Vote now for your 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week Sponsored by Crown Trophy of Harrisburg (in Lemoyne). Our poll will remain open until Tuesday evening at 11 p.m. Vote once per hour for your favorite competitor.
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Cole Bartram, jr., RB/LB, Northern: Bartram scored both touchdowns in overtime, from 1 and 3 yards out, in a 28-27 double-overtime win over East Pennsboro. He overcame two near-costly fumbles and pummeled the Polar Bears for 232 yards on 31 carries.
Aaron Angelo, so., RB, East Pennsboro: A breakout game for the youngster in a 28-27 2OT loss to Northern. Angelo rushed 21 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught a 10-yard TD pass from Dakota Campbell. He did lose a fumble, however, in a tight game.
Marcus Quaker, jr., QB, West Perry: It must’ve been a Friday night. Quaker’s numbers feel average now, with how often he puts up a big performance. The signal caller was 15 of 23 for 232 yards and two touchdowns (16 and 19 yards) and rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to finish with 70 yards on 11 totes in a 31-14 win over Big Spring.
Elijah Johnson, jr., RB, Milton Hershey: We like even numbers here. Johnson ran for a tidy 200 yards, scoring three times, on 30 carries in the Spartans’ 42-27 win over Mifflin County. The monster game included TD runs of 31, 7 and 5 yards in the second and third quarters to put the game out of reach. He also had a 1-yard reception.
Derek Gibney, jr., QB, Susquenita: The junior righty threw for 239 yards (14-for-27, 0 picks) and rushed for 39 more (on 7 carries) in a 52-14 rout of Newport. Gibney accounted for four touchdowns, throwing one each to twin brother Drew and Kamar Lewis and two to Athan Robinson as the Blackhawks kept alive their hopes for a Mid-Penn Liberty Division crown.
Tavon Cooper, sr., RB, Greencastle-Antrim: Cooper rushed for 131 yards and caught five passes for 31 yards, and he scored twice in a 38-23 win over Susquehanna Township on Friday.
Grady Heiser, so., QB, Gettysburg: The surprising Warriors (6-1) got 240 yards passing (12 of 17) and 82 rushing (14 carries) from its signal caller in a 21-10 Mid-Penn Colonial win over Waynesboro. He threw a 61-yard TD pass to Tanner Newman and rushed for another.
Stone Saunders, so., QB, Bishop McDevitt: Saunders completed 13 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns (two apiece to Rico Scott and Jeff Penn) that covered 7, 54, 24 and 46 yards to lead the Crusaders to a 70-0 blowout win over Hershey.
Isaac Sines, jr., QB, Cumberland Valley: The 7-1 Eagles continue to get big performances from their breakout QB. Sines ran in two TDs from 7 and 22 yards, and he hit Caiden Pines for an early 83-yard touchdown in CV’s 35-21 win over Central Dauphin. Sines finished 8 of 11 for 183 yards through the air and rushed for 124 yards on 13 totes. He made all five PATs.
Manny Miller, sr., DE, Altoona: Three sacks deserves to make the list, and that’s what Miller recorded Friday night, bringing down Chambersburg QB Riley Harmon three times in a 27-23 win. Altoona’s defense sacked Harmon five times and won despite leading for just the final 21 seconds of the game.
Jasper Shepps, fr., WR/DB/K/KR, Juniata: The rookie shined most on defense in a 13-7 win over Boiling Springs, where he had seven tackles (six solo) and picked off two passes for 22 yards. In the other two phases of the game, he caught three passes for 48 yards; averaged 37.4 yards on five punts, 49.3 yards on three kickoffs and made an extra point; and had a 24-yard kick return.
Casey Smith, sr, WR/DB, Juniata: Like Shepps, Smith was one of Juniata’s many defensive standouts as the Indians rallied for a 13-7 victory over Boiling Springs by scoring twice in the fourth quarter. Smith posted a team-high nine tackles and one pick defensively, but he also caught one pass for 14 yards.
Ian Bates, so., RB/DB, Line Mountain: Bates’ first-half production at Halifax propelled the visiting Eagles to a sizable lead at the break. The diminutive yet powerful feature back rushed 14 times for 120 first-half yards while scoring on runs of 1, 34 and 8 yards as Line Mountain opened a 27-0 lead. Bates finished with 154 rushing yards (23 carries), but he also caught a pair of passes for 34 yards.
Kaiden Maurer, fr., QB/DB, Line Mountain: Making just his second varsity season, Maurer displayed his accuracy throughout the Eagles’ 43-13 victory at Halifax. Maurer completed his first five throws, eventually winding up 12-for-16 for 154 yards and one touchdown. His 16-yard TD throw to fellow freshman Max Johnson was spliced between Bates’ second and third rushing touchdowns. With Maurer directing the show, the Eagles scored on six of their seven possessions, converted nine third- and fourth-down situations into first downs or scores, ran their winning streak to two and kept alive their hopes for a Mid-Penn Liberty Division title.
Brady Morgan, sr., RB/DB, Upper Dauphin: Morgan did not get a lot of work, but what snaps he was involved in were mighty, mighty productive and weighed heavily in Upper Dauphin’s 72-13 win at James Buchanan. Morgan carried just three times, but he piled up 159 yards and scored touchdowns on each touch as the Trojans prepped for next weekend’s Mid-Penn Liberty showdown at Juniata. Morgan also caught two passes for 16 yards and made one tackle.Aidan Bingaman, so., QB/DB, Upper Dauphin: Bingaman continued his progress Friday night, completing eight of his 11 throws for 133 yards and two scores as UDA upended James Buchanan 72-13 and extended its winning streak to four games. Bingaman’s touchdown passes were hauled in by Cole Wallace and Konner Walker.
