1 Pine Richland 5-0, D7; I guess we know who the best team in the state is now, right? The thing about an excellent team like Pine Richland is they make good teams look normal, like a superior sprinter leaving others far behind. You wouldn’t know by the score losing 54-20 but Bethel Park is a good football team with a respected head coach, a veteran, senior O-Line and good backs. But like many previous and current teams from the district, they are one-dimensional, mimicking teams like North Allegheny, Central Catholic and a number of former teams (previous 4A) now in 5A like McKeesport and USC. The problem with that is Pine Richland has moved into the modern era, discovering the forward pass. Their 34-pt win last Friday night in Bethel Park was in fact easy, scoring on 7 of their first 8 possessions, with the scoreboard showing 54-7 at halftime! Starters including Qb Phil Jurkovec were pulled at the half after he completed 19 of 23 passes for 358 yards and rushed for 3 touchdowns while throwing for 2. This wasn’t a win against Shaler or Butler! This was previously undefeated Bethel at home with a 3-0 record that included wins against Wpial power North Allegheny (3-2) 35-15, newcomer Peters Township (3-1) 28-7, Norwin (3-2) 27-7 and the season opening rout of Wayne-OH, 41-0. 4-1 Central Catholic is up next and its scary thinking this is a revenge game where the Rams may add attitude to ability. Last year’s team hung with the Vikings through 3 quarters in a 28-all tie, ultimately losing 48-35. But Quarterback Phil Jurkovec had a glove on his throwing hand (injured right thumb) and still threw for 333 yards, completing 24 of 38 passes and rushed for 94 yards! Back to this season, the big upgrade may be their line play and importantly special teams and defense. Neither were a strength last year. In fact they were a liability. Last year’s team allowed 25ppg on average through their first 5 games. This year’s allowed 62 total points! To date they’ve scored 233 points and allowed 62, for an average of 47-12 per game. And the offense has grown by a touchdown, averaging 41ppg last year. Last year’s power rating had Central Catholic favored by 11.85 points. This year show the Rams Power Rating at a hefty 347.74, a PR advantage of 21.57 points. Rams roll.
2 Cumberland Valley 4-0, D3; CV pounded out a 28-0 half time lead then coasted to a 35-13 Mid Penn Commonwealth win against Chambersburg. The well lubed Wing-T produced 326 rush yards with Penn State recruit Charlie Katshir accounting for 148 total yards while junior Qb Jared Plessinger completed 6 of 7 passes for 134 yards. The defense again dominated, holding Chambersburg to 126 yards rushing. Central Dauphin is up next, a team they’ve owned for 5 straight wins spanning 3 consecutive years. Last year saw them win 25-24 then 21-7 in the playoffs. 2015 witnessed a 24-21 win followed by the epic 7-overtime 62-61 (13 all in regulation) win in the playoffs. 2014 had them winning 7-0. Clearly when these two meet it’s about defense where both are again strong; Cumberland Valley allowing 13ppg and Central Dauphin 15. Both have substantial, versatile offenses at 35 for CV, 34 for the Rams. Junior Qb Jared Plessinger completed 51% of his passes (20/34/376) but has 4 picks to go along with 4 Tds. The backfield is talented with Jake Palmer (5-9, 190,sr) at 468 yards on 64 carries, Galen Witmer (5-9, 230, sr) at 95 yards on 22 carries and Charlie Katshir (6-3, 195, sr) their top player and Penn State recruit with 170 rush yards on 20 carries, 204 yards on 20 receptions as their leading receiver and 18 tackles from the secondary. The game is at Central Dauphin Friday night where another packed house and SRO crowd will witness the annual East Shore-West Shore battle. As always, toss it up.
3 Pittsburgh Central Catholic 4-1, D7; Nice turnaround since the opening bell rolling out 4 consecutive wins. But it was a struggle against Seneca Valley who flashed glimpses of last year’s team that surprised everyone getting to the 6A WPIAL Final. They do return some good skill people and a capable Qb in Gabe Larson. But that wasn’t enough as they fell to the Vikings 28-20. This was probably a good tune up facing the competitive Raiders before the road game with Pine Richland. Central won last year 48-35 with a much different team. They still have Troy Fisher under center who was special last year, completing 7 of 12 passes for 234 yards. Halfback JJ Younger was also key (miss him!), rushing for 152 yards and 3 Tds. But both lines were wiped out by graduation, particularly an outstanding offensive line. At this point last year, through 5 games they were 4-1, averaging 43ppg, allowing 15. That includes the reality check against national power St. John, a 35-14 loss. This year’s team averages 26 ppg while allowing 16. It’s high school football so who knows but even with a solid quarterback like Troy Fisher and some decent parts, Pine Richland looks like an obstacle too big to overcome.
4 State College 4-0, D6; Very often State College is thought of as a big, physical lumbering team. And while that description often has merit in terms of size and physicality, you can drop the “lumbering” aspect as they now have great speed at the skill positions including their quarterback. They’re beating weaker teams and face another in Carlisle this week at home before returning to Mechanicsburg to play Cumberland Valley. Last week’s 62-25 rout of Mechanicsburg High was a total blowout, with a 35-0 1st quarter score ballooning to 55-13 at the half. Penn State commit Keaton Ellis (6-0, 165, jr) and senior Brandon Clark (6-5, 200, sr) have great speed at wide-out while Tristen Lyons (5-6, 180, sr) and Isaiah Edwards (6-0, 185, so) bring the same from their running back positions. With speed everywhere and good special teams they are formidable, with every chance to repeat as the conference champion.
5 Central Dauphin 3-1, D3; Central Dauphin is looking like one cool customer following up the road win at Wilson 2 weeks ago with a total and focused destruction of Carlisle, 65-14. There is always concern in a scenario like this coming off the Wilson win with Cumberland Valley dead ahead. But they may be rounding into something new with Qb Brady Straub having another strong outing, completing 10 of 12 for 168 yards. With a 54-14 halftime lead, everyone played, including the 2 and 3 Qbs Tyrese Fuller and Nick Chimienta. By the end of the game their total yardage was 417! But now, this is the week, Cumberland Valley week, where the Rams will try to reverse an odd series of tight losses to their nemesis from the West Shore. For a team built from the ground up this season, they seem ready. Qb Straub completed 42 of 68 passes for 608 yards and 6 Tds without a pick. Battering Ram Mike Wise-Belle is almost impossible to stop at 5-10, 235 lbs and everyone can catch. But the heart and soul of a Ram team is on the defensive side where Coach McNamee puts his best players. That and special teams is what this matchup always comes down to.
2 Cumberland Valley 4-0, D3; CV pounded out a 28-0 half time lead then coasted to a 35-13 Mid Penn Commonwealth win against Chambersburg. The well lubed Wing-T produced 326 rush yards with Penn State recruit Charlie Katshir accounting for 148 total yards while junior Qb Jared Plessinger completed 6 of 7 passes for 134 yards. The defense again dominated, holding Chambersburg to 126 yards rushing. Central Dauphin is up next, a team they’ve owned for 5 straight wins spanning 3 consecutive years. Last year saw them win 25-24 then 21-7 in the playoffs. 2015 witnessed a 24-21 win followed by the epic 7-overtime 62-61 (13 all in regulation) win in the playoffs. 2014 had them winning 7-0. Clearly when these two meet it’s about defense where both are again strong; Cumberland Valley allowing 13ppg and Central Dauphin 15. Both have substantial, versatile offenses at 35 for CV, 34 for the Rams. Junior Qb Jared Plessinger completed 51% of his passes (20/34/376) but has 4 picks to go along with 4 Tds. The backfield is talented with Jake Palmer (5-9, 190,sr) at 468 yards on 64 carries, Galen Witmer (5-9, 230, sr) at 95 yards on 22 carries and Charlie Katshir (6-3, 195, sr) their top player and Penn State recruit with 170 rush yards on 20 carries, 204 yards on 20 receptions as their leading receiver and 18 tackles from the secondary. The game is at Central Dauphin Friday night where another packed house and SRO crowd will witness the annual East Shore-West Shore battle. As always, toss it up.
3 Pittsburgh Central Catholic 4-1, D7; Nice turnaround since the opening bell rolling out 4 consecutive wins. But it was a struggle against Seneca Valley who flashed glimpses of last year’s team that surprised everyone getting to the 6A WPIAL Final. They do return some good skill people and a capable Qb in Gabe Larson. But that wasn’t enough as they fell to the Vikings 28-20. This was probably a good tune up facing the competitive Raiders before the road game with Pine Richland. Central won last year 48-35 with a much different team. They still have Troy Fisher under center who was special last year, completing 7 of 12 passes for 234 yards. Halfback JJ Younger was also key (miss him!), rushing for 152 yards and 3 Tds. But both lines were wiped out by graduation, particularly an outstanding offensive line. At this point last year, through 5 games they were 4-1, averaging 43ppg, allowing 15. That includes the reality check against national power St. John, a 35-14 loss. This year’s team averages 26 ppg while allowing 16. It’s high school football so who knows but even with a solid quarterback like Troy Fisher and some decent parts, Pine Richland looks like an obstacle too big to overcome.
4 State College 4-0, D6; Very often State College is thought of as a big, physical lumbering team. And while that description often has merit in terms of size and physicality, you can drop the “lumbering” aspect as they now have great speed at the skill positions including their quarterback. They’re beating weaker teams and face another in Carlisle this week at home before returning to Mechanicsburg to play Cumberland Valley. Last week’s 62-25 rout of Mechanicsburg High was a total blowout, with a 35-0 1st quarter score ballooning to 55-13 at the half. Penn State commit Keaton Ellis (6-0, 165, jr) and senior Brandon Clark (6-5, 200, sr) have great speed at wide-out while Tristen Lyons (5-6, 180, sr) and Isaiah Edwards (6-0, 185, so) bring the same from their running back positions. With speed everywhere and good special teams they are formidable, with every chance to repeat as the conference champion.
5 Central Dauphin 3-1, D3; Central Dauphin is looking like one cool customer following up the road win at Wilson 2 weeks ago with a total and focused destruction of Carlisle, 65-14. There is always concern in a scenario like this coming off the Wilson win with Cumberland Valley dead ahead. But they may be rounding into something new with Qb Brady Straub having another strong outing, completing 10 of 12 for 168 yards. With a 54-14 halftime lead, everyone played, including the 2 and 3 Qbs Tyrese Fuller and Nick Chimienta. By the end of the game their total yardage was 417! But now, this is the week, Cumberland Valley week, where the Rams will try to reverse an odd series of tight losses to their nemesis from the West Shore. For a team built from the ground up this season, they seem ready. Qb Straub completed 42 of 68 passes for 608 yards and 6 Tds without a pick. Battering Ram Mike Wise-Belle is almost impossible to stop at 5-10, 235 lbs and everyone can catch. But the heart and soul of a Ram team is on the defensive side where Coach McNamee puts his best players. That and special teams is what this matchup always comes down to.
