By Andy Shay: 

This was the perfect storm of wins and losses, and it appears undefeated Bishop McDevitt will not qualify for the District 3 Class 4A playoffs this season. Is that the most 2020 thing you’ve ever heard as it relates to high school football?

The problem for the Crusaders, who are fifth in the still unofficial Class 4A power ratings behind Lampeter-Strasburg, ELCO, Northern and Conrad Weiser, is McDevitt’s opponents winning percentage is an abysmal .271. That’s about as low as it gets through five games.

And despite McDevitt thumping Red Land 42-3 and taking care of what it can control, the other four teams on their schedule — Mifflin County, Lower Dauphin, Cedar Cliff and Cumberland Valley — all lost Friday night. That was the perfect storm that swept Jeff Weachter’s talented squad from fairly comfortably inside the playoff bubble to on the outside looking in.

Cedar Cliff fell to Carlisle in a one-score game. Mifflin County fell to Palmyra 34-25 in a matchup of previously winless squads. Cumberland Valley was doubled up by Chambersburg 20-10 in a game of teams with identical 1-3 records. And winless Lower Dauphin put up a valiant fight but eventually fell to undefeated Hershey 20-3.

When you have more expanded playoff fields this is not a problem. Undefeated and one-loss teams in Class 4A are going to make the eight-team cut. In this crazy pandemic world of 2020, the shortened season brought about reduced playoff fields. It was the right decision. And the power ratings is the most fair and efficient way to measure the on-paper success of any team. The other problem for McDevitt is the four teams above them are all undefeated as well.

We’ve all learned there’s a lot we can’t control during this pandemic and a lot has changed. Add undefeated McDevitt missing the playoffs as something nobody can control. I will say this — and I know Lampeter-Strasburg beat McDevitt last year — none of those four teams were touching the Crusaders head-to-head.

Hershey appears to be on the outside looking in as well despite also being undefeated at 5-0. Trojans have the same problem as McDevitt — their opponents’ winning percentage is an abysmal .268. How does that impact the power rating number? Hershey finished in the No. 6 hole behind 4-2 Red Lion, a two-loss team with a better power rating. As I’ve always said, who you play matters. Quality helps more than it hurts.

I’m not even going to say whether Mechanicsburg is in or out. It APPEARS the Wildcats are the No. 4 team in Class 5A. A team on their schedule, Susquehanna Township, still plays Monday against Newport. That result will figure into the final equation. That’s all I have to say about that.

Harrisburg still needs one more game, and the clock is ticking. Oct. 26 is tomorrow, and the Cougars currently have only three of the required four games played to be playoff eligible. Seems nobody wants to play the Cougars. What happened to “let the kids play” chants? Well, now that the kids are playing it seems a few schools have become opponent selective. My word for those opponent selective schools is cowards.

UPDATE: Harrisburg and State College will play Monday at 4 p.m. in State College 

Boiling Springs went 0-10 last year and will now participate in the District 3 Class 3A playoffs. Everybody else get in line behind the Bubblers when it comes to the feel-good story of 2020. Taking out Camp Hill 35-0 is a shock to me. The Bubblers winning isn’t a surprise at all. Posting a shutout against a good quarterback who has put points and yards up against everybody speaks volumes. I still need some Bubblers gear. Just saying!

The hidden key to Hershey being 5-0 has been its defense. I’ve said that enough that it should not be a hidden key anymore. It wasn’t easy to finally subdue winless Lower Dauphin Friday night because the Falcons put up a fight. Hershey posted a 20-3 victory on the strength of its defense. Lower Dauphin outgained Hershey 234-184 in terms of total yards. But the Trojans defense came up huge with two interceptions, a couple sacks and five tackles for a loss. And for the second consecutive game the D came up with a goal-line stand.

If this weird and wacky season was 10 games like every other year, the team from the Mid-Penn Conference Commonwealth Division that would be making more noise and be in the hunt for a District 3 Class 6A playoff berth would be the Carlisle Thundering Herd. In case you didn’t notice, that’s 12 consecutive quality quarters for the Herd and only one win. They played Central Dauphin tough before nature took over and the Rams pulled away. They were in the game at State College this past Monday every step of the way before falling late 38-29, and they just beat Cedar Cliff to push its record to 2-2. CD East, Cumberland Valley and Hershey are the Herd’s final three opponents. Nothing tells me this team won’t finish 5-2 overall.

My under-the-radar player of the week nod goes to Chambersburg running back Jayden Jones. In a game with Cumberland Valley where yards and points were always going to be hard to come by, Jones rushed for 120 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns in a 20-10 victory over the Eagles. Neither offense lights it up, so a couple scores and 100-plus rushing yards is like football gold.

By Andy Shay: 

If the early numbers crunching in the District 3 Class 5A playoff field is correct, it appears undefeated Mechanicsburg will be on the outside looking in during this strange 2020 football season. That won’t be official until after the October 26 deadline.

What the Wildcats have is a dangerous 1-2 punch of an explosive offense that can be a powder keg at any moment and a defense that is fast and creates pressure on an offense to operate at an uncomfortable pace.

Waynesboro’s defense did a good job Friday night and the Indians really still had no say in the outcome of this 35-7 Colonial Division win for Mechanicsburg. The Wildcats defense set the tone, produced four turnovers, 10 negative plays, scored a touchdown and limited the visitors to 130 total yards on 55 snaps.

Time to hand out some grades.

WAYNESBORO INDIANS

Quarterback: Chance Eyler literally had no chance on this night (apologies for the bad pun). He was under some serious heat almost every time he dropped back to throw. The only way to have any shot was to get the ball out way quicker than he’s used to and that had an impact on his accuracy. He did throw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, the first TD through the air Mechanicsburg has allowed in 2021. He had a rough night, but it wasn’t a fair fight. Grade: C

Running Back: Mikel Holden ran hard and found seams. His vision gave him a chance and his 78 yards on 13 carries was the only offense the Indians really mustered. His counterpart in the backfield, Aidan Mencia, struggled. Only 13 yards on 13 carries. Grade: B-

Wide Receivers: It was clear Rhyan Day is their best receiver, and Mechanicsburg knew that. He garnered plenty of attention and caught only two passes for seven yards. The couple times he was open the ball was overthrown. Cade Reed led the Indians in receiving with 43 yards on three catches, but 26 of those yards came against the reserves after it was 35-0.  Grade: C

Offensive Line: Rough night for this crew, no other way to put it. The speed and power of the Wildcats up front and coming off the edge was just too much to handle. When a Wing-T offense has only 54 rushing yards on 34 carries, that’s a problem. Sometimes it was a numbers game and Mechanicsburg won by bringing six or seven guys into the gaps. That’s tough. But 10 negative plays says a lot. Grade: D

Defensive Line: This group did its job. They didn’t allow the shifty Wildcats’ QB to escape all the time and they clogged up the middle on those draw plays that get teams off balance. Marcus Smith won more battles than he lost. He stood out. And they brought some heat up the middle on the pass rush, too. Grade: B

Linebackers: Holden, Callin Kauffman and Jesse Julias did very good against the run, but on those pass plays over the middle they missed too many tackles in space to keep Mechanicsburg’s offense under wraps. Less than 300 total yards allowed isn’t bad. Grade: B-

Secondary: Very nice interception by Day in the end zone. His coverage on that fade route was perfect. He did a good job all night as a lock down corner. It’s not easy to defend this quarterback and group of receivers. Making them sputter means it wasn’t all that bad. Grade: C+

Special Teams: I’m guessing the short kickoffs were to keep the speedy Wildcats from running free. Punts were a bit of a mystery with that rugby style producing a nine-yard punt and a 25-yard kick. Not very helpful on the field position battle posing those numbers. Punt coverage was good, though. Grade: C

MECHANICSBURG WILDCATS

Quarterback: Micah Brubaker had his normal game of 232 total yards and a hand in all four offensive touchdowns. His speed and ability to improvise when he drops back to pass is something I can only describe as special. And the way he finds open receivers after scrambling drives defenses nuts. Not a lights-out game, but solid. Grade: B+

Running Back: Taylor Shearer didn’t get many carries, and it’s clear this offense isn’t designed for him to get 15-18 carries a game. Only had six totes but he averaged more than 6.0 yards per carry. He also had 42 receiving yards on two catches. Eight total touches for 79 yards. Productive.  Grade: B+

Wide Receivers: They have so many options and are best served when several of them are getting three, four or five catches each. Nick Morrison had a big night with 85 yards on four grabs to lead the way. His work after the catch was stellar. I saw only one ball that I would classify as a drop that was catchable. And even that one was in the tough catch category. Grade: A

Offensive Line: Run blocking up the middle was poor all night. I know the Indians were bringing heat up the middle, but that was poor blocking in between the tackles. Tackles Marlon Aristy and Hoyt Lechthaler were solid. Overall, though, way too many holding penalties. Five in one game is far too many. It bogged this offense down.  Grade: C

Defensive Line: Tyree Morris was a terror on the edge and shut down several of those inside handoffs meant to fool the defense. He wasn’t fooled. The guy at the other DE, Sam Geraty, had a good night as well. They were a force together. Grade: A

Linebackers: In order to slow down the Wing-T offense you need the MLB, in this case Aristy, to be on point and playing fast. Yeah, No. 56 did his job in the middle. And Sam Deluca is a rising junior who stood out as well. Overall this group was outstanding. Grade: A

Secondary: Caleb Brubaker is a weapon. There’s no other way to put it. They line him up everywhere and he brings heat and on this night was a game wrecker. James Anderson is a ball hawk at safety and had a 45-yard pick-six. Two interceptions overall and less than 50 percent completion percentage. And very good in run support off the edge, too. Grade: A+

Special Teams: Three touchbacks on kickoffs from Morrison and extra points had some pop as well. Kickoff coverage was shaky, nothing in the return game on punts and a missed field goal from 24 yards. Not bad, but certainly not good. Grade: C

By Andy Shay: 

All Mechanicsburg can do is wait and see what the numbers say in terms of earning a District 3 Class 5A playoff berth.

The undefeated Wildcats took care of what they can control by using a lights out effort from their defense to overwhelm once-beaten Waynesboro Friday night at John H. Frederick Field.

Mechanicsburg’s defense used a strip-sack to force a turnover that led to a touchdown and James Anderson had a pick-six to set the tone for a comfortable 35-7 Colonial Division victory over the Indians.

“Our defense has been playing great all year,” said Wildcats defensive back Caleb Brubaker, who had the strip-sack early in the second quarter that was recovered by defensive Tyree Morris at the Waynesboro 14-yard-line. “We’ve been doing a great job of creating turnovers and getting our offense back on the field.”

Mechanicsburg’s offense was functional, but a step behind its normal high-octane self. The Wildcats’ first touchdown came on a short field after a nine-yard punt by the Indians. The defense set up the second score and Anderson made it 21-0 at halftime with a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown.

“The offense struggled a little bit early, but defense came out and set the tone,” said Brubaker, who blitzed from all over the field and along with Morris made life miserable for the Indians’ Wing-T offense. “Defense took control tonight and let the offense know it was our time to have their backs and make a difference.”

The Wildcats’ offense powered by quarterback Micah Brubaker found another gear after halftime and put 14 quick points on the board to make it 35-0 before the midway point of the third quarter.

Micah Brubaker, who finished with 232 total yards and had a say in all four offensive touchdowns, connected with Nick Morrison on a short pass over the middle. Morrison did the rest, breaking three tackles on his way to the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown catch-and-run.

The next time the Wildcats had the ball, with excellent starting field position at the Waynesboro 32 courtesy of the defense getting a three-and-out with the Indians pinned at their own 10-yard-line, Mechanicsburg need only five plays to find the end zone on Micah Brubaker’s second rushing touchdown that made it 35-0.

“I think our defense has been a little bit underrated throughout the course of the season. We’ve really improved up front and our secondary does a good job making teams uncomfortable in the passing game,” said Mechanicsburg coach Anthony Rose, whose defense forced four turnovers and limited the Indians to 130 total yards. “Caleb Brubaker was everywhere tonight, he had two big sacks including that strip-sack.

“In my 23 years of coaching he’s the best defensive player I’ve ever coached. We could put him anywhere. He’s just a game changer for us defensively. The defense just played lights out all night.”

Waynesboro         0-0-0-7—7

Mechanicsburg     7-14-14-0—35

Scoring summary

First quarter

M-Taylor Shearer 32 pass from Micah Brubaker (Nick Morrison kick), 7:04

Second quarter

M-Brubaker 4 run  (Morrison kick), 9:24

M-James Anderson 45 interception return (Morrison kick), :52

Third quarter

M-Morrison 29 pass from Brubaker (Morrison kick), 9:36

M-Brubaker 6 run (Morrison kick), 6:57

Fourth quarter

W-Jared Peck 13 pass from Chance Eyler (Louie Lindsay kick), 11:05

Team stats              W    M

First downs             6       14

Rush-yards              34-54 27-102

Passing                    76    192

Comp-Att-Int           10-21-2 12-18-1

Fumbles-lost           3-2   1-0

Punts-Avg.               5-25.6  2-36

Penalties-Yards       2-25   12-109

Individual statistics

RUSHING: Waynesboro, Mikel Holden 13-78, Aidan Mencia 13-13, Chance Eyler 5-(minus-21), Louie Lindsay 2-(minus-6), Team 1-(minus-12); Mechanicsburg, Micah Brubaker 10-40, Taylor Shearer 6-37, Glenn Robinson 2-(minus-5), Parker Sample 3-11, James Anderson 1-8, Seth Brubaker 4-13, Team 1-(minus-2).

PASSING: Waynesboro, Eyler 10-21-2—76; Mechanicsburg, Micah Brubaker 12-18-1—192.

RECEIVING: Waynesboro, Cade Reed 3-43, Holden 4-13, Rhyan Day 2-7, Jared Peck 1-13; Mechanicsburg, Nick Morrison 4-85, Caleb Brubaker 2-20, Shearer 2-42, Anderson 2-29, Joey Rowland 2-16.

By Michael Bullock: 

Heavy lifters, ground game key as Eagles eye four in a row

Powered by a productive running game that’s featured six triple-figure rushing totals in four outings, Line Mountain has averaged 47 points per game during a three-game winning streak that has elevated Brandon Carson’s Eagles (3-1, 2-0) to the top of the Mid-Penn’s Liberty Division standings. And while breakaway running back Garret Laudenslager and driven quarterback Jacob Feese have consistently popped impressive numbers, Carson will quickly tell you how effective his rebuilt offensive front has performed. While veterans Dominick Bridi and Wyatt Shaffer operate at left guard and left tackle — the Eagles will use that left-sided push on the goal line or when they need to move the sticks — others such as center Chase Miller, right guard Colby Rebuck and right tackle Seth Wolfe have been just as critical to a surge that has Line Mountain contending for a District 4 Class 2A playoff spot. Come Friday night at Glenn Ressler Field, the Eagles will chase consecutive victory No. 4 against a Newport side (2-0, 1-0) skippered by Line Mountain alum Todd Rothermel that’s been idled since Oct. 2 by a COVID-19 flare-up. Feese was the instigator in last weekend’s 47-20 triumph at Northwest Area, rushing 13 times for 141 yards and four first-half touchdowns as the Eagles opened a 33-7 lead at the break. Feese also threw for 104 yards (6-for-10) — Laudenslager caught three balls for 72 yards — while Laudenslager rushed 13 times for 68 yards and two scores. Line Mountain’s defense also scored for the third game in a row, as the agile Bridi motored 88 yards with a Northwest fumble early in the second half. A 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior with plenty of agility, Bridi led Line Mountain with 12 tackles and leads the Eagles with a season-best 32 stops. Cameron Smeltz, who bagged the first of Line Mountain’s three defensive scores, added 10 tackles. Newport, which also is slated to play Monday night against Susquehanna Township, downed Susquenita 20-6 the last time the Buffaloes played. QB Andrew Bates rushed 11 times for 119 yards and one score, but also returned a botched lateral 30 yards for another TD. Bates accounted for Newport’s third score as well, connecting with Will Davis for a 19-yard TD.

Finally at home, Juniata chasing fourth consecutive victory

About to make its 2020 debut at Klingensmith Stadium, Kurt Condo’s resourceful Juniata Indians (3-1, 1-0) are coming home seeking their fourth win in a row after holding off Lancaster Catholic 28-20 in overtime. It was Juniata’s second straight success in OT, following a 21-14 triumph one week earlier at Lower Dauphin. Jacob Condo banked the game-winning points at Catholic by crashing over in OT for a short-yardage TD. Condo also passed for 115 yards (10-for-19, 1 pick) with both of his touchdown passes thrown to Manny O’Donell. O’Donell hauled in four throws for 73 yards. Jace White’s short run accounted for Juniata’s other score. Making the lengthy trek to Mifflintown will be a James Buchanan side (0-3, 0-1) that opened Mid-Penn Liberty play last weekend by losing 34-6 to visiting Susquenita. Unable to get any traction on the ground — JB rushed 30 times for minus-10 yards and was sacked nine times — Cliff Pine’s Rockets managed only a 19-yard touchdown pass from Caden Stoner to Mason Line. Stoner threw for 135 yards, but only completed six of his 17 attempts and was picked off twice. JB did pocket a trio of interceptions against Susquenita, as Stoner plucked a pair and Line snagged one.

Susquenita and Halifax to collide

Finally in the win column last weekend after stopping James Buchanan 34-6 on the road, Susquenita (1-3, 1-2) will try to make it two straight when Halifax (0-3, 0-3) comes motoring into Cove. Scott Acri’s Blackhawks jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead as freshman quarterback Derek Gibney rushed for two touchdowns and hooked up with Michael Kurtz on a 39-yard heave that accounted for the third score. Gibney rushed 14 times for 108 yards and threw for 91 more (6-of-13), even though he was intercepted three times. Austin Kenny added an 80-yard kickoff return, while Louie Frisenda chipped in a 12-yard touchdown run. Susquenita also benefited from a fierce pass rush, as the Blackhawks recorded nine quarterback sacks and limited JB to minus-10 yards on the ground. Halifax continued to air things out, but it wasn’t enough as the Wildcats tumbled 38-28 to Upper Dauphin in a regionally televised contest. Micah Deitrich completed 25 of his 41 pass attempts for 262 yards and one touchdown, while Carter Enders and Ryan Stahl also tossed TD passes off gimmick plays. Stahl had a huge game, catching 11 passes for 129 yards and one score while amassing 14 stops defensively. Judah Miller also played a leading role in the passing game, catching eight throws for 118 yards and a touchdown. Feature back Bryce Enders couldn’t get untracked running the ball, but he did latch on to a handful of throws for 53 yards and a TD while making 16 tackles defensively.

Upper Dauphin hoping to run win streak to three

Stepping out of Mid-Penn Liberty play, Upper Dauphin (2-2) will play host to Fleetwood as Kent Smeltz’s Trojans chase their third victory in as many weekends. UD racked up more than 600 yards of offense last weekend — 483 on the ground — and had three backs rush for 100 yards or more in a 38-28 victory at neighboring Halifax. Aiden Wiest picked up 167 yards on 10 carries and scored three times, Christian Snyder chipped in 109 yards on 16 attempts and crossed the goal line once, and Chance Crawford accrued 101 yards on six totes before leaving with an injury. Sophomore Brady Morgan nearly hit the 100-yard mark but fell just short with 97 yards and one score on seven carries. QB Tyler Cleveland (8-of-13, 1 interception) threw for 119 yards with Kyle Casner, Crawford and Wiest combining for six catches for 91 yards. Snyder also totaled 13 tackles from his linebacker position. Pulling into Elizabethville will be Fleetwood (1-4), which last weekend suffered a 55-49 loss to Hamburg in four overtimes. To date, that’s the longest game in Berks County history. QB Tanner Maddocks passed for 257 yards (15-for-34) and five touchdowns to lead the Tigers, with Owen Maddocks making eight catches for 145 yards and three TDs.

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.

Winner take all match-up on tap: 

Nothing like a winner-take-all game to spice up an already intriguing and very different 2020 season, right. When Mechanicsburg and Waynesboro tangle Friday night on the Wildcats’ home turf, the winner will earn a spot in the District 3 Class 5A playoffs. Waynesboro currently occupies the fourth and final spot in the power ratings, with Mechanicsburg just on the outside at No. 5. Both squads know what’s at stake here. Mechanicsburg and that offense powered by quarterback Micah Brubaker has been using fast starts to put opponents underwater by halftime the last three games. Waynesboro was just clipped by East Pennsboro 40-28 last week. So the Indians are in rebound mode. You never know what’s going to happen when the stakes are raised.

Northern fighting for D3-4A playoff berth:

Northern is hunting for a spot in the District 3 Class 4A playoffs this week when it hosts Susquehanna Township. The Polar Bears defense has been a little leaky in recent weeks, but that offense is carrying the load. The Indians have been fighting the tail of the COVID-19 dog most of the season and have only played two games. ‘Hanna went 18 days between games with very little practice and showed some spark in the second half last week against Mechanicsburg. If they take care of the ball the Indians could be a tough out. Northern has to win and get some help from Warwick. The Polar Bears are currently in the No. 5 spot and 4-1 Cocalico is fourth. The Eagles travel to Warwick Friday night. Hint: Warwick is beating Cocalico. Northern takes care of business, and they are in.

East Pennsboro impresses in victory against Waynesboro: 

Raise your hand if you were caught napping by the 3-1 East Pennsboro Panthers (picture my hand flying in the air). That was an impressive takedown of previously unbeaten Waynesboro on Friday night. On deck is Shippensburg. With the way the Panthers defense is playing, they are the clear favorite in this one.

Standings: 

Andy Shay: Week 4: 16-2 Overall: 59-17

Andy Sandrik: Week 4: 15-3  Overall: 56-20

Jake Adams: Week 4: 17-1    Overall: 56-20  

Geoff Morrow: Week 4: 16-2 Overall: 54-22  

District 6 Class 6A Championship:

Friday, Oct. 23

Altoona 22, State College 21

Andy Shay: State College 34, Altoona 28: I see plenty of offense in this District 6 gem with a couple of squads who are comfortable and confident moving the ball on the ground. Key is which defense makes that key one or two stops. Expect the entertainment factor to be high.

Jake Adams: State College 38, Altoona 30: I didn’t expect to see this game be so close, but that’s what it appears like we’re headed for. Mountain Lions’ offensive line has given Mid-Penn Commonwealth teams fits all year. 

Andy Sandrik: State College 33, Altoona 20: The Mountain Lions have made strides, no doubt about it, but I’m going to have to see an Altoona win over State College before I can believe it.

Geoff Morrow: Altoona 24, State College 21: Even in what was eventually a lopsided loss to Central Dauphin last weekend, I was impressed with the heart and skills of the Mountain Lions. With the Little Lions on a short week and Altoona getting to host, let’s predict Altoona’s first victory over its rival in 13 seasons. Would be a huge step for the program.

Week 5 Mid-Penn Schedule: 

Friday, Oct. 23

Bishop McDevitt 42, Red Land 3

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 40, Red Land 7: The way Lek Powell has been rolling, the over-under for TD passes in this one is 4.5.

Jake Adams: Bishop McDevitt 38, Red Land 6: Let’s just skip the rest of the Keystone season until we get to McDevitt-Hershey.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 33, Red Land 7: Red Land hasn’t been shut out just yet, but there’s a real possibility of that happening at Rocco Ortenzio Stadium on Friday night. 

Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 30, Red Land 14: In three meetings since a stunning takedown of the Crusaders in 2016, the Patriots have been outscored by McDevitt 119-2.

Boiling Springs 35, Camp Hill 0

Andy Shay: Boiling Springs 33, Camp Hill 28: You give the Bubblers’ Wing-T 300-plus rushing yards and give Lions QB Daniel Shuster 300-plus passing. This comes down to Boiling Springs being the more physical team.

Jake Adams: Boiling Springs 35, Camp Hill 30: Two diametrically different offenses. High school football at its finest. And this will be on the turf of Seibert Park. Does the added speed help the Lions’ passing game or the Bubblers’ rushing attack?

Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 28, Boiling Springs 21: I can’t remember the last time a Lions-Bubblers game was so, well, relevant. So many different matchups to consider. I’m just as curious as you are to see what happens next.

Geoff Morrow: Camp Hill 30, Boiling Springs 27: Six straight losses in this series must eat at the Bubblers, so I expect they’ll be fired up. But the Lions showed us something last week in their battle with Steel-High. Potential to be one of the best games of the week.

Central Dauphin 41, CD East 0

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 38, CD East 0: What the Panthers’ defense has done is keep CD East in games all season. That won’t be the case here.

Jake Adams: Central Dauphin 42, CD East 3: I don’t think there are any games left on their schedule where I’m not going to pick the Rams by at least 25. (He says before forgetting next week what he wrote and picks them by 24.)

Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 40, CD East 13: I feel for the Panthers, who have scratched and clawed, but have lost three straight close games, including two that went into overtime. Not exactly the way you want to enter a game against state power and intra-district rival CD.

Geoff Morrow: Central Dauphin 35, CD East 6: At least no one will get lost on their way to the stadium.

Chambersburg 20, Cumberland Valley 10

Andy Shay: Chambersburg 13, Cumberland Valley 10: Combined, these teams have scored a total of 58 points this season in eight games. If you are in the Commonwealth Division, beating CV — no matter what its record is — matters. That’s my tipping point.

Jake Adams: Chambersburg 23, Cumberland Valley 14: Just haven’t seen enough from an Eagles offense clearly going through identity growing pains. Trojans, while not as good as 2019, at least know who they are right now.

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 14, Chambersburg 9: How much “want to” does Cumberland Valley have left in its legs after back-to-back whippings to State College and Bishop McDevitt? The good news for the Eagles is they are undefeated at home, which is exactly where they’ll be playing the Trojans in this coin-flip game.

Geoff Morrow: Cumberland Valley 17, Chambersburg 13: Can the Trojans make it three straight wins against the Eagles? I’m taking a wild guess here and saying “no.”

Shippensburg 25, East Pennsboro 22

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 34, Shippensburg 20: You can throw on the Panthers a bit and make some hay that route. Running the ball against this EP defense is tough sledding. Just not sure the Greyhounds are built to be pass-first to win.

Jake Adams: East Pennsboro 35, Shippensburg 27: After that beatdown the Panthers took in Week 1 against Northern, I don’t think I would’ve dared pick them to win this game. But here we are. Panthers have strung together three straight impressive victories.

Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 42, Shippensburg 21: Like the Homer Simpson meme, I find myself backing into the bush and re-emerging, this time wearing an East Penn shirt. I had my doubts before, but the Panthers are looking more and more like a Colonial contender.

Geoff Morrow: East Pennsboro 28, Shippensburg 26: OK, color me impressed by the Panthers’ triumph at Waynesboro last week. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that the Greyhounds are about to break free. So I expect this one to come down to the wire.

Juniata 40, James Buchanan 6

Andy Shay: Juniata 41, James Buchanan 7: A break from those overtime wins for the Indians, but still they have the firepower to easily make it three straight.

Jake Adams: Juniata 35, James Buchanan 7: Hello, Yaniel Ortiz! The junior is averaging 8.8 yards per carry. Yeah, that’s pretty good. 

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 42, James Buchanan 7: Juniata fans will need a blood pressure check after two straight weeks of overtime. Something tells me the Indians breathe a little bit easier this week.

Geoff Morrow: Juniata 31, James Buchanan 12: These schools are separated by pretty much the entirety of PA Route 75. It makes this extremely rare trip very simple for the Rockets.

Line Mountain 44, Newport 21

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 35, Newport 26: Two weeks off is too big of a gap for the Buffaloes to overcome in 48 minutes against the Eagles and their surging offense.

Jake Adams: Line Mountain 38, Newport 24: I hear that Garret Laudenslager kid is kinda good. Eagles have scored 46 or more points in each of the last three games, all wins.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 36, Newport 21: In a perfect world, we’d see a solid Newport defense give the Buffaloes a fighting chance against an LM offense that’s loaded for bear. It could still happen, but this is a huge ask from a Newport team just returning to practice two days before game day.

Geoff Morrow: Line Mountain 42, Newport 21: Eagles, having lost four of their last five to the Buffaloes, exact some revenge in what has the potential to be a high-scoring affair.

Carlisle 35, Cedar Cliff 28

Andy Shay: Carlisle 30, Cedar Cliff 21: As long as the Thundering Herd play at the same level as they’ve performed the last eight quarters, it will be rewarded with a W instead of an L. Short week is a factor, but running plays don’t need much more drilling at this point. Colts have to knock Carlisle off its game to nab this one.

Jake Adams: Carlisle 28, Cedar Cliff 24: I’m really intrigued by this one, actually. The Herd have the best o-line I’ve seen from them in seven years, which could play a role. But they’re coming off a Monday nighter, and the Colts have been one of the best teams in the Mid-Penn the last few years despite a sluggish start so far. Toss up.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 28, Carlisle 21: Credit to Jake for seeing the potential of this Carlisle team long before me, even though Ken Millen Stadium is less than a half-mile away from my house. I don’t doubt that the Herd can win here, but it seems like the Colts just need this game a little bit more.

Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 33, Carlisle 20: Again, my colleagues seem to be a bit too dismissive of the Colts, whose two losses have been in competitive battles against a pair of 4-0 teams. I’m glad the Herd have shown promise in losses to CD and State College, but Cedar Cliff remains a solid favorite in my eyes.

Hershey 20, Lower Dauphin 3

Andy Shay: Hershey 31, Lower Dauphin 7: At stake for the Trojans is a 5-0 record and a potential berth in the District 3 Class 5A playoffs. That’s enough motivation against the winless Falcons.

Jake Adams: Hershey 37, Lower Dauphin 7: I’ll repeat … let’s just skip to the part where the Trojans play the Crusaders to decide the division.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 28, Lower Dauphin 6: I’m keeping my eye on Jackson Bouslough. The Hershey QB is already having a fine season, but if he can get into a great rhythm this week, the Trojans will really like their chances against McDevitt next week. 

Geoff Morrow: Hershey 40, Lower Dauphin 13: It’s a rivalry, but Hershey seems miles ahead of LD this season. Falcons, though, have winnable games the next two weeks. A few positives here would inspire confidence moving forward.

Mechanicsburg 35, Waynesboro 7

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 40, Waynesboro 14: Winner earns an invite to the District 3 Class 5A playoffs. Wildcats have been fast starters the last three weeks, and the Indians are coming off loss No. 1.

Jake Adams: Mechanicsburg 38, Waynesboro 13: I think the only flaw in the Wildcats’ dismantling of Susquehanna last week was that they didn’t trip the mercy rule clock before halftime. The game wound up running 2:45.

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 27, Waynesboro 25: Smart money is on the Wildcats, who are pumping out nearly 38 points per game. But if the Indians’ defense — which isn’t as bad as the 40 points it allowed to East Penn last week — can hold the Wildcats to, say, 24 points, I think they’ve got more than a puncher’s chance.

Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 41, Waynesboro 20: Wildcats are loving life in the Colonial. Would really be interesting to see what they could have done in the Keystone this season.

Palmyra 34, Mifflin County 25

Andy Shay: Mifflin County 27, Palmyra 7: Huskies have taken a step or two forward moving the ball and, in this matchup, that’s enough. The Cougars’ offense has struggled big-time.

Jake Adams: Mifflin County 20, Palmyra 14: Both quarterbacks are a bit turnover prone, each averaging about one per game. And Mifflin County’s defense has been slightly better at forcing said turnovers.

Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 28, Mifflin County 21: Both teams know they are facing a winless opponent, and I’m expecting each squad to empty the playbook to pursue that first victory. I’m not putting a ton of stock in Palmyra’s losses to Hershey and Cedar Cliff and believe the Cougars have more bite than people think. 

Geoff Morrow: Mifflin County 22, Palmyra 15: Huskies played Hershey tougher than the Cougars did. Funny note: MaxPreps lists Palmyra’s 42-0 loss to Cedar Cliff last week as being an overtime game. That’s one heck of an OT by the Colts.

Northern 30, Susquehanna Twp. 24

Andy Shay: Northern 30, Susquehanna Township 20: On paper this looks like an easy pick with the 4-0 Polar Bears hosting the 0-2 Indians. Be careful, and know it’s a fine line for Northern with a defense that has been roughed up a bit lately. Still think the Northern offense steals the show.

Jake Adams: Northern 30, Susquehanna Township 14: Going into the year, I wasn’t sure which of our 12 teams in The Sentinel area would make the halved playoff fields. I just looked, and the Bubblers, Polar Bears and Wildcats are all in the running. I’m not sure I would’ve picked all three in the preseason. Impressive.

Andy Sandrik: Northern 28, Susquehanna Township 23: Northern is unbeaten, yes, but the Polar Bears have been playing with fire this season, letting opponents hang around. With Waynesboro and Mechanicsburg coming up on the docket, this has “trap game” written all over it.

Geoff Morrow: Northern 33, Susquehanna Township 25: You know how the Lakers are called the Lakers because they originated in Minneapolis (near lakes) before eventually moving to Los Angeles? I’m starting to wonder if the Polar Bears relocated from Manitoba to Dillsburg sometime before I was born.

Susquenita 29, Halifax 0

Andy Shay: Halifax 33, Susquenita 26: When an offense has the playmakers to strike for a big play on any snap, I’ll take that advantage when everything else feels equal.

Jake Adams: Halifax 35, Susquenita 25: Micah Dietrich and Ryan Stahl hook up for 100 yards and two scores. That’s my “bold” prediction today.

Andy Sandrik: Susquenita 38, Halifax 34: I feel bad for picking ‘Nita to lose to James Buchanan last week. … OK, I graduated from West Perry so I don’t feel THAT bad. All jokes aside, Halifax has a defense that’s way too leaky for me to pick against the Blackhawks at home.

Geoff Morrow: Susquenita 38, Halifax 35: Wildcats might eventually outscore somebody, because they have no problem finding the end zone. The question is whether they can keep an opposing offense from setting up shop in the other end zone.

Middletown 49, Trinity 14

Andy Shay: Middletown 42, Trinity 0: Been this kind of season for Trinity. Middletown knows how to take care of its business and move on.

Jake Adams: Middletown 55, Trinity 0: Oh, no. This isn’t going to be pretty. Feel bad for the Shamrocks, who were a fun rebound team a year ago.

Andy Sandrik: Middletown 45, Trinity 7: It’s been a challenging and physically taxing past few weeks for Middletown, so I’m expecting the Blue Raiders starters to be resting by halftime.

Geoff Morrow: Middletown 42, Trinity 6: Six points in three weeks for the Shamrocks. Basketball season can’t come soon enough.

Fleetwood 43, Upper Dauphin 42

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 33, Fleetwood 27: Neither defense has done much to slow down the opposition, so playing an up-and-down offensive game suits each offense just fine. Turnovers will play a major role.

Jake Adams: Upper Dauphin 38, Fleetwood 32: Up until a few years ago, my grandpa used to attend almost every alumni boys soccer game. He played for the Tigers many, many years ago.

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 35, Fleetwood 21: There’s a certain mental edge that comes with winning a close game, like Upper Dauphin did last week, and a certain lingering misery that comes with losing a close game, like the Tigers did in four overtimes last week. I think that makes all the difference in the world for this contest.

Geoff Morrow: Fleetwood 40, Upper Dauphin 33: If four OTs tells me anything, it’s that both participants have a will to win. So even though the Tigers dropped last week’s game to rival Hamburg, I like their chances.

Saturday, Oct. 24

Steel-High 65, Big Spring 30

Andy Shay: Steel-High 53, Big Spring 20: Remember the Rollers are a running team first, and then when Odell Greene gets rolling, that crazy big-strike pass game lights up. Tough spot for the Bulldogs.

Jake Adams: Steel-High 55, Big Spring 14: Is there a more dominant team in relation to the size of their competition than the Rollers? My guess is no. Capital is their division to lose. And they won’t blow this lead.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 52, Big Spring 14: The Rollers and Bulldogs share a common opponent in Trinity. Big Spring was 15 points better than the Shamrocks, while Steel-High was 77 points stronger. 

Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 50, Big Spring 20: These programs haven’t met in a long time — if ever — and I’m not sure the Bulldogs will be in a hurry to meet again after this weekend.

West Perry 27, Greencastle-Antrim 20

Andy Shay: Greencastle-Antrim 21, West Perry 14: Neither team has been a model of consistency offensively, but the Blue Devils showed some nice pop last week putting up 27 against Northern. Recent form, give them the edge.

Jake Adams: Greencastle-Antrim 28, West Perry 14: Mustangs just haven’t had enough offensive consistency to be competitive against the Colonial’s top teams.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 28, Greencastle-Antrim 14: West Perry is 0-4, but there’s only one team that has really blown the Mustangs out. WP has been battling hard for that first win, so why not a home victory for the ‘Stangs?

Geoff Morrow: West Perry 27, Greencastle-Antrim 26. I have NO CLUE how to pick these teams right now. In fact, I darn near picked Greencastle-Perry to edge West Antrim on a last-second safety.

Monday, Oct. 26

Susquehanna Township at Newport

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 20, Newport 14: Both these teams are scheduled to play on October 23, correct? Just checking to see how far the COVID-19 rubber band will stretch. Stay safe, gents.

Jake Adams: Susquehanna Township 17, Newport 10: I mean, what are we doing here? All I heard in the summer was “health and safety,” and we’re gonna have teams play two games in four days? Yeah … seems smart. 

Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Township 21, Newport 17: Both of these programs have had their seasons temporarily shut down because of COVID-19, and both are grateful to be on the field. It’s a weird season — take and play games when you can — and I don’t know if we’ll ever have another fall like this again, so take it for what it’s worth. 

Geoff Morrow: Susquehanna Township 29, Newport 15: And Harrisburg can’t find a dang opponent. I bet if Carson Long still had a program, they’d offer to take on the Cougars.

Harrisburg at State College

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 47, State College 20: Makes sense to play this game after Little Lions were bumped out of the playoffs. Remember SC was very close to having zero games this year so helping Harrisburg reach four games makes sense. Crazy year.

Jake Adams: Harrisburg 35, State College 14: So, I guess in two weeks we’ll have Harrisburg vs. Central Dauphin in the District 3 final for the second year in a row. 

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 52, State College 28: The Little Lions have already been eliminated from the postseason, but have scheduled their third game in eight days with a Super Bowl of sorts against the Cougars, who desperately need to play another game to squeeze into those same playoffs. Have I mentioned this has been an odd year? 

Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 42, State College 20: Good news for the Cougars. Good look for the Little Lions. Tough news for Wilson. Difficult situation for all.

*Not playing Week 5: Harrisburg

Week 7 Schuylkill League Schedule: 

Friday, Oct. 23

Tri-Valley at Williams Valley

Andy Shay: Williams Valley 34, Tri-Valley 30: I know the Bulldogs’ defense has surrendered only 14 points in three games this season. But we all also know they haven’t faced an offense with the punch and power of the Vikings. A true 50-50 game for me.

Jake Adams: Williams Valley 42, Tri-Valley 38: Herb vs. Herb. Except one Herb, Vikings QB Bryce, has dynamic target Jesse Engle, who has connected with Herb for 556 yards and 12 touchdowns. It’s been six games, mind you.

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 38, Williams Valley 17: The Vikings always seem to find a way to win, even when they’re up against the ropes. But this week, I think TV is the team that finally deals a decisive blow to the WV machine.

Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 37, Williams Valley 28: Bulldogs have been a machine thus far. And while the Vikings are (as usual) churning out wins like Facebook churns out voting reminders, I like Tri-Valley to get its first regular-season win over its arch rival since 2015.

By Michael Bullock: 

Here we go yet again — this time at The Stauff

In a possible preview of the District 11 Class 1A championship game — and a matchup between neighboring programs that have met in the last two 11-A title games — Williamstown’s Stauffenberg Field will be the site for Friday night’s collision between host Williams Valley (5-1, 5-0) and heated Schuylkill 2 rival Tri-Valley (3-0, 3-0). Although Tri-Valley started the season after everyone else had played several games, Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs have rattled off three straight wins … all in impressive fashion and all featuring dominant ground games. Chase Herb cracked 200 rushing yards for the second straight weekend, collecting 215 yards and three touchdowns on 17 attempts as Tri-Valley muscled past Marian Catholic 47-7. Sophomore Kameron Wetzel also had a big night against the struggling Colts, rolling up 103 yards and one score on just four carries. Need a quick stat break? Sampson’s Bulldogs are averaging just over 345 yards rushing thus far and have thrown the ball sparingly. Senior Caden Richards also had a big night for the ‘Dawgs defensively, totaling 10 stops and one sack as Marian managed just 38 total yards. Williams Valley’s high-flying aerial attack wasn’t as prominent last weekend, totaling just 145 yards in a grind-it-out 22-7 victory at Schuylkill Haven. Bryce Herb likely will become the Vikings’ all-time leader in passing yards, as the 6-foot-1 senior needs some 30 yards to pass his father, Paul Herb. Freshman Alex Achenbach was effective running the ball, totaling 101 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries. Tim Savage’s Vikings also picked up a short touchdown run from Logan Williard. Inside ‘backers Jesse Engle and Jackson Yoder combined for 25 stops and two tackles for loss. Engle also registered a 40-yard pick-6. Ezi Hite, a real load up front, added seven tackles, three for losses and one quarterback sack. We’d be remiss for not bringing up that, under typical conditions, Friday’s scrap would generate a sizable 50-50 kitty that would make proprietors at local watering holes extremely happy.

Pine Grove looking for second straight success

Buoyed by a balanced attack that piled up 400 yards — including 181 through the air — Pine Grove (2-4, 1-3) will play host to Schuylkill 1 playmate Lehighton (2-4, 0-4) in southern Schuylkill County. Stepping in at quarterback, sophomore Mason Kroh threw for 181 yards (6-of-11) and four touchdowns as Frank Gaffney’s Cardinals roasted Panther Valley 49-6. Shea Morgan was Kroh’s primary target, catching four passes for 114 yards and three scores. Kroh, who took control with regular starter Josh Leininger idled, also hooked up with Ayden Ney for a 43-yard TD. Feature back Brody Robinson also performed effectively, rushing for 122 yards and two touchdowns on just eight attempts. Robinson also was one of four Cardinals to post 10 or more tackles, as he piled up 12 stops. Freshman linebacker/safety Lane Lehman paced Frank Gaffney’s club with 15 tackles. Ney (14) and Colin Ibarra (11) were the other Cards that found the ball frequently. Lehighton dropped its second straight decision last weekend, falling 35-0 to Blue Mountain.

By 4th Down Staff;

Cedar Cliff is back in the win column and Trenten Smith is the 4th Down Magazine Player of the Week.

Not a bad five-day stretch. 

The junior picked up 1,178 votes in a competitive fan vote, almost exactly 38% of the total cast. 

It’s a reward for a two-touchdown Friday night he had during the Colts’ 42-0 whitewash of Palmyra. Smith found paydirt on a 21-yard reception and later on a pick-6 before halftime. The receiver/defensive back finished with six catches for 65 yards.

Smith had to fend off a challenge from Pine Grove WR-DB Shea Morgan, who racked up 1,099 votes this week. Upper Dauphin RB-LB Christian Snyder finished third with 249 votes. There were 3,099 total votes cast.