Districts 3, 4, 5, 6.
1 Manheim Central 5A 10-0
Solanco’s Mules couldn’t keep up with Manheim Central’s quicker, more physical group who dominated 57-14, piling up 608 yards of offense to Solanco’s 343. But the Mules (10th seed, 6-4, 5A) have some players too, making a 2nd quarter push to get on the scoreboard via Nafis Moore touchdown runs of 55 yards and 3. He finished with 146 yards. Qb Joel McGuire rushed for another 104 yards. The Barons have a few weapons themselves, namely their outstanding running back Tyler Flick who ran over Solanco for 238 yards on 10 carries getting 4 touchdowns. And quarterback Evan Simon can put it up when called on completing 6 of 9 passes for 180 yards with 2 touchdown passes. As the top seeded team in 5A, they get a bye week, healing up to play the winner of Elizabethtown (8th seed, 6-4) vs Governor Mifflin (9th seed, 6-4), who play Friday. MC has already defeated these two either directly or indirectly, beating Etown 50-0 a month ago, and Cocalico 41-23 who defeated Governor Mifflin Sept 7th 35-21.
2 Harrisburg 6A 9-1
The Cougars got their 9th straight win to clinch the Mid Penn Commonwealth in a 52-3 rout of Altoona (3-7). Qb Kane Everson completed 14 of 20 for 218 yards to 6 receivers while Jahmir Plant rushed for 146 yards. As the top seeded 6A in District-3, they’ll play 8th seeded Hempfield (5-5). Both have been well tested. The Black Knights come in with a 0-5 record against quality teams, losing to Manheim Central (10-0) 28-7, Central York (8-2) 35-31, Warwick (8-2) 37-0, Wilson (7-3) 26-16 and Manheim Township (9-1) 48-13. Conversely, Harrisburg comes in on a 9 game winning streak, losing the opener to Coatesville (10-0) 37-6, then running out, defeating a tough slate in Cedar Cliff (8-2) 46-13, Central Dauphin (7-3), 20-5, State College (9-1) 32-17 and Chambersburg (7-3) 28-13. The winner here advances to play the winner of Wilson and Red Lion.
3 State College 6A 9-1
Sophomore running back Dresyn Green rushed for 160 yards as the Lions edged Cumberland Valley 16-13 in a typical struggle these two are known for. Forget records when these two lock horns! The total yardage stats tells all where SC prevailed 235 to 224. How about CV coming in at 3-6 to slug it out! Although SC is a member of the Mid Penn-Commonwealth Division, they are one of three 6A teams located in District-6 where two teams playoff. Interestingly it’s against another Mid Penn team, Mifflin County (6-4), who play in the Colonial Division. This one is a rematch with State defeating the Huskies in the opener 35-12, getting 452 yards to their 180 with a 35-0 half time lead. The Huskies are improved, winning their last six but not against the level of competition SC plays almost every week. This one is again at State College and should be over like the last one, early.
4 Bishop McDevitt 4A 9-1
McDevitt dominated their former city rival Susquehanna Township rolling up 546 total yards of offense in a 42-14 rout. The defense was in shutdown mode, holding Hanna to 162 yards and 10-1st downs. CJ Reyes-Riggs had 200 yards rushing with Qb Chase Diehl throwing for 204 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Crusaders won their 5th straight game. They get this week off with the top seed waiting for the winner of the West Perry (7-3) - West York (5-5) game Friday. Neither of those two have the offense to keep up with McDevitt’s 0machine that averages 46ppg.
5 Manheim Township 6A 9-1
Township had no trouble with Hempfield defeating them 48-13 to win a piece of their second straight Lancaster Lebanon-1 title, finishing in a tie with Wilson and Warwick. Jaden Floyd returned after a 2 week absence rushing for 96 yards with Harrison Kirk passing for 284 yards as the Streaks controlled the Black Knights 474 to 170 in total yards. They have the 2 seed at home Friday against 7th seeded Chambersburg (7-3). Coming off a winless season and unfamiliar with such heights and bright lights, the Trojans may find themselves over their heads in this one. The winner plays Central York (8-2, 6th seed) or Central Dauphin (7-3, 3rd seed).
6 Central Dauphin 6A 7-3
Central Dauphin avenged last year’s bitter 35-31 loss to rival CD East by ramming it down the Panther’s throats, literally, rushing the ball 56 times for 378 yards with 1 pass attempt in a 37-12 win. FB/LB Adam Burkhart had 184 yards and 3 scores for the Rams who had a 378 to 160 total yard advantage. They’re home to 6th seeded Central York (7-3) Friday with the 3 seed. Even if Central York’s Qb Cade Pribula is healthy, CD’s offense has developed notably, especially under center. And their defense has been solid at 14ppg, unlike Central York’s that can be sieve like, allowing 22ppg.
7 Berks Catholic 4A 8-2
Saints FB/LB Brandon George (6-4, 250, sr) and junior Abdul MacFoy each had 20 carries with George netting 94 yards and MacFoy 120 in a 28-7 win against rival Wyomissing to capture the Berks Inter County-Section 2 title. BC has the 2nd seed behind Bishop McDevitt with both getting a bye in the first round. It’s been quite a year for BC, managing a difficult schedule of high quality teams, going 2-2 against Exeter, Central Dauphin, McDonogh and Malvern Prep. Hopefully, the weak schedule thereon where they won their last 5 games by a combined score of 241 to 29 hasn’t dulled the edge of those season opening challenges. They’ll play the winner of the Elco (8-2, 7th seed) - Lampeter Strasburg (5-5, 10th seed) game.
8 Warwick 5A 8-2
A 28-0 1st quarter lead ballooned to a 47-7 halftime lead as the Warriors blew out 1-9 Penn Manor to secure a share of the LL-1 with Manheim Township and Wilson. Coming from the respected Lancaster Lebanon Section-1, their scoring average of 37ppg with an unheralded defense allowing 11ppg makes them a dark horse in District-3’s 5A postseason with the 5th seed in a field of 14. Most eyes will be on Manheim Central, Cocalico, York and Cedar Cliff. They open at home Friday against 12th seeded Palmyra (8-2) of the Mid Penn-Capital Division. But the Cougars have tailed off after an unchallenged 7-0 start, losing 2 of their last 3 to Milton Hershey and Middletown, both 9-1, with a poor performance at 1-9 Trinity between the two losses.
9 Southern Columbia 2A 10-0
Qb Stone Hollenbach returned to action after being out since Shamokin (game #4, fractured wrist) to help secure their 7th consecutive undefeated regular season and 71st consecutive regular season win. They handled a decent Danville team (8-2) 49-7 last week, outgaining them 422 to 176 while holding them to 6-1st downs. With the #1 seed in the District-4 2A playoffs, they’ll play 8th seeded Line Mountain (4-6) of the Tri Valley League. Looks like a long night for the Eagles who have losses to 1A Halifax (9-1) 37-7, 2A Upper Dauphin (9-1) 37-22 and a very strong Tamaqua team (9-1), 42-0.
10 Cocalico 5A 8-2
Qb Noah Palm had 238 total yards (5 passing) with touchdown runs of 61, 55, 8, and 28 yards as the Eagles defeated Lampeter Strasburg 62-23. Keep your eye on LS’s sophomore Qb Sean McTaggart who completed 14 of 27 passes for 285 yards in the coming playoffs. They dropped to 5-5 but have the 10th seed in the 4A post season where they’ll play ELCO (Eastern Lebanon County). Cocalico has a bye in the tournament as the 2 seed, where they’ll play the winner of 7th seeded Waynesboro (6-4) and 10th seeded Solanco (6-4) who play Friday. Nice team here with notable wins against Conrad Weiser, Cedar Cliff and Governor Mifflin to open the season. Crushing Solanco 42-7 and LS 62-23 (above) last week also gets your attention!
11 Cedar Cliff 5A 8-2
Red hot Cedar Cliff, winners of their last 7 games including road games at Hollidaysburg, McDevitt and Susquehanna Township, throttled next door neighbor Red Land 49-0 to clinch the Mid Penn-Keystone outright. Raheim Morris had 230 yards rushing as the Colts overwhelmed the Patriots 438 (302/136) to 58 in total yards. 58 total yards! Districts has them at home with the 4th seed Friday against 13th seeded Exeter Township (6-4). Both played challenging opponents with Exeter going 0-4 against Governor Mifflin, Berks Catholic, Spring Ford and Conrad Weiser, who have a combined won/loss of 31-9. Cedar Cliff went 4-2 losing to Cocalico and Harrisburg while defeating Bishop McDevitt, Governor Mifflin, Hollidaysburg and Susquehanna Township, who have a 37-13 slate. This should be an exciting high scoring game.
12 Wilson 6A 7-3
Wilson shut JP McCaskey down to 120 yards of total offense in a dominating 39-0 win to clinch a share of the LL-1 with Warwick and Township. They enter the postseason with the 4th seed, well prepared following another grinding campaign that saw them play a diverse schedule including Central Dauphin, Governor Mifflin, Manheim Central, Manheim Township and Warwick. They open at home Friday against Red Lion (8-2, 5th seed), winners of their last 4. Like Wilson, they share a conference title in the York Adams Section-1 with York (5A, 9-1) who they defeated 21-20. The Bulldogs and Gurski Stadium can be daunting but the Lions are no strangers in the big arena and should make it a game.
13 Chambersburg 6A 7-3
Chambersburg held off longtime rival Carlisle, tying the score at 20 all with 34 seconds left in the game. Following the kick off, they intercepted on a 4th and 1, returning it 74 yards for the score (second Pick-6 of game) with 4.8 seconds left to pull out a 27-20 win at Carlisle as time expired. They had earlier returned a Pick-6, 16 yards in the 1st quarter. Saw this one on video and all Carlisle had to do was fall on it to force overtime. Chambersburg had all kinds of trouble playing their first game on natural grass but how about the D coming through big time. They bring a decent resume to the postseason having defeated Red Lion 28-19 but losing to State College, Central Dauphin and Harrisburg.
14 Middletown 3A 9-1
Jose Lopez rushed for 158 yards with Richie Sykes adding 120 as the Blue Raiders secured their 3rd consecutive Mid Penn-Colonial title with a 42-6 win against Palmyra. The Cougars were held to 31 yards rushing while the Raiders piled up 488 total yards. As the 2 seed behind Lancaster Catholic, they get a bye to play the winner of the Wyomissing (8-2)-Littlestown (7-3) game. Middletown is making its 3rd straight run at the state final after falling short last year against Quaker Valley 41-24 and the year before against Beaver Falls 30-13.
15 Red Lion 6A 8-2
The Red Lion D rose to the occasion holding Dallastown running back Nyzair Smith to 68 yards while their workhorse, FB/LB Elijah Workinger (6-5, 250,sr) scored all 17 points as Red Lion edged Dallastown 17-10 to clinch a piece of the York Adams-1 with York High. They defeated all the contenders including York, Central York and Dallastown but were upset at Northeastern mid-season forcing the tie. The other loss was at Chambersburg 28-19. They enter Districts as the 5th seed where they will take on one of the blue bloods of the district Friday night at 4th seeded Wilson. As Yogi Berra would say “it’s déjà vu all over again” knowing Red Lion lost in last year’s postseason opener at Wilson 42-7. But, this is a new season, meaning “it ain’t over til it’s over.”
