CD East at Central York: District 3 6A football quarterfinal preview

Mid-Penn hopeful CD East is back in the District 3 playoffs, and the sixth-seeded Panthers open postseason play Friday at No. 3 Central York in a 6A quarterfinal. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Below is a closer look at the matchup.

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CD EAST (7-3): Which CD East assembly will get off the bus Friday in York? It's a legitimate question considering the Panthers were firing on all cylinders through seven weeks before dropping three straight, all by lopsided margins. Still moving without All-State RB Jared Porter has been one issue.

Another is the 27-5 combined record of those three programs that uprooted CD East down the stretch. That said, the Panthers still hold plenty of talent – QB Demaj Jalloh, RB Avery Romain and TE-LB Zach Brown headline the list – and have the ability to land the program's first District 3 dub since 2016.

A couple of downfield shots to WR Santana Young certainly would aid that plan. If the Panthers can avoid major penalties, and find some early success, the potential to move on is high.

CENTRAL YORK (8-2): We're thinking the York-Adams power will not invite Ohio's Archbishop Hoban to dinner anytime soon. At least not in late October. But, Gerry Yonchiuk & Co. got back to work following that 41-7 setback and got a full week to prepare for CD East as the 3-seed.

So much of CY's success on the offensive side depends on QB Brooklyn Nace, a talented dual threat who crested above 2,000 passing yards in a regular season finale vs. York High. Nace has 26 TDs passes against three picks. Sophomore Legend Johnson powers the run game while WR Brendyn Smith has chipped in 55 receptions and 11 scores.

CY's defense has shifted momentum for than a few times, as well. LB Jeremiha Hunter (76 tackles) and DT Quintin Dolly are two headliners for a unit that has stacked up 53 tackles-for-loss, which includes 31 sacks.

AT STAKE: Friday's winner will advance to next week's semifinal round vs. No. 2 Wilson or No. 7 Cedar Crest.

X-FACTOR: Nace. Central York's signal caller has been unflappable at times, so a comfortable pocket is a recipe for disaster for the visiting Panthers. Brown's 13.5 sacks, and more active play by CDE LBs Alante Caceres (65 tackles) and Sincere Jackson (10 TFLs) are crucial here.

THE PICK: Central York 35, CD East 21