1 State College 6A 1-0
State dominated this one, racing out to a 35-0 half time lead in an opening day 35-12 win against Mifflin County. This year’s version seems faster and deeper than last year’s with a pile of reserves playing from the second quarter on. Their burners are Keaton Ellis (PSU) and Isaiah Edwards to name a few of the 7 that carried the ball. Senior Qb Tommy Friberg completed all 7 of his passes for 148 yards as they dominated every category, evidenced by their 452 to 190 total yard advantage. Got a challenge this week in St. Augustine Prep (0-0) of Richland-NJ (West Jersey-Continental) who was an uncharacteristic 5-5 last year, hailing from just east of Vineland. At 39-12, they’re a quality program but shouldn’t be confused with the bad boys from northern Jersey, teams such as Don Bosco Prep, St. Joseph Regional, Bergen Catholic and Paramus Catholic who are well to the Northwest of Manhattan above Hackensack. Played a lot of youth last year and were a few points from being 8-3. For reference/linkage, a few of their losses were to Malvern Prep 27-7, SJR 22-10 and Bergen Catholic 56-21. Most of the backfield returns (Qb, Rbs) and most of the D featuring good stuff at LB in Joe Bonczek (6-1, 220, sr, 122 tackles) and Shane Quest (6-2, 225, sr, 58 tackles). It’s a hike getting to Richland in what looks like a real test for both.
2 Manheim Central 5A 1-0
The Barons showed they are again one of the top teams in the state by dismantling Harrisburg’s Susquehanna Township 44-0 last week. This one saw them outgained 304 to 93 total yardage in their home opener. They showed a balanced attack with Qb Evan Simmons completing 6 of 12 for 152 yards and 3 scores with Rb Tyler Flick netting 122 yards on 22 carries and 2 Tds. Wide out Colby Wagner pulled down 3 for 104 yards. Special teams and defense contributed with a safety and a 27-yd pick 6. Simmons showed big play capability with 29 and 60 yard Td strikes and a 45 yard scamper for another 6. All us D guys love where Hanna was held to 96 total yards! It ratchets up some this weekend going to Landisville to play Hempfield’s rebuilt Black Knights. Barons and Knights!
3 Bishop McDevitt 4A 1-0
They felt each other out for a quarter then it was lights out with McDevitt’s quick striking offense building a still competitive half time lead of 27-14 before taking charge with two scores in the 3rd quarter to gain a 41-14 lead in a 48-21 blowout of Cumberland Valley at CV! That’s a shout out to the 4A classification across the state as this team demonstrated they are the real deal. Qb Chase Diehl completed 18 of 24 for 284 yards while running backs T’nysis Becker and Dedrick Tinker gauged them for 110 and 105 on the ground. Nazir Burnett had 8 catches for 136 yards as McDevitt dominated gaining 619 yards to the Eagles 207. It takes a special team to put it to the Eagles like that; 2017 Harrisburg 56-14, 2015 McDevitt 41-14. Up next is Gettysburg (1-0) who is way outclassed in this one.
4 Berks Catholic 4A 1-0
Berks jumped out to a 31-0 3rd quarter lead then cruised to an easy 31-7 win with reserves finishing out against rival Exeter Township. Berks outgained them 286-133 on the ground with Abdul MacFoy getting 122 yards on 8 carries and FB/LB Brandon George at 92 yards with 8 carries. Central Dauphin is next in the Saints home opener while CD is coming off a solid win against another Reading power Wilson, 23-7. This is their first ever meeting. And while they’ve experienced big game atmosphere with recent playoff forays against McDevitt, Cathedral Prep twice and Southern Columbia, they have never played a program/team of this caliber in the regular season. Conversely, the Rams are all about big game encounters in the regular season and post, with an annual diet of State College, Cumberland Valley, Harrisburg, Wilson and Manheim Township. Doesn’t mean they’re going to win, but you can bet they won’t blink.
5 Middletown 3A 1-0
Everyone knew the Blue Raiders were good but maybe not by a score of 42-14 against Lower Dauphin where hey outgaining the Falcons 334 to 136 on the ground. Their tandem backs of Jose Lopez and Richie Sykes totaled 176 and 162 yards rushing respectively. They travel to Dillsburg this week to play Northern (1-0) who eked out a 20-14 win over East Pennsboro last week. They need to keep their mind right against the Polar Bears (great unis!) before their historic home opener against Bishop McDevitt. That will be SRO with small town Middletown looking to get some taking on the city boys from McDevitt.
6 Central Dauphin 6A 1-0
As is often the case at CD under Coach McNamee, special teams and defense paved the way with Derek Krug kicking a 1st quarter 30-yd field goal and DE Marques Holton (6-0, 225, jr) motoring 48 yards with a 2nd quarter scoop and score to take a 10-0 half time lead. The entire D-front was impressive (team strength coming in) especially last year’s sophomores DE Amir Walton 6-0, 215 and Marques Holton 6-0 225. Wilson had to fling it since they couldn’t run (109-yds), throwing 28 times while completing 18 for 178 yards. The Rams put it up 8 times while rushing for 187 yards in a satisfying 23-7 win over always feisty Wilson. This week’s game at Berks Catholic in their first ever appearance against them will help clarify the district’s 4A picture knowing what McDevitt did to CV last week. Reading schools Holy Name and Central Catholic merged to form one legitimate bad ass of a 4A as evidenced by last year’s run. Should be a war!
7 Cumberland Valley 6A 0-1
Talk about a power outage! The Eagles suffered a major one at home last week going down hard to one of the top teams in the state, losing to Bishop McDevitt 48-21. McDevitt has so many weapons! There’s not much positive to take from it when you’re out-yardaged 619 to 207 and held to 76 yards rushing. But hey, it’s CV who has been down this road before. That’s a good thing with the next three just that, on the road at Central York, then Coatesville and Central Dauphin before coming home to Harrisburg.
8 Harrisburg 6A 0-1
Coatesville’s win at Harrisburg last week left no doubts they are the leading contender to grab the gold this year after a dominating 37-6 win at Severance Field. There were bright spots for sure with the young Harrisburg team, especially Qb Kane Everson who transferred in from CD East to account for 106 yards rushing, along with the defense upfront that did well knowing the offense was of little support, holding Coatesville to 112 rush yards. But Ricky Ortega tore them up through the air with 11 completions netting 274 yards. They move on to Reading where the Knights are reeling after a 63-16 shellacking by York High’s Bearcats. A big win here will put the wind back in their sails before coming home for a game against reinvigorated Cedar Cliff.
9 Cocalico 5A 1-0
Cocalico dropped a notch in the ranking after falling behind Conrad Weiser 13-0 at the half before pulling out an unimpressive 21-13 win. Right, first game. But the schedule is unforgiving, demanding a quick turnaround with Cedar Cliff in this week before three consecutive road trips to Gov. Mifflin, Elizabethtown (nice Qb!) and Manheim Township. Then comes Manheim Central. So they’ll need real improvement this week against Cedar Cliff’s versatile attack after the lackluster performance against Weiser. Cocalico hasn’t shown any passing threat this year or last, which unless addressed, will allow the Colts to get aggressive and pin their ears.
10 Southern Columbia 2A (16-0) 1-0
I apologize for posting the wrong Top 20 last week that should have had Southern Columbia in at #11 in the Mid State. I imagine everyone knows their title history by now. If not, here’s the hardware breakdown; 1A Gold medals is 6, in 99, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 (5 straight) with 7 1A Silver medals in 95, 96, 98, 99, 00, 01 and 11. Their 2A Gold Medals count is 2 in 15 and 17 with a 2A Silver medal wedged in between in 16….for a total of 8 Gold and 8 Silver medals.
Fast review: Last year’s team broke all the records averaging 51ppg while allowing 12, defeating Neumann Goretti 45-12 and Dunmore 56-7 before beating Wilmington 48-0 in the final. With a 14 year won loss of 177 and 22, maybe it’s time to move up for some stiffer comp. A glance at them says they could compete in the EPC-South, SOL, etc. The 2A status tends to diminish the overall high end talent that pours into the school. But once you see them! This year’s team returns 7 starters to both sides. The offense revolves around Qb Stone Hollenbach (6-3, 190, jr) who passed for 2531 yards, Rb Gaige Garcia (5-11, 190, jr) who rushed for 2306 yards and Wideout Julian Fleming (6-3, 185, jr) who had 1462 yards in receptions. GA, OSU, PSU, Mich, WV, et al have offered. Schools like Syacuse, Temple, Buffalo, W. Michigan and Bucknell have shown interest in Qb Hollenbach and who knows where Gaige Garcia will end up after gaining over 2000 as a soph. The OL returns 3, all seniors, Troy Donlan 6-0 260, Oak Six 6-3 280 and John Stabinski 5-11 230. The defense will key around linebackers Cal Haladay (6-1, 10, jr), Max Tillett (6-1, 190, sr) and Gaige Garcia with Cole Schankweiler (6-0, 265, jr) back at DT and Lear Quinton (6-2, 215, jr). Julian Fleming returns to the secondary. They dominated Bloomsburg last week 56-6 while holding them to minus 26 yards rushing while generating 491 yards themselves. They’re on the road Friday in the league opener against rival Mount Carmel (1-0) who better get a passing game that was nonexistent last week against Central Columbia to stay in this one.
