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.
Northern looking to rebound:
Northern has to climb off the deck after a gut-punch 22-0 loss to Waynesboro and be playoff ready for an ELCO team led by running quarterback Braden Bohannon. I say running quarterback because ELCO doesn’t throw even when you think it’s a passing situation. Third-and-seven is a running play. That’s just who they are. And nobody has slowed them down. Competition-wise I think the teams in this District 3 Class 4A semifinal are on fairly even footing in terms of their schedules. Overall, I think the Polar Bears and head coach Bill Miller have more weapons at their disposal. Northern’s defense has not played its best game and this would be a very good time to make that so. Posting fewer than 100 yards and getting shut out by a 3-2 team – full credit to Waynesboro is definitely in order – is not a good sign. It’s a crazy season, watch Northern go out and score 38 points and win going away. Gotta corral Bohannon first, though.
Tough task on tap for Mechanicsburg
Mechanicsburg knows they are up against it when they travel to face No. 1 seed Governor Mifflin Friday night in Shillington. They know FBS recruit Nick Singleton is an elite running back. The junior is the real deal. There’s more to the Mustangs, though, than Singleton. The big disadvantage for the Wildcats is along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. That’s going to be key. All I know is the group of Wildcats has moxy, a quarterback who plays with the mentality of a linebacker and they will keep taking their shots no matter what. They are clear underdogs, but that was the case a year ago when they ventured to Warwick and gave the Warriors all they could handle in the first round. That will serve them well. It’s just hard to ignore how dominant Governor Mifflin has been this season. And I’m aware they play a very soft schedule. But they dropped 41 unanswered on Wilson in Week 1. That just is alarming to me.
