RECORDS (Week 13 — Overall — Perfect Picks):
Andy Shay: 8-3 — 228-54 — 1
Geoff Morrow: 7-4 — 213-69 — 3
Andy Sandrik: 6-5 — 209-73 — 0
Adam Kulikowski: 7-4 — 195-87 — 1
Friday’s Games
District 3 Class 5A Championship
(7) Exeter Township at (1) Governor Mifflin, 7
Andy Shay: Governor Mifflin 49, Exeter Township 28: The Eagles know exactly what to expect here with a loss to the Mustangs already on their ledger. And that will serve them well. That shock factor of this GM offense won’t be in play. At the end of the day, I think Mifflin has the better defense.
Geoff Morrow: Governor Mifflin 45, Exeter Township 35: I fully expect Mike Drago’s box score will have a lot of marks on it indicating a lot of yards gained. And while I realize this was a 33-point game back in early October, the Eagles haven’t lost since and have beaten some pretty good teams. So I anticipate something a lot closer.
Andy Sandrik: Governor Mifflin 42, Exeter Township 28: Trying to pick state football games is harder than it looks, but having Governor Mifflin and Nick Singleton in the dance sure makes it a lot easier.
Adam Kulikowski: Governor Mifflin 55, Exeter Township 21: I may be in last place, but even I can see that Governor Mifflin is destined for the District 3 Class 5A championship.
District 3 Class 4A Championship
(2) Lampeter Strasburg at (1) Bishop McDevitt, 7
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 35, Lampeter-Strasburg 14: Two teams with more than 500 points scored each while also combining to limit 16 of 23 opponents to one score or less in a game. So what gives? The big-play strike of the Crusaders is always in play, and my guess is that will show up here a couple times.
Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 21, Lampeter-Strasburg 14: Bizarrely similar seasons for these two District 3 powerhouse programs, with both losing their season openers but not really being challenged since. Easy to overlook with their freakishly high point totals, though, is the fact that both defenses have been outstanding. I’m going against the grain and predicting it’s the defenses that rule this day.
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 49, Lampeter-Strasburg 21: We haven’t seen McDevitt truly get pushed in a game since Week 1. Are the Pioneers the team that can keep up with the Crusaders?
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 55, Lampeter-Strasburg 24: This might be the best test the Crusaders receive since Week 1 against La Salle College. Having said that, the outcome should not be in question.
Saturday’s Games
PIAA Class 6A Quarterfinals
(6-1) State College at (3-1) Harrisburg, 1
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 20, State College 13: It was just a month ago these two hooked up on a Saturday at Severance Field in a run-of-the-mill Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division game. It was a defensive battle then, and I don’t see much changing this time around.
Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 23, State College 20: Just a couple of hard-nosed, tough clubs, led by coaching staffs who know how to get the best out of their players and who find something to improve each week. Mid-Penn Commonwealth action at its best, though this time played after Thanksgiving. An absolute treat — dare I suggest even better than pumpkin pie — for the fans around these parts.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 35, State College 14: When the going has gotten tough for the Cougars this postseason, Mahkai Hopkins has gotten going. Tough yards from Hopkins, and a smart game from freshman QB Shawn Lee Jr., should be enough to get over the hump for Harrisburg, which already brings an airtight defense to Severance Field.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 28, State College 21: Both teams likely feel that they left points on the field in their first matchup in October. Stopping Mahkai Hopkins could cause the Little Lions fits — and that’s the edge I see for the Cougars in this one.
PIAA Class 3A Quarterfinals
(3-1) Wyomissing vs. (2-1) Scranton Prep, at Governor Mifflin HS, 2
Andy Shay: Wyomissing 24, Scranton Prep 14: Couple of undefeated powers that have been on a collision course all season while pretty much killing teams along the way. Both have little problem putting points on the board and feature defenses that know how to lock down the opposition. My lean in this one favors the Spartans’ defense. It’s faster and more volatile than you might think.
Geoff Morrow: Scranton Prep 28, Wyomissing 21: Be on the lookout for a dude named London Montgomery toting the rock for the Cavaliers. The Division I recruit has the backing of a top-notch defense, too. Basically, this battle of unbeatens — the Nos. 2 and 3 teams in the state — could, and should, be a lot of fun. Coin flip for me.
Andy Sandrik: Wyomissing 27, Scranton Prep 21: Anything can happen when two unbeatens clash, but my gut is telling me that the Wyomissing defense, which allows 8.23 points per game, comes through with the goods.Adam Kulikowski: Wyomissing 23, Scranton Prep 17: Watching the Spartans’ defense clamp down on the Bubblers last week was a sight to see — and Boiling Springs still posted more points on Wyo than any team not named Southern Columbia. Those NEPA boys have done similar feats in Steamtown all season. Expect this one to be a low-scoring affair.
