(All Classifications)
Here is information and thoughts on Mid State football, meaning District 3 teams and a few relevant D4 and D6 teams, having to cut off “Mid State” somewhere. Hard breaking it down with geographic absolutes. So here goes with some best guesstimates, as always, just for the fun of it.
1 State College: Mid Penn Commonwealth, 6A, 10-3
Boo-coo bodies back from last year’s 10-3 team that lost to Pine Richland 49-21 in the quarterfinals last year. They should be improved this year with a more seasoned Qb in senior Tommy Friberg (63%, +2000yds), #2 and #3 receivers back and many experienced running backs led by junior Isaiah Edwards (6-0 200 54/542), Cohen Russell (5-8, 170, 34/294) and Brady Dorner (Rb/Qb 5-11, 180, jr, 38/304). No lack of speed or experience with Keaton Ellis (5-11, 165, sr), Kyle Domico (5-8, 165, jr) and Dresyn Green (5-8, 150, so) returning. Played a lot of youth last year. BIG numbers return on D; over 500 returning tackles, 297 on the DL. Plenty of athletes, speed and are never lacking for size along the lines. Like last year, they’ll get off to a fast start (5-0 ly, 6-0 this?) unless St. Augustine-NJ (5-5) gets them in game 2 at Richland before back-to-back trips to Harrisburg to play the Cougars and Central Dauphin. Look out Lions as Harrisburg and Rams should have their people in place by then coming off big rebuild/reloads.
2 Cumberland Valley: Mid Penn Commonwealth, 6A, 10-3
The Eagles graduated most of their skill off a 10-3 outing that lost to Manheim Townnship 24-21 in the District 3 final. But they return Qb Pessinger who can zing it as needed (14/21/226 vs Township in playoffs) probably to TE Stone Huffman 6-2, 225 for starters and a host of experienced receivers. Maximos Dell’Anno (6-1, 190, so), Connor Madison (5-10, 195, Jr, FB?) and Kamil Jackson (6-2, 180) will likely move into HB slots. DTs Chase Myers (6-2, 300), Quincy Thomas (5-9, 225), DE Stone Hoffman (6-2, 225), ILB Jake Hart (5-9, 180) plus alternates will give the D a decent look. The schedule is always challenging in the Commonwealth, opening at home with McDevitt (non-conf) who’s locked and loaded again, then 3 straight road trips to Central York who has people back and a strong Qb, Coatesville who many are favoring to win 6A followed by rival Central Dauphin at Landis. Game #5 is against Harrisburg in Mechanicsburg where the crowd will be SRO and belligerent….looking for some Cougar meat after last year’s embarrassing 56-14 loss in the Burg. Cougars have to cross the river this time so look for a war with Chapman packed. East Shore vs West Shore!
3 Manheim Central: Lancaster-Lebanon Section 2, 5A, 13-1
Like Berks and McDevitt, Central brings back a load of talent that lost to Gateway 31-28 in the semifinal after knocking off Governor Mifflin 30-29 in the district final. So make that 17 district titles for the Barons. 17! That will happen with a record of 55-13 in district playoff games. They’re set in the backfield with Qb Evan Simon (2599, 60%, 29/10) and Rb Tyler Flick with 1489 yards back. Most of receiver corps is gone but a typical beefy Baron line returns to batter some heads again. Three senior starters return in Tyler Dougherty (6-0 275), Brent Wolgemuth (6-0 268) and Josh Painter (6-1 280). Half the D returns led by LB Landan Moyer (93 tackles) and Dougherty going 2-way at DT. They could get off fast at Susquehanna Township (super young last year) and Hempfield (big grad losses especially Qb) then home to fierce rival Warwick who they edged last year 35-27.
4 Berks Catholic: Berks Inter-County Section 2, 4A, 13-1
The Saints ripped through the Berks Inter County-2 again, this time by a cumulative score of 195-21. Right, time to move up to the Berks-1 until a glance at last year’s schedule shows they bounced their reps Exeter 48-7 and Weiser 47-0. And they pounded McDevitt-Harrisburg 45-24 in the postseason before losing to Cathedral in the 4A semifinal 42-24. But this year sees them adjusting, opening with Reading rival Exeter again, then home to Central Dauphin and McDonogh-MD (beat LaSalle and Malvern last year) before traveling to Malvern Prep after a trip to Boyertown. Heck of a schedule upgrade taking on those three. Senior Qb Terrance Derr (6-2, 195, sr 1098, 63%) is back with most of the backfield (excluding Rb/S Cooper Lutz 1528yds-Syracuse) and 6 starters on defense. DE Kyle Roberts (6-1 245 sr), DL Luke Painton (6-6, 230, jr) C/NG Nico Myers(6-2, 270, sr) and LB/RB Brandon George (6-4, 240, sr, 66 tackles) head the defense. Early homers to CD and McDonogh will set the tone. Unfortunately the merger with the Lancaster Lebanon League was turned down. Here we would have seen Governor Mifflin, Berks Catholic, Exeter and others play Wilson, Township, Manheim Central, Cocalico and others. Too bad. But it did give us BC’s exciting schedule this year which provides the competition they couldn’t get in the Berks-2.
5 Bishop McDevitt: Mid Penn Keystone, 4A, 10-3
They are absolutely loaded with Qb Chase Diehl back after throwing for 2937 yards with a 70% completion rate, along with Rb CJ Reyes-Diggs (6-1, 190, 592) and his principal receivers who have nearly 2000 yards between them; Nazir Burnett at 1118 and T’nyis Becker at 878. DT Carter Christopher (6-3 290 sr) anchors a line and defense that returns many starters (both lines) and alternates. The Crusaders had non-competitive losses last year to Berks Catholic 45-24 in the West semifinal (district title) and Harrisburg 35-0 and Cumberland Valley 49-23 in the regular season, but look to be more this season with big numbers returning. We’ll know in the opener at Cumberland Valley then at Middletown game 3. McDevitt, CV and the Raiders are 3 of the top teams in the Harrisburg area. Thereon they should roll although Cedar Cliff game 5 could be a wild one as the Colts have some giddy-up this year.
