Standings: 

Andy Shay: Week 2 13-8  Overall: 27-13 

Geoff Morrow: Week 2 12-9  Overall: 25-15 

Andy Sandrik: Week 2 13-8  Overall: 25-15 

Jake Adams: Week 2  13-8  Overall: 24-16  

Friday, Oct. 9

CD East at Hollidaysburg

Andy Shay: Hollidaysburg 17, CD East 7: Clearly the Panthers are struggling with pop on the offensive side of the ball. Their defense is getting the job done. 

Jake Adams: Hollidaysburg 24, CD East 13: That’s a long drive for the Panthers. It’s gonna feel longer if they don’t come away with the win. 

Andy Sandrik: Hollidaysburg 28, CD East 25: Let me get this straight. Hollidaysburg thumped Altoona, which thumped Cumberland Valley, which squeaked out a one-point win over CD East. So the Golden Tigers should win this home game, no? 

Geoff Morrow: CD East 20, Hollidaysburg 14: I realize this goes against the results we’ve seen thus far. But I’m still skeptical about whatever the heck has happened these last couple of weeks with games involving East, Hollidaysburg, Altoona and CV. NONE OF IT MAKES SENSE!

Harrisburg at Berks Catholic

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 35, Berks Catholic 21: Expect a little rust on the Cougars, but if they knock it off quickly, that means chaos reigns down on the Saints. I expect Berks Catholic to be ahead at halftime.

Jake Adams: Harrisburg 27, Berks Cathilic 24: Not convinced the Cougars run at 100% after one of the longest delays for any team this season, but the high-powered option finds a way in the end. 

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 35, Berks Catholic 28: Credit to Berks Catholic for picking up this game. I don’t think the Saints will be out of it at any point in the contest, but I just have a feeling there’s a sleeping giant in Harrisburg that’s about to awaken. 

Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 34, Berks Catholic 30: This feels like Floyd Mayweather returning to the ring after a brief retirement. Interesting game.

Big Spring at Boiling Springs

Andy Shay: Boiling Springs 28, Big Spring 14: I’m not quite ready to give the Bubblers those easy big-play points. Bulldogs’ defense will make it tough. Just not sure Big Spring has enough offense to keep pace over the long haul here.

Jake Adams: Boiling Springs 34, Big Spring 20: Have you seen the rushing totals the Bubblers have put up the first two weeks? Yeah, this team has made the leap back to relevance. 

Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 35, Big Spring 14: Boiling Springs has been leaps and bounds better than we could have possibly predicted. I’ll have what the Bubblers are having. 

Geoff Morrow: Boiling Springs 31, Big Spring 14: Bulldogs have won three of the last four meetings, but I just witnessed that Bubblers Wing-T, and it was a beautiful thing to watch.

Middletown at Camp Hill

Andy Shay: Middletown 42, Camp Hill 21: There’s a physical element to this game that favors the Blue Raiders big-time. But that offense for the Lions is proving to be a test.

Jake Adams: Middletown 45, Camp Hill 14: I don’t think the Lions will be pushed around without a fight, but the Blue Raiders have more firepower all around. 

Andy Sandrik: Middletown 52, Camp Hill 24: Congrats to the 2-0 Lions on a nice win over Big Spring. Getting to 3-0 against the Blue Raiders, though, is much easier said than done. 

Geoff Morrow: Middletown 35, Camp Hill 27: Lions last thumped the Blue Raiders in 2014, but this is where I think Middletown’s program growth shows up. I anticipate Brett Myers’ club bounces back from last week’s loss to the Rollers.

Central Dauphin at Carlisle

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 45, Carlisle 7: For the record, it was Jake who copied my score not the other way around. Notice who is listed first in the order. Rams should cruise here.

Jake Adams: Central Dauphin 45, Carlisle 7: Looks like the Herd have some road graters this year, but something tells me the Rams won’t have much trouble at all. 

Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 44, Carlisle 12: After basically eliminating rival Chambersburg from the Commonwealth race, Carlisle should be coming into its home opener with a bit of a pep in its step. I don’t doubt that the Herd can make a few highlight-reel plays, but the Rams are built to apply 48 minutes of punishment.

Geoff Morrow: Central Dauphin 39, Carlisle 14: High-five to the Herd on last week’s trouncing of Chambersburg, but this is an entirely different animal Carlisle needs to cage.

Bishop McDevitt at Cedar Cliff

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 42, Cedar Cliff 20: Bishop McDevitt should be prepared for a more complete test of this version of the Crusaders. Cliff has their number recently. I’m worried about the Colts being too one-dimensional offensively and how they rebound from a bad loss.

Jake Adams: Bishop McDevitt 47, Cedar Cliff 27: That was an eye-opening loss to Hershey last week. Colts would love nothing more than to rebound, but Crusaders are a tough bunch to do that against. 

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 44, Cedar Cliff 20: I’d love to know how the Colts ran 80 plays, controlled possession for nearly 33 minutes and still lost last week. Controlling the clock might be Cliff’s only path to victory against McDevitt, not an easy ask considering the Crusaders have allowed exactly zero points in eight quarters.

Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 33, Cedar Cliff 22: Colts have played a much tougher schedule thus far, and we don’t know exactly what happens yet when McDevitt gets tested this season. But history tells me the Crusaders will be just fine.

West Perry at East Pennsboro

Andy Shay: West Perry 33, East Pennsboro 20: Mustangs are due some enjoyment of sipping from the victory mug after strong showings in their first two games against quality opponents. Panthers have to turn this game upside down to win.

Jake Adams: West Perry 34, East Pennsboro 28: I like how feisty this Mustangs herd is. They may not have the horsepower against some of the top Colonial teams, but they’ll get their wins and be a tough out every week. 

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 28, East Pennsboro 14: The Mustangs have already earned the respect of Colonial heavyweights Mechanicsburg and Northern; now it’s time to earn that win. Looking for WP’s young group of playmakers to take that next step.

Geoff Morrow: West Perry 29, East Pennsboro 14: I look forward to @wpfbstats screen-shoting these picks and sharing them on Twitter, where I will then see them and laugh at my own dumb words I just now wrote.

Halifax at Line Mountain

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 39, Halifax 13: Wildcats showed some offensive pop in their opener, but stopping a downhill train like Garrett Laudenslager is easier said than done.

Jake Adams: Line Mountain 38, Halifax 14: Just reading up on that Garret Laudenslager kid who ran for 16.3 yards a carry last week. Yeah, I think he’ll do just fine in this one as well.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 44, Halifax 12: I can’t imagine it’s fun for Line Mountain’s small school opponents to take the physical beating that comes with banging pads with 6-foot-3, 200-pound RB Garret Laudenslager, who is averaging more than 10 yards per carry.

Geoff Morrow: Line Mountain 45, Halifax 20: Competitive loss to Camp Hill, then a big takedown of Upper Dauphin has me believing in the Mountain as a Liberty Division threat, even though midpennconference.org doesn’t even list the Eagles in the standings.

Juniata at Lower Dauphin

Andy Shay: Juniata 28, Lower Dauphin 27: Can QB Jacob Condo lead the Indians to what most would see as an upset, but with what the Falcons are trying to accomplish and build, it’s actually not an upset? Feels like a toss-up game. If LD rolls, it means progress is being made. Gotta see it, though.

Jake Adams: Lower Dauphin 28, Juniata 14: A Keystone vs. Liberty matchup? Well this is interesting. I keep saying it, but this new-look Mid-Penn Conference is taking me some time to figure out. No more changes for at least a year, OK?

Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 31, Juniata 21: What an intriguing matchup. I *think* Lower Dauphin is the favorite here, but If Juniata QB Jacob Condo (158.5 ypg) goes out and starts slinging, the Indians could make this interesting. 

Geoff Morrow: Lower Dauphin 21, Juniata 14: Assuming the Indians don’t get lost on the way to Hummelstown – wait, no, Hershey! – this could be a very competitive contest.

Greencastle-Antrim at Mechanicsburg

Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 42, Greencastle-Antrim 7: Wildcats want to make each game a track meet and dictate tempo. They have the gun and bullets to fire a lot of different directions. It throws teams off balance. Blue Devils are better, but off balance isn’t their strong suit.

Jake Adams: Mechanicsburg 35, Greencastle-Antrim 21: I’m a believer in these Wildcats after they jumped in front of Ship last week in explosive fashion. The climb up the Colonial continues. 

Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 42, Greencastle-Antrim 24: It’s only taken two games for the Wildcats to establish themselves as the team to beat in the Colonial. And while Greencastle seems more ready than ever to bang with the division’s top teams, it’s a really big ask for the Blue Devils to slay this dragon.

Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 30, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Wildcats eyeing their first 3-0 start since 2013.

Red Land at Waynesboro

Andy Shay: Red Land 20, Waynesboro 16: I think the strength for the Patriots is their defense, and that is what must carry the load for them here. Indians’ strength is the run game and pace. That’s strength vs. strength. Give me that Pats’ D. 

Jake Adams: Waynesboro 27, Red Land 23: Indians playing with a lot of confidence right now, I imagine. Think that carries them into this Week 3 win.

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 20, Red Land 13: Another one of those last-minute schedule changes gives us a black & blue battle between the Indians and Patriots. Keep those mouthpieces in, fellas! 

Geoff Morrow: Red Land 14, Waynesboro 13: Guessing the under is in play here, but this feels like an opportune time for the Patriots to disrupt the Indians’ hot start.

James Buchanan at Newport

Andy Shay: Newport 26, James Buchanan 22: This will be the toughest test for the Buffaloes, who have methodically gone about their business. Official Welcome Back to the MPC Party for James Buchanan.

Jake Adams: Newport 19, James Buchanan 18: The Buffaloes haven’t exactly blown the doors off their first two opponents. I think James Buchanan, in its first official division game back in the Mid-Penn, gives the Buffs quite the scare. Wouldn’t be surprised if a turnover tilts this in JB’s favor.

Andy Sandrik: Newport 22, James Buchanan 17: The Buffaloes have adjusted to life in the Mid-Penn just fine with wins over Trinity and ex-TVL mate Susquenita. Make it 3-0 for Newport with a grind-it-out win over the Rockets.

Geoff Morrow: Newport 29, James Buchanan 8: Normally I would expect rockets to gravely injure buffaloes, but these are not normal times we live in nowadays.

Shippensburg at Northern

Andy Shay: Northern 21, Shippensburg 14: Polar Bears are 2-0 and Shippensburg is 0-2, so there’s a gap there that screams Polar Bears. Maybe the Greyhounds just aren’t as good as we thought. Northern is exactly what we thought it would be. I’ll ride that consistency right now.

Jake Adams: Northern 28, Shippensburg 24: I feel really strange picking a Greyhound team to start a year – any year – 0-3. But here we are. 

Andy Sandrik: Northern 14, Shippensburg 10: For me, the key matchup here is Northern QB Jordan Heisey vs. Shippensburg DE Anthony Smith, perhaps the best two players on the field. If the ‘Hounds want to avoid 0-3, Heisey can’t run for 200+ like he did last week, and that’s where Division I prospect Smith comes in.

Geoff Morrow: Shippensburg 21, Northern 20: Momentum is a strange bird, particularly in high school athletics. Sometimes, exactly when you think things are one way, they snap back a different way. That’s a trippy way of me saying I think the speed-dogs avoid an 0-3 start.

Cumberland Valley at State College

Andy Shay: State College 28, Cumberland Valley 7: You could see with each passing quarter against CD in its opener why State College is highly regarded. Lots of new guys playing regular snaps, but they have some talent to work with. Eagles won’t be able to keep pace.

Jake Adams: State College 38, Cumberland Valley 14: Too many changing parts for the Eagles to be super competitive against the likes of the Little Lions. 

Andy Sandrik: State College 28, Cumberland Valley 14: Congrats to the Eagles, who churned out their first win for Coach “Oz” last week. I’m just not sure if the Eagles can repeat that feat against a State College squad that’s beyond hyped to play in its newly renovated stadium. 

Geoff Morrow: State College 40, Cumberland Valley 21: I think we’ll see CV continue to make strides each week as coach and team figure each other out, but taming the Little Lions in Happy Valley Jr. seems like a lot to expect.

Susquenita at Upper Dauphin

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 26, Susquenita 20: Somebody is going to get win No. 1 in the Mid-Penn Conference this year, and the Trojans have shown just a bit more pop offensively to earn a nod.

Jake Adams: Susquenita 21, Upper Dauphin 14: This is one of those games I’ve seen (from afar) in recent years where the Blackhawks go in off a couple tough losses and pull out a win we didn’t quite expect. So I’m aiming to stay ahead of them.

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 20, Susquenita 16: I’m anticipating a close game between these 0-2 squads, with the Trojans having just enough firepower to subdue their Perry County visitors.

Geoff Morrow: Upper Dauphin 35, Susquenita 29: Two hungry teams. My feeling is the offenses carry the day.

Hershey at Palmyra

Andy Shay: Hershey 28, Palmyra 14: Big plays and solid defense have lit the fuse for Hershey in the early going. That formula will be in play against the Cougars. If either falters, Palmyra will take full advantage.

Jake Adams: Hershey 35, Palmyra 18: Trojans on the warpath? Not quite, but that’s certainly an eye-opening win they had last week. 

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 24, Palmyra 17: Chris Pope’s Cougars have scrapped hard in losses to Hollidaysburg and Red Land, and they’ll do just that again against Keystone-contending Hershey. But right now it’s really hard to pick against the Trojans, who just toppled Cedar Cliff.

Geoff Morrow: Hershey 27, Palmyra 13: I mean, I assume the Trojans can beat teams outside the West Shore School District, but I guess they still need to prove it.

Trinity at Steel-High

Andy Shay: Steel-High 49, Trinity 0: If the mercy rule isn’t in play early in the third quarter then the Rollers didn’t take care of business. 

Jake Adams: Steel-High 54, Trinity 7: Shamrocks’ young quarterbacks are prone to mistakes, which is completely understandable as they learn the ropes. But the Rollers are … rolling … and will feast on this matchup. 

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 56, Trinity 14: I’m predicting the Shamrocks will score two touchdowns, but that might not happen against the ferocious Steel-High defense.

Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 60, Trinity 7: Shamrocks have some serious issues to figure out on both sides of the ball, and the Rollers are not here to help.

*Not playing Week 3: Susquehanna Township, Mifflin County

Week 5 Schuylkill League Schedule: 

Friday, Oct. 9

Pottsville at Pine Grove

Andy Shay: Pottsville 38, Pine Grove 14: Nice first win in 2020 for the Cards a week ago, but this Pottsville team is a well-oiled machine that just plugs in different pieces and it still looks the same. That’s an uphill climb all the way.

Jake Adams: Pottsville 35, Pine Grove 21: Three ball carriers with at least 20 touches, at least 290 yards and at least 9 yards per carry. How? What? Why? Who? … Good luck, Cardinals.

Andy Sandrik: Pottsville 33, Pine Grove 14: Last week, Pine Grove showed us it could move the ball in its first win of the season. Now, the Cards will face an incredible defensive challenge in stopping the three-headed rushing monster that is Pottsville QB Jazce Carabello-Snowell and RBs Bobby Walchak and Travontai Davis, each of whom is averaging around 10 yards per carry.

Geoff Morrow: Pottsville 25, Pine Grove 20: I’ve seen some weird scores from the Schuylkill participants this year, so I honestly don’t know what to expect. But Crimson Tide is rising.

Panther Valley at Williams Valley

Andy Shay: Williams Valley 45, Panther Valley 14: Never knew the Vikings not to take full advantage of a defense struggling to slow anybody down. Williams Valley will keep that trend alive for PV.

Jake Adams: Williams Valley 41, Panther Valley 13: The Panthers’ defense has struggled this season, allowing 134 points this season, 57 of which came last week in a loss to Minersville. The Vikings shouldn’t have too much trouble.

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 38, Panther Valley 14: If the Vikings’ starters can take care of business early, they may find themselves with an opportunity to get some much-needed rest.

Geoff Morrow: Williams Valley 57, Panther Valley 7: Not about to overthink this one. Vikings with a running clock.

Mahanoy at Tri-Valley

Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 28, Mahanoy 14: Smooth and steady wins the race in what could be a fine-line game for either team. By fine line I mean it could go either way in my opinion. Bulldogs’ efficiency has to be the deciding factor to claim the W.

Jake Adams: Tri-Valley 35, Mahanoy 14: OK, Minersville plastered Panther Valley, and Mahanoy plastered Minersville and nearly beat Williams Valley. So the transitive of the transitive property means the Bulldogs win this one by a few scores, right?

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 28, Mahanoy 21: I know Mahanoy nearly tripped up Williams Valley last week, but I’ve just got a hunch about the Bulldogs.

Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 26, Mahanoy 24: Again, late start to the season for Bulldogs, but I think we’re looking at a pretty solid team. Golden Bears make this very interesting, though.

By Andy Shay: 

Inside The Mid-Penn Conference

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

•  Something about Hershey and the final minute of a game in 2020. Twice this season the Trojans have entered the final minute of a contest tied and won both. Nothing pumps confidence into a team like late-game heroics to pull out a win. Trojans’ next three games are Palmyra, Mifflin County and Lower Dauphin. Are we talking about a 5-0 Hershey squad?
• Cedar Cliff losing RB Jontae Morris for the year is a big loss for the Colts. Puts even more pressure on QB Gannon McMeans. We wish Morris a speedy recovery and a return to the field in 2021.
• Big game on the docket this week at West Shore Stadium (4th Down’s Game of the Week) as Bishop McDevitt pays a visit to Cedar Cliff. So it’s a big game and once again Cedar Cliff is the underdog — coming off an upset loss to Hershey as well. All indicators point to the Crusaders. Beware of the cornered dog is all I’m saying.

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.

Related: Watch High School Football Now with Eric Epler and Andy Shay. This week, we’re joined by four-star recruit Mehki Flowers and dynamic defensive end Tydre Holland Alli from Steel-High; we break down last week’s action including video highlights from several match ups; Eric and Andy make their picks and predictions and a take a look at teams that are over or under valued.

Commonwealth Division

• You take wins any way you can get them when your offense is struggling, so Cumberland Valley getting to 1-1 is a step forward after getting bulldozed by Altoona in the opener. The Eagles’ offense is struggling big-time, with only two touchdowns in eight quarters. Change takes time, and the offense new skipper Josh Oswalt runs will need some seasoning to become functional. CD East is suffering from the same low-wattage output from its offense as well. The Panthers defense, though, has put together eight solid quarters and that’s not going to change much.
•  Central Dauphin has more weapons than I thought. Good gracious. Everyone knew Timmy Smith and Max Mosey would be studs and carry the load. But head coach Glen McNamee has plenty of options and an offensive line that will give them all space.
•  WELCOME BACK Harrisburg Cougars. I said last week they were missed, and now Calvin Everett’s squad has a game with Berks Catholic this week. Not sure if Harrisburg will play any Commonwealth Division games, though. Schedule is set.
•  Nice to see Carlisle back playing after some COVID issues within the school district. Picked up a solid win against Chambersburg in their opener. Being in the Commonwealth Division has its pitfalls, though. Thundering Herd host Central Dauphin this week.

By Eric F. Epler: 

CLASS 6A                                  Rec.      Previous rank
1 St. Joseph’s Prep (12)             0-0       NR 

2 North Allegheny (7)                3-0       1
3 Central Dauphin (3)                2-0       2
4 Pittsburgh C.C. (7)                  3-1       3 

5 Archbishop Wood (12)            0-0       NR
6 McDowell (10)                       3-0       6
7 La Salle College HS (12)           2-0       NR
8 Delaware Valley (2)                0-1       5
9 Easton Area (11)                     1-0       9
10 Nazareth (11)                       2-0       10
Teams to watch: Central Bucks East (1) 1-0, Northeast (12) 0-0, Parkland (11) 0-0, State College (6) 0-1

CLASS 5A                      Rec.      Result

1 Pine-Richland (7)        3-0       1
2 Warwick (3)               3-0       3

3 Gateway (7)               2-0       2
4 Peters Township (7)    3-0       4
5 Cathedral Prep (10)    3-1       5
6 Governor Mifflin (3)    2-0       6
7 East Stroudsburg South (11)    1-0       7
8 Penn-Trafford (7)       3-1       NR
9 Imhotep Charter (12)  0-0       NR
10 Exeter Township (3)  3-0       NR
Teams to watch: Mechanicsburg (3) 2-0, Southern Lehigh (11) 1-0, South Fayette (7) 2-2, Woodland Hills (7) 3-1.
           
CLASS 4A                                  Rec.      Previous
1 Thomas Jefferson (7)              3-0       1
2 Jersey Shore (4)                      4-0       2
3 Lampeter-Strasburg (3)           3-0       3
4 Bishop McDevitt (3)                2-0       4
5 Aliquippa (7)                          4-0       5
6 Berks Catholic (3)                   2-1       6
7 Oil City (10)                            4-0       8
8 Belle Vernon (7)                     3-1       9
9 Chartiers Valley (7)                 4-0       NR
10 Allentown C.C. (11)               1-1       10
Teams to watch: Crestwood (2) 4-0, Harbor Creek (10) 4-0, McKeesport (7) 3-1, Plum (7) 4-0.

CLASS 3A                                  Rec.      Result
1 Central Valley (7)                    4-0       1
2 Wyomissing (3)                      3-0       2
3 Hickory (10)                           4-0       3
4 Clearfield (9)                          2-0       4
5 Neumann-Goretti (12)            0-0       NR
6 Montoursville                         4-0       7
7 Bedford (5)                            4-0       6
8 Scranton Prep (2)                   1-0       8
9 Notre Dame-Green Pond (11) 4-0       9
10 Saint Mary’s (9)                    3-0       10
Teams to watch: Danville (4) 3-1, North Catholic (7) 4-0, North Schuylkill (11) 4-0, Tyrone (6) 3-0. 

CLASS 2A                                  Rec.      Result
1 Southern Columbia (4)            3-0       1
2 Wilmington (10)                     4-0       2
3 Dunmore (2)                          1-0       3
4 Berlin Brothersvalley (5)         4-0       4
5 Beaver Falls (7)                       4-0       5
6 Bellwood-Antis (6)                  4-0       6
7 Farrell (10)                             3-1       7
8 Washington (7)                      3-1       9
9 Windber (5)                           4-0       10
10 Richland (6)                          3-1       NR
Teams to watch: Bloomsburg (4) 2-1, McGuffey (7) 3-1, Mount Carmel (4) 2-1, Western Beaver (7) 3-0. 

CLASS 1A                                  Rec.      Result
1 Clairton (7)                             3-0       1
2 Old Forge (2)                          1-0       2
3 Jeannette (7)                          3-1       3
4 Steel-High (3)                         2-0       5
5 Canton (4)                              1-0       4
6 Muncy (4)                              4-0       6
7 Williams Valley (11)                3-1       7
8 Rochester (7)                         4-0       8
9 Portage (6)                             3-0       9
10 Delone Catholic (3)               3-0       NR
Teams to watch: Bishop Guilfoyle (6) 2-2, Coudersport (9) 3-0, Springdale (7) 4-0, Tri-Valley (11) 1-0.

Standings: 

Andy Shay: Week 2 13-8  Overall: 27-13 

Geoff Morrow: Week 2 12-9  Overall: 25-15 

Andy Sandrik: Week 2 13-8  Overall: 25-15 

Jake Adams: Week 2  13-8  Overall: 24-16  

Related: Andy Shay’s Elite 11 teams

Related: News and Notes: Mid-Penn Commonwealth

Related: News and Notes: Mid-Penn Keystone

Related: News and Notes: Mid-Penn Colonial

Related: News and Notes: Mid-Penn Capital

Related: News and Notes: Mid-Penn Liberty

Related: News and Notes: Schuylkill League

 Watch High School Football Now with Eric Epler and Andy Shay for free exclusively on the Small Player, Big Play app. Guests this week included Cedar Cliff’s Gannon McMeans and Trenten Smith and Altoona’s Vince Nedimyer Jr. and Marcus Day.  Download the app today! 

Week 2 Mid-Penn Schedule: 

Friday, Oct. 2

Hollidaysburg 26, Altoona 12

Andy Shay: Altoona 33, Hollidaysburg 7: It wasn’t that Altoona sprung a monster upset in Week 1, it was how the Mountain Lions did that stood out. Still not 100% sure they aren’t a one-hit wonder. This rivalry test will reveal the answer.

Jake Adams: Altoona 30, Hollidaysburg 14: I’m not sure what last week’s win means for the Mountain Lions just yet, but I’m intrigued. 

Andy Sandrik: Altoona 36, Hollidaysburg 10: I haven’t seen the film just yet, but beating Cumberland Valley in any season requires depth, talent and execution. Altoona seems to possess all of these things, so I’m going with the Mountain Lions to improve to 2-0.

Geoff Morrow: Altoona 34, Hollidaysburg 21: Welp, got both of these teams’ games wrong last week. So now I’m wondering if the Lions can post a winning record for the first time since 2014.

Central Dauphin 35, State College 13

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 24, State College 20: Rams have a leg up with four quarters under their belt, but you know State College will be right there trading blows with CD. Don’t expect anything different.

Jake Adams: Central Dauphin 28, State College 24: In a normal season, I’m not sure where I’d go with this pick. But I’ll take the Rams because they already have one game under their belts.

Andy Sandrik: Central Dauphin 20, State College 7: Welcome to football season, State College! In any other situation I’d predict this to be a one-possession game, but I fully expect CD, with a full game of dominance under its belt, to control play from beginning to end. 

Geoff Morrow: Central Dauphin 26, State College 22: My colleagues above all referencing belts… Wanna know what’s under my belt? A pandemic belly.

Carlisle 21, Chambersburg 9

Andy Shay: Chambersburg 31, Carlisle 14: There’s a slight talent/weapons gap that favors the Trojans; my only concern is there’s a toll that comes with playing CD. Carlisle opener is not favorable for the Herd.

Jake Adams: Chambersburg 21, Carlisle 14: The Trojans may not be as potent as they were the last few years, but they’re still dangerous. And the Herd will feel like a scrimmage after getting thumped by state title contender Central Dauphin last week.

Andy Sandrik: Chambersburg 35, Carlisle 14: The biggest improvements typically come from Week 1 to Week 2, and the Trojans have plenty of improvements to consider following a beat down by Central Dauphin last week.

Geoff Morrow: Chambersburg 29, Carlisle 20: This was a serious blowout last year, but will be interesting to see how Trojans respond to getting slugged by CD last week.

Cumberland Valley 7, CD East 6

Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 17, CD East 10: I’m just going to say I don’t feel good about this pick at all. Neither offense displayed much pop in the opener. Who makes that jump from Week 1 to Week 2 is your winner.

Jake Adams: Cumberland Valley 24, CD East 20: The Eagles aren’t going to only have four second-half offensive snaps again, right? 

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 28, CD East 14: CV surrendered over 300 rushing yards last week. The Eagles should improve that number against CD East, which managed just one TD in a short-notice game against Exeter Township last week.

Geoff Morrow: CD East 22, Cumberland Valley 19: Something has to give after both teams took some lumps last week. It’s that eye-popping rushing-yards-allowed number by CV that gives me the most concern.

Steel-High 43, Middletown 21

Andy Shay: Middletown 38, Steel-High 35: In the last couple years the Rollers have postured like they were ready to compete with the Blue Raiders. And, rightfully, they are in that position again. I think the Rollers can win this game, but you gotta get one to nab my pick. Quarterback play is gonna be important.

Jake Adams: Middletown 39, Steel-High 34: Alex Erby looks like the real deal, and the Rollers’ talent will make this an incredibly intriguing matchup. But my guess is the Raiders still pull this one out. 

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 33, Middletown 32: There are still a handful of seats remaining on the Rollers’ bandwagon. Jump on now, because there’s a chance those seats won’t be available after this weekend.

Geoff Morrow: Steel-High 40, Middletown 36: Four straight wins in this series for the Blue Raiders, and I just know how much that eats at the Rollers. This one should be televised.

 Related: 4th Down Magazine Player of the Week: Middletown’s Julio Rodriguez

East Pennsboro 38, Fleetwood 23

Andy Shay: Fleetwood 27, East Pennsboro 14: A last-second game grab for both clubs. That was never even considered prior to 2020 – taking a game on 72 hours or less from kickoff. Clearly a different world we live in now. Anyway, Panthers struggled in their opener and Fleetwood has 12 solid quarters of football on its resume including a W.  

Jake Adams: Fleetwood 29, East Pennsboro 18: An 11th-hour game in the 11th hour of the 30th day of the ninth month of the 2020th year AD. If that’s not something …

Andy Sandrik: Fleetwood 40, East Pennsboro 30: A battle of two teams that have given up points, with about 20 minutes to prepare for each other. Could we see a shootout in Enola?

Geoff Morrow: Fleetwood 22, East Pennsboro 20: Tigers haven’t embarrassed themselves, following a blowout victory over Pottstown with losses to tough Conrad Weiser and Wyomissing programs. The experience of three games should help, especially as the Panthers try to figure out who they are.

Hershey 28, Cedar Cliff 21

Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 24, Hershey 10: From my vantage point, the biggest difference here is the QB play for Cedar Cliff is more consistent and reliable, and up front the Colts are more solid. Trojans’ run game has some variety and pop.

Jake Adams: Cedar Cliff 31, Hershey 21: I’m gonna say the Trojans keep this one close all game until a late turnover knocks them out. Colts are in for a bigger fight in this matchup than they’ve seen in a while. 

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 21, Hershey 7: Both teams are coming off emotional wins that went down to the wire. This game could be close, but the Colts seem to have a few more playmakers to ultimately make the difference.

Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 28, Hershey 14: Impressive performances from both last week, but the Colts are clear favorites going in.

Bishop McDevitt 40, Lower Dauphin 0

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 42, Lower Dauphin 0: Another quasi-scrimmage, it appears, for the Crusaders. Impressed their stars were able to shine so bright in the opener. That tells me they are taking these favorable matchup games seriously. Falcons are still trying to fix a mess.

Jake Adams: Bishop McDevitt 42, Lower Dauphin 7: Not getting cute. Crusaders cruise to this Week 2 win. 

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 49, Lower Dauphin 0: No matter how ugly it gets against the mighty Crusaders, the Falcons will be happy just to take the field after their Week 1 game was canceled.

Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 50, Lower Dauphin 14: Crusaders have the horses.

Red Land 29, Palmyra 21

Andy Shay: Red Land 10, Palmyra 7: See what I did there? Same score the Patriots had a week ago but came up on the short end. Neither offense is gonna light it up. Expect a tight one.

Jake Adams: Red Land 14, Palmyra 7: That’s a tough loss the Patriots took last week. But the Cougars losing to Hollidaysburg is more alarming to me. Patriots’ defense has another strong week to win this. 

Andy Sandrik: Red Land 17, Palmyra 10: Points were hard to come by for both teams last week, and something tells me that trend continues Friday. Patriots seem to have a bit more defense, though, and I think they’ll make a late stop to preserve their first win of the season.

Geoff Morrow: Red Land 20, Palmyra 18: Pates need to showcase a little bit of offense, and if/when they do, I expect they’ll be a solid team this season.

Governor Mifflin 55, Mifflin County 14

Andy Shay: Governor Mifflin 42, Mifflin County 0: So it goes from bad to possibly worse for MC after getting rolled by Bishop McDevitt in Week 1. Now you get the Mustangs and that wicked running game. That’s a wee bit cruel.

Jake Adams: Governor Mifflin 49, Mifflin County 6: This is a brutal way to start 0-2 if you’re the Huskies.

Andy Sandrik: Governor Mifflin 48, Mifflin County 7: It’s hard to imagine MiffCo having a tougher matchup than it did in a Week 1 blowout loss to Bishop McDevitt, but man, Governor Mifflin just put a 48-7 HURTING on perennial district power Wilson. I’m taking the Mustangs to win by the same score this week.

Geoff Morrow: Governor Mifflin 55, Mifflin County 13: About time these Mifflins got together. Both named after Thomas Mifflin, our commonwealth’s first governor. Too bad he died in 1800; otherwise, I’d tell him to put on a mask and go watch this game.

Mechanicsburg 35, Shippensburg 20

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 21, Mechanicsburg 17: It’s all about the big plays for me. I’m banking on the Greyhounds defense to limit those to a minimum. IF the Wildcats hit on three plays of 40 or more yards this game is theirs. Tight squeeze all the way.

Jake Adams: Mechanicsburg 27, Shippensburg 20: I would be really scared to go into Shippensburg against a ticked-off Greyhounds after they were just upset by Waynesboro. But if the ‘Cats hit on a few big plays again against a young defense, they just might pull off this tough road win.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 21, Mechanicsburg 14: The ‘Hounds don’t give up a whole lot of big plays, something the Wildcats thrive on. How will Mechanicsburg respond when drives stall out? An equally important question: Can Ship’s running game, which managed around 60 yards last week, limit the ‘Cats possession time? 

Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 38, Shippensburg 31: First meeting since 2015, and this one is intriguing. Got a feeling special teams will play a critical role.

Northern 32, West Perry 25

Andy Shay: Northern 28, West Perry 14: Polar Bears did a little bit of everything well in their opener, and that level of execution and complementary football will be required again. The Mustangs showed some junkyard scrap in Week 1, and that matters.

Jake Adams: Northern 35, West Perry 14: Was really impressed by how the Mustangs played last week. They’ll be a pain all year and will spring an upset if a team overlooks them. That’s not Northern, though. 

Andy Sandrik: Northern 24, West Perry 21: I’m not convinced that the Polar Bears are going to run away with this one. WP earned a lot of respect with the way it handled division-contending Mechanicsburg.

Geoff Morrow: Northern 25, West Perry 16: Wow, there are a LOT of really interesting matchups this week. I keep waiting to predict a few yawners, but then the Mid-Penn keeps dropping battles like this on me.

Waynesboro 14, Greencastle-Antrim 7

Andy Shay: Waynesboro 28, Greencastle-Antrim 20: The combo of two productive running backs and run-slowing defense is what gets the Indians across the finish line. Blue Devils are NOT easy to beat, though. Muck it up and they will knock you down. 

Jake Adams: Waynesboro 23, Greencastle-Antrim 20: One of these teams could be in a driver’s seat for Mid-Penn Colonial supremacy, especially if Ship knocks out the Wildcats. What a world. 

Andy Sandrik: Waynesboro 30, Greencastle-Antrim 20: I like to joke with Greencastle coach Devin McCauley — who doubles as the Blue Devils track and field coach — that he’s coached more state champions (Taryn Parks, now running at North Carolina) than the rest of the Colonial Division combined. A win here would put Greencastle in the driver’s seat for McCauley’s first division championship, in football that is. The issue, though, is that it really, really hurts when Waynesboro’s contact-seeking wrecking ball of an RB, Mykel Holden, hits you. 

Geoff Morrow: Greencastle-Antrim 23, Waynesboro 20: Some Franklin County fun. Blue Devils find a way.

Camp Hill 28, Big Spring 14

Andy Shay: Camp Hill 26, Big Spring 20: The Lions are fairly one dimensional and can be a bit leaky on defense. I’ll take the big-play capabilities of the Lions against a Bulldogs squad that is trending in a good direcion.

Jake Adams: Camp Hill 27, Big Spring 22: All the reshuffling in the Mid-Penn has me really confused. Can the Bulldogs’ pass defense hold up again Daniel Shuster and the Lions’ aerial attack? We’ll find out. 

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 24, Camp Hill 21: I’m not sure what to make of Camp Hill, a team that scored 35 points last week but managed just six first downs and 15 yards of rushing. I’ll take the Bulldogs at home, but if Camp Hill gets its passing game going, who knows what will happen. 

Geoff Morrow: Camp Hill 30, Big Spring 21: So long as it’s not windy or rainy, I like the Lions’ chances.

Boiling Springs 42, Trinity 0

Andy Shay: Boiling Springs 32, Trinity 17: When you score 51 that isn’t an accident. There’s a reason an offense clears the half-century mark no matter how weak the opposition might be. Too many questions still hanging over the T-Rocks to see them taking this one.

Jake Adams: Boiling Springs 35, Trinity 14: Oh, yes. The Bubblers are about to be 2-0. Quite a fun early turnaround this is after making all four of us look bad last week with our picks. 

Andy Sandrik: Boiling Springs 28, Trinity 14: The losing streak is over for Boiling Springs. The Bubblers are playing with confidence. And just in time for a throwdown with heated rival Trinity.

Geoff Morrow: Boiling Springs 25, Trinity 15: Since 2006, these teams have played just ONE game (out of 13) that was statistically close. Which is strange, because this is NOT a one-sided rivalry.

Newport 20, Susquenita 6

Andy Shay: Newport 26, Susquenita 15: That was a lot of yards and points the Blackhawks surrendered in Week 1. Buffaloes had to scratch and claw to get their initial MPC victory, and that will serve them well.

Jake Adams: Newport 27, Susquenita 15: We’ve seen the Blackhawks follow up stinkers with shockers in recent years. Can they do it again? I don’t think so this week.

Andy Sandrik: Newport 22, Susquenita 15: Can Newport be a player in the freshly minted Liberty Division? The answer is yes, but not without winning this scrap against ex-TVL foe Susquenita, which is eager for revenge after a 42-34 setback last season.

Geoff Morrow: Newport 34, Susquenita 19: Buffaloes’ offense should find some room to roam against the Blackhawks.

Line Mountain 46, Upper Dauphin 22

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 26, Line Mountain 24: Saw enough out of this new-look Trojans squad in the opener to feel fairly confident they are ready to turn the page and embark on a new journey of their own. Line Mountain will be a tall task, though.

Jake Adams: Upper Dauphin 30, Line Mountain 22: Back to my dart-throwing ways. I’ll figure things out soon enough.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 28, Upper Dauphin 16: UD had a monster of a Week 1 opponent in Steel-High but showed some potential in its running game. Will that be enough to stop the Eagles, who went step-for-step with division contender Camp Hill last week? 

Geoff Morrow: Upper Dauphin 39, Line Mountain 28: Could and should be a back-and-forth battle, which leads me to believe turnovers will play a pivotal role.

Juniata 41, Halifax 26

Andy Shay: Juniata 30, Halifax 14: The Indians have more bark in their bite offensively, and that will show up in a more favorable matchup. Playing Middletown didn’t hurt the Indians one bit. They are prepped for this one.

Jake Adams: Juniata 36, Halifax 16: What a reprieve this must be for Juniata. Not Halifax, though.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 48, Halifax 21: Credit to Juniata for putting up 19 points against a formidable Middletown squad. Makes me believe the Indians have more than a fighting chance in the small-school Liberty Division.

Geoff Morrow: Juniata 43, Halifax 14: A return to more familiar territory will suit the Indians well this week.

*Teams not playing Week 2: Susquehanna Township

Week 4 Schuylkill League Schedule: 

Friday, Oct. 2

Pine Grove 20, Blue Mountain 12

Andy Shay: Blue Mountain 28, Pine Grove 26: It hasn’t been an easy road for the winless Cardinals, and this is a real opportunity to snare that elusive first SL victory. Need everything to go right, and that’s tough.

Jake Adams: Blue Mountain 26, Pine Grove 16: I miss skiing at Blue Mountain. My knees don’t, but I do.

Andy Sandrik: Blue Mountain 25, Pine Grove 20: This might be Pine Grove’s best chance in its first four games to score a win, but it won’t be easy on the road against a team that has already tasted victory. 

Geoff Morrow: Blue Mountain 35, Pine Grove 14: Eagles have lost a couple of tough ones, but I still feel like this is a pretty steep climb for the winless Cardinals.

Williams Valley 28, Mahanoy 20

Andy Shay: Williams Valley 32, Mahanoy 29: This one has all the feel of a shootout, and when was the last time the Vikings didn’t enjoy chasing points with anybody? The lower the better for Mahanoy.

Jake Adams: Mahanoy 34, Williams Valley 30: Playing in a pandemic is a disaster waiting to happen. And even when it’s not, we still run into messes like this where a team has to play two games four days apart. 

Andy Sandrik: Mahanoy 28, Williams Valley 27: I know these kids are teenagers and can operate solely on fast food with no sleep, but I’m really concerned about the Vikings in a tough road matchup after playing two games in four days last week.

Geoff Morrow: Mahanoy 33, Williams Valley 30: This seems like a toss-up game to me, though we’re all still figuring out this new Schuylkill League schedule. I feel like we’ll know a lot more after this week.

Tri-Valley 57, Shenandoah Valley 0

Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 20, Shenandoah Valley 14: Nice to finally see the Bulldogs on the COVID-19 always fluid schedule for 2020. SV has three games under its belt but has been roughed up and hasn’t been able to do much offensively. Feels like an even matchup.

Jake Adams: Tri-Valley 17, Shenandoah Valley 9: This is about as 2020 a matchup as we can expect with one team getting a three-week head start.

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 28, Shenandoah Valley 14: In this Twilight Zone of a football season, do I take the T-V team making its season debut, or the more experienced Blue Devils, who have gotten hammered 127-14 in 12 quarters of football? 

Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 30, Shenandoah Valley 7: Late start for the Bulldogs, but this is the right way to do it.