6 State College 6-1, D6; Allowing the other team 352 yards rushing can never be a good thing even when you win 34-14. That’s what happened last week where they defeated Central Dauphin East in a key conference game. Special teams played a major role with SC returning a kickoff 80 yards for a score plus a 90 yard fumble returned for another score. Still, it was a tight game with the Lions holding a slim 14-7 lead at the half. For SC, PSU running back commit Isaiah Edwards is back from injury although Tristen Lyons led the way with 152 yards on 11 carries. With Harrisburg up next at Severance Field, those 352 rushing yards look ominous. CD East has great team speed but Harrisburg puts a whole other definition on that. Combining that with their passing attack makes this one look like a long day for the Lions. Harrisburg (5A, 7-0) is clearly the best team in the district and would be right there neck and neck with Pine Richland in any listing of western Top-10 teams along with Cathedral Prep making for one heck of a Top 3.
7 North Allegheny 5-2, D7; As mother from Georgia used to say, “we’re cooking with gas now” after North Allegheny won their 5th straight game, trouncing Seneca Valley 49-14. Qb Luke Truman has emerged as a solid high school quarterback with his ability to get it there, passing for 93 yards or toting the ball and rushing for 138 yards last week against Sen Val. No one is calling him the 2nd coming of Eric Maenza (58%-1202p, 1258r) but he does give opposing DC’s something to think about. So do a versatile group of running backs in Turner White, 6-0, 180-sr; speedy Ben Maenza at 5-8, 160, a junior….and powerful Ryan Langdon at 6-0, 230. The receiver corps may be under rated and they can plug in big bodies at tight ends as needed. They haven’t won 5 straight for no reason and the offense should get a lot of the credit averaging 41ppg, supported by a defense allowing 14ppg during the streak. This is not the team that lost to Bethel Park the 2nd week of the season. This week has them home to Hempfield where they should secure win #6 if they can keep their mind on the task at hand and not look ahead to Pine Richland the following week.
8 Wilson 4-2, D3; Wilson got their 68th consecutive Section win (think about that!) drubbing overmatched Lebanon 46-11. The streak takes you back to 2007 where guess who beat them? Right, Manheim Township 26-7. Some kind of streak. Last week saw running back Iggy Reynoso score 4 touchdowns on 19 carries for 164 yards, taking his career total to 71 while Connor Uhrig had a strong performance completing 16 of 20 passed for 183 yards. The win keeps them even with Manheim Township at 4-0, setting up the tie breaker next week in West Lawn for all the LL Section-One marbles. The Streaks lost a heartbreaker last year 17-10 (late score) and will be pumped! But Wilson is all about “big game” experience and have owned them. None of that means a thing here.
9 Mt Lebanon 5-2, D7; The Blue Devils couldn’t hold on to an early lead as a determined Peters Township team came back but fell short with Mt. Lebanon hanging on for a 18-15 road win. This sets up what should be a highly competitive game this week at Penn Hills with both having high scoring offenses and questionable defenses. That spells excitement and the great potential for an upset. It’s a WPIAL crossover game with Lebo in the Southeastern and the Indians in the Northern. But it’s still an important game that could mimic last year’s where Mt. Lebanon outlasted Penn Hills 56-27.
10 Penn Hills 5-2, D7; As always the 10 spot is a tough slot to fill with 6 classifications but a number of teams could fill the bill here. Central Dauphin East (5-2) is a leading candidate, beating Central Dauphin before losing by 20 points to State College last week despite rushing for 352 yards. So is undefeated Delaware Valley (8-0) with a 55-17 win over Williamsport (6-2) and a well under rated Valley View (4A, 5-3) team. Red Lion (7-0) is right there as well with a 31-14 win over York High (5A, 6-1) who has wins against Dallastown (5-2) and Cedar Cliff (4-3). But Penn Hills gets the nod playing out of the tough Northern 7 with a pile of athletes, an exciting high scoring offense and their comeback last week where they scored 3 touchdowns in the 4th quarter to pull away from feisty Hempfield 42-27. With all their offense we could call this week’s home game with Mt. Lebanon an upset special. Lebo’s CBs better be ready to fly! Should be a fun one.
Others:
Red Lion 7-0, D3; Beat winless New Oxford (5A 0-7) 45-7 and are now home in a critical York-Adams game vs rival Central York (5-2). Red Lion won last year in a good one 28-18. This will be the same.
Delaware Valley 8-0, D2; Del Val crushed fading Scranton (5-3) at Scranton who lost their last 3 games after a great start with a veteran team. The Warriors should go 9-0 with 4-4 Wallenpaupack coming in next.
Central Dauphin East 5-2, D3; The Panthers lost at State College 34-14, now home to Carlisle where both are battling for a playoff spot.
Central Dauphin 4-3, D3; Lost at home to Harrisburg 48-10 but will recover at Chambersburg.
Peters Township 5-3, D7; Tough loss at home to Mt. Lebanon 18-15 but still in the playoff hunt, needing a win at Canon McMillan Friday then Shaler the following week.
Hempfield 5-2, D3; At 5A playoff hopeful Conestoga Valley, then Wilson at home. In 2nd place in the LL- Sec-1, behind Wilson and Manheim.
McDowell 4-4, D10; Lost 20-0 to Austintown Fitch (Div-1, 5-3, OH). 3 of 4 losses are to out of state teams. At General McLane (4-4) who won 4 of their last 5.
Erie High 6-2, D10; Beat Brashear 62-9, at Lakeside (Div-2, 4-4, OH) this weekend.
7 North Allegheny 5-2, D7; As mother from Georgia used to say, “we’re cooking with gas now” after North Allegheny won their 5th straight game, trouncing Seneca Valley 49-14. Qb Luke Truman has emerged as a solid high school quarterback with his ability to get it there, passing for 93 yards or toting the ball and rushing for 138 yards last week against Sen Val. No one is calling him the 2nd coming of Eric Maenza (58%-1202p, 1258r) but he does give opposing DC’s something to think about. So do a versatile group of running backs in Turner White, 6-0, 180-sr; speedy Ben Maenza at 5-8, 160, a junior….and powerful Ryan Langdon at 6-0, 230. The receiver corps may be under rated and they can plug in big bodies at tight ends as needed. They haven’t won 5 straight for no reason and the offense should get a lot of the credit averaging 41ppg, supported by a defense allowing 14ppg during the streak. This is not the team that lost to Bethel Park the 2nd week of the season. This week has them home to Hempfield where they should secure win #6 if they can keep their mind on the task at hand and not look ahead to Pine Richland the following week.
8 Wilson 4-2, D3; Wilson got their 68th consecutive Section win (think about that!) drubbing overmatched Lebanon 46-11. The streak takes you back to 2007 where guess who beat them? Right, Manheim Township 26-7. Some kind of streak. Last week saw running back Iggy Reynoso score 4 touchdowns on 19 carries for 164 yards, taking his career total to 71 while Connor Uhrig had a strong performance completing 16 of 20 passed for 183 yards. The win keeps them even with Manheim Township at 4-0, setting up the tie breaker next week in West Lawn for all the LL Section-One marbles. The Streaks lost a heartbreaker last year 17-10 (late score) and will be pumped! But Wilson is all about “big game” experience and have owned them. None of that means a thing here.
9 Mt Lebanon 5-2, D7; The Blue Devils couldn’t hold on to an early lead as a determined Peters Township team came back but fell short with Mt. Lebanon hanging on for a 18-15 road win. This sets up what should be a highly competitive game this week at Penn Hills with both having high scoring offenses and questionable defenses. That spells excitement and the great potential for an upset. It’s a WPIAL crossover game with Lebo in the Southeastern and the Indians in the Northern. But it’s still an important game that could mimic last year’s where Mt. Lebanon outlasted Penn Hills 56-27.
10 Penn Hills 5-2, D7; As always the 10 spot is a tough slot to fill with 6 classifications but a number of teams could fill the bill here. Central Dauphin East (5-2) is a leading candidate, beating Central Dauphin before losing by 20 points to State College last week despite rushing for 352 yards. So is undefeated Delaware Valley (8-0) with a 55-17 win over Williamsport (6-2) and a well under rated Valley View (4A, 5-3) team. Red Lion (7-0) is right there as well with a 31-14 win over York High (5A, 6-1) who has wins against Dallastown (5-2) and Cedar Cliff (4-3). But Penn Hills gets the nod playing out of the tough Northern 7 with a pile of athletes, an exciting high scoring offense and their comeback last week where they scored 3 touchdowns in the 4th quarter to pull away from feisty Hempfield 42-27. With all their offense we could call this week’s home game with Mt. Lebanon an upset special. Lebo’s CBs better be ready to fly! Should be a fun one.
Others:
Red Lion 7-0, D3; Beat winless New Oxford (5A 0-7) 45-7 and are now home in a critical York-Adams game vs rival Central York (5-2). Red Lion won last year in a good one 28-18. This will be the same.
Delaware Valley 8-0, D2; Del Val crushed fading Scranton (5-3) at Scranton who lost their last 3 games after a great start with a veteran team. The Warriors should go 9-0 with 4-4 Wallenpaupack coming in next.
Central Dauphin East 5-2, D3; The Panthers lost at State College 34-14, now home to Carlisle where both are battling for a playoff spot.
Central Dauphin 4-3, D3; Lost at home to Harrisburg 48-10 but will recover at Chambersburg.
Peters Township 5-3, D7; Tough loss at home to Mt. Lebanon 18-15 but still in the playoff hunt, needing a win at Canon McMillan Friday then Shaler the following week.
Hempfield 5-2, D3; At 5A playoff hopeful Conestoga Valley, then Wilson at home. In 2nd place in the LL- Sec-1, behind Wilson and Manheim.
McDowell 4-4, D10; Lost 20-0 to Austintown Fitch (Div-1, 5-3, OH). 3 of 4 losses are to out of state teams. At General McLane (4-4) who won 4 of their last 5.
Erie High 6-2, D10; Beat Brashear 62-9, at Lakeside (Div-2, 4-4, OH) this weekend.
