Defending state champ underlined
5A East
Gateway D7 12-1 vs Hollidaysburg D6 8-3, Saturday 1, Altoona HS.
Grove City (11-1) suffered their only loss of the season on a missed 28-yd field goal as time expired allowing Hollidaysburg to move on with a tight, 30-27 win. Their opponent this week, 2nd seeded Gateway, raced out to a 21-7 lead then hung on to win their first district title since 1986 by knocking off top seeded Penn Trafford (11-2) 21-16, the only team to defeat them this season. This one could be entertaining with both averaging 36ppg and Gateway allowing 18ppg while Hollidaysburg allows 24. It’s at the Mansion where the Gators are favored by 5.90 points.
Governor Mifflin D3 12-1 vs Manheim Central D3 12-0, Friday 7, Hershey Park Stadium.
Governor Mifflin pulled off the upset of the tournament last week defeating top ranked Harrisburg (11-1) at Severance Field 26-14, the very field where they were eliminated by the Cougars last year 46-21. As impressive was their come back from a 14-0 deficit….against a previously vaulted defense. As surprising was Harrisburg’s mistakes resulting in touchdowns called back and turnovers. Mustang FB Isaac Ruoss battered them for 194 yards on 38 carries. Their opponent this week, Manheim Central, jumped Cocalico (10-2) early, getting a 21-7 lead before the Eagles came back only to lose a heartbreaker to their bitter Lancaster rival Central 21-20. The Barons are the only team to beat Cocalico this year. Talk about a trophy Room; Manheim Central has 16 district titles and 21 district final appearances. Like so many of these games involving rematches, Governor Mifflin and Central are coming off emotional games. The Mustangs are favored by 3.46 points.
5A West
Springfield D1 13-0 vs Unionville D1 13-1, Friday 7, Springfield HS.
Springfield’s stout defense held Upper Dublin (8-4) to 70 yards rushing and 9 1st downs, disallowing a score until under 2 minutes left in the game to defeat the Cardinals 17-6. It was still a nice effort by UD holding the Cougars well below their 36ppg average. They move on to play Unionville who had to overcome a 14-0 1st quarter deficit to defeat Paoletti-less Marple Newtown (8-5) 36-21. Quarterack Anthony Paoletti, Delco’s all time leading passer missed the game with his arm in a sling after an injury sustained against Upper Moreland the prior week. Wide receiver Alden Mathes started in his place. This is their first road game since October 20th while Springfield enjoys their fourth straight home game. Springfield’s home field and defense puts it in their favor by 17. 23 points.
Archbishop Wood D12 9-2 vs Wyoming Valley West D4 7-6, Saturday 1, Northern Lehigh HS.
The Viking’s outstanding O-Line dominated Gratz (8-4), allowing Nasir Peoples to rush for 176 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 36-6 win against Gratz to secure another District 12 title. As the defending 5A champ, they move on to the quarterfinals to play surprising Wyoming Valley West, upset winners over EPC-South rep Whitehall (9-4) 32-21 at Whitehall in the District 2/4/11 title game. They’re on a roll winning their last 5 games to get here by an average score of 42-10. They always have big physical lines but often come up short on speed. Archbishop Wood is on a roll as well winning their last 7 by an average score of 42-8 with 2 consecutive shutouts. Wood by 8.04 points.
6A East
Coatesville D1 12-1 vs Garnet Valley D1 12-1, Friday 7, Garnet Valley HS.
The Red Raiders gouged Pennsbury early (398 total yards) getting a 28-0 halftime lead to eventually Mercy Rule the Falcons in a 42-2 district semifinal win. They have multiple weapons with the ability to beat you up top or on the ground. Their principle weapon is Qb Ricky Ortega with 2630 yards passing and 34 touchdowns. He keys an explosive offense averaging 45ppg. Add in a fast defense allowing only 14ppg to see how they can make good football teams like Pennsbury look bad. Next up is Garnet Valley who defeated Pennridge 28-20 with running backs Matt Lassik and Danny Guy each getting 146 yards rushing for the Jags. Their only loss is Springfield 14-7 but they’re the underdog here by 12.59 points.
St. Joseph’s Prep D12 11-0 vs Parkland D11 13-0, Saturday 1, Bethlehem Stadium.
Parkland beat Freedom (7-6) 30-6 to win their 6th consecutive District -11 title, shutting the Patriots down to a single score….on a trick play. Underrated Michael Ruisch completed 12 of 17 passes for 192 yards and a score while the Trojan D held Freedom to 190 total yards and 5 first downs. 6 straight district titles! They’ll play St. Joseph’s Prep who won their 25th consecutive game and District-11 title defeating Public League champ Northeast (7-3) 31-0. Marques Mason had 106 yards rushing on 12 carries. They come into this one averaging 33 points per game with a one of the best defenses in the playoffs at any classification in terms of points allowed at 7ppg! Hawks are favored by 14.61 points.
6A West
Cumberland Valley D3 10-2 vs Manheim Township D3 11-1, Saturday 6, Hershey Park Stadium.
Cumberland Valley’s punishing ground game battered the Black Knights of Hempfield (8-4) for 246 yards in a 28-7 district semifinal game. FB Galen Witmer had 124 with Jake Palmer at 86. Jared Plessinger had a strong outing completing 9 of 14 for 126 yards and a score. They advance to the district final Saturday at Hershey Park Stadium to play Manheim Township. The 2nd seeded Streaks disposed of nemesis Wilson 28-14. Interestingly, they have a win against Central Dauphin, one of two teams (Harrisburg) to defeat CV. Both teams are pretty straight forward in approach where CV chooses to batter you with their bruising ground game then zing you with a quarterback who can deliver. They wear you down with multiple backs whereas the Streaks get you off balance with quarterback Luke Emge’s accurate throws or Grayson Sallade's running ability. The math says they are favored by 7.32 but at Hershey Park….I don’t know!
Pine Richland D7 13-0 vs State College D6 10-2, Saturday 1, Hempfield HS, Greensburg.
Pine Richland had no trouble with Central Catholic (10-3) trouncing the Vikings 42-7, rushing for 202 yards and getting their 10th Mercy Rule game in their 13 games. Central Catholic getting mercy ruled! Phil Jurkovec had another stellar performance completing 16 of 24 passes for 291 yards and 3 scores. Their opponent this weekend, State College, had difficulty with undefeated Delaware Valley (12-1) falling behind 14-0 early in the 2nd half. Thereon it was all SC who exploded for 3 touchdowns in 8 minutes with Qb Tommy Friberg completing 9 of 9 passes for 178 yards following a dismal first half throwing 4 picks during a 5 for 11 spree for 39 yards! Falling behind DV by 2 scores doesn’t bode well here against the multiple weapons Pine Richland will throw at them. SC has some skill and people that can hurt you but the Rams have more and re favored by 16.96 points.
5A East
Gateway D7 12-1 vs Hollidaysburg D6 8-3, Saturday 1, Altoona HS.
Grove City (11-1) suffered their only loss of the season on a missed 28-yd field goal as time expired allowing Hollidaysburg to move on with a tight, 30-27 win. Their opponent this week, 2nd seeded Gateway, raced out to a 21-7 lead then hung on to win their first district title since 1986 by knocking off top seeded Penn Trafford (11-2) 21-16, the only team to defeat them this season. This one could be entertaining with both averaging 36ppg and Gateway allowing 18ppg while Hollidaysburg allows 24. It’s at the Mansion where the Gators are favored by 5.90 points.
Governor Mifflin D3 12-1 vs Manheim Central D3 12-0, Friday 7, Hershey Park Stadium.
Governor Mifflin pulled off the upset of the tournament last week defeating top ranked Harrisburg (11-1) at Severance Field 26-14, the very field where they were eliminated by the Cougars last year 46-21. As impressive was their come back from a 14-0 deficit….against a previously vaulted defense. As surprising was Harrisburg’s mistakes resulting in touchdowns called back and turnovers. Mustang FB Isaac Ruoss battered them for 194 yards on 38 carries. Their opponent this week, Manheim Central, jumped Cocalico (10-2) early, getting a 21-7 lead before the Eagles came back only to lose a heartbreaker to their bitter Lancaster rival Central 21-20. The Barons are the only team to beat Cocalico this year. Talk about a trophy Room; Manheim Central has 16 district titles and 21 district final appearances. Like so many of these games involving rematches, Governor Mifflin and Central are coming off emotional games. The Mustangs are favored by 3.46 points.
5A West
Springfield D1 13-0 vs Unionville D1 13-1, Friday 7, Springfield HS.
Springfield’s stout defense held Upper Dublin (8-4) to 70 yards rushing and 9 1st downs, disallowing a score until under 2 minutes left in the game to defeat the Cardinals 17-6. It was still a nice effort by UD holding the Cougars well below their 36ppg average. They move on to play Unionville who had to overcome a 14-0 1st quarter deficit to defeat Paoletti-less Marple Newtown (8-5) 36-21. Quarterack Anthony Paoletti, Delco’s all time leading passer missed the game with his arm in a sling after an injury sustained against Upper Moreland the prior week. Wide receiver Alden Mathes started in his place. This is their first road game since October 20th while Springfield enjoys their fourth straight home game. Springfield’s home field and defense puts it in their favor by 17. 23 points.
Archbishop Wood D12 9-2 vs Wyoming Valley West D4 7-6, Saturday 1, Northern Lehigh HS.
The Viking’s outstanding O-Line dominated Gratz (8-4), allowing Nasir Peoples to rush for 176 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 36-6 win against Gratz to secure another District 12 title. As the defending 5A champ, they move on to the quarterfinals to play surprising Wyoming Valley West, upset winners over EPC-South rep Whitehall (9-4) 32-21 at Whitehall in the District 2/4/11 title game. They’re on a roll winning their last 5 games to get here by an average score of 42-10. They always have big physical lines but often come up short on speed. Archbishop Wood is on a roll as well winning their last 7 by an average score of 42-8 with 2 consecutive shutouts. Wood by 8.04 points.
6A East
Coatesville D1 12-1 vs Garnet Valley D1 12-1, Friday 7, Garnet Valley HS.
The Red Raiders gouged Pennsbury early (398 total yards) getting a 28-0 halftime lead to eventually Mercy Rule the Falcons in a 42-2 district semifinal win. They have multiple weapons with the ability to beat you up top or on the ground. Their principle weapon is Qb Ricky Ortega with 2630 yards passing and 34 touchdowns. He keys an explosive offense averaging 45ppg. Add in a fast defense allowing only 14ppg to see how they can make good football teams like Pennsbury look bad. Next up is Garnet Valley who defeated Pennridge 28-20 with running backs Matt Lassik and Danny Guy each getting 146 yards rushing for the Jags. Their only loss is Springfield 14-7 but they’re the underdog here by 12.59 points.
St. Joseph’s Prep D12 11-0 vs Parkland D11 13-0, Saturday 1, Bethlehem Stadium.
Parkland beat Freedom (7-6) 30-6 to win their 6th consecutive District -11 title, shutting the Patriots down to a single score….on a trick play. Underrated Michael Ruisch completed 12 of 17 passes for 192 yards and a score while the Trojan D held Freedom to 190 total yards and 5 first downs. 6 straight district titles! They’ll play St. Joseph’s Prep who won their 25th consecutive game and District-11 title defeating Public League champ Northeast (7-3) 31-0. Marques Mason had 106 yards rushing on 12 carries. They come into this one averaging 33 points per game with a one of the best defenses in the playoffs at any classification in terms of points allowed at 7ppg! Hawks are favored by 14.61 points.
6A West
Cumberland Valley D3 10-2 vs Manheim Township D3 11-1, Saturday 6, Hershey Park Stadium.
Cumberland Valley’s punishing ground game battered the Black Knights of Hempfield (8-4) for 246 yards in a 28-7 district semifinal game. FB Galen Witmer had 124 with Jake Palmer at 86. Jared Plessinger had a strong outing completing 9 of 14 for 126 yards and a score. They advance to the district final Saturday at Hershey Park Stadium to play Manheim Township. The 2nd seeded Streaks disposed of nemesis Wilson 28-14. Interestingly, they have a win against Central Dauphin, one of two teams (Harrisburg) to defeat CV. Both teams are pretty straight forward in approach where CV chooses to batter you with their bruising ground game then zing you with a quarterback who can deliver. They wear you down with multiple backs whereas the Streaks get you off balance with quarterback Luke Emge’s accurate throws or Grayson Sallade's running ability. The math says they are favored by 7.32 but at Hershey Park….I don’t know!
Pine Richland D7 13-0 vs State College D6 10-2, Saturday 1, Hempfield HS, Greensburg.
Pine Richland had no trouble with Central Catholic (10-3) trouncing the Vikings 42-7, rushing for 202 yards and getting their 10th Mercy Rule game in their 13 games. Central Catholic getting mercy ruled! Phil Jurkovec had another stellar performance completing 16 of 24 passes for 291 yards and 3 scores. Their opponent this weekend, State College, had difficulty with undefeated Delaware Valley (12-1) falling behind 14-0 early in the 2nd half. Thereon it was all SC who exploded for 3 touchdowns in 8 minutes with Qb Tommy Friberg completing 9 of 9 passes for 178 yards following a dismal first half throwing 4 picks during a 5 for 11 spree for 39 yards! Falling behind DV by 2 scores doesn’t bode well here against the multiple weapons Pine Richland will throw at them. SC has some skill and people that can hurt you but the Rams have more and re favored by 16.96 points.
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