2023 District 3: Top 20 (Week 2).
Games of Aug 8,9 Week #2
There are games of real significance in the district this week with playoff implications affecting multiple districts and classifications. Over half the teams are ranked on multiple sites. Here’s a listing. Great games!
LaSalle 6A D12 1-1 at McDevitt 4A 2-0
Coatesville 6A D1 2-0 at Central Dauphin 6A 1-1
Pope John Paul II 4A D1 2-0 at Berks Catholic 3A 1-1
Spring Ford 6A D1 2-0 at Cumberland Valley 0-2
Harrisburg 2-0 at Manheim Township 2-0
Manheim Central 4A 2-0 at Cocalico 5A 1-1
Wyomissing 3A 2-0 at Trinity 3A 2-0
1 Bishop McDevitt 4A 2-0
It wasn’t easy, but the Crusaders came through in the end to eke out a hard win at powerful DePaul Catholic, the defending New Jersey Non-Public B champ. This was a war of two hard hitting teams with McDevitt coming back from deficits of 14-0, 21-7 and 35-20 at the half to pull out a 46-42 win. So make that two in a row for them against the high end comp of Baltimore’s Mount St. Joseph and now DePaul. Quarterback Stone Saunders (Kentucky) was a difference maker as always completing 18 of 29 passes for 243 yards with two Td tosses and two rushing touchdowns. Wide out Chase Regan was his favorite target netting 117 yards in receptions. Jaire Rawlison’s 21-yard Pick-6 was their 19th straight point, allowing them to go up 39-35. And you’ve got to mention DePaul’s Dez Jones who was unstoppable with eight receptions for 175 yards (!) and two touchdowns. LaSalle (1-1) is next, coming off a tough 13-7 loss to Malvern Prep and memories of the embarrassing 56-7 loss (worst of the year) to these Crusaders at Wissahickon last year.
2 Harrisburg 6A 2-0
The Cougars had no trouble with Delaware Valley last week, nearly duplicating last year’s score (32-3) in a 33-0 victory. The difference was this was at Delaware Valley who returned eight to the defense with high hopes of a strong season. Instead, they dropped to 0-2 after losing to Selinsgrove (2-0) last week, with Downingtown East (2-0) dead ahead this week in Downingtown. This one saw the Cougars jump to a 20-0 first quarter lead, then coast behind Shawn Lee completing 10 of 14 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns while leading the team in rushing with 78 yards. They rushed for 242 yards with seven backs getting carries. Neahmiah Ewell rushed for 64 yards. Quincy Brannon had a Pick-6 and wide out Elias Coke caught two passes for 61 yards and a score. Six others had receptions. As strong as Harrisburg looks, they may be a year away with most of their key personnel underclassmen including the entire backfield. The defense held DV to 131 total yards and played 20; 12 underclassmen. This week sees them at Manheim Township giving us an early look at the top 6A teams in the district. They split last year with Township winning at Harrisburg in the regular season 24-20 then, Harrisburg thumping them in ‘districts’ 44-6.
3 Manheim Township 6A 2-0
Like so many of these top teams, Township raced out to an insurmountable 42-0 lead at the half on the way to an easy 56-0 rout of Dallastown, holding the Wildcats to 47 total yards. It’s getting to be a broken record with quarterback Hayden Johnson playing ‘lights out’ football, completing 11 of 13 passes for 190 yards and four touchdown tosses. And they finally got a running game going (vs last year), rushing for 205 yards, led by Jake Arcudi’s 104 yards and two touchdowns. Nick Palumbo and Landon Kennel, both at least 6-3, led all receivers with 69 and 64 yards respectively, with five others involved in the passing game. Harrisburg is next in a game of undefeated teams where it will be SRO in Lancaster.
4 Central York 6A 2-0
Central York continued their march through the Mid Penn Commonwealth with a hard fought 14-0 win at Cumberland Valley after beating Central Dauphin 45-35 the week before. CV had issues getting anything going with 183 total yards while Central’s first year starting sophomore quarterback Brooklyn Nace completed 18 of 22 for 199 yards. Juelz Goff had another strong performance rushing for 121 yards. CV battled with their defense keeping it within a touchdown despite having no offense to speak of. Central didn’t score their final touchdown until 2:53 of the fourth quarter. The Panthers get Hempfield (1-1) next in their home opener. Central has been more the last few years but the Black Knights will come in full of attitude after last week’s 28-25 loss at York and the memory of last year’s 30-20 home loss to Central York.
5 Manheim Central 4A 2-0
The Barons went to Delaware last week taking on the defending 3A state champion (largest schools) Smyrna Eagles in the Mid-Atlantic Pigskin Classic at Salesianum High, coming away with a last minute 37-36 win. Backup quarterback Ray Lewis came in when starter Zac Hahn went down with time running out. On a 4th and long at Symrna’s 38-yard line, Lewis heaved a pop-up to their top receiver Aaron Enterline (6-3, 190, sr, 42/994 last year) who got under it, fought off two defenders then ran it in with :14 left on the clock. He ended with 129 yards on seven receptions and two scores with running back Bryce Arnold rushing for 107 yards and two scores. What a win over a legit team, on the road. Smyrna battled hard with their aerial attack completing 18 of 23 passes for 429 yards. But they were stuffed on the ground, held to 79 yards. So that’s Manheim’s vulnerability and bad news if facing Bishop McDevitt in districts! Cocalico is next in a LL crossover game Central won last year 35-19.
6 State College 6A 1-1
State College lost a heartbreaker to an out-of-district Downingtown East team 28-26. Heads up Se PA for the Downingtown teams this year. East raced out to a 21-7 half time lead then hung on as the Lions roared back from a 28-7 deficit, only to miss a 50-yard field goal at the end by a foot. Their second half 19-7 comeback fell just a little short. First year starter Eddie Cockery did damage with a modest completion rate of 50% (23/46) but for 319 yards and four touchdowns. Ty Salazar was the primary with 229 yards on 13 receptions with star running back D’Antae Sheffey missing most of the game with an injury. State has some weapons! D-East goes home to play Delaware Valley (0-2) while the Lions play Hollidaysburg (1-1) who will probably feel the wrath of State’s narrow home loss.
7 Steelton Highspire 1A 2-0
The Rollers rolled to another big win following a 27-0 first quarter on the way to a 46-26 trouncing of Eastern from Washington, DC. Quarterback Alex Erby was uncanny, completing 12 of 15 for 236 yards, mostly to Kam Chisholm (5/105) with Ronald Burnette rushing for 109 yards on seven carries. Following their 39-0 halftime lead, many of the starters hit the bench allowing Eastern to score 26 second half points. West Catholic (0-1) is next in Philadelphia where the Burrs are coming off a 14-6 loss to Northeast who looked bad two weeks ago getting shutout 24-0 to a mid-level Cedar Crest team from Lebanon.
8 Trinity 2A 1-0
Trinity handled Moore Catholic a little bit easier than expected with a 23-0 halftime score leading to a 37-13 win. Star sophomore running back Messiah Mickens had 241 yards on 18 carries, getting scores of 51, 2, 2 and 73 yards. Christian Joy added 64 yards on 11 carries with Quincy Smith running in a first quarter blocked punt. The Shamrock D was special, holding Moore to 49 rush yards while Trinity pounded out 319. Moore was a test but not like the one coming Friday with D3 powerhouse and district 3A champion Wyomissing bringing their undefeated Spartans in for a SRO game. Wyomissing waxed them last year 35-14 in Reading.This one’s in Camp Hill where the Rocks are strong and need to be with Wyo again surging with a lot of new people.
9 Wyomissing 3A 2-0
Wyo throttled Pottsville 41-7 behind their brutal running game (Wing-T) that churned out 332 yards. They played a lot of people with quarterback Logan Hyde rushing for 59 yards, running backs Chase Eisenhower at 114, Drew Forrey at 41 yards, Marvin Armistead at 45 and Jeremiah Diaz at 50 yards. Pottsville was held to 189 yards and falls to 0-2, losing to Jersey Shore’s 2-0 machine the week before 68-13. Wyo travels to Camp Hill Friday to play Trinity in a face off of (arguably) the top 3A teams in the district.
TIE
Lampeter Strasburg 4A 2-0
LS blew out 6A Penn Manor more on the stat sheet than the scoreboard while coming away with their first shutout, winning 24-0 at Penn Manor. Their defense was in mid-season form, holding the Comets to 61 yards rushing and 95 passing. Their ‘Ground and Pound’ would make Pennsbury proud with 225 rushing yards on 31 carries, led by Jonathan Mellinger’s 157 yards.And the defense is mimicking last year’s unit (14ppg) to date and more, outscoring their first two opponents 69-7. Kennard-Dale (1-1) from the York League is next, pretty much the same team that lost last year 54-7, except this one’s in Lampeter where LS can name the score.
10 Central Dauphin 6A 1-1
After opening with a 45-35 home loss to Central York, you knew if you saw CD they were just too good to lose again soon. But they sure did try, going into overtime where they needed a touchdown reception by TE/DE Jett Franz, his first of the game, to keep pace with Wilson in the overtime period, then a 2-point conversion also to Franz to win it 36-35. Heck of a road win pulling out an overtime game at Gurski Stadium where the Bulldogs are tough. Plain and simple, Wilson could not stop CD’s running game with the Rams netting 290 on the ground! They held Wilson to 126. Qb Key’Ron Plummer had 106 passing and 78 rushing with Miles Copper getting 118 rushing and 35 in receptions. Next up for the Rams is a monster game with Coatesville who’s 2-0. It was a war last year at Coatesville where CD lost 34-28. Coatesville is supposed to be pretty good. Guess we’ll find out!
11 Wilson 6A 0-2
Wilson dropped their second straight, losing a heartbreaker to Central Dauphin in overtime after being routed in the opener at Roman Catholic (2-0) 49-14. Quarterback Tommy Hunsicker had a good game, completing 16 of 25 passes for 262 yards with three touchdown passes. He ran for another 57 yards on 11 carries. After allowing 49 to Roman Catholic, they had nothing left for Central Dauphin’s big O-Line that averages 285 pounds, giving up 36 more points. And they had no ground game against an athletic Ram D, rushing for 126 yards. When your QB is the top rusher in a pro-style attack, you’re probably in some trouble. Martin Luther King High (1-1) from Philly is next.
12 York (William Penn) 6A 1-1
York showed a lot of class and bounce with a hard fought 28-25 win against well regarded Hempfield, coming on the heels a 50-20 season opening loss to Harrisburg. The Bearcats got just enough of a passing game, switching early to Najee Still who threw a 73-yard strike to David Warde, followed by another touchdown of 7-yards to Warde. End of the night, they completed 9 of 16 passes for 146 yards, and rushed for 206. Shavane Anderson was the man, toting it 32 times for 212 yards. But the big news was York’s defense holding Hempfield to 84 yards rushing and picking off two of Jackson Landis’ passes. One, a 37-yard Pick-6 by Jakii Joseph in the first quarter. Carlisle (1-1) is next in York’s first road game of the year. It will be a difficult game in Carlisle’s home opener with the Herd coming off a bitter 28-21 loss at Governor Mifflin.
13 Hempfield 6A 1-1
With their ground game bottled up by a stiff York defense, Hempfield turned to their passing game where Jackson Landis heaved it 37 times for 246 yards and three touchdowns. But he was ‘off’, completing only 18 passes (48.6%) and throwing two picks, one returned for a score that proved decisive in the 28-25 loss. Cam Margeson and Micah Gates led the receiver corps with 88 and 66 yards respectively with Elijah Wells rushing for 82 yards on 11 carries. It was still a close call loss for them despite having no credible running game with 84 yards on 15 carries. Central York is next as the York-Adams League non-conference schedule continues.
14 Cedar Cliff 5A 2-0
Cedar Cliff defeated Mechanicsburg to go undefeated against their Mid Penn-Colonial slate of teams in cross over games having defeated Shippensburg in the opener 29-13. Eric Shriver continues to impress with 118 yards rushing on 17 carries, supported by Tyrail Hills 72 yards. Quarterback Bennett Seacrest had 88 yards passing and 36 rushing as the Colts entertained the big 4000 capacity crowd at West Shore Stadium with the 27-9 win. Have to mention the Colts defense turning in another strong performance holding the Wildcats to 197 total yards. JP McCaskey is next, coming in 1-1 with a team that actually showing life after routing Elizabethtown last week 40-13, a team they lost to the year before 50-21.
15 Twin Valley 4A 2-0
Twin Valley showed something last week going to Hershey Park Stadium to beat Lower Dauphin 24-21. LD has some people who can get after you. And while the score was tight, they had no answer for Twin Valley’s massive O-Line that opened huge holes for Drew Engle to get 190 yards on 15 carries and Evan Johnson to batter the Falcons for another 185 yards. All totaled, TV bashed their way to 432 on the ground to LD’s 263. But at the end of the day, it was the dependable leg of Sam Frey nailing a 36-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that proved decisive. Winless Conrad Weiser is next. But it’s their home opener after road losses to undefeated Garden Spot 42-3 and Fleetwood 30-21.
16 West Perry 3A 2-0
The Mustangs remain undefeated with a 41-7 pasting of the Newport’s Buffalos, led by their talented quarterback Marcus Quaker’s 356 total yards of offense; 21 of 26 for 305 yards passing and 51 rushing. His ace receiver, Ian Goodling, snagged 10 for 164 yards to set a new West Perry record as the all-time receiver (yardage) with 2284 yards to date. Well done Ian! Bryce Smith also caught 5 for 93 yards with Brad Hockenberry rushing for 85 yards. Winless Juniata is next where the Mustangs can name the score after beating a much deeper 8-4 Juniata team last year 24-0. After this comes the real test in Camp Hill against Trinity.
17 Cedar Crest 6A 2-0
Cedar Crest has turned some heads (not enough!) after shutting out Philadelphia Public League power Northeast 24-0 in the opener and Central Dauphin East last week. East High won the stat sheet at 382 yards to 288 and first downs 19-12. But not the scoreboard where Cedar Crest prevailed 33-7! Their bend but don’t break defense made East High go 54.57 yards to score a single point. Cedar Crest’s efficient group was wildly productive at 8.72 yards per point, rushing for 206 yards while holding East to 118 yards. East tagged them through the air lanes with Demaj Jallott completing 25 of 53 passes for 305 yards, mostly to Xavier Armstrong pulling down 9 for 158 yards. CC’s Falcons threw a bunch of backs at East High, but mostly Alex Abrew with 80 yards on eight carries, Fernando Marquesz also with 80 on eight carries and quarterback Jackson Custer with 68 yards on five carries. Leo Tirado also had a 36-yard Pick-6 in the third quarter. Warwick (1-1) is next where they’ll go for some payback after last year’s tight 26-20 loss in Lebanon.
18 Cocalico 5A 1-1
Cocalico recovered from their narrow 17-14 season opening loss at Warwick with a 49-14 dismantling of Solanco, who falls to 0-2. A 42-0 halftime lead told how easy this one was, backed with stats of 414 total yards to Solanco’s 155. Nothing like playing a lot of players early in the season with these blowouts. Both teams are option teams showing 11 total pass attempts for 58 yards. So if you like old fashioned football! Cocalico’s great back Sam Steffey had a short day with eight attempts garnering 83 yards followed by Brayden Eppinette’s 82 on five carries. Quarterback Josh Myer got 79 yards after five carries and three rushing touchdowns with one completion on two attempts, one for a score. Up next is a wicked crossover game (LL-3 vs LL-2) with one of the top 4As in the state in undefeated Manheim Central (2-0). Central won last year 35-19 at home. But they’ll likely get a more stubborn fight here with this one in Denver.
19 Berks Catholic 3A 1-1
This was the classic game of two halves. The first half saw Executive Education Academy (#2 AA in state) of Allentown build a 14-0 lead on the strength of Cazhiere Richardson’s 30 and 40-yard touchdown strikes to Damon Young and Jeremiah Rodriguez. The second half was a whole other story where running back Michael Bradley got loose on an 83-yard romp and a six yarder on the way to a 130-yard performance as the Saints exploded for 19 unanswered points. Evidently the 14-0 deficit was the spark to shake them out of the doldrums of last week’s 25-21 road loss to Triple-A power and 2nd ranked Loyalsock. BC moves on to their third ranked opponent of the young season with a home game against 5th rated Pope John Paul II (2-0) from District-1.
20 Milton Hershey 4A 2-0
Milton Hershey is in a good place right now opening with a tough 35-34 road win at Susquehanna Township, then cruising last week against Middletown 35-14. Middletown scored 14 fourth quarter points for the misleading final score. MH’s Elijah Johnson rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown while Jason Burney kept things honest completing four of five passes for 56 yards. This week’s opponent is East Pennsboro who is off and running at 2-0, beating York Suburban (0-2) 57-14 and Palmyra (1-1) 28-14. East Pennsboro won last year 17-8. There are some interesting dynamics in this one being Pennsboro’s third consecutive road game and Milton Hershey’s home opener. And it’s a great Mid-Penn crossover game and tune-up for both before getting into divisional play.
Others:
Warwick 5A 1-1 home vs Cedar Crest
Exeter Township 5A 2-0 at West York
Ephrata 5A 2-0 home vs Lebanon
Garden Spot 5A 2-0 at Conestoga Valley
ELCO 4A 2-0 home vs Columbia
Hershey 5A 2-0 home vs Dallastown
East Pennsboro 4A 2-0 at Milton Hershey
Susquehanna Township 4A 1-1 home vs Middletown
Central Dauphin East 6A 1-1 at Northeastern
Lower Dauphin 5A 1-1 at Elizabethtown
Mifflin County 6A 2-0 home vs Altoona
Cumberland Valley 6A 0-2 home vs Spring Ford
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