11 Central York 6A 3-0
Central York showed their moxie coming off the Cumberland Valley win by defeating a good Hempfield team at their place 35-31. They overcame the Knight’s Qb Colin Peters’ great effort (see bottom) by matching it with their own Qb Cade Pribula (DE recruit), who threw for 396 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing for another 2 scores. Most impressive was the 73 yards drive with time expiring, then threading a 21 yard touchdown strike to Taylor Wright-Rawls with 6 seconds left to win the game. York Adams-Division 1 play starts this week with Red Lion (2-1) coming in off their 28-19 loss to Chambersburg.
12 York (William Penn) 5A 3-0
Cedar Crest had no answer for York’s big and fast attack as the Bearcats rolled over the Falcons in Lebanon. But it was a tight game into the 2nd quarter when Qb Logan Horn went down with an ankle injury with Cedar Crest ahead 14-7. Thereon the offense fell apart without his running and passing skills, producing only 60 yards after gaining 128 total yards before his injury. York took advantage, pounding down a tired offense with running back Dayjure Stewart getting 255 yards and 4 touchdowns on 28 carries. By the end of the game they rushed for 424 yards on the way to a 42-14 win. They’re home to New Oxford (1-2) who is overmatched although they can score points.
13 Middletown 3A 2-1
The Blue Raiders came up way short against Bishop McDevitt, particularly in the secondary where Qb Chase Diehl cut them to ribbons for 458 yards throwing 6 touchdowns. Raider Qb Scott Ash had a decent outing completing 10 of 19 pressured throws for 214 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. McDevitt’s defense was otherwise impenetrable, allowing a mere 74 yards rushing in a dominating 40-14 game. Double-A Camp Hill (0-3) is next in the Mid Penn Capital Division opener. Middletown won last year 49-0 and will name it again here.
14 Chambersburg 6A 3-0
Chambersburg joins the Top 20 after defeating Red Lion who was previously ranked 14th. An entertaining first half found the Trojans with a 21-19 lead before they completely shut down Red Lion to win on a late 4th quarter score, 28-19. Keyshawn Jones led all rusher with 180 yards and 2 scores on 12 carries for Chambersburg with quarterback Brady Stumbaugh connecting on 9 passes for 148 yards and touchdown toss. He also got the final score on a 1 yard keeper. Keyshawn Jones (5-8, 170, jr) is an illusive back and their primary receiver with 11 caches for 352 yards. The Trojan defense shined, holding Red Lion to 60 yards rushing and 170 passing. It ramps up Friday night going to Altoona (2-1) who is also revitalized after years of dormancy, having one winning season the last 10 years. The Lions schedule is a little tougher than Chambersburg’s and the Mansion has always been a graveyard for MP-Commonwealth teams, albeit, mostly in the postseason. And you know in Altoona’s first year back in the conference they’ll be pumped in their Mid Penn-Commonwealth opener.
15 Warwick 6A 2-1
Warwick jumped on rival Manheim Central right up front when Trey Glass (5-8, 170, jr) returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for the score. A series of Baron mistakes including a penalty nullifying touchdown and 2 fumbles set up a Warwick score off the second fumble when Nick Fucci ran it in from 27 yards out. He ended with 52 yards on 10 carries. But the 14-0 lead didn’t hold up with Central storming back to a 14-14 tie early in the 3rd. Two more scores iced it as the Barons prevailed 27-20. Of interest for Warwick, sophomore Qb Joey McCracken (6-2, 180) replaced senior Adam Ricketts (5-10, 175) in the 4th quarter and did well, completing 6 of 10 for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Ricketts was 8 of 20 for 92 yards with a pick. They’re home to Hempfield (1-2) Friday where they will need every bit of the intensity they brought to Manheim if they expect to win against what may be the best 1-2 team in the district.
16 Cumberland Valley 6A 0-3
Cumberland Valley fell to new lows dropping to 0-3 with the 35-19 blistering administered by Coatesville (700th win!) last week. They’re rebuilding and an easier schedule might have hidden weaknesses, but it is what it is. The schedule started with perennial powerhouse Bishop McDevitt (3-0), Central York (3-0), then last week’s special Coatesville team, who is also 3-0. The good news is it gets a lot easier the next two weeks playing at Central Dauphin then home to Harrisburg!? The loss to Coatesville was total, where they were out-yardaged 472 to 222. If there’s any good news and it’s shaky, they went on two long drives in the 2nd half that would have been great were they protecting a lead instead of coming back from a 28-0 deficit. Plessinger continued his solid performance completing 8 of 11 for 125 yards and a touchdown. This week sees them at Central Dauphin (2-1) who’s coming off a loss to Manheim Township.
17 Hollidaysburg 5A 2-1
They weren’t enough for State College losing 49-22 but they had enough to rush for 166 yards and pass for another 137 yards in a game where they were simply outmuscled and lost all the foot races! Qb Bobby Walters was solid for Hollidaysburg completing 10 of 13 passes for 140 yards with 2 Tds and 2 Picks. He rushed for 19 yards. They’ll score on most teams with him under center but defensively, they had no answer for SC. They’re home this week to another team that got it handed to them by a Mid Penn Commonwealth power in Cedar Cliff, who lost to Harrisburg 46-13. Congrats to both for scheduling inter-district games like this that involve considerable travel. Hollidaysburg is way out there, 55 miles southwest of State College off I-99 roughly 130 miles from Cedar Cliff in Camp Hill.
18 Altoona 6A 2-1
Altoona got their 2nd win in a row defeating Taylor Allderdice of the Pittsburgh City League 27-9. Both ran the ball well, a bad sign for the Lions but they prevailed with Mitchell Lawhead getting 102 yards on 18 carries and 3 Tds. Conner McCarthy passed for 160 yards completing 7 of 15 passes. Allderdice’s total yardage was 256; 172 were rushing. Of note, Altoona brought in an exciting sophomore quarterback in Marcus Day (6-4, 200) who galloped for 61 yards on 11 carries to give them a whole other dimension. It will be interesting to see how that shakes out. They host unbeaten Chambersburg (3-0) in a Mid Penn Commonwealth game Friday night at Mansion Park.
19 Red Lion 6A 2-1
If last week’s loss to Chambersburg where they got 230 total yards is any indication, they’re in big trouble this week at Central York in the York Adams League opener. Central beat a better Red Lion team last year 24-21 but because it’s the league opener, emotions will run high for a peak performance. It’s a competitive league with 5 different champions the last 5 years. York and Dallastown were co-champs at 6-1 last year with Red Lion and Central York tied for 2nd at 5-2. The last 5 years has seen D-town with 3 crowns and 1 runner up, Red Lion with 1 title and 3 runner ups, Central York with 1 championship and 3 runner ups.
20 Central Dauphin East 6A 1-2
CD East traveled to White Plains, NY last week to play their Catholic state champion Archbishop Stepinac but fell short, losing 32-14. They hung tough but where simply outmanned, getting sacked 8 times and held to -14 yards rushing. Stepinac got 359 total yards, 227 on the ground. Still, it’s nice seeing MP-Commonwealth teams upgrading the schedule to play high quality competition with East High traveling to White Plains, Harrisburg scheduling Coatesville, Cumberland Valley scheduling Coatesville and Bishop McDevitt (Mid Penn-Keystone), Central Dauphin playing Berks Catholic, Wilson and Manheim Township and State College traveling to St. Augustine Prep in New Jersey. They’re at surging Harrisburg Saturday who beat them last year 45-7.
Others:
Williamsport 6A 1-2
Running back Treyson Potts is back but evidently so is Berwick (3-0, D2) after beating them 41-17 and holding him to 30 yards. At Hazelton Friday.
Cedar Cliff 5A 1-2
Lost last 2 to Cocalico and Harrisburg but the tough slate continues at Hollidaysburg Friday, then McDevitt the following week!
Conrad Weiser 4A 2-1
Stock rising with easy wins over Fleetwood and E-town with only loss to Cocalico 21-13 in opener. Boone is next.
Hempfield 6A 1-2
Qb Colin Peters goes 14 of 19 for 196 (2/2) in loss to Central York. At Warwick in a key LL-1 game Friday.
Lancaster Catholic 4A 3-0
LC is 3-0 with Todd Mealy (standout at McDevitt-Harrisburg) back on the scene following a brief hiatus after resurrecting the Penn Manor program.
Solanco 5A 3-0
The Golden Muhls are kicking butt going to 4-0 after winless Garden Spot Friday.
Dallastown 6A 1-2
Flipped it last week destroying Penn Manor 42-7 after the 0-2 start. Should waltz this week at 0-3 South Western to open York-Adams action.
Mount Carmel 2A 2-1
At Jersey Shore Friday then home to a powerful North Schuylkill from D-11.
Palmyra 5A 3-0
Vet team out of the MP-Capital (Middletown, Milton Hershey, Steel High) lots of skill, vet Qb, O-line at 227 average, home to East Pennsboro.
