Standings:
Name; Week 7; Overall
Andy Shay 16-3; 109-34
Andy Sandrik: 17-2; 108-35
Adam Kulikowski 15-4; 105-38
Boiling Springs at Milton Hershey
Andy Shay: Milton Hershey 33, Boiling Springs 13: Bubblers simply can’t keep anybody from making the scoreboard click over at a consistent pace. Spartans get their crack at win No. 2 this week.
Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 35, Boiling Springs 14: The Bubblers haven’t been in a close game since their Week 1 win over Littlestown. They’ll have more opportunities against the one-win Spartans, but that street goes both ways, and I think Milton Hershey’s offense will make a difference in this game.
Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 35, Boiling Springs 7: While the Spartans have faced their own struggles this season, their offense has shown potential. That should be enough to get win No. 2 this week.
Cumberland Valley at Harrisburg
Andy Shay: Harrisburg 35, Cumberland Valley 7: And l think the Eagles have a pretty good defense. That tells you what the Cougars have cooking this season.
Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 28, Cumberland Valley 10: After surrendering a loss to CV at Severance Field last year, Harrisburg will come into this game looking to make an example out of the Eagles.
Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 35, Cumberland Valley 17: The only teams to truly challenge the Cougars were fellow juggernauts State College and Bishop McDevitt. Not sure the Eagles have the pieces to rise to that level.
Line Mountain at James Buchanan
Andy Shay: Line Mountain 45, James Buchanan 13: There’s a little gut check in this undefeated Line Mountain team that is going to be unleashed on the Rockets.
Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 38, James Buchanan 12: The Eagles have won their last two games by a total of three points. Look for unbeaten LM to win by much more than against the slumping Rockets.
Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 41, James Buchanan 14: After two back-to-back nail biters in which the Eagles won by a combined three points, Eagles should have a more comfortable match up this week.
Middletown at East Pennsboro
Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 21, Middletown 14: Counting on the Panthers hitting on a couple explosive plays to offset the Blue Raiders defense. Big time toss up game for me.
Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 24, Middletown 17: Both squads have had their share of heartbreak over these last few weeks. The team that can best keep its head and roll with the punches will be the one that comes out on top.
Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 28, Middletown 21: Coaches love to talk about creating explosive plays. Well, the Panthers created three, including a pair of 80-yard touchdown receptions last week in a narrow loss to division-leading Susquehanna Twp and six more the week before against West Perry. Can the Blue Raiders keep the Panther’s powder dry? .
CD East at State College
Andy Shay: State College 44, CD East 7: Too much depth on the offensive weapons depth chart for the Panthers to handle.
Andy Sandrik: State College 41, CD East 14: There are just too many ways that State College can do damage for me to predict a close game. Sophomore Connor Kulka continues to impress with 18 TDs against just two INTs.
Adam Kulikowski: State College 48, CD East 14: Little Lions running back D’Antae Sheffey has an excellent opportunity to reach 1,000 rushing yards on the season this week despite missing a week of action. The senior needs just 127 stripes to reach the milestone.
Bishop McDevitt at Central Dauphin
Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 35, Central Dauphin 7: I’m looking for the McD defense to be a difference maker in this one against a Rams squad that will battle but that’s about the best it can muster.
Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 35, Central Dauphin 14: I’m sure Central Dauphin, a tougher squad now than in recent years, will take a lot of pride in giving McDevitt its best effort. But even if the Rams fire on all cylinders, it’s hard to imagine them holding serve with the Crusaders for four full quarters.
Adam Kulikowski:Bishop McDevitt 45, Central Dauphin 20: Crusaders unleash a three-headed monster in the backfield each week with Nazir Jones-Davis, Jerome Larue and Maurice Barnes each averaging more than 5.6 yards per carry.
Cedar Cliff at Carlisle
Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 42, Carlisle 7: Get your points and work in you need to get done and call off the dogs. It costs nothing to be football nice to a struggling opponent.
Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 34, Carlisle 7: The Colts will be expected to win this game comfortably, if not by mercy rule.
Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 45, Carlisle 6: The Colts have to be happy to see Carlisle on the docket this week against running through alligator ally over the last month.
Halifax at Newport
Andy Shay: Newport 29, Halifax 28: There is not logical reason for this pick other than too many fruity drinks in the 50th state the last few weeks. Halifax is the favorite but give me the Buffs.
Andy Sandrik: Halifax 28, Newport 17: A matchup of two teams that could possibly meet in the District 3-2A postseason. I’ll go with the surging Wildcats for this contest.
Adam Kulikowski: Halifax 34, Newport 28: Two resurgent teams square off in this one–now that’s a feel-good story! Wildcats seem to have a few more weapons at their disposal.
Susquehanna Twp. at Big Spring
Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 35, Big Spring 14: Hasn’t been as easy for the Tribe the last couple weeks, but stacking wins is what matters and the pictures of how they look are for everybody else to decide through their own lens. All I know is Big Spring is good and won’t have a say in the outcome.
Andy Sandrik: Susquehanna Twp. 39, Big Spring 18: As good as the Bulldogs have been as a team this season, I’m not certain they have the individual personnel to match up with the star-studded tribe.
Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Twp. 41, Big Spring 14: Are the Tribe angry that they had to fight for four quarters against East Pennsboro last week to earn their victory? I see a resharpened effort from Coach Headen’s crew this week.
Chambersburg at Altoona
Andy Shay: Chambersburg 34, Altoona 30: In a matchup where the offense for both teams has been MIA more than an asset this season, why not pick a shootout with a little crazy final result.
Andy Sandrik: Altoona 35, Chambersburg 28: Offense has been hard to come by for both teams this season, so let’s make an unhinged prediction and call for a shootout at Mansion Park on Friday.
Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 28, Chambersburg 14: Every time I pick against the Mountain Lions, I get a look of disdain from my wife–an Altoona alum. Not this week!
Steel-High at Camp Hill
Andy Shay: Steel-High 54, Camp Hill 7: This simply won’t be a level playing field or a fair fight. That’s how it’s playing out this season for the Rollers and Lions.
Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 49, Camp Hill 7: The Rollers are scoring over 30 points a game, while the Lions are allowing more than 40 per night. All signs point to a Steel-High blowout win.
Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 55, Camp Hill 6: Tough to see this one staying within striking distance for the Lions. Rollers dictate what the final score looks like.
Upper Dauphin at Susquenita
Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 30, Susquenita 20: Head down to your local bowling alley and watch a ringer fire off a turkey – three strikes in a row. That will match the win streak UDA is about to post.
Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 32, Susquenita 18: Just when we thought the UD program was in a complete freefall this season, the Trojans have clawed back with a two-game winning streak. Make that three games after this week.
Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 45, Susquenita 7: It took the Trojans some time, but UD’s troops have found their footing in the season’s second half. That momentum continues for another sennight.
Hershey at Northern York
Andy Shay: Hershey 40, Northern York 7: When you have trouble keeping up on the scoreboard and the visiting team has a bona-fide start at QB that spells all kinds of trouble for the home lads from Dillsburg.
Andy Sandrik: Hershey 30, Northern York 7: As a writer for the Dillsburg Banner who’s been following these Northern kids since they were Smurfs, this season has been a tough watch. The script shows no signs of flipping against Cam Sweeney and the Trojans.
Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 38, Northern York 6: Polar Bears have eclipsed the 20-point mark on offense just twice this season.
Shippensburg at Red Land
Andy Shay: Red Land 29, Shippensburg 27: Why not, right? Fully aware the Patriots are on a two-game slide after that stellar 5-0 start. They are still playing good ball and that matters. Ship is the favorite and has earned that.
Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 28, Red Land 21: The Greyhounds have had a knack for winning close games this season and have an unbeaten record in the Keystone to show for it. Can they keep the ship sailing?
Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 35, Red Land 24: Patriots dropped its last two match ups against some of the best competition faced all year. Sledding doesn’t get any easier against Shippensburg in Week 8.
West Perry at Trinity
Andy Shay: Trinity 14, West Perry 7: I just don’t think the Mustangs offense has enough horsepower to get two touchdowns on this T-Rocks defense. If they score two or more TD’s the chances of winning increase greatly.
Andy Sandrik: West Perry 17, Trinity 13: I’m a WP football alumni, so it’s not out of the ordinary to see me side with the Mustangs in 50-50 games. But this Trinity defense, which has allowed an average of four points per game during the Shamrocks’ five-game winning streak, has me concerned.
Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 21, West Perry 20: Trinity is riding a five-game winning streak in which they’ve allowed no more than 8 points in a game.
Greencastle-Antrim at Juniata
Andy Shay: Juniata 34, Greencastle-Antrim 13: The spit and fire the Blue Devils will bring to the table won’t phase the Indians one little bit.
Andy Sandrik: Juniata 24, Greencastle-Antrim 21: Yes, the Blue Devils are a two-win team and yes, Juniata is confident right now. But Greencastle is a step up in competition from what the Indians have seen in recent weeks, and if they overlook that, it could cost them the game.
Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 33, Greencastle-Antrim 14: This match up looks a lot closer if aliens abduct Jasper Shepps. But barring extraterrestrial intervention, Shepps is an absolute game wrecker in all facets of the game.
Mifflin County at Lower Dauphin
Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 26, Mifflin County 13: The way LD has been building from the early-season ashes has been impressive. Will take their best to keep rolling as MC brings a little extra to the table that could wobble the Falcons.
Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 23, Mifflin County 12: The Falcons, coming off their best offensive and defensive showing of the season, are in a great spot to win for the fourth time in five weeks.
Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 24, Mifflin County 7: The Falcons are winners of their last four of five games and they done it as a unit, getting contributions up and down their roster.
Mechanicsburg at Waynesboro
Andy Shay: Mechanicsburg 30, Waynesboro 7: Wildcats stay grounded and take care of what is right in front of them as they prepare for the heavy lifting that’s going to be required in the final two weeks. Defense wins this one in my book.
Andy Sandrik: Mechanicsburg 32, Waynesboro 10: If the Wildcats don’t get caught looking ahead to Hershey and Shippensburg, they’ve got enough talent on both sides of the ball to win this one comfortably.
Adam Kulikowski: Mechanicsburg 35, Waynesboro 14: Not going to overthink this one. All signs point to Mechanicsburg handling the Indians without a major issue.
Saturday, October 11
Gettysburg at Palmyra
Andy Shay: Gettysburg 27, Palmyra 18: Warriors have been kicked around a bit the last three weeks on a playing field that wasn’t level. This one is more balanced and I see some matchup advantages I like that put the Cougars in a tough spot.
Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 25, Palmyra 18: This feels like a coin-flip game, but something tells me Preston Burnett and the Warriors’ offense can scrape together enough points to pull away from Palmyra.
Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 28, Palmyra 21: After back-to-back weeks yielding at least 47 points, Gettysburg looks to find its footing defensively. Palmyra provides an opportunity.