By 4th Down Staff: 

NO. 3 CENTRAL YORK AT NO. 2 CENTRAL DAUPHIN
District 3 Class 6A semifinal

7 p.m. Friday, Landis Field at Speed Ebersole Stadium

THE PANTHERS (6-0): Gerry Yonchiuk’s perfect Panthers have been the talk of the York-Adams hemisphere even before this strange and revolving football season began. It had something to do with junior QB Beau Pribula, a Penn State commit and one of the nation’s top dual-threat signal callers in the Class of ’22. Pribula, whose brother Cade is a redshirt freshman QB at Delaware, entertained offers from Nebraska, Northwestern, Rutgers, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and more.

Pirbula has been an excellent pilot through six weeks, completing 73-percent of his 107 pass attempts for 1,170 yards and 24 touchdowns against two interceptions.Seniors Judah Tomb (6 TDs), Taylor Wright Rawls (8 TDs) and Kyle Fontes (5 TDs) are all averaging better than 14.6 yard per catch, with the offense generating 59 points per game. Yes, 59. DT Seth Griffiths and MLB Carter Glassmyer pace a defense that has surrendered just 10 points all season, with all 10 coming coming deep in the fourth quarter with the game in hand. That’s four shutouts in six weeks, about a good as it gets.

THE RAMS (5-0): The only intangible that could have kept the Rams from this position is a fouled season due to the pandemic. Luckily, football is happening, so Central Dauphin’s annual pass to the District 3 postseason is cashed. The Rams, ranked among the top Class 6A programs in the state, will be the most complete football team the Panthers have faced all season. And the other junior QB on display, Max Mosey, possesses the same skill and savvy as Central’s Pribula. Mosey has pitched 12 TDs and averages 5 yard per keeper.

Mosey supported by a stout offensive line – one of the hallmarks of Glen McNamee’s program – and a group of versatile skill players in returning All-State pick Timmy Smith (60 rush, 464 yards, 4 TDs) and fellow senior Shamarr Joppy (24-317-4). Senior Malachi Bowman is a lethal deep threat, whose play in the defensive secondary will factor in Friday. So will the work of LB Paul Clark, CD’s top run stuffer, and the rest of CD’s “all hats” defense. The unit has manufactured 31 TFLs on the season, an important note when pressuring the QB means everything.

THE SERIES: Central Dauphin and Central York have met twice in the District 3 playoffs, with the Rams winning both contests. In 2018, the Rams defeated Central York 49-21 in the quarterfinal round, setting a District 3 6A record with 405 rushing yards.

DOWN AND DISTANCE: Central York, 8-13 overall in District 3 play, has lost five straight in the tournament. The Panthers’ last postseason victory over a Mid-Penn team was a 33-28 win over Chambersburg in the 2012 Class 4A opening round.

THE PICK: Central Dauphin 33, Central York 22

By Andy Shay: 

 Each week during the 2020 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.

Three golden tickets:

 Three teams from the MPC Capital will dot the District 3 playoff brackets with undefeated Steel-High leading the pack in the Class 1A championship game against Delone Catholic in McSherrystown in a rematch of a Class 2A game from last season. The Rollers have scored a staggering 264 points in five games. That’s nearly 53 a game on average. Now, you can bet the Squires will provide a tougher test on defense for Steel-High. Still, with the running of Odell Greene and all those tall and athletic wideouts, including FBS recruit Mehki Flowers, you have to wonder what it takes to slow the Rollers down and keep them under 30 points.

Wyomissing the No. 1 seed despite .240 opponent winning percentage: 

Middletown and Boiling Springs comprise half the Class 3A playoff brackets as the Nos. 1 and 3 seeds, respectively. It appeared the Blue Raiders and Bubblers were headed for a rematch of their splendid Week 4 contest at Middletown won by the Blue Raiders. But Middletown and its 4-1 overall record was good enough to edge out defending champion Wyomissing and its 5-0 mark for the No. 1 seed. The reason for that is the Spartans have a historically bad .240 opponent winning percentage. So, the Bubblers will travel to Berks County and play the Spartans on Saturday. Wyomissing has surrendered only nine points this season, but their opponents have been so soft you almost have to disregard that as a consideration in this game. A couple of Wing-T programs going head-to-head. The Bubblers belong on this field, but 48 minutes against the wave of backs the Spartans trot out is a big ask.

Bracket favors Middletown: 

Not only do the Blue Raiders get a home game, but they play a running team in Bermudian Springs. And they don’t have to face Wyomissing or the Bubblers for a second time in three weeks. Talk about winning. Playoff teams that run the ball don’t seem to have much success against the Blue Raiders defense historically. This feels like another rendition of that playbill. The size and speed of Middletown’s backs, Tymir Jackson (5-foot-10, 220 pounds) and Tajae Broadie (6-4, 247 pounds) will come into play.

By Andy Shay: 

Each week during the 2020 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.

Keystone Division left out of the District 3 playoffs:

Nobody from the MPC Keystone made the cut for the District 3 playoffs despite hosting a pair of 5-0 squads — Bishop McDevitt and Hershey. Each has a valid reason for being frustrated with what went down, but the bottom line was the lack of depth in the Mid-Penn Conference overall and in the Keystone Division in particular hurt both teams. You can argue Bishop McDevitt, a powerhouse program, has a more legitimate beef than the surprise 5-0 Trojans. I don’t see it that way. Each lost out on equal undefeated terms. The other factor here is this is not a normal year, right? The volatility of District 3 power ratings over the first 5-6 weeks is somewhat normal. In a normal year, generally speaking, the best time to start paying attention to the power ratings is after Week 7. It’s calmed down by then. In a shortened year with condensed brackets, this was always going to happen. Hershey missed in Class 5A and finished behind a 4-2 team in the No. 6 hole. That tells you how much the opponent’s weighted winning percentage (OWWP) matters. The four teams that made it in Class 5A are also undefeated. Bishop McDevitt fell victim to a perfect storm in Class 4A with all four teams ahead of them also being undefeated. But the kicker for the Crusaders — and this really hurt — was all of the other teams on their schedule that determine their OWWP lost in Week 5. Guess who plays this week at the Concrete Palace (Hersheypark Stadium)? Bishop McDevitt will pay a visit to Hershey. Isn’t that interesting.

Palmyra notches win No. 1: 

Congratulations to Palmyra for picking up win No. 1 on the season by using three interceptions and scoring 34 points to knock off Mifflin County. The 34 points by the Cougars was more than they had scored in the three previous games combined.

By Andy Shay: 

Each week during the 2020 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.

COVID-19 plays havoc on District 3-6A field:

Welcome to COVID-19 pandemic and District 3 high school football playoffs. So the Harrisburg Cougars found that elusive fourth game they needed to be playoff eligible, bump Wilson out of the four-team Class 6A party and deny Central York a home game. State College stepped in, kudos to the Little Lions for playing the already scheduled game with Harrisburg early right on the deadline. It didn’t matter if Harrisburg won or lost (the Cougars won), they were going to get in with four games. Harrisburg’s victory over State College meant the No. 1 seed when the brackets were officially announced at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Less than five hours after the brackets were made official Harrisburg School District announced a player on the football team, who did not travel to the game Monday as a precaution, had indeed tested positive for COVID-19. That means Harrisburg had to cease all activities until Nov. 5. By District 3 rules for all sports in the pandemic world, once the brackets are set any team that has a COVID-19 issue will automatically forfeit their upcoming contest. So, Harrisburg must forfeit its District 3 Class 6A semifinal to William Allen (York High). It was only five hours after the brackets were announced, but by rule Wilson could not take Harrisburg’s place and enter the playoffs. Look, it’s a strange world we are living in now. We all know that. And the rules and regulations for COVID-19 playoff guidelines were set in August. No complaining now when it looked like in August there was going to be zero football played in 2020. Rules are rules.

Rams favorites in the District 3-6A tournament:

Central Dauphin is still the favorite in Class 6A and will now host Central York. This should be an interesting game. Central York has not fared very well in these big-school playoff games the last two years despite splendid regular seasons. Rams are built for a scrap and 48 minutes of trading paint. We will be there Friday night at the Speedway for this one!

Carlisle’s Sean Smith set school rushing record: 

I hope Carlisle running back Sean Smith plans to take the lads up front out to The Hamilton on High Street for Hotchee Dogs after he set a school record for rushing yards in a game with 333 in a victory over Cedar Cliff. The Colts’ defensive line isn’t a pushover, so Smith clearly had some help. He scored four touchdowns in the 35-28 victory as well. The french fries with gravy aren’t bad, either.

By Michael Bullock: 

Each week during the 2020 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.

Line Mountain carries four-game winning streak into semis

Brandon Carson’s Line Mountain outfit (4-1) may be heading into the District 4 Class 2A semifinals, but the Eagles needed an impressive 11-minute stretch just to reverse some early negatives and power their way into postseason play with a 44-21 defeat of Newport. Down 21-10, Line Mountain gained plenty of momentum with 11 seconds left in the first half when Jacob Feese found Aidan Herb on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Once the second half began, the Eagles were winging, scoring 27 more points to bounce off with a result that an hour or so earlier looked doubtful. Feese added a pair of touchdown runs to the one he opened the game with, finishing with 190 yards on 23 carries for a Line Mountain group that rolled up 510 yards on the ground.

Garret Laudenslager also had a productive night, adding 255 yards on 23 attempts, while Beau Keim chipped in with 65 yards and one score on 10 tries. Cameron Smeltz paced the Eagles defensively with 12 tackles, one for loss and an interception. Dominick Bridi added a handful of stops, 1.5 for loss, one quarterback sack and a fumble recovery. While Line Mountain ran its winning streak to four — all four victories featured offensive bursts of 40 points or more — what’s sitting in front of the Eagles is the powerful Southern Columbia program (7-0) riding a 55-game winning streak that’s won the last three PIAA Class 2A championships. Jim Roth’s Tigers also knocked off Central Columbia, ensuring Line Mountain’s route to the 4-2A semis. Although Line Mountain may need to be more balanced offensively to keep up with a potent Southern side, the Eagles are going to need to be perfect defensively against a big-play attack.

Junior Gavin Garcia is the primary weapon in the Tigers’ arsenal, and no one has slowed him down thus far. Amazingly, Garcia has piled up 1,012 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on just 49 carries. He’s also capable of going yard with a kickoff or a punt. For those wondering what Garcia’s per-carry yardage is, it’s a mere 20.6 yards per attempt. He hardly operates alone, however, as Braeden Wisloski (27-316, 8 TDs) and Wes Barnes (34-359, 3) are averaging 11.7 and 10.6 yards per crack. While Southern hasn’t had to throw much, the Tigers do have capable burners such as Jake Davis and Jake Rose operating on the flanks. Don’t forget that Roth has won 451 games during his sparkling career.

Juniata playing for District 6 gold

Also running hot is a Juniata squad (4-1) that’s won its last four outings heading into a duel with Bellefonte (3-3), a game that will award the victor the District 6/9 Class 4A regional title and thrust the winner into the state playoffs. Racking up just over 500 yards of total offense last weekend — including 400 on the ground – Kurt Condo’s Indians eased past James Buchanan 40-6. Caleb Seeger banked 124 yards and one long touchdown run on just seven attempts, Yaneil Ortiz chipped in 97 yards and two scores on 11 carries, and Jace White powered for 79 yards on six tries. With regular starter Jacob Condo out, Cameron Sweigart came in to run the Juniata attack, completing 5-of-8 passes for 102 yards and one touchdown.

The Indians also were opportunistic, forcing four turnovers as Billy Dressler picked off two passes and Ortiz wheeled 47 yards with a fumble recovery for another score. Bellefonte ran its winning streak to three games, downing Philipsburg-Osceola 35-7 as Jalen Emel rushed for two short touchdowns and caught a 3-yard pass from QB Ethan Rossman for a third. Rossman also rushed for a short touchdown, while Jamal Saunders nearly cracked 100 yards (13-97) on the ground.

Newport and Upper Dauphin set to collide

Trying to side-step its third loss in an eight-day span, Newport (2-2) will venture to Elizabethville for a Mid-Penn Liberty scrap with Upper Dauphin (2-3) that will pit Buffaloes skipper Todd Rothermel against his former defensive coordinator, Kent Smeltz. Both, ironically, are Line Mountain grads. Newport was holding a 21-10 lead at Line Mountain before the host Eagles rattled off 34 unanswered points en route to a 44-21 victory. Three nights later at home, Rothermel’s Buffaloes dropped a 29-7 decision to Susquehanna Township. While Mason Huggins’ 90-yard kickoff return and touchdown runs from Andrew Bates and Thomas Pyle staked the Buffs to their 21-10 lead, Line Mountain unleashed a powerful ground game that chalked up 510 yards. Huggins added four catches for 61 yards and Bates totaled 182 yards (90 rushing/92 passing), yet it wouldn’t be enough against the host Eagles.

Things were not all that promising against Susquehanna Township, as the Buffaloes yielded 429 offensive yards while totaling just 155. In fact, Pyle’s 28-yard strike to Adam Reich accounted for the lone Newport score. Offense wasn’t the problem for Upper Dauphin, which amassed 438 offensive yards and a half-dozen touchdowns yet lost 43-42 to visiting Fleetwood. Christian Snyder totaled 180 yards and two touchdowns on 19 rushing attempts, while Aiden Wiest and quarterback Tyler Cleveland each ran for scores. Cleveland also completed 9-of-12 passes for 104 yards, while Smeltz’s Trojans also benefited from a 70-yard TD pass from Hayden Harner to Kyle Casner. Casner caught three balls for 80 yards for an Upper Dauphin side that played without running back Chance Crawford.

Susquenita, Halifax involved in crossovers

Hustling to find an opponent since Juniata was bound for postseason play, Susquenita (2-3) will visit winless Trinity (0-5) in a Mid-Penn crossover. Scott Acri’s Blackhawks are angling for a third straight victory after downing James Buchanan and Halifax the past two weekends. Last week at home, Susquenita blanked Halifax 29-0 as freshman quarterback Derek Gibney (3-10-0, 35 yards/10 carries for 45 yards) rushed for touchdowns of 3, 7 and 10 yards and threw a scoring pass to classmate Bryce McKee. Gibney also had two potential touchdown passes dropped. Austin Kenny powered the rushing portion of the Blackhawks’ attack, collecting 209 yards on 25 attempts.

Trinity picked up touchdown receptions from Max Schlager and Trey McAuliffe, but that was far from enough as the Shamrocks fell 49-14 to Capital Division rival Middletown. Schlager added 12 tackles. … Halifax (0-4) hopes to halt a 15-game skid at home against Big Spring (2-3). Micah Deitrich passed for 128 yards (14-for-34, 2 interceptions) in the Wildcats’ loss to Susquenita. Seven of Deitrich’s completions were to the brothers Enders, Bryce (5-50) and Carter (2-27). Ryan Stahl added four receptions for 30 yards, while Judah Miller totaled three catches for 21 yards. Big Spring will arrive in Halifax hoping to erase the 65-30 loss the Bulldogs suffered at Steel-High while conceding 514 offensive yards — including the 396 piled up by the Rollers’ freshman QB Alex Erby (22-for-30, 5 TDs). Dillon Wakefield was a bright spot for Big Spring, rushing 13 times for 109 yards and one score. He also caught one pass for 26 yards. QB Jack Shulenberger passed for 115 yards and one touchdown, but also scored on a short run.

By Michael Bullock: 

Herb bags another record as Vikings rally

Suffering through a lackluster opening half — Williams Valley netted just 6 yards during this stretch — Bryce Herb and his Vikings teammates found a way following the break as they rescued a 35-28 victory over backyard playmates Tri-Valley. Just 1-for-10 in the first two quarters, Herb targeted four of his eight second-half throws for 90 of his 96 yards and three touchdowns as Tim Savage’s club banked its fifth consecutive victory and moved closer to the top seed in the District 11 Class 1A playoffs. Two of Herb’s touchdown aerials went to Jake Herman (4-79), the second enabling the 6-foot-1 senior to move into the top spot on Williams Valley’s all-time passing chart — one rung above his father, Paul Herb. Bryce Herb added a 17-yard throw to Brady Evans in the fourth quarter that snapped a 28-all deadlock and propelled the Vikings to the Schuylkill 2 result.  added 109 yards and one rushing touchdown, all after moving to tailback at the break, for the resilient Vikings. While Engle (14), Jackson Yoder (18) and Isaac Whiteash (12) combined for 44 tackles, Engle, Whiteash, Herman and Logan Williard picked off Jonas McGrath passes during the 48-minute exercise. Savage’s group also registered five tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback sacks. Up next for Williams Valley (6-1, 6-0) is a trip to suburban Tamaqua for a dustup with a struggling Marian Catholic side (1-6, 1-4) that last weekend dropped its fourth game in a row. Limited to 79 offensive yards while yielding 518, the Colts suffered a 25-0 setback to Minersville. Marian proved susceptible through the air as Minersville freshman Connor Schwalm threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns against the Colts’ defensive group.

Tri-Valley hoping to bounce back immediately

Despite authoring an impressive first half that had Tri-Valley sitting fairly comfortably on a 21-7 cushion — Tri-Valley’s defense conceded a mere 6 yards — Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs wound up falling 35-28 at Williams Valley. Jonas McGrath completed 10 of his 17 pass attempts for 212 yards and two touchdowns, but he also ran for a third score. Unfortunately, McGrath was picked off four times by Williams Valley linebackers and defensive backs. McGrath hooked up with Chase Herb for TDs covering 33 and 42 yards, while the 6-3, 215-pound Herb added a third score on the ground while rushing 21 times for 105 yards. Freshman Layne Yoder caught four McGrath aerials for 57 yards, while Caden Richards snared two tosses for 37 yards and Herb wound up with three catches for 78 yards. Richards had yet another big outing defensive, accumulating 12 tackles, three more than sophomore defensive end Jake Scheib. Up next for Sampson’s Bulldogs (3-1, 3-1) is a visit to Schuylkill 2 entry Panther Valley (2-5, 2-3). Panther Valley halted a four-game skid last weekend by defeating Shenandoah Valley 34-6.

Pine Grove chasing success in regular-season finale

Sitting at No. 5 in the District 11 Class 3A power rankings — and just behind Tamaqua — Pine Grove hopes to keep its postseason hopes alive by dealing the host Blue Devils (4-3, 2-3) a Schuylkill 2 setback. Frank Gaffney’s Cardinals dropped a 28-20 decision to Lehighton last weekend, even though Ayden Ney rushed for 156 yards — 99 came on a length-of-the-field touchdown run — on 12 carries and Brody Robinson added 62 lengths and two touchdowns on 11 touches. Sophomore Mason Kroh made his second straight start at quarterback, completing six of his 14 passes for 78 yards. Kroh, however, was picked off three times. Shea Morgan continued his impressive work on the flanks, snaring five Kroh aerials for 57 yards. Robinson was a factor defensively with his 19 stops, three more than Morgan and Colin Ibarra.

Standings: 

Andy Shay: Week 5: 15-6  Overall: 74-23

Andy Sandrik: Week 5: 14-7  Overall: 70-27

Jake Adams: Week 5: 15-6  Overall: 71-26  

Geoff Morrow: Week 5: 15-6 Overall: 69-28

District 4-6 Playoffs

Class 6A Championship: Altoona vs. Williamsport, at Bald Eagle Area HS, 7

Andy Shay: Altoona 36, Williamsport 28: No late-game heroics here for Altoona. They have played a quality schedule and have momentum on their side after edging State College. Bottom line, Altoona is the better team.

Jake Adams: Altoona 33, Williamsport 24: Read GMo’s preview first. Now come back. I, too, have had bad luck in the space between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. But the Mountain Lions have not this year, and the former Commonwealth afterthought is now making a solid postseason run.

Andy Sandrik: Altoona 38, Williamsport 21: I remember speaking with Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer Jr. for a preseason interview, and I got off the phone believing that the Mountain Lions had a bright future. I didn’t realize that bright future would become a reality this season, though. 

Geoff Morrow: Altoona 30, Williamsport 20: Those who know me well know my not-so-glorious relationship with Altoona (the town). However, I am beaming with ‘Tuna Pride this week after accurately picking the Mountain Lions to take out State College last week. I will high-five myself — and then probably fall off Horseshoe Curve.

District 3 Playoffs

Class 6A Semifinal: No. 4 York at No. 1 Harrisburg; Harrisburg forfeits (COVID-19)

Andy Shay: We live in a COVID-19 world, and the pandemic is still in charge. Harrisburg earned the right to be the No. 1 seed, but a confirmed case of the virus on their team should eliminate them from playing this week. I have zero problem with the District 3 policy in terms of the COVID-19 rules and regulations they adopted for the playoffs in August. Which means adding another team, even five or so hours after the brackets were finalized and the field is set, doesn’t fly with me. It’s a raw deal for Wilson. But the Bulldogs can keep playing football for a few more games and enjoy the rest of their season. Remember, in August, none of this looked possible.

Jake Adams: My sympathies to the players from both Harrisburg and Wilson. They are the ones most hurt by the events of the last few days. It’s a tough break for all of them. But it’s unsettling, immature and downright pathetic adults are throwing fits in some corners of District 3 over a system that was approved before games began now not going their way. Adults need to use this time to sit their players down and teach them that sometimes this is how life goes, and that at the end of the day, a global pandemic can and will upset the balance of life we have grown accustomed to. We preach that sports can teach how to handle adversity. Well, practice it.

Andy Sandrik: COVID-19 game cancellations were an expected outcome this year, but thanks to the creativity and flexibility — not to mention social media savvy — of programs and athletic directors, the show was able to go on. With that said, I don’t know why District 3 can’t just slide Wilson in to play. They can still do it. Right now. Yeah, I get that “rules are the rules,” but let’s use a little bit of common sense here. Can we just scrap the playoffs and let the fans vote for Thanksgiving Day “bowl” matchups? 

Geoff Morrow: If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that some rules — at least in the world of sports — can be broken. Look what MLB, the NHL and the NBA did to ensure games eventually continued. The world didn’t end. The Lightning, Lakers and Dodgers are no less championship-worthy than anybody who won in 2019 or 1995. Rules were also adjusted to ensure high school athletes were able to compete this fall, and it’s mostly worked out OK. Nothing is perfect, obviously, but we’re learning it doesn’t have to be. Which brings me to this: I feel for Harrisburg’s program, but I understand and respect the decisions made to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. So I don’t have a problem with the Cougars’ forfeit. Those are the breaks. But the unwillingness to slide Wilson back into the mix, especially because the Harrisburg news came so quickly after the brackets were set, doesn’t quite fit for me. 

Class 6A Semifinal: No. 3 Central York at No. 2 Central Dauphin, 7

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 31, Central York 20: Winning a playoff game is a huge hurdle for Central York to clear. They have been killing cats all season in impressive fashion. At this level, the last two years it has been a poor showing for the Panthers. Even if they put up a fight, the Rams have precious few weaknesses and know how to grind for 48 minutes.

Jake Adams: Central Dauphin 42, Central York 21: The only way the Panthers pull off the upset is if the Rams I saw in the first half of the Carlisle game show up for an entire 48 minutes. I don’t expect that will happen.

Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 45, Central York 21: Listen, I won’t be surprised if Central York makes this a game, but don’t forget the Panthers were in a very similar situation last year and got pasted 47-14 by the Harrisburg Cougars.

Geoff Morrow: Central Dauphin 33, Central York 22: The very talented Panthers have absolutely destroyed all foes this year. But just remember, all six of those opponents were big-school York County programs. This is a much different league, literally and figuratively, which Mid-Penn Commonwealth alumnus and CY coach Gerry Yonchiuk knows well.

Class 3A Semifinal: No. 4 Bermudian Springs at No. 1 Middletown, 7

Andy Shay: Middletown 30, Bermudian Springs 14: Both squads will want to pound the ball and set the tone and tempo. Blue Raiders have bigger, stronger and faster backs to get that done. The physical advantage is what separates these two in my book.

Jake Adams: Middletown 38, Bermudian Springs 16: This is still the Blue Raiders’ bracket until someone says otherwise. That will not be the Eagles this week.

Andy Sandrik: Middletown 35, Bermudian Springs 17: This Middletown team seems a little more vulnerable than the state finals squads of years past, but this is still Middletown we’re talking about. Something tells me the Blue Raiders weather an early storm and pull away after halftime. 

Geoff Morrow: Middletown 42, Bermudian Springs 14: The Blue Raiders had little trouble with the Eagles in the 2017 and ‘18 playoffs. I don’t expect much to be different this year.

Class 1A Championship: No. 2 Steel-High at No. 1 Delone Catholic, 7

Andy Shay: Steel-High 49, Delone Catholic 28: You just have to give the Rollers 40-50 points because that’s what they do. Delone defense will present a challenge, but the balance of diversity of the Steel-High offense is a LOT to take on as a defense. Rollers getting off the field on third down will be a key.

Jake Adams: Steel-High 54, Delone Catholic 28: Something tells me the Rollers find another gear this week and turn in one of District 3’s most lopsided title wins of the year.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 38, Delone Catholic 22: Yes, DC is unbeaten, but there aren’t many big schools — let alone 1A programs — that can hold serve with the Rollers.

Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 41, Delone Catholic 29: Third meeting for these programs since September 2019, and the first two battles were high-scoring and competitive. No reason to doubt we see another. Squires lost the regular-season tilt last year, then exacted revenge in the title game. The pattern tells me it’s Steel-High’s turn.

District 4 Playoffs

Class 2A Semifinals: No. 4 Line Mountain at No. 1 Southern Columbia, 7 

Andy Shay: Southern Columbia 54, Line Mountain 7: Making this pick has nothing to do with Line Mountain. They are just next on the list for the powerful, skilled and athletic Tigers.

Jake Adams: Southern Columbia 55, Line Mountain 7: David, meet Goliath. Goliath brought a really big club. Good luck.

Andy Sandrik: Southern Columbia 52, Line Mountain 7: All good things come to an end, and make no mistake about it, Line Mountain’s season was a good thing. 

Geoff Morrow: Southern Columbia 49, Line Mountain 14: Since the Eagles triumphed over Southern in 2007, the Tigers have won nine straight in this series, with seven of those in the playoffs. The last two meetings were a combined 104-0.

District 6-8-9 Class 4A Regional Championship: Juniata vs. Bellefonte, at Altoona HS, 7

Andy Shay: Juniata 29, Bellefonte 25:  Great matchup between these D6 teams. Bellefonte has worked back to .500 after a strange 0-3 start, mainly working the ground game to the tune of about 245 yards per game. Juniata, with QB Jacob Condo running point, has a real shot to win here. The Indians have to get Caleb Seeger and Yaniel Ortiz going first.

Jake Adams: Juniata 31, Bellefonte 22: Seems like the Indians can kick it even when QB Jacob Condo is out. Junior Cameron Sweigart had little problem in last week’s blowout win over James Buchanan. 

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 28, Bellefonte 24: Let’s be real. This has been a trash year for all of us. But, man, the football gods have been smiling on Juniata all season long. I think the Indians keep the magic going for another week.

Geoff Morrow: Bellefonte 33, Juniata 21: I could be wrong here, but the Red Raiders seem to be on a heckuva roll right now. Then again, the Indians won the last meeting between these schools by a 50-0 final. But that was nine years ago. If it goes OT, though, I switch my pick to Juniata.

Week 6 Mid-Penn Regular Season

Cumberland Valley at Spring-Ford, 7

Andy Shay: Spring-Ford 21, Cumberland Valley 10: Once you’ve struggled this many games to score more than two touchdowns in a game, that’s not something that’s going to be fixed.

Jake Adams: Spring-Ford 28, Cumberland Valley 7: Eagles pick up a game after CD qualified for the playoffs, and the result is not likely to be much different. 

Andy Sandrik: Spring-Ford 20, Cumberland Valley 3: Instead of the Rams of CD, the Eagles get the Rams of Spring-Ford. CV is trying to get its offense to shift out of neutral, but it doesn’t help that their opponent is allowing just over five points per contest.

Geoff Morrow: Spring-Ford 28, Cumberland Valley 0: Not your typical CV season, not your typical CV result. Against the unbeaten Rams, who haven’t allowed a point since Oct. 2, it’s a lot to ask to find some type of rhythm.

CD East at Carlisle, 7

Andy Shay: Carlisle 31, CD East 7: Thundering Herd offense has been on a tear for eight quarters, and nothing indicates that will slow down here. Running game is running hot for Carlisle. CD East’s defense is tough, but staying fired up on D when you know the margin of error is almost nothing is tough.

Jake Adams: Carlisle 35, CD East 20: You know your o-line is running in high gear when your running back breaks a school record with more than 330 yards. Holy moly. What’s Sean Smith got for an encore this week?

Andy Sandrik: Carlisle 42, CD East 25: Well then, Carlisle, welcome to the grown-ups table. Now that the Herd know what they are capable of, I’m not sure what scrappy CD East can do to stop them. 

Geoff Morrow: Carlisle 27, CD East 6: Panthers haven’t hit double digits yet this season. Herd, meanwhile, are averaging a touchdown per quarter over their last two games.

Red Land at Twin Valley, 7

Andy Shay: Red Land 21, Twin Valley 13: Patriots have a winnable game here. And when presented that scenario this season, they have performed pretty well.

Jake Adams: Red Land 28, Twin Valley 14: Boldly predicting the Patriots get a pick-6 in this one. 

Andy Sandrik: Red Land 25, Twin Valley 17: Red Land’s season has been loss-win-loss-win-loss, so that means the Patriots are in for a ‘W’ this week, right?

Geoff Morrow: Red Land 20, Twin Valley 14: My parents live in Red Land territory, whereas my brother and his family live within paper-airplane distance of TVHS. The chances of any of them having any idea this game is taking place? Zero point zero.

Bishop McDevitt at Hershey, 7

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 35, Hershey 7: Couple of undefeated Keystone Division squads who ended up on the wrong side of the District 3 playoff COVID-19 plexiglass for making the field. It’s a brutal pill to swallow, so we’ll see here who is able to move on faster.

Jake Adams: Bishop McDevitt 45, Hershey 14: Would’ve liked to see what kind of noise the Crusaders could’ve brought this postseason. And Hershey. But alas. Now both teams need to figure out who wants the pride of being division champ more.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 45, Hershey 17: I distinctly remember a time late in my senior season where I was upset and emotional because of the realization that winning five of our last six games wasn’t going to be enough to get in the playoffs. We were 5-5. I can’t imagine what’s going on in the heads of the Crusaders and Trojans, who haven’t lost a game all season.

Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 44, Hershey 14: I can appreciate the frustration of missing the playoffs when there’s not a single mark in your loss column. However, let’s not forget that the four playoff teams ahead of both of these programs in their respective classifications are also undefeated, too. It’s just bad luck for these two. Welcome to 2020.

Cedar Cliff at Mifflin County, 7

Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 35, Mifflin County 7: Too much talent and pride on the Colts defense for them to get taken out behind the woodshed for the second week in row. A victory for Cliff is all about its defense and how it performs here.

Jake Adams: Cedar Cliff 35, Mifflin County 14: No way the Colts’ d-line takes that butt-whooping from the Herd offense and doesn’t immediately turn around and take it out on the Huskies. 

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 35, Mifflin County 21: This has been a bummer of a season for the Colts, but if they take care of business here, they’ll take on Red Land next week with the chance to finish with a winning record.

Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 43, Mifflin County 20: Feels like I should have picked a 35-28 score, but I’m rebelling against this particular pattern.

Lower Dauphin at Palmyra, 7

Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 14, Palmyra 10: This is a toss-up game now because the Cougars are in a much better place after getting a win last week. The Falcons played their best game of the season against Hershey and lost. Another week of executing at that same level, and it ends this losing streak.

Jake Adams: Lower Dauphin 13, Palmyra 10: This is not a shot against the Cougars. I sometimes just like picking the team with the two-year losing streak. No group of players deserves to deal with consecutive winless seasons.

Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 17, Lower Dauphin 14: I just can’t bring myself to trust the LD offense to generate enough points here. In my mind, it’s going to take a defensive TD — or at least a crucial turnover — for the Falcons to gain the upper hand.

Geoff Morrow: Lower Dauphin 16, Palmyra 13: Falcons end their losing streak at 15 games and taste victory for the first time in over two years, though it will not be easy.

Shippensburg at Greencastle-Antrim, 7

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 26, Greencastle-Antrim 20: Whatever the Greyhounds were searching for to start the season they have found. Still a tight squeeze as the Blue Devils are streaky and can play well in stretches.

Jake Adams: Shippensburg 35, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Are the Greyhounds hitting their stride? Looks like they might be. That doesn’t bode well for the Blue Devils.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 38, Greencastle-Antrim 21: It’s a shame that the Greyhounds don’t get an entire season to iron out the wrinkles, or else we might be talking about Eric Foust’s boys making a run for the division and/or playoffs. 

Geoff Morrow: Shippensburg 24, Greencastle-Antrim 16: Two teams going in opposite directions in terms of winning and losing streaks. Also, did you know the Greyhounds have won nine straight against the Blue Devils dating to the 2011 regular season?

East Pennsboro at Mechanicsburg, 7

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 35, East Pennsboro 14: Both teams have been able to keep the scoreboard rolling on their side this season; the big difference I see is the Wildcats have shown the chops to score in myriad ways. East Pennsboro secondary is solid, but this will be a major test.

Jake Adams: Mechanicsburg 38, East Pennsboro 21: Sure, the Panthers lost to Shippensburg last week, but they’ve consistently put up points. Wildcats get their toughest test of the season here before the 5A semifinals next week.

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 45, East Pennsboro 14: The worst part about getting that rare third-down stop against Micah Brubaker and the Mechanicsburg offense is that your offense then faces the unenviable task of trying to produce points in bunches against the tenacious Wildcats’ defense.

Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 28, East Pennsboro 14: Wildcats haven’t played any “automatic outs” this season and have still been hammering teams. And the defense has been decidedly better over the last three weeks. This is an uphill climb for the capable but inconsistent Panthers.

Northern at Waynesboro, 7

Andy Shay: Northern 28, Waynesboro 14: A couple tight squeezes in a row for the Polar Bears, and answering the bell in tight spots shows mental toughness. Still not convinced their defense can be a difference maker in a game. Indians’ Wing-T offense can be tricky.

Jake Adams: Northern 35, Waynesboro 14: A shame we have to wait until after the playoffs to find out if Northern or Mechanicsburg is the Colonial’s best team. P-Bears get a warmup before the 4A semis.

Andy Sandrik: Northern 28, Waynesboro 21: The Polar Bears are already locked into the postseason, so they have the luxury of resting players, if they choose. The only thing a Northern loss will do here is make the McDevitt folks about a million times angrier than they already are.

Geoff Morrow: Northern 25, Waynesboro 21: The boys from Dillsburg haven’t exactly been dominant on the scoreboard, but showing how to win close games means something. At least until you run into a playoff hammer.

West Perry at Susquehanna Township, 7

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 27, West Perry 20: Indians have cleared some hurdles after COVID-19 forced them to start, stop, start again then stop once more. It’s been a crazy season for a lot of teams. The little details are starting to show up for the crew from Elmerton Avenue.

Jake Adams: Susquehanna Township 28, West Perry 16: Having seen both teams against Mechanicsburg this year, I can say they are both hardly boring. Mustangs play with a frenetic energy, and the Indians do have some pop on offense, especially on the ground. That run game proves the difference here. Sandrik beat me to the score.

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 28, West Perry 16: It’s taken a few games, but I think that young talent on Township has grown a little bit. I think that’s enough to hold off a feisty WP squad at home. 

Geoff Morrow: Susquehanna Township 21, West Perry 20: Both teams coming off their first victories of the season. For their respective coaches, I expect both will battle exceptionally well for another taste.

Big Spring at Halifax, 7 

Andy Shay: Big Spring 39, Halifax 13: When your offense has been pretty consistent all season in terms of production on the scoreboard, that’s a huge advantage for the Bulldogs.

Jake Adams: Big Spring 34, Halifax 12: Schedule juggling hits the Bulldogs, who get to recover from last week’s loss to Steel-High by turning around and thumping the visiting Wildcats.

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 44, Halifax 16: I’m a little perplexed with how Halifax’s quick-strike offense got completely shut down by Susquenita last week. Bulldogs will have a chance to put on a fireworks show on the road. 

Geoff Morrow: Big Spring 39, Halifax 14: A few years back, the Bulldogs flirted with joining the Tri-Valley League. Well, that didn’t happen, and now the TVL is a memory. But this provides a peek of what that might have looked like for the football program!

Newport at Upper Dauphin, 7

Andy Shay: Newport 33, Upper Dauphin 16: Buffaloes have been roughed up since returning from a COVID-19 siesta of a couple weeks. Chance to turn that around here.

Jake Adams: Upper Dauphin 28, Newport 24: Looks like the closest thing to a toss-up we have in the Mid-Penn this weekend.

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 28, Newport 21: I think this is a one-possession game for the majority of the contest, but I just feel like the Trjoans are trending a little bit higher than the Buffs right now. Had it not been for a one-point loss to Fleetwood, UD would be coming into this on a three-game winning streak.

Geoff Morrow: Upper Dauphin 38, Newport 34: They can’t really stop anybody, but knowing how to score points will come in handy for the Trojans this week against a Buffaloes team that is playing its second game in five days.

Susquenita at Trinity, 7

Andy Shay: Susquenita 26, Trinity 14: Kudos to each squad for adding another game to the docket. Any game in 2020 is worth playing. Couple of struggling teams, and it just feels like ‘Nita has shown more pop on offense, and that will play a role in this one.

Jake Adams: Susquenita 28, Trinity 14: The COVID-go-round scheduling changes strike again. Trinity, dropped by banged-up Camp Hill before the Lions play in next week’s District 3 Class 2A championship, now tackle the Blackhawks. ‘Nita has struggled, but they’ve got enough in the tank here.

Andy Sandrik: Susquenita 21, Trinity 14: Yeah, I think this is a winnable game for Trinity, but the ‘Rocks are still looking to find that second gear that Susquenita has already discovered.

Geoff Morrow: Susquenita 23, Trinity 16: Might not seem like much at first glance, but the Shamrocks took a significant step forward last week vs. Middletown. Is it enough to set them up for their first win this week? I don’t think so, but I wouldn’t be completely shocked.

Not playing this week: State College, Chambersburg, Camp Hill, James Buchanan

Week 8 Schuylkill League Regular Season 

Pine Grove at Tamaqua, 7

Andy Shay: Tamaqua 32, Pine Grove 14: Just feels like right now Pine Grove doesn’t quite have enough offensive firepower to keep up with Tamaqua for the long haul.

Jake Adams: Tamaqua 30, Pine Grove 20: What GMo said.

Andy Sandrik: Tamaqua 28, Pine Grove 21: The Cards enter this game as road underdogs, but they’ve been playing better of late. Tamaqua should be a few steps ahead, but I think this game is closer than most people think. 

Geoff Morrow: Tamaqua 25, Pine Grove 19: So, follow this: Tamaqua gets smoked three weeks back by Blue Mountain. A week later, Blue Mountain is crushed by Lehighton. Last week, Lehighton knocks off Pine Grove. Which means, this week, the Cardinals sweep the Cubs in six. Wait. Hold on. I am now totally lost …

Williams Valley at Marian Catholic, 7

Andy Shay: Williams Valley 47, Marian Catholic 7: Scoring points has been a real problem for MC this season, scoring seven or fewer points in six of its seven games. Putting points on the board is not a problem for the Vikings.

Jake Adams: Williams Valley 45, Marian Catholic 0: Let’s not get cute here.

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 49, Marian Catholic 0: I think the most fun part about following WV this season is that the Vikings don’t necessarily deliver first-round knockouts. They get punched in the mouth and knocked into the ropes, yet still come out of the ring with their arm raised. Finally, WV gets a chance to breathe. 

Geoff Morrow: Williams Valley 47, Marian Catholic 0: Marian has scored seven points in its last four games. The Vikings are going to win this.

Tri-Valley at Panther Valley, 7 

Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 28, Panther Valley 14: Coming of a tough loss in a very good game with former TVL mate Williams Valley means the Bulldogs are in rebound mode. PV snapped its four-game slide and will be feeling good about itself.

Jake Adams: Tri-Valley 30, Panther Valley 15: Because I don’t endorse animal fighting, who wins in a tug-o-war? Bulldog or a Panther? What about Chase Herb plus a bulldog vs. a Panther?

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 33, Panther Valley 17: I don’t care if there are actual Panthers overrunning the streets of Lansford, but naming the Panther Valley mascot a “Panther” is the laziest choice I’ve seen since high school, when I picked “Andrew” as my confirmation name.

Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 39, Panther Valley 13: Bounce-back mode engaged for the Bulldogs. Also, why is everything a valley? We need a desert or something up in the Skook. Mix it up, y’all!

SATURDAY’S GAMES

District 3 Playoffs

Class 3A Semifinal: No. 3 Boiling Springs at No. 2 Wyomissing, 1

Andy Shay: Wyomissing 28, Boiling Springs 19: Wing-T vs. Wing-T. Whichever converts the TE waggle better wins. I’m joking, of course. Spartans have depth at those skill positions and come at you in waves. Physically, the Bubblers are up for this challenge, and I expect them to be in the game. Wyo schedule is the worst in District 3, so they haven’t yet played a competitive game.

Jake Adams: Wyomissing 35, Boiling Springs 20: The Spartans have allowed just 19 points, but it comes against a suspect schedule. Still, this is a team with serious playoff experience as the reigning district champs going up against a group that has had a fantastic season. Don’t expect the Bubblers to go down quietly.

Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 35, Wyomissing 21: Boiling Springs has played two strides ahead of my predictions all season (and 898 strides ahead of my Camp Hill pick last week), so I’m talking the Bubblers to march out of Wyomissing with a decisive signature win. 

Geoff Morrow: Wyomissing 22, Boiling Springs 15: Against admittedly weak competition, the Spartans have posted four shutouts. And knowing what to do against a Wing-T is part of the players’ DNA. I believe this will be very competitive, but Wyo’s experience probably matters.