Sy Burgos, East Pennsboro, sr., RB: When you post a new school record, you deserve to be listed among the candidates for Player of the Week. It’s that simple. Burgos deserves serious consideration for the award after slicing up York Suburban’s defense for 366 yards on 23 totes en route to a 42-21 victory. The senior reached the promised land four times to help the Panthers enjoy a happy bus ride back up Route 15.
Ethan Dorrell, Cedar Cliff, sr., QB: Whatever adjustments coach Colin Gillen and his staff instilled at the half sure worked out well as Cedar Cliff surged past Red Lion 56-35 Friday night. Dorrell, in his first night as the clear No. 1 QB, had a near-perfect competition percentage, connecting on 13-of-15 for 254 yards and three touchdowns. He also caused damage with his legs, picking up 93 stripes and another touchdown.
Roman Jensen, Red Land, so., QB: Leading into Friday night’s opener against Northern York, Patriots coach Frank Gay talked about the progression he needed from Jensen at quarterback. Gay thought he could be one of the best passers in the conference. While the Patriots fell to the Polar Bears 42-28, Jensen turned in a strong performance, completing 20-of-35 of 362 passing yards, three touchdowns and a goose-egg in the interception column.
Josh Zipperer, Carlisle, jr, WR: Carlisle didn’t light it up through the air Friday night against Mechanicsburg, but when they needed a big play, Zipperer proved to be the go-to-receiver. Zipperer hauled in a 39-yard strike from Louis Shank to kick off the scoring. Of Carlisle’s 104 yards through the air, Zipperer’s hands accounted for 86 of them.
Alex Erby, Steel-High, so., QB: Alex Erby didn’t waste any time slicing up the Morrisville defense Friday night en route to a 77-0 victory. Erby posted an eye-popping 502 stripes through the air in just 15 attempts. Oh, and eight of those competitions hit paydirt.
Tyler Rossi, Trinity, sr., RB: Rossi provided plenty of fuel to spark Trinity’s upset victory against perennial power Delone Catholic 34-14. First-year head coach Jordan Hill had to love the production he received from Rossi, who grounded out 174 rushing yards, including first-half touchdowns of 67, 9 and 71 yards.
Christian Doi, Camp Hill, sr., WR-LB: When Camp Hill needed a big play, Doi delivered. The senior was a force on both sides of the ball for the Lions, who notched one in the win column despite limited practice time after COVID affected the team just before opening week. Doi hauled in five receptions for 139 yards on offense and a touchdown, then on defense he piled in 14 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. Talk about filling up the stat sheet.
Dom Coletta, Camp Hill, sr, DT: Doi’s compadre turned in his own stellar performance from a three-point stance. The defensive lineman shed blockers left and right to make 14 tackles, including one for a loss. He also had a fumble recovery to help the Lions walk away from Week 1’s matchup against Fairfield victorious.
Chase Lentz, Upper Dauphin, sr., ILB: Lentz enjoyed a productive opener as Upper Dauphin opened Mid-Penn Liberty play with a 60-8 clocking of James Buchanan. In addition to making a team-high nine stops — including five of UD’s remarkable 22 tackles for loss — Lentz authored one sack and recovered one fumble as Kent Smeltz’s Trojans opened a three-game homestand.
Hunter Wolfgang, Williams Valley, sr., DE: Wolfgang definitely was busy throughout the Vikings’ season opener, as he registered a team-high 16 tackles as Tim Savage’s club turned back Mahanoy Area 6-0 — the same squad the Vikes downed in last season’s District 11 Class 1A semifinals. Wolfgang also totaled four tackles for loss and one sack.
Jace Hackenburg, Line Mountain, sr., DE: Hackenburg certainly put a stamp in his season-opening performance, but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles dropped a 6-3 decision at Juniata. Hackenburg actually played a big role in Line Mountain’s lone scoring drive, as his fumble recovery on the opening snap of the game eventually led to Brayden Boyer’s 23-yard field goal. He tacked on a second fumble recovery later in the 48-minute scrap.
Kameron Wetzel, Tri-Valley, sr., HB: Wetzel didn’t wait long to make his presence felt, as the explosive youngster scored three times in Tri-Valley’s 47-7 dismantling of neighboring rival Minersville. Already up 7-0, Wetzel erupted for rushing touchdowns of 90 and 54 yards before hauling a Jonas McGrath pass 42 yards for a score that bumped the Bulldogs’ lead to 27-0.
