(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.
6 Harrisburg: Mid Penn Commonwealth, 6A, 11-1
Tremendous grad losses of extraordinary talent losing Micah Parsons (DE/RB), receiver Shaquon Anderson-Butts and Ronald Kent, and Qb Jahmir Wilkerson (2188, 60%) from a team that beat Imhotep 33-14, McDevitt 35-0, Central Dauphin 48-10, State College 51-28 and Cumberland Valley 48-14. That was their best offense ever (before John Harris-Wm. Penn merger; Harris High was awesome!) at 47ppg and best D since George Chaump’s 2007 12-2 team that allowed 12ppg. Tough replacing Qb’s under rated arm and of course impossible replacing Parsons. Receiver corps wipeout (principal receivers 95/1881yds) but great depth there and at Rb where experience returns. The D returns real depth and starters at linebacker headed by D1 talent Andre White (6-3, 220, sr, 89 tackles), Jai Burney (5-9, 210, sr, 64 tackles) and Deonte Nichols (6-1, 210, sr, 28 tackles). Tymere Evan (5-10, 240, sr) and Dasean Grady (6-3, 315, sr) will plug the line. Super quick Rynell Gantt (5-10, 170, sr) returns at S/WR. Count on their finding a Qb who can run and manage a game! They open at home to Coatesville who some have said will trounce them. Coatesville is good, maybe real good, but shouldn’t get cocky coming to Harrisburg. Then it’s Reading (new coach) before a dangerous Cedar Cliff team and rival CD East where both return their Qbs. Thereon it gets even nastier against Cumberland Valley, Central Dauphin and State College. Cougars have some nice parts but a tricky slate could trip them up.
7 Middletown: Mid Penn Capital, 3A, 14-1
The Blue Raiders got to the state finals the last two years losing to Quaker Valley 41-24 last year and Beaver Falls 30-13 the year before. Graduation took a chunk out of a stellar defense that allowed 12 and 9ppg the last two years with a winning margin of 41-12 in 2016 and 41-9 last year. But, they return one of the better backs in central PA in Jose Lopez (6-0, 195) who motored for 1749 yards last year through 12 games til injured (knee), missing Scranton Prep, Conwell Egan and Quaker Valley. Brady Fox (+1000 rush yards) had another strong year but graduated. Besides Lopez, they return Qb Scott Ash (5-11, 175, sr) and 4 of his lineman; C-OG/NG Joe Gusler (6-1 275), OG/DT Cole Senior (6-1, 230, 87 tackles) and OT/DE Ethan Miller (6-3 250 sr), Morgan Billman (6-0 230 sr) or Brock Welsh (6-3 240 so) at OG. Believe Trayvon Joseph is back at TE; DE last year. Caught Raiders once to see Welsh, then a freshman just bulldoze people. Also return some key D people in DTs Senior, Welsh, Colin Graham (6-0 260 jr) and DE Adonis Taveras (6-3 230 sr). Gage Radabaurgh (5-11 180 sr) returns at linebacker. They open on the road to Lower Dauphin and Northern before the monster home opener when they step up in class for a super rare game against Bishop McDevitt. Get there early!
8 Cocalico: Lancaster-Lebanon Section 2, 5A, 10-2
Best kept secret in District-3 last year, kicking some serious ass especially vs Governor Mifflin winning 42-21. This is the same Mifflin team that beat Harrisburg in the postseason. But losses to district kingpin Manheim Central, 17-7 in the regular season and 21-20 in the playoffs (2nd round) did them in. Like Perkiomen Valley in District-1, their losses came to one team. They return much of the team this year that scored 44ppg with a nasty defense that allowed 13ppg. So they should be good again but possibly drop some from last year’s D level where 10 starters returned. But, if the O trends up, look out! Dual threat Qb Noah Palm is back (6-0, 190, sr) after rushing for 1145 yards and passing for another 542. If you like teams that run the ball you’ll love the boys from Denver who run it 89% of the time. Old school!
9 Central Dauphin: Mid Penn Commonwealth, 6A, 6-5
Having 6 double digit winning seasons the preceding 7 years (76-17 W/L) along with a Quad-A state title in 2011 and deep tradition made last year’s 6-5 outing a real shocker. Their worst year prior to that was the 5-5 campaign in 2000. But they still managed to beat Wilson and Cumberland Valley with their worst defense (21ppg) since 2003’s squad that allowed 23 before losing to Manheim Township 28-0 in the 1st round. You can’t allow 21ppg in the Mid Penn Commonwealth.
That should improve with senior DLs Jaden Baylor (6-4 298), Gabe Bollinger (6-3 290), Willie Schuler (6-3 225) and Carter LaPorte (6-2 230) back. They have a number of well-regarded sophomore lineman in the wings and should be solid at LB with Adam Burkhart (FB/LB 5-11 220 sr), Kyle Minnich (6-1 210 sr) and Mason Griffith (6-1 225 sr). Played many sophomores last year, DB Elijah Vargas (5-9 175), DL Josh Krasevic (6-3 255), LB Jacob Hicks (5-10, 190)), Nick Chimienti (6-1 175) at CB, Nick Hoffman (6-2 195) at SS/QB, et al. It’s a big rebuild on offense with enough D to allow its development. The schedule is unforgiving (scrimmage at Dallastown) opening at home to Wilson then at Berks Catholic before coming home to Manheim Township and Cumberland Valley. Phew!
10 Wilson: Lancaster-Lebanon Section 1, 6A, 8-4
Last season was the worst for Coach Dahms since taking over the program in 2006, and first year since 2007 they didn’t have a double digit winning season. So it was 9 straight going 109-14 from 08 to 16. Last season saw their 68 game conference winning streak (LL-Section One games) snapped, losing at Manheim Township who won the LL crown and district. Wilson also lost in the 2nd round to Township 28-14. And they had sizeable grad losses including Qb Connor Uhrig’s 1668yds (64%, 15/6), their all-time leading rusher Ignacion Reynoso’s 1561 yard and 272 yards receiving. All totaled he amassed 4778 career ry and 79 Tds. Many DLs and LBs grad but they return a core in OG Nate Keller (6-0, 260, jr), their top lineman, Mike Kline (6-3, 270, sr), MLB Nick Johnson (6-0, 230, sr, 78 tackles) and LB Isaiah Gilmore (5-11, 175, sr). Historically the Bulldogs have good defense and are a “factory” cranking out quality Qbs. The D allowed 19ppg last year and 20 the year before which is way off the charts for their typical 10-12ppg yield. It was a disappointing even under achieving season given the talent returning where they went 3-3 against “quality”, losing to Central Dauphin, Governor Mifflin and Manheim Township while defeating Hempfield, Spring Ford and Red Lion. Not a good year. They open this year at Central Dauphin, then home for their #1 rival Governor Mifflin followed by Spring Ford then a tough one at Manheim Central where the Barons will be out to make a statement.
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.
6 Harrisburg: Mid Penn Commonwealth, 6A, 11-1
Tremendous grad losses of extraordinary talent losing Micah Parsons (DE/RB), receiver Shaquon Anderson-Butts and Ronald Kent, and Qb Jahmir Wilkerson (2188, 60%) from a team that beat Imhotep 33-14, McDevitt 35-0, Central Dauphin 48-10, State College 51-28 and Cumberland Valley 48-14. That was their best offense ever (before John Harris-Wm. Penn merger; Harris High was awesome!) at 47ppg and best D since George Chaump’s 2007 12-2 team that allowed 12ppg. Tough replacing Qb’s under rated arm and of course impossible replacing Parsons. Receiver corps wipeout (principal receivers 95/1881yds) but great depth there and at Rb where experience returns. The D returns real depth and starters at linebacker headed by D1 talent Andre White (6-3, 220, sr, 89 tackles), Jai Burney (5-9, 210, sr, 64 tackles) and Deonte Nichols (6-1, 210, sr, 28 tackles). Tymere Evan (5-10, 240, sr) and Dasean Grady (6-3, 315, sr) will plug the line. Super quick Rynell Gantt (5-10, 170, sr) returns at S/WR. Count on their finding a Qb who can run and manage a game! They open at home to Coatesville who some have said will trounce them. Coatesville is good, maybe real good, but shouldn’t get cocky coming to Harrisburg. Then it’s Reading (new coach) before a dangerous Cedar Cliff team and rival CD East where both return their Qbs. Thereon it gets even nastier against Cumberland Valley, Central Dauphin and State College. Cougars have some nice parts but a tricky slate could trip them up.
7 Middletown: Mid Penn Capital, 3A, 14-1
The Blue Raiders got to the state finals the last two years losing to Quaker Valley 41-24 last year and Beaver Falls 30-13 the year before. Graduation took a chunk out of a stellar defense that allowed 12 and 9ppg the last two years with a winning margin of 41-12 in 2016 and 41-9 last year. But, they return one of the better backs in central PA in Jose Lopez (6-0, 195) who motored for 1749 yards last year through 12 games til injured (knee), missing Scranton Prep, Conwell Egan and Quaker Valley. Brady Fox (+1000 rush yards) had another strong year but graduated. Besides Lopez, they return Qb Scott Ash (5-11, 175, sr) and 4 of his lineman; C-OG/NG Joe Gusler (6-1 275), OG/DT Cole Senior (6-1, 230, 87 tackles) and OT/DE Ethan Miller (6-3 250 sr), Morgan Billman (6-0 230 sr) or Brock Welsh (6-3 240 so) at OG. Believe Trayvon Joseph is back at TE; DE last year. Caught Raiders once to see Welsh, then a freshman just bulldoze people. Also return some key D people in DTs Senior, Welsh, Colin Graham (6-0 260 jr) and DE Adonis Taveras (6-3 230 sr). Gage Radabaurgh (5-11 180 sr) returns at linebacker. They open on the road to Lower Dauphin and Northern before the monster home opener when they step up in class for a super rare game against Bishop McDevitt. Get there early!
8 Cocalico: Lancaster-Lebanon Section 2, 5A, 10-2
Best kept secret in District-3 last year, kicking some serious ass especially vs Governor Mifflin winning 42-21. This is the same Mifflin team that beat Harrisburg in the postseason. But losses to district kingpin Manheim Central, 17-7 in the regular season and 21-20 in the playoffs (2nd round) did them in. Like Perkiomen Valley in District-1, their losses came to one team. They return much of the team this year that scored 44ppg with a nasty defense that allowed 13ppg. So they should be good again but possibly drop some from last year’s D level where 10 starters returned. But, if the O trends up, look out! Dual threat Qb Noah Palm is back (6-0, 190, sr) after rushing for 1145 yards and passing for another 542. If you like teams that run the ball you’ll love the boys from Denver who run it 89% of the time. Old school!
9 Central Dauphin: Mid Penn Commonwealth, 6A, 6-5
Having 6 double digit winning seasons the preceding 7 years (76-17 W/L) along with a Quad-A state title in 2011 and deep tradition made last year’s 6-5 outing a real shocker. Their worst year prior to that was the 5-5 campaign in 2000. But they still managed to beat Wilson and Cumberland Valley with their worst defense (21ppg) since 2003’s squad that allowed 23 before losing to Manheim Township 28-0 in the 1st round. You can’t allow 21ppg in the Mid Penn Commonwealth.
That should improve with senior DLs Jaden Baylor (6-4 298), Gabe Bollinger (6-3 290), Willie Schuler (6-3 225) and Carter LaPorte (6-2 230) back. They have a number of well-regarded sophomore lineman in the wings and should be solid at LB with Adam Burkhart (FB/LB 5-11 220 sr), Kyle Minnich (6-1 210 sr) and Mason Griffith (6-1 225 sr). Played many sophomores last year, DB Elijah Vargas (5-9 175), DL Josh Krasevic (6-3 255), LB Jacob Hicks (5-10, 190)), Nick Chimienti (6-1 175) at CB, Nick Hoffman (6-2 195) at SS/QB, et al. It’s a big rebuild on offense with enough D to allow its development. The schedule is unforgiving (scrimmage at Dallastown) opening at home to Wilson then at Berks Catholic before coming home to Manheim Township and Cumberland Valley. Phew!
10 Wilson: Lancaster-Lebanon Section 1, 6A, 8-4
Last season was the worst for Coach Dahms since taking over the program in 2006, and first year since 2007 they didn’t have a double digit winning season. So it was 9 straight going 109-14 from 08 to 16. Last season saw their 68 game conference winning streak (LL-Section One games) snapped, losing at Manheim Township who won the LL crown and district. Wilson also lost in the 2nd round to Township 28-14. And they had sizeable grad losses including Qb Connor Uhrig’s 1668yds (64%, 15/6), their all-time leading rusher Ignacion Reynoso’s 1561 yard and 272 yards receiving. All totaled he amassed 4778 career ry and 79 Tds. Many DLs and LBs grad but they return a core in OG Nate Keller (6-0, 260, jr), their top lineman, Mike Kline (6-3, 270, sr), MLB Nick Johnson (6-0, 230, sr, 78 tackles) and LB Isaiah Gilmore (5-11, 175, sr). Historically the Bulldogs have good defense and are a “factory” cranking out quality Qbs. The D allowed 19ppg last year and 20 the year before which is way off the charts for their typical 10-12ppg yield. It was a disappointing even under achieving season given the talent returning where they went 3-3 against “quality”, losing to Central Dauphin, Governor Mifflin and Manheim Township while defeating Hempfield, Spring Ford and Red Lion. Not a good year. They open this year at Central Dauphin, then home for their #1 rival Governor Mifflin followed by Spring Ford then a tough one at Manheim Central where the Barons will be out to make a statement.
