Here’s a peek at the schedule insanity that will be District-3 football-21. All the “big names” are playing each other early, with great intra district non-conf battles and a few inter district battles as well. Anyone who is anybody is playing someone special right at the beginning of the season. Check out the front loaded schedules of historic teams/recent power teams of the district. Never seen so many power teams going at each other so early. Many of the games will have major impact across the district and beyond for the playoffs. Most have 8/27 opening games, all are consecutive unless mentioned otherwise.
Mid Penn Conference
Bishop McDevitt 6-0: Open with two games at home against Philadelphia-LaSalle and Middletown (new coach) then at Harrisburg. McDevitt is loaded with returnees from last year’s undefeated team, looking to replace graduated Qb Lek Powell (5-10, 175, Dayton last heard) who had profound stats for six games; 1598py, 67%, 20/0 Td/Pick ratio. No picks! LaSalle could be a wake-up call with McDevitt being untested last year against marginal Cedar Cliff (4-4) and Cumberland Valley (3-5) teams.
Central Dauphin 5-1: Open on road at Wilson, then three straight homers against Berks Catholic, Manheim Township and Harrisburg. Lots of holes to fill but it’s CD who eats, sleeps and breaths it with a returning quarterback and some attitude from last year’s 42-15 playoff drubbing by Central York. Unfortunately, and like McDevitt above, their covid influenced schedule lacked the typical tests of Harrisburg 4-0, Wilson 6-1 and Township 5-2.
Cumberland Valley 3-5: At Manheim Central, home to Central York and Spring Ford. Coach Josh Oswalt will open things up more (dumped Wing-T) with a wild pass scheme demonstrated at Carlisle and Central York before coming home (04 CV grad) in 2020. A lot more resources at CV so look for improvement in year two. He’ll need it with that opening schedule.
Harrisburg 4-0: At Hazelton (big #s + Qb….upset anyone?), home to McDevitt, at CD. Should come in with real attitude feeling they were short changed in playoffs with a forfeit fielding an excellent team. OL stalwarts return in Ty Black 6-1 275, Roy Irvin 6-2 295 and Tymere Jennings 5-11, 280. But they’ll miss under rated Qb John McNeil forcing them to ground early.
Lancaster Lebanon League
Wilson 6-1: Open with two bitter rivals, Central Dauphin at home, at Governor Mifflin then away at Exeter. The offense will build around their bruising running back Jadyn Jones (6-0, 220, 75/519) and some fine, fine sophs coming up. CD in game-1 sets up a lot for both programs.
Township 5-2: First two weeks are typical (CD East, Dallastown) then all hell breaks loose 3rd and 4th week with Central Dauphin on the road, a loaded Spring Ford offense visiting and a game at Cocalico taking on their option attack and four veteran backs. Any team would be a factor with return/receiver Anthony Ivey (5-11, 180, 23-546p, 8 TDs) back for his senior year. He’s listed as the 6th receiver in the state and 20th in the nation depending on which site you view. Lots to rebuild but good numbers return to the defense. 61-19 won-loss last seven years says they’ll figure it out.
Hempfield 4-4: Could be legit with return of solid Qb Cam Harbaugh and year-2 for Coach George Eager, the LL’s youngest coach at 34. But all this could be masked by a tough opening slate with a vet but young Dallastown team then on the road to Manheim Central and Central York before home vs Exeter then away at Warwick.
Manheim Central 3-5: Open with two homers vs Cumberland Valley and Hempfield then a winnable game at Susquehanna Twp before consecutive road trips at Perkiomen Valley and Wilson before coming home to Warwick.
Cocalico 4-4: Open at home against Conrad Weiser who has an unheralded duel threat Qb, then away at Cedar Cliff then home vs Governor Mifflin. Need a Qb but they return their top backs. That’s key with Anthony Bourassa (90/753ry), Steven Flinton (58/468ry, 14/353py), Brysen Flinton (14/201ry) and Austin Vang (16/77ry) back.
Berks Inter-County Conference
Governor Mifflin 8-1: Open on road vs York High (Wm. Penn), then home to Wilson, away at Cocalico. Following a breather at home vs Cedar Crest, they have an interesting game at Episcopal Academy. Nice chance for SE PA to see running back Nicholas Singleton who has offers from everyone including PSU, OSU, Notre Dame and Alabama, the eighth SEC school to offer.
Exeter Twp 6-2: Open at home against Central York, then a winnable game at veteran Boyertown, then home to Wilson before road war at Hempfield who took them to overtime last year before falling. Young bunch last year except at Qb. Like Red Lion, ELCO and McDevitt, just need a quarterback.
Berks Catholic 5-3: Doesn’t fit scenario but have a few interesting games; opening week at home to Executive Education Academy Charter School of Allentown (nice gym!), then away at Central Dauphin before coming to Boothwyn Delaware County if anyone wants to check them out playing Chichester. Play Malvern Prep 9/24 in Reading; Exeter and Mifflin end of year.
York-Adams League
Central York 10-1: Open with road games at Exeter then Cumberland Valley before home opener against Hempfield to see dueling quarterbacks….then a rough one at Red Lion. Central York returns Beau Pribula (158/234/68%, 34/7, 2156py, 519ry, 14Tds), Knights have Cam Harbaugh (82/138, 59%, 9/1, 1173py). CY had heavy grads but return enough parts knowing who’s under center.
York 7-1: Open at home with Governor Mifflin, then J.P.McCaskey (Lancaster High) where they should dominate before a road trip to Coatesville for some inter-district bragging rights. York is young but loaded with most of last year’s team returning. Game no doubt facilitated by Coach Ortega who turned around a moribund York program from 2004 to 2008, going 37-18 before coming to Coatesville in 2009. This is new territory for the Bearcats, taking on teams the caliber of the Silver Medal Mustangs and Coatesville. Let’s see how they hold up.
Red Lion 5-2: Open at home with the Colts of Cedar Cliff, then Waynesboro and Chambersburg on the road for good comparison of York-Adams football to Mid Penn. If Red Lion can’t hold up against these teams, it will be a LONG season with Central York game-4, but in Red Lion. If they roll, they will have successfully replaced a fine duel threat in Qb Randy Fizer, to fire on all cylinders with a veteran team.
**** I wanted to get this out with a schedule stretching me from cuz’s ranch in FL to Gettysburg, not being sure how much will get done this year on D-3 football. Will at least get a Top 20 out soon.