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.
