EasternPAFootball.com

Luke Brown

  • Week 2 Picks – Mid Penn Conference

    Week 2 Picks – Mid Penn Conference

    Week 1 got every team’s feet wet for their non-divisional schedule and now it’s time for teams to either rebound in week 2 or build off a 1-0 start this week. This week’s special guest, and first guest of the 2023 season, is Christian Eby. Eby just started his 4th season covering High School Sports for the Carlisle Sentinel, covering multiple Mid-Penn teams in Cumberland County. Here are our week 2 picks for the Mid-Penn conference:

    Record: 19-9
    This week’s guest: Christian Eby, sports reporter

    THURSDAY GAMES

    Mechanicsburg (0-1) vs Cedar Cliff (1-0)
    Luke Brown: Cedar Cliff 35, Mechanicsburg 16
    The Colts started off strong, avenging their 2022 season-ender Shippensburg with a week 1 win. As for the Wildcats, they put up a fight against Carlisle, and I expect a Colts 19-point W on Thursday.

    Christian Eby: Cedar Cliff 31, Mechanicsburg 28
    Cedar Cliff found its early-season legs against Ship behind Erik Schriver’s three second-half rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Wildcats gathered over 300 yards through the air against Carlisle. While I think both teams’ strengths will carry into Week 2, I see the Colts toughing out their second win of the season.

    Cedar Crest (1-0) vs CD East (1-0)
    Luke Brown: CD East 28, Cedar Crest 14
    Both sides coming off dominant week 1 W’s, but Deane’s Panthers get the job done over the L-L’s Cedar Crest in week 2.

    Christian Eby: CD East 42, Cedar Crest 17
    Cedar Crest struck down CD East 29-22 in last year’s matchup. But the 2023 edition of the Panthers, following quite the opening statement against Reading, has a different roar to them. Give me East in a convincing fashion.

    FRIDAY GAMES

    Bermudian Springs (0-1) vs Boiling Springs (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Bermudian Springs 17, Boiling Springs 14
    In a battle between Springs, I see Boiling starting off their year 0-2, and Bermudian rebounding back to .500 on the year.

    Christian Eby: Boiling Springs 20, Bermudian Springs 14
    The Springs combined for 15 points in their season openers. I don’t see big numbers sneaking onto the board in Week 2, but I think Bubbletown bounces back behind the one-two punch of Gage Hughes and Matt McNair.

    Milton Hershey (1-0) vs Middletown (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Milton Hershey 56, Middletown 7
    Milton Hershey is riding high after escaping with a come-from-behind win, and LD handed the Blue Raiders a big-time loss last week. The Spartans make it round 2 this week for the recovering Raiders.

    Christian Eby: Milton Hershey 49, Middletown 6
    It’s going to be a rebuilding year for the Blue Raiders under head coach Scott Govern. The Spartans walk away from Week 2 unscathed.

    Moore Catholic (NY) vs Trinity (1-0)
    Luke Brown: Trinity 28, Moore Catholic 20
    Trinity handled business in week 1 behind a 2-TD day for Mickens. They defeated the Mavericks from Staten Island in a close one.

    Christian Eby: Trinity 29, Moore Catholic 26
    Head coach Jordan Hill doesn’t mess around with non-league matchups. So despite not having any knowledge of the Mavericks, I know Moore Catholic is on the Shamrocks schedule for a reason. Trinity brought out the offensive fireworks against Delone Catholic, and with some linchpins in Jacob Ness and Tucker Paynter on the defensive side, I’m rolling with the ‘Rocks.

    Shippensburg (0-1) vs Big Spring (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Shippensburg 28, Big Spring 21
    Both squads are recovering from senior losses as well as week 1 L’s, but I see the Greyhounds keeping the Little Brown Jug for another year, making it an even 12 for Ship.

    Christian Eby: Big Spring 27, Shippensburg 23
    I recently moved, so I understand the pain of getting everything transferred over to a new address. 201 Eberly Drive has housed the Little Brown Jug for the last 11 years, but I see a new residency at 100 Mount Rock Road in the making. Big Spring wins the battle in the trenches and leans on the backs of Connor Green and Grant Hall to pull out a tight victory in Newville.

    West Perry (1-0) vs Newport (0-1)
    Luke Brown: West Perry 42, Newport 6
    The Mustangs put together an impressive week 1 over a solid Susquenita team, and Newport was shut out 21-0. The 1-2 punch of Goodling and Quaker will shut down the Buffaloes again in week 2.

    Christian Eby: West Perry 56, Newport 0
    Marcus Quaker. Ian Goodling. Brad Hockenberry. Caleb Gutshall. Enough said. The Mustangs hand Newport its second shutout of the season.

    York Catholic (0-1) vs Camp Hill (1-0)
    Luke Brown: Camp Hill 24, York Catholic 21
    The Lions won on a miracle from Michael Shartle last year, and now it’s time for the Lions to show what they can do against the Fighting Irish, who are recovering from a loss last week to Lancaster Catholic.

    Christian Eby: Camp Hill 23, York Catholic 21
    I think we all expected the Lions to put up more than 21 points against Newport. But I think there’s a lot to like from Camp Hill’s Week 1 performance, including the first shutout pitched since 2021 and the steady arm of quarterback Drew Branstetter. Lions crank it up a notch in Week 2 to outlast the Fighting Irish.

    Steel-High (1-0) vs Eastern (DC) (0-0)
    Luke Brown: Steel High 35, Eastern 21
    Steel High was truly tested in week 1 for the first time in a while. Eastern brings a lot of question marks to the table, but I see the Rollers advancing to a 14-point win.

    Christian Eby: Steel-High 34, Eastern 22
    The Rollers rolled out one of the better comebacks in recent memory last week against Imani Christian. Alex Erby dials up another doozy.

    Greencastle (1-0) vs Berkeley Springs (WV) (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Greencastle 35, Berkeley Springs 0
    The Blue Devils’ trip to West Virginia is actually a shorter trip than they’ll take to Delone Catholic next week. They make the trip well worth their time this week with a 5 touchdown shutout.

    Christian Eby: Greencastle 33, Berkeley Springs 0
    There’s no question this isn’t the same Greencastle team from a year ago. But with some returning pieces on both sides of the scrimmage, the Blue Devils bounce Berkeley for consecutive seasons.

    Gettysburg (0-1) vs New Oxford (1-0)
    Luke Brown: Gettysburg 38, New Oxford 28
    The Warriors fell in a close one with Hershey last week, and New Oxford gained 1 in the W column last Friday, but I see Gettysburg rebounding big and showing everyone that they still belong in the conversation of a Mid Penn top team.

    Christian Eby: Gettysburg 35, New Oxford 31
    The Warriors went pound-for-pound with Hershey last week but fell a 2-point conversion short of their first win. Quarterback Brady Heiser throws for over 200 yards and three touchdowns this week as Gettysburg survives the Colonials.

    Susquehanna Township (0-1) vs Northern Lebanon (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Susquehanna Township 28, Northern Lebanon 15
    The Indians fell in a heartbreaker last week. They get revenge and start the hot streak this week with the Vikings.

    Christian Eby: Susquehanna Township 34, Northern Lebanon 21
    This has the makings for one of the best matchups of the Week 2 slate. I think Joe Headen’s bunch comes with some added motivation following a one-point setback to Milton Hershey.

    Northern (1-0) vs Chambersburg (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Northern 28, Chambersburg 6
    Chambersburg challenged themselves with Pope John Paul II last week and faced another challenge in week 2 with the Polar Bears coming off a win.

    Christian Eby: Northern 23, Chambersburg 14
    Both teams have some question marks on offense. I think it’ll come down to success on the ground, and the Polar Bears have a bruiser in the backfield in Cole Bartram. He gouges the Trojans for two rushing TDs and 175 yards.

    East Penn (1-0) vs Palmyra (1-0)
    Luke Brown: East Penn 42, Palmyra 13
    Palmyra picked up a win in week 1, but East Penn’s 37-6 win was really convincing against York Suburban. East Penn defeats Palmyra in the battle between Orange and Black teams.

    Christian Eby: East Pennsboro 34, Palmyra 17
    East Penn kicked off 100 years of football in Enola in style with a 37-6 triumph against York Suburban. The momentum carries over, and the Panthers claw their way to victory No. 2.

    Hershey (1-0) vs Waynesboro (1-0)
    Luke Brown: Hershey 22, Waynesboro 16
    I’m loving Hershey High School football right now after last week. If they want to win games, they will have to fight like a Trojan, and they do that again in week 2.

    Christian Eby: Hershey 17, Waynesboro 14
    I don’t think you can ignore the Trojans’ Week 1 victory against Gettysburg. And on paper, the Indians lack the firepower of past seasons. Hershey sneaks past in a low-scoring affair.

    Taylor Allderdice (0-1) vs Altoona (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Altoona 28, Taylor Allerdice 14
    Altoona needs as much non-league success as they can get ahead of a tough Commonwealth schedule. They grab a non-league win in week 2 to rebound back to .500.

    Christian Eby: Altoona 23, Taylor Allerdice 7
    Allerdice hasn’t beaten Altoona since the two clubs added each other to the schedule in 2016. The trend continues on Friday.

    Downingtown East (1-0) vs State College (1-0)
    Luke Brown: State College 42, Downingtown East 35
    State College gets right back in business this week with another out-of-division win. Ty Salazer has another impressive performance with 2 TD’s.

    Christian Eby: Downingtown East 38, State College 35
    I can see this game coming down to a successful two-minute drill. Giving the advantage to the Cougars comes down to last week’s 43-0 blanking of Pennridge.

    Central Dauphin (0-1) vs Wilson (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Central Dauphin 35, Wilson 34
    Despite their week 1 loss to Central York, I love this Rams team in 2022. They scheduled a tough out-of-division, especially with Wilson, who are recovering from a Roman Catholic loss. CD wins the upset of the week in the second of ten weeks.

    Christian Eby: Wilson 42, Central Dauphin 38
    The Rams are leaps ahead of last season – where they finished 3-7 – after nearly knocking off Central York. The Bulldogs come off a 49-14 beatdown at the hands of Roman Catholic, but I think they show their bark this week in a barnburner.

    Carlisle (1-0) vs Governor Mifflin (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Governor Mifflin 28, Carlisle 21
    Carlisle has a good squad this season, but Governor Mifflin handed them the 7-point loss in week 2.

    Christian Eby: Carlisle 26, Governor Mifflin 20
    Carlisle’s steady run game and up-tempo offense wore down Mechanicsburg in Week 1. If the Thundering Herd can maintain those two components, I think skipper Brandon Cook is awarded his second career win.

    Harrisburg (1-0) vs Delaware Valley (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Harrisburg 49, Delaware Valley 12
    Harrisburg cruises to victory again this week after a big win over York in the opening week. The Cougars’ Elias Coke has another big-time performance in week 2, grabbing 2 TD’s, and Shawn Lee Jr. puts on a show again this week.

    Christian Eby: Harrisburg 42, Delaware Valley 20
    If the Cougars breezed past an electric York squad in Week 1, I don’t think there’s much chance against Delaware Valley.

    Central York (1-0) vs Cumberland Valley (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Central York 31, Cumberland Valley 24
    Cumberland Valley’s HC Josh Oswalt beat his former team in Central York last season, but I don’t see it repeating after Central York’s impressive win last week against another Commonwealth division squad. CV starts off 0-2 this season.

    Christian Eby: Central York 42, Cumberland Valley 13
    The loss of quarterback Isaac Sines to graduation may hurt more than CV originally anticipated, as evidenced by a 35-6 loss to Manheim Township last week. And the Panthers just might be an even more formidable opponent.

    GAME OF THE WEEK: McDevitt (1-0) vs DePaul Catholic (NJ) (0-0)
    Luke Brown: McDevitt 24, DePaul Catholic 21
    McDevitt scraped by with an out-of-state win last week, and they will do it again against the tough Spartans from Wayne, NJ. Penn State offered Deshawn Stewart at DePaul receiver will create challenges, but I see Saunders with another impressive game to continue the winning streak for the Crusaders.

    Christian Eby: DePaul Catholic 27, Bishop McDevitt 21
    The Crusaders can’t afford another sluggish start after scoring only six points across the first three-quarters last week. With some fresher legs, I’m taking the Spartans as my upset for the week.

    Red Land (0-1) vs Northeastern (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Northeastern 17, Red Land 14
    Red Land has a lot of last year’s team still on the roster, but they just barely lost to a similar Northeastern team after last week’s close loss.

    Christian Eby: Red Land 14, Northeastern 10
    I’m not sure where this Red Land team stands after nearly knocking off Northern last week. I’m rolling the dice and saying Eric Depew’s bunch gets the job done in a defensive scrap.

    Mifflin County (1-0) vs Shikellamy (1-0)
    Luke Brown: Mifflin County 28, Shikellamy 21
    Mifflin County needs to stay perfect to make a push in a very tough Keystone division race. They do just that in week 2.

    Christian Eby: Mifflin County 28, Shikellamy 17
    The Huskies carved up Central Mountain 41-7 in Week 1. I don’t see a repeat performance against the Braves, but the boys from Lewistown do enough to move to 2-0.

    Lower Dauphin (1-0) vs Twin Valley (1-0)
    Luke Brown: Lower Dauphin 28, Twin Valley 24
    Lower Dauphin is riding high after their big-time week 1 win, and I see them continuing on that note this week.

    Christian Eby: Twin Valley 26, Lower Dauphin 23
    LD didn’t get much of a test from Middletown while Twin Valley handled Schuylkill Valley 44-13. The Raiders execute late to clip the Falcons.

    James Buchanan (0-1) vs Clear Spring (MD) (0-0)
    Luke Brown: James Buchanan 14, Clear Spring 7
    The Rocks from JB grab their second straight win over MD’s Clear Spring.

    Christian Eby: Clear Spring 13, James Buchanan 8
    Twenty points were put up between these two clubs last year. Clear Spring flips the script this time around in another low-scoring affair.

    Shenandoah Valley (1-0) vs Upper Dauphin (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Shenandoah Valley 28, Upper Dauphin 7
    Upper Dauphin is losing a lot of talent in 2023, and they fall for the second straight week to Shenandoah Valley.

    Christian Eby: Shenandoah Valley 33, Upper Dauphin 16
    I think UD’s 28-0 setback to Williams Valley speaks higher volumes than the 51 points Shenandoah dropped on Columbia Montour Vo-Tech.

    Line Mountain (1-0) vs Danville (1-0)
    Luke Brown: Line Mountain 31, Danville 18
    Line Mountain is on top of the Mid Penn Liberty after their 54-12 win, and they even landed a spot in PennLive’s Mid Penn Dandy Dozen. Kaden Maurer ranked #2 on Mid Penn’s top player in week 1. They’ve got the momentum, and it won’t slow down in week 2.

    Christian Eby: Line Mountain 27, Danville 23
    Not to take from Luke, but I think momentum will be a crucial piece to the winning puzzle for Line Mountain. Danville will give the Eagles some fits, but it won’t be enough to pry away a win.

    Midd-West (0-1) vs Halifax (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Midd-West 35, Halifax 8
    Midd-West goes on the road for Halifax’s home opener. The Mustangs of Midd-West won by 34 last year, and they tacked on another 27 points to the matchup history.

    Christian Eby: Halifax 28, Midd-West 13
    Neither Midd-West nor Halifax generated much momentum in their Week 1 performance, but I think the Wildcats are the more well-rounded team.

    Biglerville (1-0) vs Susquenita (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Susquenita 30, Biglerville 14
    Susquenita usually puts up a fight in the Liberty, and the return of brothers Drew and Derek Gibney puts up a solid fight against a great West Perry team. Now, they’ll have the Canners, and send the Canners rolling home on Friday night, winning by 16.

    Christian Eby: Susquenita 36, Biglerville 13
    After seeing the punches Susquenita threw at West Perry last week, I get a sense there’s a different hunger in Duncannon this year. I’m flying with the Blackhawks.

    Selinsgrove (1-0) vs Juniata (0-1)
    Luke Brown: Juniata 21, Selinsgrove 13
    Juniata is staring into the eyes of a tight Liberty battle ahead of them. They need the week 2 win, and they get it against the Seals.

    Christian Eby: Selinsgrove 26, Juniata 18
    I have to make one pick based on the cooler nickname, right? Is that how this works? This is another game I think could go down to the wire, so I’m taking the Seals in a coin flip.

  • Week 1 Picks – Mid Penn Conference

    Week 1 Picks – Mid Penn Conference

    It’s time for high school football in America and time for the Mid Penn’s best to come out and show their talents on Friday and Saturday. Our High School Intern Luke Brown makes his week 1 Mid-Penn picks.

    Editor’s note: Next week I plan to predict the score and have blurbs about each matchup!

    Steel High over Imani Christian

    Trinity over Delone Catholic

    West Perry over Susquenita

    Boiling Springs over Littlestown

    Big Spring over Greencastle

    Lower Dauphin over Middletown

    Camp Hill over Newport

    Altoona over Hollidaysburg

    Carlisle over Mechanicsburg

    CD East over Reading

    Central Dauphin over Central York

    Chambersburg over Pope John Paul II

    Manheim Township over Cumberland Valley

    Harrisburg over York

    State College over Williamsport

    McDevitt over Mount St. Joseph

    Gettysburg over Hershey

    Cedar Cliff over Shippensburg (Updated from pre-season pick)

    Milton Hershey over Susquehanna Township

    Northern over Red Land

    Mifflin County over Central Mountain

    East Penn over York Suburban

    Waynesboro over Spring Grove

    Upper Dauphin over Williams Valley

    Juniata over Troy

    Line Mountain over Athens

    James Buchanan over York Tech

    Hamburg over Halifax

  • Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division: Pre-Season Record Predictions, Standings, and More

    Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division: Pre-Season Record Predictions, Standings, and More

    It’s almost time for football season, and the Mid Penn’s best were on full display at 2023 Media Day at Cumberland Valley High School. All the Mid Penn teams started off their year doing interviews and taking pictures on Chapman field. The end goal is to return to “The Chap”, the site of the PIAA football championships when December rolls around. One team from the Mid Penn Commonwealth reached it last year, when Harrisburg fell to St. Joe’s Prep the 6A Championship, but will the Commonwealth division have enough power to send another team to Chapman field?

    1. Harrisburg (10-0 OVR, 7-0 DIV)
    Harrisburg is thought of as the best public school team in the state of Pennsylvania, and I think they’ll be successful once again in league play. With a much weaker Commonwealth division in 2023, the Cougars’ toughest challenges in the season will be State College and Manheim Township. The non-division matchup with the Blue Streaks from Manheim Township will be their third in 2 years, when the Cougars took a 4-point loss in week 2, then gaining a 44-6 dominant win in the 6A District championship, which led them to another win against State College, 27-7, earning the Cougars a trip to the 6A State Championship, where they finished as runner ups. Harrisburg will return a lot in 2023, including quarterback Shawn Lee, stud wide receiver Elias Coke, and nationally ranked Sophomore Kevin Brown.

    2. State College (9-1 OVR, 6-1 DIV)
    State College will have a lighter out-of-division slate where I see them winning all 3 against Williamsport, Downingtown East, and Hollidaysburg. Then, they’ll get into divisional matchups starting with Altoona, Central Dauphin, and CD East. I see the Little Lions starting 7-0 and finishing with just one loss to Harrisburg. The only loss Harrisburg took in 2022 was in the state semi-final to Harrisburg, losing 27-7 after previously beating the Cougars 20-6 in week 8. Finn Furmanek will be a big loss at QB for State College, while I see Ty Salazer having a big year at WR and DB for the Little Lions.

    3. Cumberland Valley (5-5 OVR, 4-3 DIV)
    It’s no secret that the Eagles are a rebuilding group, with a loss of Isaac Sines at quarterback and lots of other losses on defense. Incoming junior Kaden Schoenly will be a solid replacement at QB, but Deagan Rardain and Grant Shepley are two viable options for Coach Oswalt if he takes the Eagles in that direction. The Eagles opened up with two huge wins in 2022, beating Manheim Township and Central York to start the season, two games I see going from W to L this season. After that, I see them going ⅘ in their next five, beating Spring Ford, CD East, Chambersburg and Central Dauphin, and just losing to Harrisburg. In their last 3, I see a second straight loss to Carlisle and another loss to State College, and finishing with a win to Altoona to finish the year .500.

    4. Central Dauphin (4-6 OVR, 4-3 DIV)
    Central Dauphin will open with a tough stretch of Central York, Wilson and Coatesville, meaning all their wins will come in division this season. Luckily, I see the Rams winning more divisional games than losing, winning against Chambersburg, Carlisle, Altoona and CD East, and losing to State College, Cumberland Valley, and Harrisburg. The linemen will be a big focus, having Maryland commit Anthony Robsock and James Madison signee Evan Bushong up front. Keyron Plummer will also have a spotlight, looking for a strong return at the quarterback position after missing most of his junior season.

    5. Central Dauphin East (6-4 OVR, 4-3 DIV)
    CD East will have a big year in 2023, a chance for head coach Lance Deane to show the Mid Penn conference, and maybe the state that they can stay successful consistently. No, their numbers may not show it, but last season was not a washout for the Panthers, as a first year football player, who was trying it out as a senior, had football change his entire life. Of course I’m talking about Vincent Carroll-Jackson, the lineman who got the attention of Matt Rhule and Nebraska, earning an offer from the Huskers after one year of experience. Deane knows a thing or two about coaching, as he’s been a huge part of Micah Parsons’ journey to NFL glory. This season, East High will open up 2-1 with non-division wins against Reading and Northeastern. As far as divisional stuff, the Panthers can beat CV, Altoona, CD and Carlisle.

    6. Altoona (6-4 OVR, 3-4 DIV)
    The Mountain Lions will have a much different season than CD, getting half of their wins in the 3 weeks of non-division play. They’ll have Hollidaysburg, Taylor Allderdice, and Mifflin County in the opening 3, winning all 3 of those games, then heading into divisional play with the Commonwealth foes in State College, where they’ll take their first loss, starting the year 3-1. From there, they can beat CD East, and they’ll start the back 9 pretty rough, dropping to Harrisburg, Chambersburg and Central Dauphin. At the 4-4 mark, they can close out with wins against Carlisle and Cumberland Valley. Hayden Speece and Bron Mosley will be the forces on the line and at RB/LB in 2023.

    7. Carlisle (4-6 OVR, 3-4 DIV)
    Coach Brett Ickes stepped down after leading a great group to the playoffs last season, allowing the Herd to bring in Brandon Cook, an assistant from Shippensburg University as well as OC Chance Powell, a veteran high school football coach, who’s spent time with state-wide known programs like McDevitt and Harrisburg. The list goes on and on for Carlisle’s losses, including QB Louie Shank, PSFCA East-West all star EZ Thomas, big time lineman Layton Schmick, and star WR transfer Jeremiah Hargrove. This opens the door for the WR pairing of Carson Swartz and Eli Hargrove to step up big time for The Herd. They’ll open with a backyard brawl, facing Mechanicsburg, then head into tougher non-divisional games against Governor Mifflin and York, where I see them losing. Into divisional opponents, they open with the mighty Harrisburg, Chambersburg and Central Dauphin, where I see 1 more win, kicking off the season at 2-4, and rebounding with a .500 finish, beating CV and CD East, losing to State College and Altoona, finishing at 4-6.

    8. Chambersburg (3-7 OVR, 2-5 DIV)
    The Trojans start the year with Pope John Paul II, a rare team facing a different non-divisional opponent than 2022, as Chambersburg faced CB East in last year’s Peach Bowl Event, which will be re-done as the Rose Bowl at York Suburban on August 25th and 26th. As for the rest of their non-divisional, they’ll have Northern and Waynesboro, and I see them finishing those opening 3 with a 2-1 record. Then, I project they’ll struggle in division play, starting off with losses to CD, Carlisle and CV, rebounding with Altoona and CD East, then closing with losses to Harrisburg and State College to close the year at 3-7.

  • Mid-Penn Capital Division: Pre-Season Record Predictions, Standings, and More

    Mid-Penn Capital Division: Pre-Season Record Predictions, Standings, and More

    It’s almost time for football season, and the Mid Penn’s best was on full display at 2023 Media Day at Cumberland Valley High School. All the Mid Penn teams started off their year doing interviews and taking pictures on Chapman Field. The end goal is to return to “The Chap”, the site of the PIAA football championships when December rolls around. One team from the Mid Penn Capital division lifted a trophy last year, when Steelton Highspire defeated Union for the 1A championship, but will the Capital division have enough power to send another team to Chapman Field?

    Here are my pre-season predictions for the Mid Penn’s Capital division:

    1. Steel High (10-0 OVR, 6-0 DIV)
    The Rollers are coming off of a huge program state championship and will retain a lot of starters, especially Alex and Andrew Erby, twin brothers who each hold offers from the Navy, Penn State, Louisville, and many others. The Rollers will also retain Ronald Burnette, who blew up in the latter part of last season, rushing his way into the 1A All-State team. Steel High only lost 1 game last season, losing at home to the eventual 2A runner-up, Westinghouse. They’ve since won 12 straight, just short of PA’s longest active win streak, set at 13 by their neighbors, Bishop McDevitt. I project Steel High will win all 10 regular season games this season, based on how dominant Steel High was down the stretch in the PIAA playoffs. The Erby brothers have 3 seasons now under their belt, therefore I expect a big final season, along with the supporting cast at Steel High.

    2. West Perry (9-1 OVR, 5-1 DIV)
    Steel High and Trinity are reaching out-of-state opponents to kickstart their seasons, but West Perry is visiting old foes from the Liberty division, playing Susquenita, Newport, and Juniata in weeks one, two, and three. Susquenita is a force to be reckoned with, returning the Gibney brothers, but West Perry is one of the top powers in the entire Mid-Penn conference. The Mustangs’ one-two punch of Marcus Quaker and Ian Goodling will provide plenty of offensive star power throughout the season. The biggest concern for West Perry will come towards mid to late October when I project they’ll lose to Steel High, and once again compete for a District 3 3A title. The Mustangs reached the 3A District title game last year but took the loss to Wyomissing. If this projection pans out, West Perry will become 9-0 for the third time in school history.

    3. Trinity (7-3 OVR, 4-2 DIV)
    Trinity has been an extremely fast-paced program throughout the last two seasons. From being a middle-of-the-pack team in the division, to now reaching the PIAA semi-final round, and losing to powerhouse Southern Columbia, it’s certainly safe to say that Jordan Hill has turned the Shamrocks around in 2 years. The Shamrocks have tacked on fellow ex-Nittany Lion and NFL’er Michael Mauti, as well as Jeremiah Hargrove, a star transfer from Carlisle, who played a key piece in Carlisle’s win over Cumberland Valley last season. They’ll retain starting QB Caleb Wray, and star running back Messiah Mickens, who had a huge off-season, gaining offers from big-time programs like Alabama and Michigan. Trinity has done a great job scheduling tough competition in the last couple of seasons, facing teams like Roman Catholic and Wyomissing in the early season. Of course, they’ll have a match-up with Delone Catholic, who they’ve beaten twice in as many seasons. I project three losses for the Shamrocks, dropping in weeks 3 and 4 to Wyomissing and West Perry, then again in week 9, putting up a nail-biter, but coming up just short against Steel-High.

    4. Camp Hill (6-4 OVR, 3-3 DIV)
    Camp Hill is in a similar situation as Colonial division’s Greencastle-Antrim due to the fact that they’re retaining a lot of key pieces from last year, but the one senior loss is a big one. Camp Hill will be without Luke Parise, who made the PA 2A All state team for his defense. Branstetter had a breakthrough season, and now has a year and a half under his belt at quarterback, and comes into this year listed as the Mid Penn’s 4th-best returning passer. Camp Hill will open up with Newport, then have York Catholic at home, after a nail-biting week 2 victory at York Catholic last year. I project they’ll win those first two, plus an additional 3, starting off 5-0, then losing to Susquenita, Steel High, Trinity, and West Perry in order. I project them to gain one back against Boiling Springs in week 10 and finish 6-4, scraping into the 2A District 3 playoffs for the second straight time.

    5. Boiling Springs (5-5 OVR, 2-4 DIV)
    Many expected a breakthrough season from the Bubblers last season, and Boiling Springs only delivered 4 wins (1 forfeit win). This year, I see two close losses being flipped to wins. A 13-7 loss to Juniata and a 33-27 loss to Big Spring are two games I see the Bubblers victorious in this season. They’ll still have to fight through a tough Capital division, and the Bubblers have a tough stretch from week 3 to 6, with games against Gettysburg, Steel High, and Trinity, closing with West Perry. I see Boiling Springs losing all 4 in that stretch, and again in week 10 to Camp Hill.

    6. Big Spring (4-6 OVR, 1-5 DIV)
    The Bulldogs are on to a new quarterback after the graduation of Ethan Eisenberg and will turn to a new leader on offense. Big Spring will open up the season facing Greencastle, one of the larger question marks this year. In week two, they’ll go for the

    “Little Brown Jug” against Shippensburg, which they have fallen short of winning in the past few years, and I project history will repeat itself again this year. After they face Newport, it’ll be off and away to a tough stretch, visiting Camp Hill, then facing Steel High, Trinity, West Perry, and Boiling Springs. I project Big Spring will lose 5 in a row, then gain two back against Upper Dauphin and Middletown.

    7. Middletown (1-9 OVR, 0-6 DIV)
    Middletown is one of the biggest question marks you can find in the entire state of Pennsylvania football. After last year’s cancellation, it’s been since sophomore and freshman year for upperclassmen since they’ve last been in competition. Don’t be surprised if Middletown ends up with 3, or even 4 wins by the end of the year, but it’s a difficult prediction considering the “veteran leaders” in the locker room were the newcomers finding some playing time in the Blue Raiders’ most recent game. They’ll host a scrimmage facing Northern, which should provide a better idea ahead of their opening three against Lower Dauphin, Milton Hershey, and Susquehanna Township, three top programs in Dauphin County, each returning star power.

  • Mid-Penn Keystone Division: Pre-Season Record Predictions, Standings, and More

    Mid-Penn Keystone Division: Pre-Season Record Predictions, Standings, and More

    It’s almost time for football season, and the Mid Penn’s best was on full display at 2023 Media Day at Cumberland Valley High School. All the Mid Penn teams started off their year doing interviews and taking pictures on Chapman Field. The end goal is to return to “The Chap”, the site of the PIAA football championships when December rolls around. One team from the Mid Penn Keystone lifted a trophy last year, when Bishop McDevitt defeated Aliquippa for the 4A Championship, but will the Keystone division have enough power to send another team to Chapman Field?

    Here are my pre-season predictions for the Mid Penn’s Keystone division:

    1. McDevitt (10-0 OVR, 7-0 DIV)
    I simply don’t see a world where McDevitt loses a game in the regular season. They are returning star quarterback Stone Saunders, who will go into his third season, and recently committed to the University of Kentucky, and they’re returning Rico Scott, the incoming senior receiver who’s an Alabama commit. With the momentum of a state title and PA’s longest active winning streak of 13, I believe McDevitt has everything they need to extend that streak to at least 23. They’ll open the season with Mount Saint Joseph, DePaul Catholic, and La Salle College High School, three solid programs, but certainly not Imhotep Charter, the team McDevitt last lost to, 13-7 in 2022’s week 1. Then, the Crusaders will get into the divisional action, which they were flawless in last season, outscoring divisional opponents 412-66.

    2. Milton Hershey (7-3 OVR, 5-2 DIV)
    In McDevitt’s analysis, I mentioned that they held divisional opponents to 66 points in 2022, but I didn’t mention 22 (⅓) of those 66 came from their game against McDevitt. No, it’s not like they beat the state champs, but they put up the best fight, especially on offense. Milton Hershey lost a rivalry “Cocoa Bean Bowl” game against Hershey by one touchdown last season, and I think they’ll turn it around to win the 80th meeting between the two this year. I see the Spartans going 2-1 in non-divisional play, with a week 1 close loss to Susquehanna Township, and rebounding with 2 wins against Middletown and East Penn.

    3. Hershey (6-4 OVR, 5-2 DIV)
    Hershey has the pieces this year, so this is another team that I could see gaining 1 or 2 additional wins, but their out-of-conference will be tough. They’ll start with Gettysburg, visit a recovering Waynesboro squad, then have Dallastown. I have them beating Waynesboro and losing the other 2, then going strong in division play, just losing to Milton Hershey and McDevitt. Hershey finished 5-5 last season, losing the opening 3 to Gettysburg, Waynesboro, and Dallastown, then went 5-2 in the division, just losing to Mifflin County and McDevitt. Their two big losses will be last year’s starting quarterback Daniel Painter and WR Marcus Sweeney. Marcus’ younger brother, Cameron Sweeney, will take over at QB this season for the Trojans.

    4. Lower Dauphin (6-4 OVR, 4-3 DIV)
    The Falcons will lose incoming Shippensburg University WR Charlie Fortney, but retain star running back Ty Millihimes in the coming season. LD will have to find a replacement at quarterback after losing senior Bryce Forney, a tall task for LD alumni and head coach Josh Borelli. I see the Falcons winning their first two against Middletown and Twin Valley, then losing to Elizabethtown, and heading into divisional play at 2-1. They’ll lead off with Mifflin County, Palmyra, and Red Land, a slower start before getting into tougher games like Milton Hershey, Hershey, and McDevitt, whom they have in that order starting in week 8, which I believe they’ll lose all 3 to close the year at 6-4.

    5. Mifflin County (5-5 OVR, 3-4 DIV)
    The Huskies will return a lot in 2023, including Deakon Schaeffer, a 2022 Keystone division all-star, a list dominated by Crusaders. They’ll also have Travis Renninger, who stars on the field but has also been record-setting in the spring as a track and field star. They’ll open up the year with Central Mountain and Shikellamy and then have Commonwealth division’s Altoona. I see the Huskies winning their first two, but dropping to the 6A Mountain Lions in week 3. As for divisional play, I see them breaking almost even. In my book, they beat Palmyra, Cedar Cliff, and Red Land, and drop the remaining 4, one of which (Lower Dauphin), being a nail-biting loss.

    6. Cedar Cliff (4-6 OVR, 2-5 DIV)
    We should get a quick glance at Cedar Cliff when they host fellow playoff team East Penn on their Saturday scrimmage on August 19th. They scraped into the playoffs last season and lost in the first round at Shippensburg, which is fitting since they’ll visit the same stadium in week 1. Leaders Nathan Lusk and Matt Eisenhower, as well as head coach Colin Gillen, mentioned how exciting that matchup is considering the history of last season. They’ll also have Mechanicsburg and JP McCaskey, who I predict they’ll beat, but lose to Shippensburg. They will struggle without key pieces like Lucas Andrezeski and Derek Witmer, and scrape out 2 divisional wins, finishing at 4-6.

    7. Red Land (3-7 OVR, 1-6 DIV)
    Finishing directly below Cedar Cliff are the folks who they share a stadium with, the Red Land Patriots. The Patriots are in their second season coached by alumni Eric Depew, who had previously spent many years at York Catholic. They’ll return Bryce Phillips, who tabbed two all-team selections for the division last season, Second Team Offense (TE), and Second Team Defense (DL). They’ll also have Colton Hoffman and junior Anthony Shay, who I see having a big year.

    8. Palmyra (1-9 OVR, 0-7 DIV)
    The Cougars are in the more developmental stages of their program with a 1-9 season last year, defeating Lebanon in week 1. I see them beating Lebanon again this year, but losing their remaining non-divisions against East Penn and Donegal. After nearly 800 receiving yards and 245 rushing yards in 2022, the Cougars will feel the loss of Junior RB Juan Figueroa, who will spend this season playing for McDevitt, rather than Palmyra.

  • Mid-Penn Colonial Division: Pre-Season Record Predictions, Standings, and More

    Mid-Penn Colonial Division: Pre-Season Record Predictions, Standings, and More

    It’s almost time for football season, and the Mid Penn’s best was on full display at 2023 Media Day at Cumberland Valley High School. All the Mid Penn teams started off their year doing interviews and taking pictures on Chapman Field. The end goal is to return to “The Chap”, the site of the PIAA football championships when December rolls around. One team from the Mid Penn Keystone lifted a trophy last year, when Bishop McDevitt defeated Aliquippa for the 4A Championship, but will the Keystone division have enough power to send another team to Chapman Field?

    It’s almost time for football season, and the Mid Penn’s best was on full display at 2023 Media Day at Cumberland Valley High School. All the Mid-Penn teams started their year doing interviews and taking pictures on Chapman Field. The end goal is to return to “The Chap”, the site of the PIAA football championships when December rolls around. Will the Colonial division have enough power to send a team to Chapman Field?

    Here are my pre-season predictions for the Mid Penn’s Colonial division:

    1. Gettysburg (9-1 OVR, 7-0 DIV)
    The Warriors spent their season in the Mid Penn conference for the first time since 2014, after moving back to the Mid Penn from the York Adams, where the Warriors battled from 2014-2021. They were a 2-loss regular season team last year, only falling to New Oxford and Northern by a combined 15 points.
    They then fell in the first round of the District 3 5A bracket to New Oxford. QB Brady Heiser will play for his dad, head coach Matt Heiser for one final season, and the Warriors retain Jacob Dickerson on the line. Despite losses in other spots, I see Gettysburg winning this division back to back times. In fact, I think the Warriors will flip their 1-point loss to Northern into a 2023 win, and only fall in one regular season game to New Oxford in week 2.

    2. Susquehanna Township (8-2 OVR, 5-2 DIV)
    Susquehanna Township turned a lot of heads in 2022, going from an 0-10 2021 record to a 6-4 regular season and playoff birth, where they fell to powerhouse Lampeter Strasburg. The Indians really caught fire down the stretch last year, going 4-1 on the “back 9”. Despite 4 regular season losses, none were blowouts, only one was a multi-possession game, the 21-point loss to Shippensburg. Junior receiver Lex Cyrus added an SEC offer to his long list on Monday, picking up an Auburn offer to add to a list including Pitt, Texas A&M, Penn State, Wisconsin, and more. Also, Sophomore QB Torin Evans will step up big for Township in 2023 as the next man up for quarterback after the graduation of Javon White.

    3. Northern (7-3 OVR, 5-2 DIV)
    Northern put together a storybook postseason last year, as a 12 seed that most looked right past come time for District playoffs. Northern made a run through the District 3 5A bracket, beating #6 seed South Western and #3 seed New Oxford. Northern, an 11 seed made noise, but the lowest-seeded, #12-ranked Cocalico ended up winning that district trophy.

    4. East Penn (6-4 OVR, 4-3 DIV)

    East Penn will open up the year part of the York Rose Bowl, hosted at York Suburban high school, which will bring in talent from Harrisburg, Imhotep Charter, and more. It wasn’t part of a showcase, but the Panthers beat York Suburban 34-14 last season in their opener. They’ll then visit Palmyra in week 2, and visit Milton Hershey in week 3. They’ll finally break in the grass week 4 when they host Gettysburg. I see East Penn winning their first two, dropping to Milton Hershey and Gettysburg, rebounding with two more wins against Greencastle and Mechanicsburg, and eventually finishing 6-4, 4 of 6 wins coming from Colonial foes.

    5. Shippensburg (6-4 OVR, 3-4 DIV)
    Shippensburg was also part of the craziness of the District 3 5A bracket last year, facing Cedar Cliff in the first round and winning. They won that 8 vs 9 seed matchup and faced #1 seeded Solanco, where they put up a great fight, but closed their season with a 42-35 loss. They’ll face Cedar Cliff for the third time in 2 seasons in week 1 of this season, where I think they’ll win, paired with 2 other non-divisional wins against Big Spring and Spring Grove. The week 2 matchup and predicted win will be another big win for the Greyhound program, winning their 12th straight “Little Brown Jug.” Getting into divisional stuff, I see Shippensburg starting with 3 losses with a tough three-game stretch of Northern, Susquehanna Township, and Gettysburg. From there, they’ll only lose one more to East Penn and finish up 6-4, likely scraping into a playoff spot.

    6. Greencastle (3-7 OVR, 2-5 DIV)
    Greencastle isn’t losing a whole lot in 2023 numbers wise, but the one they’re losing is a big loss. It’s the division’s 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, and all-state caliber running back Tavon Cooper. They’ll open up with Big Spring at home, then travel to Berkeley Springs of West Virginia for week 2. From there, they go to Delone Catholic for week 3. From Greencastle-Antrim High School, it’s a 44-minute drive through Maryland to their game in West Virginia, and a 1 hour, 1 minute drive to Delone Catholic, even though it’s still in state. I see Greencastle fairing 2-5 in the division with wins against Mechanicsburg and Waynesboro.

    7. Waynesboro (1-9 OVR, 1-6 DIV)
    A new look Waynesboro team will look to improve in 2023 with a new skipper, Mark Saunders. They finished 3-7 overall in 2022, with a 6-point win against Hershey, 3 points Northern win, and a 3-point overtime win against East Penn. Their wins were close, but losses were another story, with the closest loss being an 11-pointer with Gettysburg. I see Waynesboro winning in week 9 against Mechanicsburg.

    8. Mechanicsburg (0-10 OVR, 0-7 DIV)
    Anthony Rose will coach the Wildcats with some recoveries due to graduation. Eli Rider will look to lead the Wildcats at quarterback, and Justin Bardo will add some veteran experience at outside linebacker.
    They’ll open up with a rivalry matchup against Carlisle, then have the West Shore School District, Cedar Cliff followed by Red Land to round out the non-divisional play.

  • Hershey Re-Claims Cocoa Bean Bowl After Seven Point Victory

    Hershey Re-Claims Cocoa Bean Bowl After Seven Point Victory

    The Cocoa Bean Bowl played its 79th edition Friday night. The important match-up of cross-town foes lived up to its name, as the Trojans of Hershey High School reclaimed the Cocoa Bean. After two huge goal-line stops in the fourth that stopped Milton Hershey from tying the game, Hershey won the contest, 28-21.

    The key to Hershey’s game was confidence, something they felt they didn’t quite have in their past losses on the season. Hershey’s turning point began in week four, after a double-digit comeback, and an upset victory over Cedar Cliff. Then, they rolled into their automatic biggest game of the season, with a 1-3 record. They were once again underdogs, this time against Milton Hershey, against whom they held a 38-36 all-time lead. That is now extended to 39 after tonight’s terrific victory.

    It all started with defense for Hershey. Milton Hershey got the ball and began their drive on the twenty-yard line. There, they began multiple sloppy plays, followed by a tipped punt that got lucky and rolled all the way to Hershey’s forty. There, Hershey ran the ball with Angel Cabrera, who pounded the Milton Hershey defense, ultimately in for the score from the 14-yard line.

    Despite their opening drive failures, Milton Hershey decided to continue their rushing offense again. Once again, it was not a successful series of plays, and Milton Hershey was forced to punt again. Hershey took over under quarterback Daniel Painter, who rallied the Trojans through their own territory, to the four-yard line. He handed off to Angel Cabrera, who took it in for the Hershey score again. Hershey now took a comfortable lead, up 14-0 on the Spartans.

    It was time to make changes for Milton Hershey. On their next drive, they threw the ball for 7-10 yard gains to the sidelines, and the heat came on for Milton Hershey. Milton Hershey QB Kenny Emile’s field vision and decision-making were on full display. That came to light on the drive’s final play, where Emile dropped the snap, picked up the ball, found some holes to run through, and then took it himself across the goal line for six. Milton Hershey’s extra point went through, and the game became more intriguing, 14-7.

    Hershey’s Daniel Painter followed the Spartan touchdown up by running it himself into the endzone from the twenty-five-yard line. With a few more minutes left, Milton Hershey was determined to reach the double-digit benchmark, and they did with a pass over the middle to Malachi Thomas. The scoreboard at the historic Hersheypark Stadium read 21-14, and fans and spectators were in for an exciting second half.

    After dueling scores, in the third, the fourth quarter was upon us, and the score was 28-21. It became a fast-moving game due to Hershey’s rushing attack, which kept the clock moving in the fourth. With minutes remaining, Hershey was forced to punt. Milton Hershey had the pressure on, down seven, with a chance to win the Cocoa Bean Bowl, but Hershey, under the defensive lead of Angel Cabrera, stopped Milton Hershey at the goal line multiple times. The game was virtually over, with a Hershey’s kneel pending.

    Hershey, after a 1-3 start to the year, grabbed a huge win in what is always a huge game. They grabbed their 39th all-time victory in the historic rivalry. Next week, the Trojans will host Red Land. They’ll visit Milton Hershey’s stadium for the Cocoa Bean Bowl next season.

    As for Milton Hershey, they’ll be back at home next week for their Bishop McDevitt match-up, who’ve been ripping up opponents this season.