1 Pine Richland 2-0, D7; So where’s the new and improved defense? This looked more like the 2014 team that when push came to shove had to outscore teams. And they did a good job of that until running into St. Joseph’s in the final. But they got win #2 last week beating a “game” Mount Lebanon 53-29. It was actually a competitive game for the first half. And we shouldn’t diminish Lebo’s ability to hang in there. Qb Phil Jurkovec passed for 438 yards with 3 receivers topping the century mark! With their receivers, running backs and Jurkovec under center, it is still a question whether anyone can outscore this team, let alone, keep up. They’re at Seneca Valley (0-1) who’s coming off a 13-8 loss to Peters Township. Looks like a long night for them knowing they lost last year 51-20 against a lesser edition.
2 Cumberland Valley 1-0, D3; Beat Coatesville 21-14 the way they’ve defeated numerous quality teams over the years with superior line play and a powerful running game. The line focuses around senior lineman Jacob Fetterolf 6-3, 280 and Quincy Thomas, 5-9, 230, while the running attack belongs to senior Jake Palmer who had 136 yards on 22 carries against Coatesville, 122 in the second half. This is a mature, cool and confident team, while Coatesville looked young and undisciplined, with 125 yards in penalties and a second half collapse (2 first downs), losing a 14-0 half time lead. You’d think it was their opener not CV’s with the Eagles superior conditioning prevailing in the second half, winning 21-0 against a clearly fatigued team. Better wear your Big Boy pants when you come to Chapman. Bigger, faster and quicker doesn’t always get it. The Eagles are home again this weekend against Central York (1-0) who they defeated last year 35-7.
3 Pittsburgh Central Catholic 1-1, D7; Just what the doctor ordered pounding hapless Shaler 40-0 following the previous week’s inter district loss to Cathedral Prep, 40-7. No one expected a loss against Shaler and in point of fact, they haven’t lost two in a row since the Art Walker years (98-04, 61-23 W/L) where he began his tenure with losing seasons in ‘98 and ‘99. Speaking of Coach Walker and rarely losing two in a row, they’re at North Allegheny (1-1) Friday taking on the Tigers who are not in the best of moods following a 35-15 loss at Bethel Park. It’s early and all but this is still a important conference game with NA looking to settle a score from last year’s 55-14 humiliation.
4 Manheim Township 1-0, D3; Township jumped way up in the rankings from 9th to 4th on the strength of their 17-14 defeat of nemesis Central Dauphin. Qb Luke Emge threw for 228 of their 354 total yards while CD got 104 up top and 128 on the ground. The Blue Streaks have real weapons in their Qb, running back Grayson Sallade, receiver Rece Bender and their lines, with the win establishing them as a legit challenge to Wilson in the LL and others in the district. They’re at South Western (1-0) Friday night in Hanover where the Mustangs field a veteran team off a 4-6 season. Lost to Township last year 35-0 and all the York-Adams powers; Northeastern 8-3, Central York 7-4, Dallastown 7-3 and Red Lion 10-1. Still, they can’t go into “The Corral” Friday looking ahead to the monster game against Governor Mifflin the following week.
5 Governor Mifflin 1-0, D3; South Reading was rocking Friday night after the Mustangs corralled Wilson’s Bulldogs 21-14 in a game between District-3 powers and legitimate challengers for district honors. The score doesn’t reflect Wilson’s 14-pt comeback in the 4th quarter or excepting this, how Mifflin dominated, holding them to 180 total yards, an unheard of number for Wilson. Meanwhile, the Mustangs cranked out 346 yards, 234 on the ground to win the Gurski-Linn Trophy. That’s big stuff between the two Reading powers. Up next is a bad ass 5A from Denver where Cocalico doesn’t take prisoners, beating Manheim Central last year and barely losing to Mifflin 17-13 in Shillington. They routed Red Land last week 69-7 so they’re ready, and at home! Let’s see if they can handle Qb Kam Wolfe who rushed and passed for over 100 last week.
6 Wilson 0-1, D3; Wilson lost on the road to arch rival Governor Mifflin (2-0) in their opener. But you can’t drop them too far considering circumstance and the tightness of the game, 21-14. This was the annual war for the Gurski-Linn Trophy that really packs them into Mifflin Stadium. How about just over 5000 for this one. Football is alive and well in the Reading area! Classy Wilson made a gallant 14-pt 4th quarter rally that nearly pulled it out. But not this time against the shutdown Mustang defense that allowed 180 total yards. Next up is a road game against Spring Ford (1-1), coming off a 28-20 win at Chester. Spring Ford’s head coach Chad Brubaker spent 12 years in the Wilson program, the last 4 as O/C if you’re wondering why the Rams have such prolific offenses. It took Wilson 2 overtime periods to beat Spring Ford last year in West Lawn 41-40. Wilson is more but the Rams can spring the upset.
7 State College 1-0, D6; State College opened the season with a lot of new faces that came out firing on all cylinders, racing out to a 45-6 half time lead on JP McCaskey. Thereon and with a running clock it was mostly second teamers getting considerable time that will pay dividends down the road. Junior Qb Tommy Friberg (6-4, 195) played well, completing 6 of 7 passes for 82 yards and two touchdown tosses before taking a knee as the Lions cruised to a 45-12 rout of the Red Tornado from Lancaster. The OL built around returning seniors Colin DeBoef (6-5, 275), Robert Nachtman (6-4, 300) and Jackson Heasley (6-2, 235) opened big holes for Tristen Lyons, allowed D1 receiver Brandon Clark (6-4, 200) to get into his routes and protected Qb Friberg and soph backup Brady Dorner well. They’re at home again this week playing Hollidaysburg (2-0, 5A) who has wins against Martinsburg Central 30-20 and Silver Oak Academy-MD 31-6.
8 Central Dauphin 1-1, D3; In a battle between two of south central’s PA’s top teams, Manheim Township came out on top at home in a thriller, winning 17-14. CD’s inability to establish a more effective passing attack (ditto last year) was decisive with Brady Straub completing 12 of 24 passes for 114 yards. His counterpart Luke Emge completed 19 of 29 for 222 yards. The total yardage battle was all Manheim, 348 to 245. The Rams had their chances but their D1 field goal kicker missed a 51 yarder earlier in the game and a 52 yarder as time expired. Hey, he’s made them before. Tough loss and their first to Township since 2010. The Rams are idle this week and that’s a good thing knowing Wilson is up next on the schedule in West Lawn September 15th .
9 Bethel Park 1-0, D7; How about Bethel Park putting a 35-15 hurtin on North Allegheny last week? You figure with a veteran OL they had to at least be in the picture this year, but 35-15? West Virginia commit James Gmiter (6-4, 315, Sr) is its heart and soul with the key being it is solid veteran, Tight End to Tackle. So how good is it? How about 352 rush yards against North Allegheny on 52 carries. Those are numbers only Central Catholic puts on NA. Both of Bethel’s lead backs ran at will. Tanner Volpatti had 144 yards on 18 carries while John Doleno had 145 yards on 8 carries. This is their first win against North Allegheny since 2008’s 15-1 team that lost in the final to Liberty in ot, 28-21. They’re at undefeated Peters Township (2-0) who has evidently done a good rebuild with a few bodies, coming in off wins against Chartiers Valley 45-13 and Seneca Valley 13-8. Whatever happened to Char Val?
10 Williamsport 2-0, D4: Williamsport had no trouble with Mifflin County last week, beating the Huskies 46-29. This followed their season opening win at Central Mountain 34-7 showing the Millionaires seem to have picked up where they left off last year, with good reason. They have a great back in Treyson Potts and 4 returning to the OL plus a core of 7 returning to the defense so the numbers and talent are there. Hazelton (1-1) is up this week off a road win at Wyoming Valley West, 17-15 following the home opener where they lost to Berwick 24-10. Bit of a spooky bunch these Cougars with a young Qb who can and will fling it. As comparison, they lost last year to Berwick 44-0 and Valley West 33-15 suggesting they’ve improved. There are probably a million reasons why Hazelton should lose but hang around since they are improved and the Huskies of Mifflin Country showed you can score on Williamsport.
Others:
Mt. Lebanon 1-1, D7; Hard dropping them out of the Top 10 but doubt it’s for long with a powerful, veteran O-Line to protect a heretofore unknown in Qb Seth Morgan who threw for 454 yards against Pine Richland in the 53-29 loss after throwing for 292 against Fox Chapel the week before. He’s #2 on the depth chart with James Stocker out with a knee 4 to 6 weeks. Their D1 wide out Aiden Cain set a PA state record snagging 25 passes for 338 yards vs the Rams.
North Allegheny 1-1, D7; Lost big at Bethel Park 35-15 and to the schedule maker who gave them Southeastern’s best in Bethel and Mt. Lebanon.
Peters Township 2-0, D7; Beat Seneca Valley 13-8, home Bethel Park.
Penn Hills 2-0, D7; Beat Butler 54-21, home Canon McMillan.
Canon McMillan 2-0, D7; Beat Hempfield 33-28, at Penn Hills.
Hempfield 1-1, D7; Lost to C-Mac 33-28, at Lebo.
McDowell 1-1, D10; Beat St. Fransis-NY 23-21, home Cathedral Prep.
Central Dauphin East 1-0, D3; Beat Milton Hershey 28-26, at Lower Dauphin.
Central York 2-0, D3; Beat West York 28-13, at Cumberland Valley.
Red Lion 1-0, D3; Beat Waynesboro 35-7, home Boone.
