a flier here on the Mustangs. No legit reason why.

Geoff Morrow: Newport 23, West Perry 22: If you would have asked me, Family Feud-style, that “West Perry and Newport haven’t done THIS together in 25 years,” my first answer would not have been “Play football.”

Andy Sandrik: Newport 33, West Perry 30: I spent two hours painting a shed in Perry County thinking about this game. Still not sure what’s going to happen, but you better believe they’re going to party like it’s 1995.

Adam Kulikowski: Newport 35, West Perry 28: These two Perry County teams battle for the first time in more than 25 years. That alone is enough to purchase a ticket to this spectacle.

Tri-Valley 21, Mahanoy Area 0

Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 14, Mahanoy Area 7: Something tells me this is going to be a tight squeeze, and defense will be calling the shots most of the way.

Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 8, Mahanoy Area 0: According to Wikipedia, which, by the way, is generally an AWFUL resource, “The name ‘Mahanoy’ is believed to be a variation of the Native American word ‘Maghonioy,’ or ‘the salt deposits.’ So, I guess I like the Golden Bears’ chances against a team called the Slugs, but not necessarily against the Bulldogs.

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 14, Mahanoy Area 0: The Golden Bears played Williams Valley tight last week, and they deserve a lot of credit for doing that, but they’re still searching for their first points of the year. Life won’t be much easier against Tri-Valley, which pitched a shutout in its opener.

Adam Kulikowski: Tri-Valley 27, Mahanoy 6: Kameron Wetzel and Jake Scheib each rushed for more than 100 yards last week against Minersville. The sledding won’t be nearly as easy this week — but that doesn’t mean the Bulldogs duo won’t carry home another victory. 

Harrisburg 31, Hazleton Area 21

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 29, Hazleton 7: Another road trip for the Cougars. This one feels like a breeze compared to Week 1. Not a knock over opponent, though. Harrisburg will have to show up and bring some fire to the table. No doubts they will.

Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 38, Hazleton 7: I love that the Cougars rolled into Pine-Richland and popped ‘em even though none of us here believed it would be done. That’s style, baby. Also, Hazleton has to be one of the most frequently misspelled school names, right? Until about 2018, I probably always spelled it Hazelton.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 35, Hazelton 10: It took a lot of guts and resolve for Harrisburg to spring the upset over defending state champion Pine-Richland. Hazelton is not the defending state champion. 

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 42, Hazelton 7: The brand of football Harrisburg used to knock off the defending 5A champion Pine-Richland was a stray from Cougars teams of the recent past. Expect more of the same in Week 2. 

Spring-Ford 48, Chambersburg 0

Andy Shay: Spring-Ford 42, Chambersburg 7: Hey, you take any win, but beating fellow Franklin County foe Greencastle-Antrim by only two points sends up some warning flags. And Spring-Ford has some muscle and pop offensively.

Geoff Morrow: Spring-Ford 44, Chambersburg 13: The Rams have become one of those schools that seems to be pretty darn good in a lot of different sports, football included.

Andy Sandrik: Spring-Ford 35, Chambersburg 14: Tough matchup for the Trojans. Keep an eye on Rams QB Ryan Freed, who threw for more than 300 yards in Week 1.

Adam Kulikowski: Spring-Ford 28, Chambersburg 13: Mark Luther is still working on the edges of the puzzle in Franklin County. With a team that returned virtually no dudes at the skill positions, it might take a little time to fully understand what the Trojans can accomplish. 

Northeastern 16, Red Land 14

Andy Shay: Red Land 33, Northeastern 26: Neither defense showed much resistance in Week 1 losses. So expect some points to be scored. I like the Patriots here, but not convincingly.

Geoff Morrow: Northeastern 28, Red Land 26: Honestly, this is yet another toss-up game. These schools border each other, but I can’t find any recent history between them. Kind of like how Haiti and the Dominican Republic border each other, but it’s somehow easy to forget that they share an island.

Andy Sandrik: Red Land 30, Northeastern 20: Both teams coming off Week 1 losses, but I like the Patriots to rebound here.

Adam Kulikowski: Red Land 28, Northeastern 21: The Patriots showed some good signs in Week 1 against Northern York. Can they build on those successes to put a notch in the win column? I believe they do. 

Saturday:

Steel-High 61, Belmont Charter 6 

Andy Shay: Steel-High 42, Belmont Charter 14: I didn’t know Belmont Charter was a school until this week. Rollers’ deep-threat offense will be on display again if all the indicators are correct.

Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 55, Belmont Charter 14: I like that when I look up Belmont Charter on MaxPreps, it lists “freelance” as its league. Hey, that’s what I am! In fact, that’s what all of us are! By the way, those passing numbers for Steel-High last week were bonkers. 

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 44, Belmont Charter 7: Can’t say I know a ton about BC, but let’s call it 14 straight wins for the Rollers, who set off allll the fireworks in Week 1.

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 38, Belmont Charter 20: Belmont Charter — a team playing just its second varsity football season — rolls in from Philadelphia to face a Rollers team coming off a 77-0 thumping of Morrisville. Advantage Rollers.

Juniata 20, Upper Dauphin 0

Andy Shay: Juniata 16, Upper Dauphin 14: Couple of 1-0 squads whose defenses surrendered a combined 11 points last week. This feels like a defensive tussle all the way. Indians love those close games that come down to the wire and get results.

Geoff Morrow: Upper Dauphin 43, Juniata 28: These teams missed each other last year, and that’s probably good news for the Trojans, who put up 54 against the Indians in 2019 but finished with just two wins in 2020. Juniata’s 6-3 victory over Line Mountain is a score that never would have been tolerated if they were still playing Tri-Valley League football.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 28, Upper Dauphin 10: I think we’re gonna see the biggest Week 1 level-up from Juniata. Those grind-it-out, down-to-the-wire wins — like the Indians had last week over Line Mountain — are more valuable to a team than any of us outside the locker room know.

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 28, Upper Dauphin 7:  Rumors were floating earlier this week about COVID issues with the Trojans. Even if the Trojans aren’t short-handed, Juniata’s firepower may be too much for Kent Smeltz’s crew to handle. 

Monday:

Susquenita 22, Line Mountain 3

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 20, Susquenita 7: Eagles might be 0-1, but their defense showed some chops in that loss to Juniata. Time for the offense to join the party.

Geoff Morrow: Line Mountain 14, Susquenita 6: Oh my gosh, I just had a flashback to the old Patriot-News days. Particularly, I remember how we would talk about the seemingly omnipresent muddiness of the outdoor fields at Susquenita HS. After this Ida rain, I can’t even imagine the mud puddles that might start overtaking all of Schoolhouse Road.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 10, Susquenita 7: I have no idea what to expect from Susquenita, since the ‘Hawks missed Week 1 for COVID-19 protocols. What I am expecting is solid defense from Line Mountain, which should be the difference in this game.

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 21, Susquenita 14: This is bound to be an old-school dog fight. If you like that type of punch-you-in-the-mouth football, punch a ticket for this one Friday night. 

POSTPONED: CANCELED: York Catholic at Trinity

Vote now: 4th Down Magazine Player of the Week presented by Crown Trophy of Harrisburg

Welcome to 4th Down Magazine’s vote for Players of the Week presented by Crown Trophy of Harrisburg (in Lemoyne).

The nominees for the week are listed below. Vote for the players in each category with the most impressive performance.

The poll will remain open until Tuesday evening at 11 p.m. and voting is allowed once per hour. The winner will be announced Wednesday evening.

Ethan Dorrell, jr., QB, Cedar Cliff: Back-to-back quality performances from the junior. Dorrell is now averaging 250 yards per game after a 20-for-28, 246-yard, three-TD performance in a 33-27 win over Cocalico. The Colts are now 2-0 thanks to Dorrell, who added 61 yards and a score on seven carries.

Trenten Smith, sr., WR, Cedar Cliff: On the receiving end of nine of those 20 Dorrell completions was Smith, the impressive pass catcher who added 132 yards and a score. He’s been Dorrell’s top target during the Colts’ 2-0 start, already eclipsing 303 yards this season while snaring three TDs in 16 total receptions.

Aidan Mencia, sr., RB, Waynesboro: The Indians trounced Red Lion 47-14, grinding out 324 yards on 37 carries (8.8 yards per carry). Mencia led that charge, plowing ahead for 120 stripes and two scores — one of them for 76 yards — on just 11 carries (10.9 ypc). He also snagged two passes for 27 yards.

Rashawn Early-Holton, sr., WR/DB, Mechanicsburg: Neither offense could get much going in this one, but Early-Holton saved the Wildcats, scooping up a blocked field goal attempt in the fourth quarter for a 79-yard game-tying drive. The ‘Cats went on to beat Elizabethtown in OT 14-7, and Early-Holton added three receptions for 27 stripes.

Dion Bryant, sr., RB, Milton Hershey: The Spartans picked up their first win since Nov. 8, 2019 — they didn’t play in 2020 due to the pandemic — and Bryant led the charge. The senior scored five times, on runs of 10, 19, 65, 10 and 65 yards, totalling a monster 337 yards on 21 touches to lead Milton Hershey past Susquehanna Township 52-14.

Randy Rudy, sr., WR/DB, Central Dauphin: Sure, Max Mosey was impressive at QB as well during the Rams’ 41-22 win over Berks Catholic. But look at Rudy’s numbers — he caught a 37-yard touchdown pass, and on defense he recorded 13 tackles (tied for the team lead), three TFLs, a QB hurry and a forced fumble.

This poll has ended (since 3 years).
Trenten Smith, sr., WR, Cedar Cliff:
43.18%
Randy Rudy, sr., WR/DB, Central Dauphin:
26.82%
Aidan Mencia, sr., RB, Waynesboro:
19.88%
Ethan Dorrell, jr., QB, Cedar Cliff:
5.50%
Dion Bryant, sr., RB, Milton Hershey:
3.32%
Rashawn Early-Holton, sr., WR/DB, Mechanicsburg:
1.29%

Alex Erby, so., QB, Steel-High: The stud signal caller tossed three straight touchdowns in the first quarter — crossing yardage of 10, 13 and 19 stripes — to thrust the Rollers to a 34-0 win after 12 minutes, and eventually a 61-6 win over Philadelphia-area’s Belmont Charter. Erby, who threw one final TD for 35 yards in the fourth quarter, was 9-of-15 for 199 yards and threw a pick. The Rollers won their 800th game.

Kobe Moore, so., FB/LB and Mike Shartle, jr., DB, Camp Hill: The Lions have roared out of the gate early, moving to 2-0 after a 38-0 whitewash of Biglerville. Moore had his fingerprints all over the outcome, scoring on a 54-yard run to finish with 89 yards on five touches, and recording seven tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery on the other side of the ball. Shartle was active defensively with a safety and a scoop-and-score.

Aiden Metzger, sr., FB/LB, Boiling Springs: The Bubblers made it consecutive shutouts this week with a 35-0 win over Bermudian Springs. Metzger made several impactful defensive players for the red-hot Bubblers, tallying two tackles (two for loss) and two sacks. On offense, he added 81 yards and a score on 11 carries, finishing second to Joey Menke’s 130-yard, three-TD performance for the team.

Marcus Quaker, so., QB, West Perry: The Mustangs have a knack for unleashing solid dual-threat passes. Quaker lit up Newport in a 49-0 win for four touchdowns, rushing for 168 yards and throwing for 136 more in Friday’s victory. He ran in two scores of 27 and 6 yards and tossed two more of 38 and 30 yards. West Perry won the first meeting between the Perry County schools in 25 years.

Alex Achenbach, so., RB, Williams Valley: Showing signs of becoming the latest in a string of remarkably productive running backs in a high-octane Williams Valley attack, Achenbach lit the fuse on the Vikings’ 26-14 victory over neighboring Pine Grove. All the youngster did was rush 28 times for 235 yards and two scores in the Colonial-Schuylkill League crossover. In fact, his 59-yard touchdown run with four minutes left in the opening quarter propelled Tim Savage’s squad to a 6-0 lead they would not relinquish while improving to 2-0.

Layne Yoder, so., WR, Tri-Valley: Yoder enjoyed a terrific Week 2, catching seven passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns as Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs improved to 2-0 with a 21-0 whitewash on the road at Mahanoy Area. With Jonas McGrath doing the pitching, Yoder hauled in TD tosses of 3 and 53 yards as Tri-Valley claimed the Colonial-Schuylkill crossover.

Carter Enders, so., QB, Halifax: Although the shorthanded Wildcats came up short in a 50-39 loss to visiting James Buchanan, Enders did everything he could to keep Earl Mosley’s squad in the mix for a positive Liberty Division result by completing 13 of his 20 pass attempts for 333 yards and four touchdowns. Three of Enders’ scoring passes went to Landon Areford (11, 44 and 9 yards), while the fourth was hauled in by Peter Ranck (65 yards). Ranck finished with seven catches for 203 yards for Halifax (0-2, 0-2).

Nathan Brake, jr., RB, James Buchanan: Playing a leading role throughout James Buchanan’s 50-39 success at Halifax, Brake rolled up 187 yards and one touchdown on 25 attempts as the Rockets (1-1, 1-1) claimed the Liberty Division result. Brake’s touchdown run midway through the third quarter, which covered 25 yards, pushed a JB side that rushed for 336 yards against the host Wildcats ahead to stay (28-27).

This poll has ended (since 3 years).
Alex Achenbach, so., RB, Williams Valley:
39.09%
Aiden Metzger, sr., FB/LB, Boiling Springs:
37.66%
Layne Yoder, so., WR, Tri-Valley:
10.46%
Carter Enders, so., QB, Halifax:
6.27%
Alex Erby, so., QB, Steel-High:
3.55%
Marcus Quaker, so., QB, West Perry:
2.12%
Kobe Moore, so., FB/LB and Mike Shartle, jr., DB, Camp Hill:
0.62%
Nathan Brake, jr., RB, James Buchanan:
0.23%