EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: The 4th Down Magazine crew picks all games involving Mid-Penn Conference teams, as well as Schuylkill-Colonial League games featuring former members of the now-defunct Twin Valley Conference. Come playoff time, they’ll expand to include all District 3 teams, as well as the local District 4, District 6 and District 11 programs. Then they’ll get really bold in the state semifinals and start picking games across the state. The predictions are meant for entertainment purposes only because, truth be told, these guys aren’t very bright. Three of them are former full-time sportswriters (dummies), and the other decided to start a high school football magazine despite the fact he already works a full-time job. But, dangit, they like to watch football, think about football, write about football, and eat. That last one isn’t related to picking football games unless you count the mustard on the keyboard. As always, enjoy, and don’t take it too seriously. Nobody here hates any program. Any perceived disrespect is a figment of your imagination. Except Sandrik, who absolutely DESPISES … (transmission interrupted) …
2022 STANDINGS DURING WEEK 10
Picker: Week 10 – Overall – Perfect Picks
Adam Kulikowski: 15-5 — 182-55 — 0
Andy Shay: 15-5 — 177-60 — 2
Andy Sandrik: 15-5 — 175-62 — 1
Geoff Morrow: 12-8 — 172-65 — 1
WEEK 10 SCHEDULE
* In scorelines, home team in all caps
Friday, Oct. 28
MID-PENN COMMONWEALTH
CUMBERLAND VALLEY 37, Altoona 6
Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 31, Altoona 14: Eagles have dropped two in a row and are looking to reclaim that winning feeling heading into the second season. Mountain Lions have dropped three of their last four.
Geoff Morrow: Cumberland Valley 30, Altoona 20: Seems like a good opportunity for the Eagles to get back on the winning track heading into the postseason. Both teams enter on mini two-game slides.
Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 33, Altoona 17: How much fight do the Eagles have after watching a 17-point lead evaporate against State College? If CV’s heads are in this game, it’s their game to lose.
Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 35, Altoona 17: If you’re the Eagles, now is the time to find that good mojo that was flowing so easily through the first two-thirds of the season.
Carlisle 27, CENTRAL DAUPHIN EAST 14
Andy Shay: Carlisle 21, CD East 14: Thundering Herd have a playoff berth on the line. The Panthers are playing for pride and ran over rival Central Dauphin last week. Beware of the team with confidence and playing for pride.
Geoff Morrow: Carlisle 24, CD East 18: Very interesting game with East coming off a blowout of rival Central Dauphin, and Carlisle on the precipice of a playoff berth. Not sure if Dallastown would have enough to overtake the Herd for the last playoff spot if it beats Red Lion and Carlisle loses here, but a win erases any doubt.
Andy Sandrik: Carlisle 26, CD East 24: I was much more sure on the outcome of this game BEFORE the Panthers went out and blasted Central Dauphin last week. Now, I’m not so sure.
Adam Kulikowski: Carlisle 24, CD East 23: In a season that has not gone how Lance Deane and the crew at CD East would have liked, you have to give them props for the fight they continue to have. Says a TON about their character.
State College 36, CHAMBERSBURG 7
Andy Shay: State College 49, Chambersburg 7: The Little Lions have been a dominant squad and are on the cusp of completing a perfect regular season. The playoffs are coming, and those lofty goals for this club are legitimate. Savor the 10-0 first. It’s not as easy as SC made it look.
Geoff Morrow: State College 48, Chambersburg 14: Little Lions just one win away from finishing their first unbeaten regular season since 2008. Note that just one of this season’s wins – Week 2 at Downingtown East – was played within single digits.
Andy Sandrik: State College 44, Chambersburg 10: I can’t understate how difficult it is to make it through the Commonwealth Division with an unbeaten record. This has been a remarkable run for the Little Lions.
Adam Kulikowski: State College 49, Chambersburg 14: Little Lions have been lit all year. No reason to let down now with the playoffs just a week away.
MID-PENN KEYSTONE
BISHOP McDEVITT 68, Lower Dauphin 14
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 55, Lower Dauphin 7: Competition has been very hard to come by for the Crusaders for weeks. That trend continues.
Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 59, Lower Dauphin 14: A win here coupled with a Manheim Central loss to Exeter would likely give the Crusaders the top seed in the upcoming District 3 Class 4A tournament. However, Lampeter-Strasburg could leapfrog McD with a win over Wyomissing. No matter what, there are some hammers atop the 4A field.
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 54, Lower Dauphin 7: McDevitt basically had the Keystone Division wrapped up in the preseason, but this will make it official. More competitive games are on the horizon for the Crusaders.
Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 65, Lower Dauphin 13: Wishing Crusaders athletic director Tommy Mealy the absolute best as he prepares to take on a new challenge with Elco later this year. Tommy played a critical role in helping 4th Down get off the ground, for which we will be forever grateful.
CEDAR CLIFF 38, Milton Hershey 14
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 28, Milton Hershey 20: Combined, the Colts and Spartans bring seven consecutive wins to the table. Confidence will be high, and whoever better handles adversity inside this game will prevail.
Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 27, Milton Hershey 23: Second place in the Keystone on the line here, as well as playoff positioning. Both teams are running hot – four-game streak for the Colts, three-game streak for the Spartans. Should be a very entertaining game.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 28, Milton Hershey 26: QBs Kenny Emile (Milton Hershey) and Bennett Secrest (Cedar Cliff) have combined for 28 TDs this season. Could we see an air display at West Shore Stadium?
Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 34, Cedar Cliff 28: Two teams hitting their stride at just about the perfect time. Give me the Spartans and the still-under-the-radar QB Kenny Emile.
HERSHEY 17, Palmyra 7
Andy Shay: Hershey 31, Palmyra 14: Trojans have made the very most possible out of what they have, and a .500 season would be quite an accomplishment. Cougars are still fighting and haven’t tossed in the towel.
Geoff Morrow: Hershey 28, Palmyra 13: The Cougars played Milton Hershey tough last week, and they’ll need another superb effort to avoid ending the 2022 campaign on a nine-game losing streak. Though not ticketed for the playoffs, the Trojans could still seal their first full-season .500-or-better campaign (not counting 2020’s covid-shortened 5-1 mark) since 2013 with a win here.
Andy Sandrik: Hershey 24, Palmyra 13: The Cougars would really like to avoid ending their season on a nine-game losing streak, but doing so will require an upset victory over their backyard rivals.
Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 35, Palmyra 7: Nothing but pride on the line in this one. Still, it would take a huge offensive performance for the Cougars to get a much-need victory.
MIFFLIN COUNTY 41, Red Land 7
Andy Shay: Mifflin County 37, Red Land 7: In the games where the playing field is level, the Huskies have enjoyed some success.
Geoff Morrow: Mifflin County 22, Red Land 10: Huskies guarantee themselves their first winning season since 2018 with a victory over the Patriots.
Andy Sandrik: Mifflin County 28, Red Land 12: The Huskies are not only out of the Keystone Division basement, they’re in a great position to clinch a winning season.
Adam Kulikowski: Mifflin County 33, Red Land 20: Finding the right feel for the Huskies has been a challenge for me all season. Here’s to ending on a high note with this crew.
MID-PENN COLONIAL
WAYNESBORO 13, East Pennsboro 10 (2OT)
Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 20, Waynesboro 17: Couple of teams with high hopes early on that have long since faded. This game is about who still has the desire and hunger. On paper it’s even.
Geoff Morrow: Waynesboro 17, East Pennsboro 13: Two teams slipping into the offseason on ugly losing streaks. Who puts it together for a triumphant Week 10?
Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 21, Waynesboro 17: Both squads have been taking it on the chin as of late. Just a little more offensive consistency from the Panthers to take them in this 50/50 scrap.
Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 21, East Pennsboro 20: I see plenty of paths for either team to add one more notch to the win column. Both teams have to be disappointed with the way this season played out.
Gettysburg 23, SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP 16
Andy Shay: Gettysburg 28, Susquehanna Township 21: The hotter team is clearly the ‘Hanna Tribe. Gettysburg was served a big-time dose of Colonial humble pie last week. Now it has to earn an outright division title the hard way or it’s a shared crown.
Geoff Morrow: Susquehanna Township 30, Gettysburg 21: No stopping the ‘Hanna right now, it seems. And a win here would mean splitting the Colonial crown multiple ways. Does it cut like a cake?
Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 33, Susquehanna Township 28: The pride of the Colonial Division rests on ‘Hanna stopping Gettysburg from taking the division outright in its maiden voyage. It’s very possible, but the Warriors didn’t get to this point by not being a good football team.
Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 24, Susquehanna Township 22: The key to me for the Warriors? Jump out to an early lead. As hot as Township has been, this is a club that plays differently when they take the first punch.
Greencastle-Antrim 42, SHIPPENSBURG 26
Andy Shay: Shippensburg 28, Greencastle-Antrim 17: Just feels like the Greyhounds are playing their best football of the season right now. The Blue Devils had such a promising start but have fallen on hard times.
Geoff Morrow: Shippensburg 31, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Eleven straight wins for the Greyhounds against the Blue Devils, including 10 straight by double digits. A win here and a Gettysburg loss means Ship would get a piece of the Colonial title, too.
Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 34, Greencastle-Antrim 17: The Greyhounds have hit their stride just in time for the postseason. Greencastle seemed destined for a winning season but now is in danger of a 4-6 campaign after starting 4-0.
Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 36, Greencastle-Antrim 20: You almost get spoiled by how good the Greyhounds have been over the last several years. While this club may not have the same luster, the end results are looking mighty close heading into the postseason.
Northern York 21, MECHANICSBURG 14
Andy Shay: Northern 20, Mechanicsburg 14: Not a lot of love lost between these nextdoor rivals, and that’s part of the equation. Polar Bears want to pound the rock and be physical. Up to the Wildcats’ defense to be a difference maker in order to pull off the very mild upset.
Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 16, Northern 14: As quickly as I made friends last week accurately predicting the Polar Bears’ one-point win over Gettysburg, I’m going to lose them this week with yet another Colonial “upset” pick, though I’m not sure anything in the Colonial this year should qualify as an upset. Both teams here have been playing well, so my edge goes to the ‘Cats because of home-field advantage. Again, the winner here shares a piece of the Colonial title IF Gettysburg loses.
Andy Sandrik: Northern 21, Mechanicsburg 20: The Polar Bears have played in four games decided by just one point. With rival Mechanicsburg taking the field, this could very well be another razor-thin decision.
Adam Kulikowski: Northern 24, Mechanicsburg 21: Can the Polar Bears get off this roller coaster this week after stopping Gettysburg from claiming the Colonial Division title last week?
MID-PENN CAPITAL
Boiling Springs 35, CAMP HILL 28
Andy Shay: Camp Hill 21, Boiling Springs 14: Both clubs are looking to find that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with a victory. Bubblers have lost six straight and the Lions are on a three-game slide.
Geoff Morrow: Camp Hill 20, Boiling Springs 13: There would have been a lot more fanfare for this game if it happened in the first few weeks of the season, but here in Week 10, both teams are dragging themselves across the finish line. The Lions benefit from having a “next week” on the horizon.
Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 24, Boiling Springs 17: Coin flip game to me, but I like Camp Hill’s résumé just a little better.
Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 24, Boiling Springs 21: Each team desperately wants to end the regular season on a high note, but the Lions simply have more at stake.
MID-PENN LIBERTY
NEWPORT 17, James Buchanan 12
Andy Shay: Newport 14, James Buchanan 13: After getting that elusive first victory, the Buffaloes close out the campaign with two in a row here. Rockets will have a say in this outcome, though.
Geoff Morrow: James Buchanan 25, Newport 22: When I originally saw this game on the schedule, I assumed I would quickly take the ‘Port. However, I’m suddenly drawn to the Rockets, who enjoyed their success early in the season while the Buffaloes finally won their first game last week. Can’t explain it, but I think JB hangs tough here and maybe even prevails.
Andy Sandrik: Newport 28, James Buchanan 14: My gut is telling me to take Newport for no other reason than the Buffs have tasted victory more recently.
Adam Kulikowski: James Buchanan 21, Newport 14: Touchdowns will be at a premium Friday night. Rockets just seem to have a few more weapons who could provide a spark.
Juniata 19, SUSQUENITA 3
Andy Shay: Juniata 13, Susquenita 7: The Indians haven’t scored more than 14 points in each of their last three games. And Juniata is 2-1 in those contests. That tells you all you need to know.
Geoff Morrow: Juniata 29, Susquenita 21: Because the Blackhawks have built some extra confidence with three straight blowout victories against overmatched opponents, I think they keep this one tight. But gotta believe the playoff-bound Indians find a way.
Andy Sandrik: Juniata 21, Susquenita 10: Don’t look now, but the Blackhawks have won three straight and now have a chance to end their regular season with a winning record. Something tells me Juniata’s defense has the final say in this one, though.
Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 21, Susquenita 7: ‘Nita takes plenty of aggressive swings on offense, which figures to be a high-risk approach against one of the most pesky defenses in the Mid-Penn.
Upper Dauphin 25, LINE MOUNTAIN 14
Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 28, Line Mountain 20: Trojans have a Liberty Division crown at stake, and the Eagles, despite the loss last week, have been rock solid for a month. Intriguing tilt.
Geoff Morrow: Upper Dauphin 35, Line Mountain 21: If things hold in the District 3 Class 3A playoff picture, we could see a UD vs. West Perry postseason game, and wouldn’t that be fun?
Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 40, Line Mountain 19: Both teams have settled into a nice groove, but the Trojans just have more traction and a division crown to play for.
Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 38, Line Mountain 21: The Trojans seem fully prepared to answer the bell in the District 3 Class 3A playoffs. Great test for this crew in Week 10.
SCHUYLKILL-COLONIAL BLUE
Williams Valley 21, TRI-VALLEY 14
Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 32, Williams Valley 22: This one has all the earmarks of a classic. The rivalry is still very much alive, and the Bulldogs are unbeaten and have won in a variety of ways, so they are battle tested. Vikings will take their shots, make no mistake about it.
Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 27, Williams Valley 26: Far from a gimme for the unbeaten Bulldogs against their bitter rivals, but they’ve clearly been the more consistent team this season. The Vikings, however, own recent history with wins in eight of the last 10 meetings, including 28-13 in last year’s postseason. Bring snacks.
Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 26, Tri-Valley 25: Tri-Valley is the favorite here, but if there’s a team that has the confidence and swagger to knock off the Bulldogs, it’s the Vikings.
Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 31, Tri-Valley 28: Perhaps the most intriguing tilt on the docket in Week 10, this is a true slobberknocker in every sense.
NON-LEAGUE
PINE GROVE 14, Marian Catholic 6
Andy Shay: Marian Catholic 34, Pine Grove 7: Cardinals are surrendering nearly 40 points a game, and that’s hard to overcome for any offense on a weekly basis. Been a long season for PG.
Geoff Morrow: Marian Catholic 21, Pine Grove 13: The Cardinals will be a welcome foe for the Colts after getting dismantled by Williams Valley and then Tri-Valley in Weeks 8 and 9. But I wouldn’t expect a blowout, not if Pine Grove is determined to close a forgettable campaign on a high note.
Andy Sandrik: Marian Catholic 27, Pine Grove 14: I’m not completely convinced MC takes this game in blowout fashion. As many points as Pine Grove has given up this season, the Cardinals have shown improvements on offense over the second half of the season.
Adam Kulikowski: Marian Catholic 24, Pine Grove 7: The Colts have to be thrilled to make the trek to Cardinal territory after battling Williams Valley and Tri-Valley the last two weeks.
Trinity 55, HALIFAX 14
Andy Shay: Trinity 42, Halifax 0: Perfect game for the Shamrocks to get some work in, prepare for the second season and finish above .500 overall.
Geoff Morrow: Trinity 59, Halifax 6: As neither Annville-Cleona nor Delone Catholic – the two teams ahead of Trinity in the District 3 Class 2A power rankings – should lose this weekend, it appears the Shamrocks will hit the road for the first round of playoffs. No big deal, because no matter where they play, they have built themselves up for this postseason dance. This is just a warmup.
Andy Sandrik: Trinity 45, Halifax 0: It’s time for the young JV Shamrocks to have some time in the limelight.
Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 48, Halifax 6: The Shamrocks seem to have found another gear since their Week 4 loss to West Perry. No slow-down on tap in this Week 10 tilt.
Saturday, Oct. 29
MID-PENN CAPITAL
STEELTON-HIGHSPIRE 53, West Perry 34
Andy Shay: Steel-High 34, West Perry 31: The Mustangs have been flying high offensively all season; don’t expect that to change. This will be the best defense they’ve bumped up against. And the West Perry defense can be a little loose in stretches, and this Rollers offense makes high demands of every defense.
Geoff Morrow: West Perry 39, Steel-High 32: A couple of observations here: This is the first time these teams have played since 2015, so the familiarity is game film and word-of-mouth only; Both are awesome and explosive; West Perry’s defense has surrendered some points lately, which is a concerning trend entering a game vs. the Rollers; The Mustangs, though, will be INCREDIBLY fired up, so Steel-High will need to match that early energy.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 48, Steel-High 39: I’ve been told by Luke Roman, a correspondent for the Perry County Times, that WP has a chance to be the fifth unbeaten team in PeCo history. The others are Newport (1953), Perry Joint (1959), Susquenita (1976) and West Perry (1989).
Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 41, West Perry 40: The only thing standing between West Perry and an undefeated regular season is the toughest matchup they’ve faced all year. It’ll take their best effort to knock off the Rollers.
MID-PENN COMMONWEALTH
HARRISBURG 42, Central Dauphin 7
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 35, Central Dauphin 0: No idea what went down with the Rams last week, but Harrisburg needs this win and has everything to play for, and CD has been up-and-down all season.
Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 49, Central Dauphin 3: Not going to speculate on what happened to CD last week, and I’m not sure it matters. The Cougars are preparing for the postseason; the Rams are not.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 45, Central Dauphin 7: If CD East can put a hurting on CD, what can Harrisburg do?
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 43, Central Dauphin 14: Cougars have plenty to play for this week – and against a club that struggled mightily against 3-win CD East squad. Coach Cal’s gents should get a great postseason tune-up.Canceled: Big Spring at Middletown (Bulldogs win by forfeit)
