While Pine Grove closed out its 10-game schedule last weekend with a 25-0 conquest of Columbia, the Cardinals dispatched a trio of seniors to the next level or elsewhere, their arms stuffed with an assortment of school records. We’ll start with wide receiver/defensive back Shea Morgan, who owns career (117), single-season (64) and single-game (10) marks for receptions. The explosive Morgan also set a single-season record for receiving yardage (1,019). QB/DB Josh Leininger claimed single-season records for passing yards (1,470), completions (93) and pass attempts (188), as well as single-game marks for completions (16) and passing yardage (264). And despite missing two games, Leininger’s passing yardage was part of Pine Grove’s single-season total (1,612). LB/RB Brody Robinson left his imprint on the Pine Grove history books by establishing a single-game mark with 26 tackles and a single-season record with 144 stops. Well done, guys. As for the season finale, Leininger rushed for 119 yards and one score, while Robinson added 67 ground yards and two touchdowns for Frank Gaffney’s club (4-6). Leininger (11-22-1) also passed for 146 yards, while Robinson’s 10 tackles paced the Cardinals. Morgan also made his presence felt, catching nine Leininger passes for 96 yards and rushing once for 10 yards. He also swiped a pair of Columbia pass attempts.
Williams Valley-Tri-Valley put on hold
Striking just days before they were scheduled to play the District 11 Class 1A championship game, a COVID-19 flare-up put the backyard scrap between Williams Valley (8-1) and Tri-Valley (5-1) on hold. As a result, these feisty rivals will try to play Nov. 27 at North Schuylkill High School. A noon kick is planned. While Williams Valley thrilled the U.S. 209 corridor by rallying for a 35-28 triumph in the regular-season meeting — the Vikings trailed 21-7 at the break — Tim Savage’s club downed Tri-Valley in last year’s 11-A final. Williams Valley is carrying a seven-game winning streak, a 27-22 win over Mahanoy Area stretching that run and propelling the Vikings into yet another 11-A championship. Tri-Valley has been the adversary in the last three 11-A title games, claiming District gold in 2018. Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs fired up the Hegins-Valley View Metroplex by downing Nativity 28-14 in the 11-A semifinals at home.
Each week, our crew will dish out ‘Game Balls” to athletes who turned in impressive performances across our coverage area. Here are our selections for Week of November 12-14.
Jake Adams’s Game Balls
Onasis Neely, RB, Temple: I don’t care about my homerism here, I’m picking the East Pennsboro kid who just scored his first collegiate touchdown Saturday. My Owls lost their fourth straight this weekend (they’re 1-5, still better than Penn State) to UCF 38-13, but Neely finished with three carries for 12 yards and a 5-yard TD. Neely’s the first player I covered to play for my alma mater. T for Temple U!
James Anderson, WR-DB, Mechanicsburg: The Wildcats have done two things very well all season: toss the pigskin around to various receivers and pick off passes as if it’s going out of style. “Peanut” Anderson has been active all season but had quite the game in Mechanicsburg’s 40-20 win at CD East, corralling five passes for 126 yards while intercepting a pair of passes. He and the Wildcats now get a home tilt Thursday against rival Northern, a game they should win in the same fashion to claim the Mid-Penn Colonial title.
Andy Shay’s Game Balls
Mehki Flowers, WR-DB, Steel-High: When you are a big-time FBS recruit, the game is on the line and the ball comes your way with no time left on the clock, making the play is expected. It’s not quite that easy as we all know, right? Flowers made it look easy on the big stage and snagged the 6-yard touchdown pass to win the game for the Rollers after it appeared they lost at the buzzer. A penalty on Old Forge on the prior play of the PIAA Class 1A quarterfinal gave Flowers a second chance for glory. Flowers also had an 85-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. You need your big-time players to deliver in tight spots on big stages!
Nick Wallaesa, RB, Palmyra: The Cougars have come on strong after a rough start to get better the second half of the season and were rewarded with their third win this season by taking out playoff qualifier Northern. Wallaesa had 11 carries for 63 yards, nothing special. He gets a game ball for putting the contest out of reach for the Polar Bears with a 20-yard TD run on the first possession of the second half that gave the Cougars a 21-10 lead. On Palmyra’s next possession he tossed an 87-yard catch-and-run TD pass to Gage Miller on a trick play that pushed the cushion to 27-10. Two plays in the second half turned this game on edge and in the Cougars’ favor.
Adam Kulikowski Game Balls
Alex Erby, Quarterback, Steel-High: The Kid delivered. Again. Friday’s PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal became an instant classic for Roller Nation after Steel-High overcame a two-score deficit with 2:47 left to advance to the semifinals. The freshman field general did his part in spades, orchestrating back-to back touchdown drives capped by Mehki Flowers 6-yard touchdown catch on an untimed final play. Talk about cool under pressure. Erby finished the evening 17-29 for 227 yards and four touchdowns.
Gage Miller, Wide receiver, Palmyra: The Cougars earned its third win in four games Friday night against Northern York, 27-21. Miller, a senior, played a critical role in what could be the final time he suited up in orange and black, hauling in an 87-yard touchdown pass from running back Nick Wallaesa. The touchdown gave Chris Pope’s Cougars a 27-7 cushion in the third quarter. Miller finished the night with three grabs for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also chipped in four tackles– one for a loss–on defense.
Michael Bullock’s Game Balls
Dominick Bridi, OL/DL, Line Mountain: One can look at this as a career achievement award or something that symbolizes season-long excellence, but the 6-1, 215-pounder could impact a game by opening space along the offensive front or harassing QBs by coming off the edge. On Friday night, in his final high school game, Bridi and his pals up front were instrumental in a Line Mountain attack that rushed for 488 yards and five TDs in a 42-34 victory over Mifflinburg. And while it looked odd seeing No. 74 line up in the O-backfield, Bridi even lugged the ball one time before the night was over.
Kyle Casner, WR/DB, Upper Dauphin: Casner uncorked a memorable outing in his high school sendoff, catching seven passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns in UDA’s 32-20 setback against visiting Big Spring. Casner, who was part of Millersburg’s District 3 Class A championship squad in 2019 before that school’s football program became part of a cooperative arrangement with Upper Dauphin, also recorded three tackles and broke up one Big Spring pass attempt.
Ryan Stahl, WR/DB, Halifax: Stahl offered up his typically versatile output in his final high school outing, catching seven passes for 92 yards and rushing three times for 17 more in the Wildcats’ 49-36 loss to Newport. The 6-1 senior also piled up 74 yards in kickoff returns, defensed one pass and registered eight tackles from his spot in the Halifax secondary.
Welcome to 4th Down Magazine’s vote for Player of the Week presented by Crown Trophy of Harrisburg (in Lemoyne).
The nominees for the week are listed below. Vote for the player 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.
Cam Ochs, WR, Camp Hill: Ochs had the easiest time for a Lions offense that struggled with turnovers during a 26-14 loss to Bishop McDevitt (Wyncote) in the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals. The senior hauled in eight of QB Daniel Shuster’s 17 completions for 162 yards, scoring the game’s first TD 2:38 in on a 46-yard strike.
Alex Sauve, DB, Cumberland Valley: It wasn’t quite a walk-off, but Sauve’s pick-6 in the final minutes of Friday’s win might as well have been. The freshman stepped in front of a Cedar Cliff pass with 4:22 left in the game and took it 30 yards to the house to secure the Eagles’ 24-20 victory. He also finished with a handful of tackles for a defense that forced two INTs.
Micah Brubaker, QB, Mechanicsburg: The Brubaker Bandwagon only runs a few more weeks, so enjoy the ride while you still can. He churned out 123 rushing yards (15 carries) and 227 passing (12-of-19) in the Wildcats’ 40-20 win at CD East, picking up Mechanicsburg’s seventh win. Brubaker threw passes of 13, 39 and 3 yards and ran two in from 64 and 2 yards out.
James Anderson, WR-DB, Mechanicsburg: Anderson was all over the field during Thursday’s 40-20 road win over CD East, recording five catches for 126 yards (both game highs) while picking off two Panthers passes in another big night for a ‘Cats defensive backfield that recorded four picks. Anderson also added a pair of tackles.
Nick Wallaesa, RB-S, Palmyra: Wallaesa contributed in more than a few ways during the Cougars’ 27-24 win over Northern. The senior scored back-to-back touchdowns in the third quarter, beginning with a 20-yard run. He then hit Gage Miller for an 87-yard bomb to make it 27-10. Wallaesa finished with 66 rushing yards, 7 receiving and the lone pass completion. He also had four tackles.
Alex Erby, QB, Steel-High: The freshman continues to impress in new ways. This time, Erby led a pair of scoring drives in the final four minutes to lead a stunning comeback in the PIAA Class 1A quarterfinals, topping Old Forge 39-36. Erby hit Mehki Flowers for a 6-yard TD on an untimed down to win the game, 2:47 after his 40-yard TD pass got the game within a score. Erby finished 17-of-29 for 227 yards and four scores.
Mehki Flowers, WR-S-KR, Steel-High: Someone had to catch the game-winning pass from Erby, so of course it was the electric Flowers. The junior toe-tapped in the back of the end zone for the winning TD with zero ticks left to beat Old Forge 39-36 in the state quarterfinals. It was another big night for Flowers, who scored on an 85-yard kick return and had four catches for 58 stripes.
Nehemiah Howell, RB, State College: The senior scored four times in the Little Lions’ season-ending 45-21 win over Hollidaysburg. Howell caught a 28-yard TD pass to kick off his night, then rushed for scores of 68, 9 and 16 yards. He did it on just six carries for 98 yards and the lone reception.
Bryce Enders, RB-LB, Halifax: The Wildcats lost, but Enders put on a show, carrying the rock 23 times for 250 yards and four scores (3, 41, 4, 32) while catching four passes for 55 stripes in a 49-36 loss to Newport. Enders averaged 10.9 yards per carry and added 14 tackles and a two-point conversion. Second straight week that the high-octane Enders cracked the 250-yard mark and scored four times.
Andrew Bates, QB-LB, Newport: Bates established a single-game mark for Newport quarterbacks by rushing 19 times for 210 yards and touchdowns covering 42, 57 and 15 yards in a 49-36 conquest of Halifax. The 6-3 junior also completed six of his 11 pass attempts for 112 yards and a 23-yard score to Will Davis late in the first half that had the Buffs up 35-20.
Thomas Pyle, RB-LB, Newport: Matching the career-best yardage count he pocketed merely four days earlier, Pyle rushed 23 times for 161 yards and scored three times as the Buffaloes wheeled past Halifax 49-36. Pyle ripped off touchdown runs of 8 and 45 yards as Newport built a quick, first-half lead, then added a 23-yard score in the third quarter.
Garret Laudenslager, RB-LB, Line Mountain: One of two backs to clear 200 rushing yards, Laudenslager racked up 232 lengths on his 16 attempts and scored on three long runs (56, 29 and 80 yards) as the Eagles wheeled past Mifflinburg 42-34 in their season finale. Laudenslager crested the 1,000-yard plateau with his first TD and added two passes for 5 yards and a two-point conversion reception.
Jacob Feese, QB-LB, Line Mountain: Feese nearly matched his classmate Laudenslager in a 42-34 triumph over Mifflinburg, rushing 16 times for 216 yards while scoring on runs of 29 and 78 yards — the latter putting the Eagles ahead for good. Feese also ripped off a 37-yard run that popped him over the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season. He also completed all three of his passes, one going for a 12-yard score.
Steel-High has a rich and storied football history littered with great teams, players, state championships and a flair for the dramatic at times.
Friday night on the road at Old Forge in Lackawanna County, the 2020 Steel-High team added another chapter to that rich Rollers football history.
Side note to this story: a few of us were on the sidelines at Seibert Park at the Camp Hill game watching the last couple minutes of this thriller play out. It was cool to be able to watch it on a phone. Who ever thought, right?
Before we get to the crazy final 10 seconds, it must be noted the Rollers rallied from down 36-27 with less than five minutes to play and won the game in regulation. That’s easy to forget in the drama that played out — especially at a stadium called the Devil’s Den.
Freshman quarterback Alex Erby was sensational down the stretch, completing 11 passes in two drives to take his team down the field with a pair of touchdown passes to win it.
The second of those came with no time remaining on the clock after his first attempt at victory from 6 yards out was incomplete, only for Old Forge was flagged for holding on the play.
Of course he was looking for his big-time FBS recruit wide receiver with the game on the line. He has other options at wideout, but Flowers is a big-time recruit for a reason. And given a second chance, Erby delivered and Flowers made the grab to keep the Rollers’ undefeated season alive with a date in the PIAA Class 1A semifinals up next.
Camp Hill might play another game with this special group of seniors, but we all know COVID-19 ravaged the schedule the last couple weeks and it feels like football is done. If this was the Lions’ last effort it was one they should be proud of in the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal at home. That Bishop McDevitt-Wyncote had every advantage in the book but ran into a group of fearless razorbacks that simply wouldn’t be denied their shot.
It’s always fun to see a team that on paper is clearly overmatched in terms of the other squad being bigger, stronger and faster but yet the game is a tractor pull all the way for that team. You can read my game recap and Making The Grade for all the details.
Palmyra started 0-4 and will most likely — unless it plays another game — close this wacky COVID-19 season with three wins in its final four games after knocking off Northern by a field goal. This was a Northern team that raced to 5-0 and qualified for the District 3 Class 4A playoffs. That’s a big-time win for the Cougars and a testament to their sheer determination under these very trying circumstances. The Polar Bears lost for the third time in as many games after a torrid start.
Cumberland Valley and first-year coach Josh Oswalt are putting a few of the bricks in place as the Eagles’ alumnus re-shapes this program. Back-to-back wins over Carlisle and Cedar Cliff after a historically bad start — not seen since the 1970s. Freshman linebacker Alex Sauve returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown with 4:18 to play to rally CV to a four-point victory over hard-luck Cedar Cliff.
Wins over Cedar Cliff and Carlisle are normally a foregone conclusion for a program like CV, but as the Eagles turn over a new leaf under Oswalt any forward momentum is welcome.
Cumberland Valley and Mechanicsburg, one-time rivals who played annually for decades, are scheduled to play again on Thanksgiving Day. Who knows what the next couple weeks hold with COVID-19, but an old high school football rivalry renewed on Thanksgiving Day would be a breath of fresh air during these very difficult and troubling times.
Even before the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal between visiting Bishop McDevitt-Wyncote and Camp Hill kicked off you could see the astounding size difference between the two clubs. The Royal Lancers won the tale of the tape going away.
But the Lions, all 23 of them that dressed, showed up and played their tails off. Camp Hill was going to have to be even better than it was the first half in a game it led 14-13 at intermission. Turns out that was too big of an ask as the Royal Lancers came out on top 26-14.
Make no mistake, though, it wasn’t an easy win for the District 12 squad from Philadelphia. They were pushed by the scrappy Lions.
This wasn’t a clean game by any measurable. The teams combined for nine turnovers and 22 penalties that totaled 200-plus yards. But it was an entertaining game, but the size difference was astounding.
Time to hand out some grades.
BISHOP MCDEVITT ROYAL LANCERS
Quarterback: Nick Santo isn’t the kind of QB that is going to throw down the field and drop a dime. But he’s smart with the ball and makes the short throws to his playmakers look easy. They don’t ask a lot of him, but he delivered with 13 completions for nearly 200 yards. He did fumble on the goal line and it didn’t end up costing McD, but it was a huge mistake in the fourth quarter. Grade: B
Running Back: The Royal Lancers go with a two-back rotation and both James Bermudez and Keon Keener both crept just past the 100-yard barrier. Bermudez broke loose for one big gainer. The real hammer, though, is Keener who checks in at 5-11, 225 pounds and is what can best be described as a heavy runner. He ain’t easy to bring down when he gets going forward. Keener scored both rushing touchdowns and is tough. Grade: A
Wide Receivers: Most of the routes are either WR screens or crossing routes, but Joachim McElroy and Corey Wright-Downing find ways to get open and catch most balls around them. The duo combined for 13 grabs for 152 yards. They were lethal after the catch and that was key. The best catch was by Emmanuel Sia, who made the best individual catch I’ve seen in person all season by adjusting to a tough throw to make a 34-yard grab on a third-and-30 play. It was his only catch. Grade: A+
Offensive Line: They are massive and pretty darn good. It helps when you average about 75-100 pounds more per man than the guy across from you, but you still need to execute. They are a big reason the Royal Lancers pulled this game out. With so many turnovers and miscues, when they were given the chance they made sure the QB had time to throw and holes were available for the backs. Grade: A
Defensive Line: This group is big, strong and fast. They were in the Lions’ QB’s kitchen all game making his life miserable. And they didn’t miss many chances to finish. Five sacks is a good number against a mobile QB.. Grade: A
Linebackers: My guess is they are probably really good against the run. But on this night they struggled with the crossing routes and bubble screens in pass coverage. They made a couple big hits and picked off one pass. Still, their coverage against the pass opened a door for Camp Hill. Grade: C+
Secondary: A pick-six by Sia, who also had the best catch of the game, turned this game around for the Royal Lancers. The corners got beat a couple times, three pass interference calls. Overall a good night with picks, but at times they struggled. Grade: B
Special Teams: Lots of special teams penalties, a missed PAT and their coverage on kickoffs was just average. That’s an average grade, right? Grade: C
CAMP HILL LIONS
Quarterback: Daniel Shuster is ready to play at the next level. If he can stand up to that kind of beating and still be throwing it at the end, he’s ready. His coach likes to say he has three seconds. On this night it was more like two or less most times. Still threw for 268 yards, but made two bad throws for interceptions. The other two were good plays by the defense to guys that probably looked open when he let the ball go. They had that much speed. Grade: B
Running Back: I don’t count quarterbacks as running backs and out of necessity in this one Shuster was the best option running the ball on QB draws. Grade: Incomplete
Wide Receivers: After the game my partner on High School Football Now, the legendary Eric Epler, told me Cam Ochs is only a rookie when it comes to varsity football and that basketball is his main sport. Well the Royal Lancers have some good corners and they rotated three guys on him and they still couldn’t cover him. I was impressed and not because he finished 8-162 and a TD, either. I did see three or four drops that were clear drops. Those stood out in a game like this. Still, Ochs more than made up for it. Grade: A-
Offensive Line: When the guy across from you is clearly bigger, stronger and pretty fast, too, that makes for a long night. I know the pass rush was fierce and impacted the game. But for what they have to work with, I thought this group did an okay job, really. They were going backwards almost from the snap because they guys on the other side were 50-75 pounds bigger. Grade: C
Defensive Line: It must have felt like pushing a burlap bag filled with water all night for these guys. They were so much smaller than the Royal Lancers’ OL. Luke Parise was fantastic, though. He knocked a pass down and was able to break free and make some nice plays. They caused a couple fumbles, too. Grade: C+
Linebackers: Max Delaye and Ben Mullin could barely walk after the game and with good reason. They gave at the office. These two were like razorbacks in tight spaces and made a ton of tackles. Neither was afraid to run at 100 miles per hour into the fray with zero regard for their bodies. They were outstanding. Grade: B
Secondary: I saw only one mistake by this group and that was on a 32-yard touchdown pass to the tight end after a long drive where the McDevitt was running the ball down their throat. They got caught looking in the backfield. Even that killer 34-yard reception they gave up on third-and-20 was excellent coverage. The catch was just better. They got beat on nothing deep or in space. Grade: B
Special Teams: Well the missed FG by Shuster wasn’t close and that was always a big ask at 35 yards. The deep kickoff was the better option after a short kick gave up too much field position. Produced a turnover early in the first quarter. The offense didn’t capitalize, but they created opportunity. Only punt from deep in their own territory was nearly 40 yards and not returnable. Well done Parise. Grade: B+
For the fourth consecutive postseason, Williams Valley (8-1) and Tri-Valley (5-1) are hoping to duke it out in a backyard scrap that will double as the District 11 Class 1A title game. Right now, however, this match-up is postponed. More information on the status of this game is expected to be released on Monday, according to Williams Valley coach Tim Savage. Yet, if the regular-season meeting between these two was an indication, this should be a dandy between two feisty programs that enjoy knocking one another around. Limited to 6 offensive yards in the opening half last time, Tim Savage’s Vikings rallied for a 35-28 triumph behind Bryce Herb’s three touchdown passes and Jesse Engle’s second-half running (13 carries for 109 yards and 1 score). Two of Herb’s touchdown passes went to Jake Herman, with the third hauled in by Brady Evans. Herman, Engle, Isaac Whiteash and Logan Williard added interceptions for Williams Valley, while Jackson Yoder, Engle and Whiteash combined for 44 tackles. Jonas McGrath fired a pair of touchdown passes to Chase Herb, while Herb rushed for 105 yards and a third score. McGrath also scored on a QB sneak. Caden Richards chipped in with 12 tackles, three more than Jake Scheib. Williams Valley prepped for its latest District 11-A final — the Vikings have won two of the last three to Tri-Valley’s one — by holding off Mahanoy Area 27-22 for its seventh straight victory. Bryce Herb tossed touchdown passes to Alex Achenbach, Herman and Evans, while Engle complemented Achenbach’s 156 rushing yards by running for 38 yards and one TD. Engle left last weekend’s scrap with an ankle injury, so how healthy he is this week will be a key. Tri-Valley doubled up Nativity 28-14 in its 11-A semifinal — also at North Schuylkill — as Chase Herb, Kameron Wetzel and McGrath rushed for touchdowns. McGrath also tossed a touchdown pass to Jolten Flory. Flory added 2.5 QB sacks — Tri-Valley totaled five — while Layne Yoder swiped two Nativity passes.
Pine Grove angling to close out with second straight win:
Buoyed by a convincing 43-6 conquest of Pequea Valley, Pine Grove will try to turn back another Lancaster-Lebanon League side Friday night when Columbia visits the Cardinals (3-6). QB Josh Leininger threw three touchdown passes in the win over Pequea Valley, hooking up twice with Dalton Geesey and once with Shea Morgan. Brody Robinson added 145 rushing yards and three scores for Frank Gaffney’s Cardinals, who rolled up 475 offensive yards against the visiting Braves. Geesey finished with three catches for 64 yards, while Morgan racked up 115 yards on nine receptions. Morgan’s output bumped his career total to 108 catches, moving him past Larry Zimmerman (104) on Pine Grove’s all-time receptions list.
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.
Juniata’s first state appearance nearly extended
Trailing 26-7 at the halftime break to an undefeated Oil City squad, things looked mighty, mighty grim for Juniata as it huddled at Altoona’s Mansion Park. And while Jacob Condo’s 70-yard touchdown pass to Manny O’Donell was one of the few first-half bright spots for the Indians (5-2), it wasn’t long before Kurt Condo’s club began digging into the District 10 Class 4A champions. Although Zach Harr’s 30-yard fumble return late in the third quarter pulled Juniata within two scores, a pair of short touchdown runs by Yaneil “G.G.” Ortiz had the Indians sporting a 27-26 lead with just less than nine minutes to play. A minute or so later, Holden Stahl fired a 76-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Cole and Cole tacked on the two-point try as the Oilers held a 34-27 advantage. Juniata made one last push to move into the next round of the PIAA Class 4A playoffs when Jacob Condo hooked up with Caleb Seeger for a 5-yard score with 31 seconds left. Condo was stopped on the ensuing two-point try, meaning Juniata’s bid to advance had been halted despite a valiant second-half rally that gave the Indians a chance to win in the closing seconds.
Newport goes 14 days between games, hoping to build on latest win
Finally able to play a game following a two-week break, Newport didn’t seem to be bothered by the layoff as the Buffaloes trimmed Upper Dauphin 42-28 at Katchmer Field. Thomas Pyle rushed for a career-high 162 yards and two touchdowns, and he tossed a TD pass to QB Andrew Bates for a third score. Meanwhile, Bates ran for 116 yards and one score, fired two touchdown passes to Will Davis and caught one TD toss from Pyle for another score. Trading scores throughout the first half, Todd Rothermel’s Buffaloes (3-2, 2-1) carried a 21-14 lead into the break when Bates broke off a 33-yard TD run with 1:38 to play. And Bates found Davis for a 5-yard score midway through the third quarter to make a two-score game. UD was able to answer Newport’s next two scores, but when Pyle tacked on a 47-yard score with 5:08 to play, the Buffs were up 42-28. On tap for the ‘Port is a trip to Halifax (1-5, 0-4) for a Mid-Penn Liberty Division scrap. Like Rothermel’s Buffs, Halifax will ride into Friday night’s contest with some momentum after ending a 17-game skid last weekend with a 37-32 victory over Trinity. Bryce Enders rushed for 272 yards and touchdowns of 52, 44, 60 and 9 yards to lead Earl Mosley’s Wildcats, but it was Zander Conrad’s short TD run with 4:38 to play that finally turned the result in Halifax’s favor. Conrad led the ‘Cats with 14 tackles, two more than Ryan Stahl.
Line Mountain hoping to halt two-game slide
Stunned by a Penns Valley side they’d scheduled merely one day earlier, Line Mountain will be trying to end a two-game losing streak Friday night at Ressler Field when Mifflinburg (5-4) pays a visit. Brandon Carson’s Eagles (4-3) appeared to be in decent shape when QB Jacob Feese fired a 30-yard touchdown pass to Garret Laudenslager on a quick slant, but the hosts found themselves down 21-12 at the half once Penns Valley turned a fumble into points. The Rams added two second-half scores, sending Line Mountain to a 35-12 setback that arrived just one week after Southern Columbia smacked the Eagles 49-7 in the District 4 Class 2A semifinals. Mifflinburg (5-4) squeezed past Shikellamy 13-7 in overtime on Cade Dressler’s 5-yard run just one week after the Wildcats were handled 48-7 in the District 4 Class 4A semifinals by top-ranked Jersey Shore. Speedy QB Jacob Reitz, who paced Jason Dressler’s squad with 55 rushing yards, logged the ‘Cats’ first score.
Upper Dauphin to entertain Big Spring
Idled for 17 days before returning to the field earlier this week, Upper Dauphin (2-4) hung in with Newport before falling 42-28. Chance Crawford rushed for 65 yards and two scores, Brady Morgan added 65 rushing yards and a TD, while Christian Snyder paced Kent Smeltz’s Trojans with 92 rushing yards. Tyler Cleveland passed for 143 yards — Kyle Casner latched on to a handful of Cleveland aerials for 107 yards — with his 14-yard throw to Casner initiating the UDA scoring. Big Spring (4-3) will roll into Elizabethville Saturday night sporting a two-game winning streak. The Bulldogs last weekend rallied past Susquenita, defeating the Blackhawks 28-21 in overtime despite trailing 21-7 at the halftime break.
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.
Mustangs notch victory No. 2:
Congratulations to West Perry on picking up win No. 2 this season by knocking off Waynesboro last week. Hold on, the one-win Mustangs beat an Indians team who the week prior blanked playoff-bound Northern 22-0 for their second win of the season? Don’t ever tell me when I say Crazy Colonial again I’m wrong. And it doesn’t have to be a COVID-19 season for this division to be nuts.
Welcome to the wild Colonial:
So, you want another example? Well, how about Greencastle-Antrim scoring a touchdown and field goal in the final 50 seconds to edge East Pennsboro. I can keep going if you want. How about Shippensburg holding Susquehanna Township to a touchdown in a 20-7 victory? The Greyhounds have found their stride after a rough, rough start. That’s not easy to do in this climate, either. I mean, is there a more vintage Shippensburg victory score than 20-7?
