News and Notes: Schuylkill League
Neighboring rivals Williams Valley, Pine Grove square off
While reigning District 11 Class 1A co-champion Williams Valley (1-0) needed to rely on its aggressive defensive unit to squeeze past Mahanoy Area 6-0, Pine Grove (0-1) flashed plenty of D before tumbling to Northern Lebanon 13-7.
So, we’re probably in for a 42-41 thriller decided at the horn on a Hail Mary throw from distance, right? Possibly, but then again. … Although sophomore Alex Achenbach rushed for 93 yards on 21 attempts and Nic Joseph cashed in for the Vikings’ lone score, where Williams Valley excelled was on the defensive side of the ball as Hunter Wolfgang (16 stops, 4 TFLs, 1 sack), Isaac Whiteash (12 tackles), Jackson Yoder (12 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) and Ezi Hite (11 stops, 2 TFLs, 1 sack) amassed 10 stops or more. Two others — Logan Williard and Cruz Banda (1 TFL, 1 sack) — registered nine stops as the Vikings turned back a Mahanoy program they met in last season’s 1A district semis.
As for Pine Grove, junior Mason Kroh completed 13-of-34 passes for 181 yards, but he was picked off four times. Kroh scored the Cardinals’ lone TD, while Lane Lehman chipped in with 64 yards rushing on 20 attempts. Wideouts Dalton Geesey and Brennan Stanton each hauled in five Kroh targets, collecting 90 and 69 yards, respectively. Stanton also recorded an interception for Frank Gaffney’s club. Aaron Crumrine paced the Cards with nine tackles, two more than backer Colin Ibarra. What will be interesting to see is how both offensive fronts fare, particularly since both groups returned intact from the 2020 season.
Tri-Valley looking for another W
Extremely effective throughout its opening-week performance while taking apart Minersville 47-7, Tri-Valley (1-0) will test its experienced ballclub yet again with a visit to Mahanoy Area (0-1). Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs popped Kameron Wetzel and Jake Scheib over 100 yards rushing while uncorking a terrific ground assault that scored early and often. Wetzel scored on cross-country jaunts of 90 and 54 yards, then tacked on a 42-yard touchdown reception from Jonas McGrath as Tri-Valley’s lead grew from 7-0 to 27-0.
Scheib also banked a touchdown run for the ‘Dawgs. Mahanoy Area gave Williams Valley all it could handle before tumbling between the tall pines in Williamstown by a 6-0 margin.
News and Notes: Liberty Division
Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Juniata, UD looking to grab Liberty lead
Slated to collide Friday night at Elizabethville’s Trojan Stadium, unbeatens Juniata (1-0, 1-0) and Upper Dauphin (1-0, 1-0) put away their season-opening victories in vastly different fashion. Juniata uncorked a tremendous defensive performance (106 yards yielded, 4 first downs allowed) while fending off Line Mountain 6-3, collecting its lone points on Jordan Dickinson’s 60-yard catch-and-run from a Jacob Condo pass midway through the second quarter.
Two Line Mountain defenders converged on the play, but Dickinson bounced off the would-be stops and galloped the rest of the way unimpeded for the game’s only touchdown. Juniata managed merely 171 total yards — Condo was 6-of-11 passing for 87 yards — with Dickinson catching two passes for 70 yards and Condo rushing for a team-high 30. Interior defenders Trent Martin, Trent Kauffman and Jonathan Kauffman keyed Juniata’s defense, combining for 18 tackles. The latter Kauffman also registered two sacks. Meanwhile, UD eased past James Buchanan 60-8 behind 102 rushing yards from Aiden Wiest (8 carries) and 79 more from Brady Morgan (5 totes).
Morgan also scored three times for the Trojans, who led 48-0 at the halftime break. Inside linebacker Chase Lentz totaled nine stops, five for loss and pocketed one quarterback sack. Before the night was over, Upper Dauphin recorded 22 tackles for loss. “They’re fast paced. They run the ball,” Juniata skipper Kurt Condo said following his team’s Week 1 success. “Both this week and next week, we have to play very disciplined on defense.”
LM hoping to bounce back; ‘Nita trying to get started
Although Line Mountain’s Brandon Carson was extremely disappointed by his outfit’s inability to move the ball offensively — and the 6-3 road loss his Eagles (0-1, 0-1) suffered at Juniata — he couldn’t say enough about the way his club performed defensively (171 yards yielded, 7 first downs allowed).
This weekend, however, Carson & Co. will play at their cozy Ressler Field confines against a Susquenita side (0-0, 0-0) that was forced to postpone its opener at Elco due to COVID-19 concerns. While the Eagles managed just 106 total yards, sophomore quarterback Nick Snyder threw for 92 yards while completing five of his nine attempts. Snyder was picked off once, but his other three passes were dropped, stalling the Line Mountain attack. Brayden Boyer’s 23-yard field goal just 1:50 in, set up by the first of two Jace Hackenburg fumble recoveries, was the only score the Eagles managed. Sophomore linebacker Chandon Maurer also had a big game, recording 12 tackles. Classmate Yari Johnson finished with eight stops, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
“We had some big, big touchdown-possible plays (wind up) as drops,” Carson said. “Nick threw the ball really well. … Juniata has a really good defense. Their front seven or eight, whatever you want to call it, is really good. I’m hoping, obviously, it gets a little easier next week or whenever. We’ll see, and we’ve just got to figure something out.” In addition to making his head coaching debut, new Susquenita coach Augie Glass will be celebrating his birthday when his squad pulls into Mandata. Glass has altered a few things with the Blackhawks attack, but he hopes to maintain run-pass balance while allowing sophomore Derek Gibney the chance to throw the football more often. Yet it doesn’t figure to be easy for Susquenita since the host Eagles will be looking to clean up its Week 1 mistakes while the Blackhawks have yet to test it for real.
Rockets making return trek to Dauphin County
While James Buchanan’s Week 1 journey to Upper Dauphin ended with a 60-8 setback — Cliff Pine’s Rockets (0-1, 0-1) trailed 48-0 at the break — the Franklin Countians are hopeful their visit to Halifax (0-1, 0-1) will be more fruitful. JB was dented defensively for 393 rushing yards and seven touchdowns by UD, so shoring up a few things on that side of the ball will be a must. Getting a brand new backfield of QB John Stoner, FB Nathan Brake and HB Caleb Frey untracked against the undermanned Wildcats is another must. Halifax dropped a 48-7 decision to visiting Newport in Week 1, surrendering six scores in the first half as the Buffaloes opened a 42-0 advantage. Sophomore QB Carter Enders was a bright spot for Earl Mosley’s squad, racking up 151 yards from scrimmage (66 rushing, 85 passing) before the night was over. Enders’ 7-yard pass to Peter Ranck on the final play of the third quarter accounted for the ‘Cats’ lone score. Ranck caught four passes for 84 yards.
Newport stepping out of league play
After easing past Liberty Division playmate Halifax 48-7 in its season-opening contest, Todd Rothermel’s Newport program (1-0) will entertain West Perry (0-1) in its home opener at Katchmer Field. Quarterback Andrew Bates rushed for two first-half scores and finished with 99 yards on four carries as the Buffaloes rolled to a 42-0 halftime lead.
Bates attempted just three passes, completing one for 18 yards before calling it a night. Aiden Dishman (6-28) added touchdown runs of 5 and 4 yards for Newport, while Caleb Godbout (3-38) scored on a 2-yard run. Tyler Geer posted the other first-half score for the Buffs, returning an interception 15 yards that staked the visitors to a 21-0 lead just 5:05 into the contest.
Trent Herrera had a productive opener, yet it wasn’t enough as West Perry dropped a 34-24 decision at Big Spring. Herrera hauled in a 41-yard pass from Marcus Quaker (12-of-21 for 135 yards, 1 interception) for his first score, then returned an interception 25 yards with 5:50 gone in the second quarter as the Mustangs took a 15-14 lead. Herrera, who wheeled 22 times for 96 yards and caught five passes for 68 more, closed out the opener with a late 2-yard run.
West Perry’s other points came on Ian Goodling’s 25-yard field goal. Chunk plays hurt Bob Boden’s Mustangs, as Big Spring scored three times from 51 yards or further while racking up 432 offensive yards.
News and Notes: Capital Division
Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Capital Division the gem of the Mid-Penn Conference?:
I’m going to say it now, this division could be the crown jewel of the Mid-Penn Conference this season. Big Spring, Boiling Springs, Camp Hill, Steel-High and Trinity all posted victories to open the 2021 campaign. Nobody lost and Middletown was idle. There’s at least a half-dozen high intrigue games I want to see this season among this six-pack of small school heavy hitters.
Boiling Springs capitalizing on its savy veterans:
Experience matters, and Boiling Springs opened up a can of it on Littlestown to the tune of a 69-burger. Scored six touchdowns on its first six offensive possessions, and the defense was in lockdown mode, creating short fields in addition to adding a pair of pick-6 touchdowns to its side of the ledger. Littlestown made a TON of mistakes to fuel the fire, but it only made the scoreboard roll faster. The Bubblers took some huge steps forward as a program a year ago. Feels like they are ready to step on teams now. For the record: this is a warning.
News and Notes: Colonial Division
A record breaker, a last-minute winner, a 300-yard rushing team and more
Plenty of meat on the bone for lads in the Colonial with a record performance (Sy Burgos, East Pennsboro), a trio of backs who totaled nearly 300 rushing yards (Northern) and a last-minute touchdown for the only points (Shippensburg). Plenty of entertainment value right there. What stood out to me going forward was a team that lost — Greencastle-Antrim. The Blue Devils lost to big-school Chambersburg by two points. Something tells me that result will serve this group from Franklin County well going forward.
Three of a kind in the Northern backfield:
A triple threat at running back could make the Polar Bears extremely dangerous this season. They still have balance, but in RB’s Cole Bartram, Timothy Bonin and Talon Balluscio they have three underclassmen who all appear they could be RB1. The trio had 40 combined carries for 276 yards and four touchdowns. Hope they took a few of the offensive linemen to Baker’s Diner for some eats and thanks.
News and Notes: Keystone Division
Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Keystone teams took on water in Week 1:
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it was serious choppy waters for the squads in the Keystone in Week 1. Cedar Cliff’s victory over Red Lion marked the only win for a team from the division. Red Land, Palmyra, Milton Hershey, Mifflin County, Hershey and Bishop McDevitt all lost. Lower Dauphin did not play. No one-week evaluations coming from us, but the early returns indicate some less-than-smooth sailing ahead for the majority of the Keystone clubs.
Colts’ Trenten Smith off to a fast start:
Colts wideout Trenten Smith gets our Keystone game ball for his stellar two-way performance. Scored a pair of touchdowns to go along with 171 receiving yards and added an interception on defense.
News and Notes: Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division
Each week during the 2021 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Commonwealth Division
Harrisburg’s Williams a star in the making:
Another road trip, this one to Hazleton, for the 1-0 Harrisburg Cougars. There won’t be as much huff and puff over the upcoming contest as the opener against the defending PIAA Class 5A champion Pine-Richland. Kyle Williams is going to be a star for the Cougars this season, and up front is where this team will win more games and what makes this 2021 team different. They aren’t going to be as explosive overall, but they will make a big ask of their opponents.
Balanced Carlisle offense on tap in ’21?
Getting a peek at Carlisle in person I see some potential to be a more balanced offense this season. They have speed and athleticism at the wide receiver position, but the quarterback position was a huge question mark. The only way for the Herd to win in the past was a big game out of a running back. Junior Louis Shank is raw and undeveloped at the varsity level as a QB, but if he develops this offense could be sticky for teams to defend going forward.
Candid words from Cumberland Valley coach Josh Oswalt:
This is part of what Cumberland Valley head coach Josh Oswalt — a former Eagle in case you were not aware of that tidbit — said after getting rolled by Manheim Central: “I don’t know what the heck happened to our guys today. It’s to be expected in Week 1 to make some mistakes to squelch some drives. If you look at the first half, we had an inadvertent snap, we didn’t get pass protection calls. We were not disciplined at all on the offensive line, and it just makes me sick because all those guys are back. They’re great kids, but they’re selfish, selfish football players at times. It’s just sad to watch.” Josh calls them like he sees them.
Vote now: Red Land football play of the week
Watch these five plays and vote for your Red Land Patriots Play of the Week
- Roman Jensen hits Sam Sklar for a 40-yard touchdown.
2. Roman Jensen connects with Parker Lawler for 81-yard touchdown.
3. Parker Lawler races to an 18-yard touchdown.
4. Red Land quarterback Roman Jensen hits Sam Sklar for a 37 yard gain.
5. Red Land quarterback Roman Jensen fires to Parker Lawler for a 31-yard touchdown
Stock up, Stock down after Week 1 of the high school football season
One week of the high school football season is in the books. We’re taking a look around our coverage area to see who helped themselves this week and who did not in Week No. 1 in this edition of Stock up, Stock Down.
STOCK UP
• Anybody pull off a bigger upset in Week 1 than the Trinity Shamrocks? Harrisburg taking out defending state champion Pine-Richland is up there as well. I’m riding with the T-Rocks, though. I’m now keen on seeing this team sooner than later. Beating Delone Catholic with all that change that’s gone on in Shiremanstown is an old-fashioned upset. Posting a three-score victory is a jaw dropping result in my book.
• Over my career I have learned the hard lesson of evaluating CD East’s program a week at a time during the season. That’s not a knock, it’s just the smart and safe way to approach the Panthers. Despite the loss on the road in Lancaster County to Manheim Township, you have to like the direction after four quarters. The Blue Streaks are beatable, sure, but they ask a lot of the opposition in order to beat them. CD East had a lot of the right answers. The ending was brutal. Otherwise, bring on Week 2 and let’s see!
• Already regarded as one of the top running backs in the Mid-Penn Conference, East Pennsboro’s Sy Burgos went to another level in the opener by making the school single-game rushing record his own with 366 yards against York Suburban. He surpassed Onassis Neely’s 2017 mark of 320 yards by nearly half a football field. He left no doubt. And his team needed him in a game that was air-tight at halftime.
STOCK DOWN
• Penalties and lots of them are just part of the game in the early weeks of football at this level. However, some of the numbers I saw and witnessed told me the limitations everyone dealt with in 2020 related to the pandemic are going to have more impact on the sharpness meter this season. Still, I saw numbers like 15 and a couple 12s. The game I watched in person, Carlisle at Mechanicsburg, saw each squad rack up 11 flags. The small details matter, right?
• Change is never easy, just ask Cumberland Valley skipper Josh Oswalt. His system works — think Carlisle and Central York, his previous two stops. And it will work eventually in New Kingstown. But only one touchdown against Manheim Central is a downer for this offense. Maybe the Barons defense is better? Still, one score again for the Eagles is not what they needed to see.
• We continue to navigate the pandemic and how it impacts Friday night football. Last year it was fans in the stands. So, seeing fans in the stands Week 1 was nice. But an athletic director recently told me plenty of schools will not be taking their marching bands to road games. Safety first. I get it and agree 100%. One band is better than none, but it’s still a major bummer on my what-makes-Friday-night-so-special meter.
Eric Epler’s State High School Football Rankings after Week 1
Class 6A — Record — Previous rank
1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12) — 0-0 — 1
2. Archbishop Wood (12) — 1-0 — 3
2. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) — 0-1 — 2
4. Central York (3) — 1-0 — 4
5. North Penn (1) — 1-0 — 5
6. Emmaus (11) — 1-0 — 6
7. Mount Lebanon (7) — 1-0 — 7
8. North Allegheny (7) — 1-0 — 8
9. La Salle College HS (12) — 1-0 — 9
10. Garnet Valley (1) — 1-0 — 10
Teams to watch: Harrisburg (3) 1-0, Manheim Township (3) 1-0, Parkland (11) 0-0, State College (6) 1-0, Wilson (3) 1-0.
Class 5A — Record — Previous rank
1. Imhotep Charter (12) — 1-0 — 1
2. Governor Mifflin (3) — 1-0 — 2
3. Gateway (7) — 1-0 — 3
4. Cathedral Prep (10) — 1-0 — 4
5. Upper Dublin (1) — 1-0 — 6
6. Penn-Trafford (7) — 1-0 — 7
7. Whitehall (11) — 1-0 — 8
8. Pine-Richland (7) — 0-1 — 5
9. Academy Park (1) — 1-0 — 9
10. Moon (7) — 1-0 — 10
Teams to watch: Chester (1) 1-0, Exeter Township (3) 0-1, Manheim Central (3) 1-0, Peters Township (7) 1-0, West Chester Rustin (1) 0-0.
Class 4A — Record — Previous rank
1. Thomas Jefferson (7) — 0-0 — 1
2. Jersey Shore (4) — 1-0 — 3
3. Belle Vernon (7) — 0-0 — 4
4. Bishop McDevitt (3) — 0-1 — 2
5. Aliquippa (7) — 0-0 — 6
6. Valley View (2) — 1-0 — 7
7. Berks Catholic (3) — 1-0 — 8
8. Cocalico (3) — 1-0 — 9
9. Bethlehem Catholic (11) — 0-1 — 5
10. Pottsville (11) 1-0 — 10
Teams to watch: Allentown C.C. (11) 1-0, Bonner-Prendergast (12) 1-0, McKeesport (7) 1-0, Pope John Paul II (1) 1-0, Shamokin (4) 1-0.
Class 3A — Record — Previous rank
1. North Schuylkill (11) — 1-0 — 1
2. Central Valley (7) — 1-0 — 2
3. Wyomissing (3) — 1-0 — 3
4. Notre Dame-Green Pond (11) — 1-0 — 4
5. Scranton Prep (2) — 1-0 — 5
6. Bedford (5) — 1-0 — 6
7. Neumann-Goretti (12) — 1-0 — 7
8. Elizabeth Forward (7) — 1-0 — 9
9. Central Martinsburg (6) — 1-0 — 10
10. North Catholic (7) — 1-0 — NR
Teams to watch: Clearfield (9) 1-0, Danville (4) 1-0, Montoursville (4) 1-0, Western Wayne (2) 1-0.
Class 2A — Record — Previous rank
1. Southern Columbia (4) — 1-0 — 1
2. Farrell (10) — 1-0 — 2
3. Richland Township (6) — 1-0 — 3
4. Sto-Rox (7) — 1-0 — 4
5. South Williamsport (4) — 1-0 — 6
6. Wilmington (10) — 1-0 — 7
7. Bellwood-Antis (6) — 1-0 — 8
8. Washington (7) — 1-0 — NR
9. Windber (5) — 1-0 — 10
10. York Catholic (3) — 1-0 — NR
Teams to watch: Beaver Falls (7) 0-1, Chestnut Ridge (5) 0-1, Dunmore (2) 0-1, Northern Lehigh (11) 1-0, Serra Catholic (7) 1-0.
Class 1A — Record — Previous rank
1. Steelton-Highspire (3) — 1-0 — 1
2. Old Forge (2) — 1-0 — 3
3. Clairton (7) — 0-0 — 4
4. Bishop Guilfoyle (6) — 1-0 — 6
5. Muncy (4) — 0-1 — 2
6. Rochester (7) — 0-0 — 7
7. Tri-Valley (11) — 1-0 — 8
8. Williams Valley (11) — 1-0 — 9
9. Redbank Valley (9) — 0-1 — 5
10. Juniata Valley (6) — 1-0 — 10
Teams to watch: Canton (4) 1-0, Delone Catholic (3) 0-1, Keystone (9) 1-0, Northern Bedford (5) 1-0, Our Lady of Sacred Heart (7) 1-0.