Entering the final week of the season, there still seems like so much to play for despite only four regular-season quarters remaining.
Once the first season is officially over, though, the attention span of fans is like that of a gnat. Playoffs. Playoffs. Playoffs.
Let’s be honest, that’s all anyone is thinking about today, right? Me too. Before we move on, though, let’s grab a few championship notes and recognize those accomplishments.
State College secured the big-school Commonwealth Division title in stunning fashion by outlasting Bishop McDevitt by a field goal in a game that featured 113 total points and nearly 1,100 yards of total offense. So much for defense winning championships, eh?
The 58-55 final, only that close because the Crusaders scored a pair of touchdowns in the final six minutes, saw quarterbacks Eddie Corkery (State College) and Stone Saunders (McDevitt) throw for 395 and 439 yards, respectively with eight combined TD passes.
State College finished the regular season 9-1 overall, losing only to Harrisburg 7-6 in Week 3 at Severance Field. The 58 points against McDevitt marked the third consecutive outing where the Little Lions scored at least 55 points.
No worries about the loss for McDevitt. They are the District 3 Class 5A favorites no matter what seed they are awarded.
The Keystone Division crown came down to a winner-take-all affair at Shippensburg between the Greyhounds and Mechanicsburg. Both teams have dealt with tragedy this season yet reached this showdown unbeaten.
Like every other Wildcats game this season, Mechanicsburg won going away scoring 35 of the first 42 points to take complete control.
Josh Smith was once again at the center of the storm. The WR-DB amassed 205 total yards of offense, scored twice and locked down his second consecutive 1,000 receiving yard season. He also had an INT on defense.
Trinity head coach Kevin Yarnevich is the Mid-Penn Conference Coach Of The Year. There is no debate. The Shamrocks wrapped up the Colonial title by drubbing Middletown to finish the conference slate 7-1. Trinity will make a strong case in Class AAA in the upcoming District 3 playoffs. Everyone talks about the players and coaches that left this program prior to the 2024 season. I’m thinking it’s more about who stayed that mattered more than anything.
Steel-High and Juniata will share the Capital Division crown with one loss each. The Indians nudged past a game Upper Dauphin outfit in Week 10 to secure a share of the crown, while as expected the Rollers had no problems overpowering Newport.
For the Rollers this should be properly celebrated. For the previous four years winning MPC titles was an afterthought as the program was at small-school state championship level. This team was always going to take a step back, but yet in many ways it didn’t.
PLAYOFF 2 CENTS
No fewer than 15 teams from the MPC have qualified for the second season. I’ll start with teams that just made it across the finish line. Milton Hershey finished 5-5 but grabbed the 10th and final spot in Class 4A. Lower Dauphin had a rough first half of the year, but closed strong to finish 11th in Class 5A. Cumberland Valley was all over the map this season, beating Harrisburg then losing to Chambersburg for example, but the Eagles finished 5-5 overall and are the No. 8 seed in Class 6A. … I think Steel-High (2A), Trinity (3A) and Bishop McDevitt (5A) have legitimate District 3 title shots. I actually see all three as the team to beat in their respective classifications. Class 6A is my box of chocolates. Who knows what you are going to get. Wilson rose up and stunned previously unbeaten and top dog Manheim Township to claim L-L Section I title in convincing fashion. Are the Bulldogs now the team to beat. What about Central York? Is Harrisburg a player? All I know is these games are going to be intriguing at the highest level.
