By Andy Shay:
Each week during the 2020 season we’ll offer some news, notes, tidbits and opinions from each of the five divisions in the Mid-Penn Conference.
COVID-19 plays havoc on District 3-6A field:
Welcome to COVID-19 pandemic and District 3 high school football playoffs. So the Harrisburg Cougars found that elusive fourth game they needed to be playoff eligible, bump Wilson out of the four-team Class 6A party and deny Central York a home game. State College stepped in, kudos to the Little Lions for playing the already scheduled game with Harrisburg early right on the deadline. It didn’t matter if Harrisburg won or lost (the Cougars won), they were going to get in with four games. Harrisburg’s victory over State College meant the No. 1 seed when the brackets were officially announced at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Less than five hours after the brackets were made official Harrisburg School District announced a player on the football team, who did not travel to the game Monday as a precaution, had indeed tested positive for COVID-19. That means Harrisburg had to cease all activities until Nov. 5. By District 3 rules for all sports in the pandemic world, once the brackets are set any team that has a COVID-19 issue will automatically forfeit their upcoming contest. So, Harrisburg must forfeit its District 3 Class 6A semifinal to William Allen (York High). It was only five hours after the brackets were announced, but by rule Wilson could not take Harrisburg’s place and enter the playoffs. Look, it’s a strange world we are living in now. We all know that. And the rules and regulations for COVID-19 playoff guidelines were set in August. No complaining now when it looked like in August there was going to be zero football played in 2020. Rules are rules.
Rams favorites in the District 3-6A tournament:
Central Dauphin is still the favorite in Class 6A and will now host Central York. This should be an interesting game. Central York has not fared very well in these big-school playoff games the last two years despite splendid regular seasons. Rams are built for a scrap and 48 minutes of trading paint. We will be there Friday night at the Speedway for this one!
Carlisle’s Sean Smith set school rushing record:
I hope Carlisle running back Sean Smith plans to take the lads up front out to The Hamilton on High Street for Hotchee Dogs after he set a school record for rushing yards in a game with 333 in a victory over Cedar Cliff. The Colts’ defensive line isn’t a pushover, so Smith clearly had some help. He scored four touchdowns in the 35-28 victory as well. The french fries with gravy aren’t bad, either.
