Pigskin postseason set to resume: In-depth previews for 14 L-L League teams in Week 12 district playoff games
It's nitty-gritty time in the District 3 football playoffs, where 14 Lancaster-Lebanon League teams will be back in win-or-go-home action in Week 12.
The 12 games featuring L-L squads — 11 on Friday night, one Saturday matinee — includes a pair of No. 1 seeds returning to the field after first-round byes: Manheim Township in Class 6A, and unscathed Lampeter-Strasburg in Class 4A.
There are a pair of all-L-L matchups on the docket, including Section 1 foes Wilson and Cedar Crest meeting in a Class 6A quarterfinal in West Lawn, and L-S welcoming Elco in a Section 4 rematch in the Class 4A quarterfinals.
L-S, Conestoga Valley and Conrad Weiser will all take perfect 10-0 records into Week 12, ratcheting up the pressure even more for those teams.
One L-L outfit will play for a district championship on Friday: Lancaster Catholic will square off against back-to-back reigning state champ Steel-High for Class 2A supremacy. The Crusaders and the Steamrollers will duke it out at a neutral site — Donegal — with the title on the line.
Put on your big-boy pants and buckle your seat belts. It's time for some do-or-die, now-or-never football around the district.
Previewing the Week 12 action, with all of Friday's games starting at 7 p.m.; Saturday's tilt kicks at 1 p.m.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
No. 8 Cumberland Valley (6-5 overall) at No. 1 Manheim Township (9-1) — The Blue Streaks — after a week off to lick their wounds after falling to Wilson 34-16 in the Section 1 championship game in Week 10 — and the Eagles, out of the rough-and-tumble Mid-Penn Commonwealth, are no strangers; this is the third year in a row they'll clash in the D3-6A playoffs, and Township is 6-1 against CV dating back to 2017. ... They've also met in the regular season the last three years; Township is 2-1 in those games, including a 42-14 win back in Week 1 this season at CV. ... Winner gets: No. 4 Harrisburg (8-2) or No. 5 Dallastown (9-1) next week in the semifinals. ... CV D3 playoff history: Get cozy. It's the 32nd trip for the Eagles, who are 52-18 — including last week's 44-12 win over Governor Mifflin in the first round — with 13 titles in 20 championship appearances. ... Last title was in 2015, a wild 62-61 7-OT win over Commonwealth rival Central Dauphin. ... CV's last seven D3 playoff games have been against L-L teams: Hempfield, Township, Township, Township, Wilson, Township and Mifflin — and now Township again, as the Streaks and the Eagles will collide for the third year in a row, and for the fifth time in the last eight years in the D3 playoffs. Township won all four matchups. ... Township D3 playoff history: It's the 18th trip for the Streaks, who are 14-16 with one title in three championship appearances — including the last two, both losses in the 6A finale to Harrisburg. ... Township's lone D3 title came compliments of a win over CV in 2017, yet another tie-in in this series. ... Key stat: Township is giving up 190.7 yards a game, tops in the L-L. And the Streaks have yielded 774 rushing yards, fewest in the league. ... Key kid: MT RB-LB Declan Clancy (1,611 rushing yards, 7.4 avg., 18 TD runs; team-high 59 tackles, 4 TFL) has been a 1-man wrecking crew on both sides of the ball for the Streaks. ... Crux: Township must curtail CV's rushing attack; RB Erik Barbacci scooted for 176 yards with two TD runs last week vs. Mifflin. ... Conversely, Eagles' D must wrap and tackle Clancy, while keeping tabs on MT QB Carson Weisser, who has thrown for 1,682 yards with 22 TD tosses against just two picks this season. Township has flashed plenty of O balance this fall. ... FYI: Township is an honorable mention pick in the PennLive Class 6A state rankings.
No. 7 Cedar Crest (8-3) at No. 2 Wilson (9-1) — Section 1 foes collide in West Lawn, where the Bulldogs are feeling frisky after winning the outright section crown with a huge 34-16 win in Week 10 at Manheim Township, snapping the Blue Streaks' 19-game regular season unbeaten streak in the process. ... Wilson edged Cedar Crest 14-7 back in Week 5, also in West Lawn. That victory gave the Bulldogs a commanding 51-4-1 lead in the series vs. the Falcons. Friday's rematch is for a spot in the D3-6A Final 4. ... Winner gets: No. 3 Central York (8-2) or No. 6 CD East (7-3) next week in the semifinals. ... Cedar Crest D3 playoff history: It's the eighth trip for the Falcons, who are 3-7, including last week's 49-29 victory over Section 1 rival Hempfield in the first round. ... The win over the Black Knights snapped a 6-game losing skid in D3 games. ... Cedar Crest is 1-1 vs. Wilson in the D3 playoffs; Falcons won 25-6 in the 4A semifinals in 1995, and the Bulldogs won 34-21 in the 4A semifinals in 1999. ... Cedar Crest fell to Lower Dauphin (36-19) in the 1995 4A finale, and the Falcons lost to Central Dauphin (52-31) in the 4A title game in 1997. ... Wilson D3 playoff history: It's the 32nd trip for the Bulldogs, who are 42-24 with seven titles in 11 championship appearances. ... Wilson's last crown was in 2016, a 28-14 6A win over Cumberland Valley. ... Bulldogs have lost three straight in D3 games: 2021 in the 6A title game vs. Harrisburg; 2022 in the 6A quarterfinals vs. Harrisburg; and 2023 in the 6A quarterfinals vs. Cumberland Valley. ... Key stat: Cedar Crest's D feature a pair of 100-tackle ball-hawkers: Garrett Starry (122 tackles, 16 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 11 QB hurries) and Landyn Kline (109 tackles, 14 TFL, 2.5 sacks) have spent the season crashing backfields; Starry had 10 tackles last week vs. Hempfield. ... Key kid: Wilson QB Madyx Gruber (1,581 passing yards, 20 TD tosses; 559 rushing yards, 7 TD keepers) has been a magician behind center. He has pulled all the right strings and made all the right reads for the Bulldogs, who are riding a 7-game winning streak. Cedar Crest counters with a 4-game W streak of its own. ... If Gruber keeps the ball on the ground, Wilson RB Correll Akings (851 yards, 9 TD runs) needs a 149-yard night for a 1,000-yard campaign. ... Crux: A pair of mobile QBs on display here in Gruber and Cedar Crest's Jackson Custer (1,101 passing yards, 16 TD strikes; 611 rushing yards, 4 TD keepers), so both defenses have to be ready for anything. ... Wilson must keep tabs on CC RB Isaiah Zimmerman, who is having a breakout sophomore season with 1,482 yards and 17 TD runs. He had a 182-yard, 5-TD night vs. Hempfield in the first round last week. Wilson held Zimmerman to 72 yards back in Week 5. ... Gruber had a pair of TD tosses to Cam Zullinger in the first meeting. ... FYI: Wilson is No. 7 in the PennLive Class 6A state rankings.
No. 5 Shippensburg (10-1) at No. 4 Conestoga Valley (10-0) — The Buckskins are fresh off their first Section 2 title since 2006, and they're 10-0 for the first time since 1985. They'll welcome a Greyhounds' crew coming off a 20-13 win over Warwick in the first round. ... Winner gets: No. 8 Exeter (10-1) or No. 1 New Oxford (10-0) next week in the semifinals. ... Shippensburg D3 playoff history: Greyhounds are here for the 16th time, and they're 8-15, including last week's dub over Warwick, the last team in as the 12-seed; Warriors ended up taking Shippensburg to the tape. ... Greyhounds have been to one title game, falling to Berks Catholic 27-13 in the 4A finale in 2016. ... Shippensburg nabbed the 5-seed after going 8-1 in Mid-Penn Keystone play this season; lone loss was a Week 10 setback against undefeated Mechanicsburg, the 2-seed in this bracket. ... CV D3 playoff history: Bucks are here for 13th time, and they're 9-11. ... Last year — when CV dusted Dover 40-9 in the first round before falling to eventual champ Cocalico 42-10 in the 5A quarterfinals — was the Bucks' first D3 appearance in 13 years. ... They have one title, and that was a win over Middletown for 3A gold back in 1991. Bucks also reached the 3A finale in 1985; CV was 11-0 after beating Hershey 29-11 in the semifinals, and the Bucks fell to Bishop McDevitt 35-7 in the finale. ... They'll go for their first 11-0 start since that 1985 run here. ... Key stat: Shippensburg RB Ja'nye Statum rushed for 130 yards with two TD runs last week vs. Warwick. He's zoomed for 1,290 yards with 18 TD runs for the Greyhounds. ... Statum and his O mates will square off against a CV D allowing 226.7 yards a game, second-best among Section 2 teams and eighth-best in the L-L. ... Key kid: He missed some time with an injury, yes. But when CV multi-purpose back Jayden Johnson has been on the field, he's been tough to tackle: 207 rushing yards with four TD runs; 19 receptions for 467 yards, 24.6 yards per grab, with five TD catches; and he returned a kickoff for a TD. Greyhounds must be wary of him at all times. ... Crux: Can CV slow down Statum and win the trench battles up front? Can the Greyhounds get some pressure on unflappable CV QB Sawyer Esbenshade (101-for-159 for 1,845 yards, 24 TD tosses — second-most in the L-L — against 3 picks; 4 TD keepers) and fluster him in the pocket? Fun matchup here. ... FYI: CV and Shippensburg are both honorable mention picks in the PennLive Class 5A state rankings.
No. 7 Cocalico (8-3) at No. 2 Mechanicsburg (10-0) — The Eagles soared past Hershey 42-21 to remain in line for a 3-peat in this bracket. Their next hurdle is an unscathed Wildcats' bunch that features a fancy passing attack; QB Eli Reider has thrown for 1,944 yards with 29 TD tosses. ... Winner gets: No. 3 Conrad Weiser (10-0) or No. 6 Bishop McDevitt (9-2) next week in the semifinals. ... Cocalico D3 playoff history: Eagles are here for the 25th time — a cool program milestone — and they're 32-19, including last week's victory over Hershey, when Cocalico gouged out 310 rushing yards. ... Eagles won the last two D3-5A titles, and own five championship in all, in 12 title-game trips. ... Cocalico beat Exeter 34-14 in 2022 and knocked off backyard rival Ephrata 23-9 last fall for gold. ... Eagles are riding an 8-game winning streak in D3 games, and they're 11-1 in their last dozen. That setback was 21-7 to Berks Catholic in the 4A quarterfinals in 2021. ... Mechanicsburg D3 playoff history: Wildcats are making their 12th trip, and they're 7-15 with one title, and that came back in 1986 with a 21-20 victory over Carlisle in the 4A finale. ... This is Mechanicsburg's first D3 trip since 2020, when the Wildcats were pasted by Nick Singleton and Governor Mifflin in the 5A semifinals by a 68-14 count. ... Mechanicsburg's last D3 win: 31-7 over Daniel Boone in the 3A quarterfinals back in 2008. ... Wildcats earned the lofty 2-seed after a 9-0 ride and outright title in Mid-Penn Keystone play; they beat previously undefeated Shippensburg in Week 10 to clinch it. ... Key stat: Mechanicsburg WR Josh Smith has 50 catches for 1,049 yards — 21 yards per snag — with 15 TD receptions. Cocalico's secondary will need a big night in this matchup. ... Key kids: Cocalico's "Great Danes" — 'backers Dane Horning (105 tackles, 5 TFL) and Dane Bollinger (63 tackles, 7 TFL in six games since returning from an injury) — have to swarm and make quick wrap-and-tackles. ... Crux: Cocalico has to put pressure on Reider, who has completed 70% of his passes with just two picks in 168 pass attempts. And Mechanicsburg's D must be sharp against the Eagles' triple-option scheme; Cocalico has gouged out 3,210 rushing yards, and Horning (1,173 yards, 10 TD rumbles) and QB Josh Myer (1,162 yards, 14 TD keepers) are both in the 1K rushing club. ... And this: Incredibly, Cocalico has not completed a pass since Week 4 vs. Garden Spot back on Sept. 13. In the seven games since, the Eagles are 0-for-15 in the passing game with 2,300 rushing yards — 328.9 stripes per game. ... In 11 games, Cocalico is 7-for-36 passing for a league-low 143 air yards. If nothing else, that speaks to the Eagles' commitment to their Flexbone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. ... FYI: Mechanicsburg is No. 7 in the PennLive Class 5A state rankings.
No. 6 Bishop McDevitt (9-2) at No. 3 Conrad Weiser (10-0) — The Scouts won the Section 3 title and are 10-0 for the first time since 1996. Their playoff reward? A date with McDevitt, which owns 17 district titles — including the last three 4A crowns in a row — and is spearheaded by record-smashing QB Stone Saunders, a Kentucky recruit. ... Winner gets: No. 7 Cocalico (8-3) or No. 2 Mechanicsburg (10-0) next week in the semifinals. ... McDevitt D3 playoff history: Pull up a chair. This is the Crusaders' 27th trip, and McDevitt is (wait for it) 66-9, including last week's 42-7 win over Lower Dauphin in the first round, with 17 titles in 20 championship games. ... One more crown, and McDevitt ties Manheim Central with a D3-best 18 titles. ... Crusaders are riding a 10-game D3 winning streak, including wins over Manheim Central in the last two 4A title games — 40-0 and 23-17, respectively — and an eke-it-out 7-0 win over Lampeter-Strasburg on a dreadfully windy, cold night in Harrisburg in 2021. ... Crusaders' last D3 loss: 30-27 against L-S in the 4A semifinals in 2019. ... McDevitt is 4-0 all-time vs. Weiser in D3 playoff games: 1996 (53-34 in 2A finale); 2011 (70-21 in 3A quarterfinals); 2013 (49-21 in 3A semifinals); and 2018 (40-16 in 4A semifinals). .... McDevitt is coached by Lancaster County native and former Lebanon Catholic skipper Jeff Weachter. Yes, kids. They used to play football at Lebanon Catholic; the program was dropped after the 2000 season and Weachter was the coach from 1993-97. The school has since been shuttered. ... McDevitt's losses this season: 35-33 in OT vs. Harrisburg and 58-55 vs. State College. Two setbacks by a grand total of five points. ... Weiser D3 playoff history: This is the 18th trip for the Scouts, who are 13-17. They've been to one title game, and that, as mentioned, was against McDevitt; Crusaders won that 2A finale 53-34 back in 1996. ... Weiser has three straight D3 setbacks; last win was 44-14 over Berks rival Fleetwood in a 4A first-rounder in 2019. ... Key stat: Saunders' numbers are simply staggering. This season, he's 166-for-260 (64%) for 2,473 yards with 34 TD tosses against seven picks. His career stat-line: 720-for-1,103 (65%) for 12,615 yards with a state-record 190 TD passes. ... Saunders' top target this season has been Columbia transfer Dominic Diaz-Ellis (52 catches for 950 yards, 11 TD snags). ... Key kid: CW DE Ashton Keibach (45 tackles, 10 TFL, 9 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries) and the Scouts' D must muster a way to keep Saunders under wraps. ... Crux: McDevitt has been here and done that. This is old hat for the Crusaders, who won't be fazed by an away crowd or unfamiliar surroundings. Can the Scouts rise to the occasion, knock off the top dogs, and keep their magical season going? ... FYI: In the PennLive Class 5A state rankings, McDevitt is No. 8, and Weiser is an honorable mention selection.
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No. 8 Exeter (10-1) at No. 1 New Oxford (10-0) — The Eagles pancaked South Western 56-3 in their opener last week, so they'll have plenty of good vibes and mo going up against the undefeated Colonials. ... Exeter's top priority: Slowing down NO 1,300-yard rusher Clayton Nieves. ... Winner gets: No. 4 Conestoga Valley (10-0) or No. 5 Shippensburg (10-1) next week in the semifinals. ... Exeter D3 playoff history: It's the 15th trip for the Eagles, who are 11-13, including last week's 53-point romp over South Western. ... Exeter has one title — a 31-28 win over rival Governor Mifflin in the 5A finale in 2021 — in two championship appearances; Eagles fell to Cocalico 34-14 in the 5A title game in 2022. That setback snapped a 6-game W streak in D3 games. ... Exeter fell to Hershey 28-27 in the first round last year, but got right back up on the horse with a win over the Mustangs last week. ... New Oxford D3 playoff history: Colonials are here for the 11th time, and they're 4-10 with one finals trip. That was back in 1996, a 35-14 loss against Manheim Central in the 3A finale. ... New Oxford has dropped five D3 games in a row, dating back to a 41-14 triumph over Northeastern York in a 5A first-rounder back in 2019. ... It's the sixth year in a row the Colonials have been here, but they've never beaten an L-L team in a D3 game, with losses over the years to Garden Spot, Manheim Central and Warwick. ... New Oxford, which is 10-0 for the first time in program history, does have two wins over L-L outfits this season: 21-0 over Cocalico and 30-7 over Warwick, both D3 qualifiers, and the Eagles are still alive in this bracket. ... Key stat: Exeter RB Jayden Zandier is averaging a spiffy 13.3 yards per carry, with 1,679 rushing yards. He's also accounted for 33 touchdowns: 26 runs, three passes, one catch, two kickoff returns (95 yards vs. Hempfield; 79 yards vs. Pleasant Valley) and a pick-6 (54 yards vs. Lebanon). ... Four times this season Zandier has gone for 200-plus rushing yards in a game — 317 vs. Muhlenberg, 212 vs. Governor Mifflin, 206 last week vs. South Western, 205 vs. Boyertown — and he has six TD runs of 50 yards or longer, including an 81-yard scoring sprint vs. Mifflin, the fifth-longest TD run from scrimmage in the L-L this season. He's been unstoppable, be it lined up at RB, or behind center taking Wildcat snaps with QB Riley Martinez on the shelf pretty much the entire second half of the regular season. ... Key kid: Genuine Stutzman has been a true jack-of-all trades for Exeter. On D, he has 66 tackles, 13 TFL, 2.5 sacks, seven QB hurries and three pass breakups. On O, he has a trio of TD runs, and he's caught 15 passes for 268 yards (17.9 avg.) with six TD grabs. He had a TD run and a TD catch last week vs. South Western. ... Crux: Can New Oxford slow down Zandier? Can Exeter slow down Nieves? May the best rush-D win this battle royale. ... And this: One common opponent is South Western; New Oxford beat the Mustangs 48-20 and Exeter cruised past SW 56-3 last week. ... FYI: New Oxford is an honorable mention pick in the PennLive Class 5A state rankings.
No. 8 Elco (6-5) at No. 1 Lampeter-Strasburg (10-0) — Rematch alert: The Pioneers picked off the Raiders 52-7 in a Section 4 clash back in Week 8 in Myerstown. They'll meet here with a trip to the 4A Final 4 on the line. ... L-S is simply scorching, with tons of balance on both sides of the ball. Elco won't wow you with a bunch of crooked numbers, but the Raiders have made everyone earn it. ... Winner gets: No. 4 Susquehanna Township (8-2) or No. 5 Twin Valley (8-2) next week in the semifinals. ... Elco D3 playoff history: It's the ninth trip for the Raiders, who are 4-8, including last week's 31-6 win over Section 4 foe Octorara in the first round. This bracket has a distinct L-L Section 4 flavor. ... This is the fourth time the Raiders will square off against L-S in the D3 playoffs; the Pioneers are 3-0, with those three meetings coming in consecutive years: 37-0 in a 4A first-rounder in 2018; 34-7 in a 4A first-rounder in 2019; and 20-3 in the 4A title game in the truncated 2020 season. ... Elco was in one other title game, falling to Wyomissing 28-0 in the 2A finale back in 2001. ... L-S D3 playoff history: Pioneers are here for the 19th time, and they're 23-15 with three titles in five championship appearances. ... Before the win over Elco in 2020, L-S beat Gettysburg 35-21 for 3A gold in 2007, and KO'd Berks Catholic 35-21 for the 4A crown in 2019. ... Last year, the Pioneers survived East Pennsboro 23-20 in double-OT, before falling to eventual champ Bishop McDevitt 43-7 in the 4A semifinals. ... Key stat: L-S, the Section 4 champ, is averaging 396.8 yards a game, second-best in the league, and the Pioneers are giving up 207.2 yards a game, fourth-best in the L-L. They've also surrendered just 82 points, fewest in all of D3. ... L-S was the last team standing in the rugged Section 4 derby after a hard-fought 20-7 win at Wyo in Week 10. ... Key kid: What a simply jaw-dropping season for L-S QB-DB Caileb Howse, who has shiny numbers galore: 67% completions for 1,215 yards and 11 TD tosses against no picks; 1,159 rushing yards, 11.1 lower-your-shoulder yards per carry, with 19 TD keepers; and he has two pick-6 plays on D: 25 yards vs. Elco in their first meeting, and an 85-yard return the other way vs. Donegal. Elco can't let him control the tempo. ... By the way, Danny Weichler joined Howse in the pick-6 department in the first meeting vs. Elco; he returned an INT 68 yards for a score for the Pioneers, who have five pick-6 plays this season — two each by Howse and Weichler, and one by Dominic Brown. ... Brown (1,050 rushing yards, 19 TD jaunts) and Howse are both in the 1K rushing club, joining Cocalico's Dane HorningJosh Myer as double-barreled 1,000-yard rushers in the same backfield this season. ... Crux: Tall task for the Raiders, who get the undefeated, top-seeded — and well-rested — Pioneers, behind enemy lines in Lampeter. ... Elco has nothing to lose here; Raiders, who have been keyed by QB Steven Rosado (669 passing yards, 4 TD tosses; 839 rushing yards, 14 TD keepers) and RB Mitchell Frederick (694 rushing yards, 8 TD, need to play free and easy. Not uptight and nervous, and make L-S earn it. Elco hung with the Pioneers in the first half in their first meeting. They'll need an A-plus effort in the rematch. ... FYI: L-S is No. 3 in the PennLive Class 4A state rankings.
No. 5 Twin Valley (8-2) at No. 4 Susquehanna Township (8-2) — The Raiders got back on track in Week 10 with a 42-6 dub over backyard rival Daniel Boone, after consecutive setbacks against Section 4 rivals Lampeter-Strasburg and Wyomissing to fall out of that race. ... TV gets a pass-happy Hanna squad spearheaded by QB Torin Evans (153-of-236 for 2,367 yards, 26 TD tosses against just 3 picks; plus 8 TD keepers) and WR Lex Cyrus (52 receptions for 819 yards, 15.8 avg., 8 TD grabs), who is a South Carolina commit. ... Winner gets: No. 1 L-S (10-0) or No. 8 Elco (6-5) next week in the semifinals. ... Twin Valley D3 playoff history: It's the fourth trip for the Raiders, who are 2-3. ... The wins: 43-29 over Milton Hershey in the 4A quarterfinals in 2022, and 35-7 over Elco in the 4A quarterfinals last fall. ... TV was tripped up by Manheim Central 65-28 in the 4A semifinals last year; it was the Raiders' deepest postseason trip. ... Susquehanna Township D3 playoff history: 18th trip for Hanna, which is 13-17, including 0-3 in D3 title games, and five D3 setbacks in a row, dating back to a 21-20 victory over Manheim Central in a 3A semifinal in 2015. ... During this 5-game D3 slide, Hanna fell twice to Bishop McDevitt, and once each vs. Lampeter-Strasburg and Manheim Central. ... Hanna hits the postseason riding a 6-game winning streak coming out of Mid-Penn Colonial play. Heck of a turnaround for the crew; Hanna went 0-10 in 2021, but is back in the D3 playoffs. ... Their losses this season: 31-14 to West Perry, plus a forfeit to Boiling Springs; Hanna put up 60-plus on the Bubblers in that game, but had to forfeit later for using an ineligible player. ... Key stat: TV is allowing 195.3 yards a game, No. 2 in the L-L behind Manheim Township, and the Raiders have yielded 746 passing yards, second-fewest in the league behind Conrad Weiser. ... Key kid: TV QB Evan Myers has had quite the dual-threat season for the Raiders with 1,421 passing yards, 67% completions and 20 TD tosses, plus 867 rushing yards, 9.0 yards per carry, and 13 TD keepers. ... Myers needs 133 rushing yards for 1,000 stripes this season, and that would also put him in the 1K/1K pass-rush club; L-S QB Caileb Howse is already in that fraternity this season. Myers could join him with a big game on the ground vs. Hanna. ... When Myers goes up top, TV WR Ben Grundy leads all Section 4 pass-catchers with 36 receptions (for 511 yards, 7 TD grabs). ... Crux: TV secondary will be tested by Cyrus and flank mate Jarrett Kern (39-520, 13.3 avg., 7 TD catches). Cyrus won the 100 in the PIAA state finals two years ago; he was runner-up in that event last spring. ... Raiders will need an inspired D effort overall in this tricky road tester. ... FYI: Hanna is No. 10 and Twin Valley is an honorable mention pick in the PennLive Class 4A state rankings.
CLASS 3A SEMIFINALS
No. 3 Schuylkill Valley (9-2) at No. 2 Trinity (8-2) — The Panthers are riding a torrid 8-game winning streak, including a 55-13 romp over Littlestown in the quarterfinals last week. They'll get a Shamrocks' squad that is no stranger to the postseason; Trinity won the D3-2A title in 2022 and was back in the 2A title game last fall. A trip to the finale is hanging in the balance here. ... Winner gets: No. 1 Bermudian Springs (9-1) or No. 5 Berks Catholic (7-4) next week on a neutral field for 3A gold. ... SV D3 playoff history: It's the ninth trip for the Panthers, who are 3-8, including last week's KO over Littlestown. ... SV's two other D3 wins: 42-21 over Berks Catholic in a 2A quarterfinal in 2012, and last year's 45-21 triumph over Littlestown in the 3A quarterfinals. ... This will match SV's previous deepest trips, to the semifinals, in 2012 (lost to Wyomissing 42-14 in 2A) and last year (lost to Wyo 48-0 in 3A). ... Trinity D3 playoff history: Shamrocks are here for the 12th time, and they're 12-8, with three crowns in five championship appearances. ... Titles, all in 2A, came in 2002 (27-7 over Delone Catholic), 2010 (28-0 over Wyo) and 2022 (58-7 over Annville-Cleona). ... Trinity is up in 3A this season, and had a 7-1 ride in Mid-Penn Colonial action this fall. ... Shamrocks' losses: Allentown Central Catholic (18-0) and Susquehanna Township (40-34) in conference play. ... Key stat: SV QB Logan Nawrocki leads the L-L in passing yards (2,436) and TD passes (34). He's sitting on 4,984 career passing yards, just 16 shy of joining the 5K air club. ... Key kid: Trinity 2-way threat Jacob Ness has rushed for 667 yards, 7.7 yards per pop, with 11 TD runs, and he's registered a team-best 67 tackles, with seven TFL and a pair of sacks. Ness' backfield mate is Christian Joy, who has bolted for 1,366 yards with 19 TD runs; he's averaging 10.4 yards per carry for the Shamrocks. ... Crux: Not many teams have slowed down SV's spread attack lately; Nawrocki has had a field day up top, especially over the last eight games, and TE Luke Spotts (league-best 56 catches for a league-leading 936 yards, 16.7 avg., with a league-best 9 TD grabs) has been a real weapon off the edge. ... SV can also beat you deep; flank fiends Kowen GernerDillon Lackner have combined for 70 receptions for 1,140 yards with 23 TD catches between them. Nawrocki has a lot of weapons at his disposal; Shamrocks' D must rise to the occasion in this matchup. ... FYI: Trinity is No. 10 in the PennLive Class 3A state rankings.
No. 5 Berks Catholic (7-4) at No. 1 Bermudian Springs (9-1) — The Saints have marched to five wins in a row, including a 48-7 victory over Biglerville in the quarterfinals last week. They'll get an Eagles' crew that has won nine straight games with a no-nonsense, balanced attack. ... Winner gets: No. 2 Trinity (8-2) or No. 3 Schuylkill Valley (8-2) next week in the 3A finale at a neutral site. ... Berks Catholic D3 playoff history: It's the 10th trip for the Saints, who are 20-5, including last week's W over Biglerville. ... BC has pocketed four championships in seven title-game trips. ... The crowns came in 2013 (42-0 over Littlestown in 2A), 2015 (34-6 over Wyomissing in 2A), 2016 (37-17 over Shippensburg in 4A) and 2017 (45-29 over Bishop McDevitt in 4A). ... BC and Bermudian Springs have met once in a D3 playoff game: Saints won 42-14 in a 2A semifinal in 2013. ... Bermudian Springs D3 playoff history: Eagles are here for the 21st time, and they're 15-17, with three titles in six championship games. ... The crowns: 1992 (22-15 over Cocalico in 2A), 1993 (18-16 over Juniata in 2A; Juniata has since moved on to D6) and 1998 (28-26 over Littlestown in 2A). ... Bermudian Springs is on a 5-game D3 losing streak, dating back to a 20-10 win over Lancaster Catholic in the 3A semifinals in 2018. ... Eagles' last four D3 playoff victories were against current L-L members: Hamburg, Schuylkill Valley, Annville-Cleona and Lancaster Catholic. ... Key stat: Bermudian Springs RB-LB Eddie Sebright leads the Eagles in rushing (943 yards, 6.5 avg., 14 TD runs) and in tackles (75 stops, with 11 TFL, 5 sacks, 6 QB hurries). ... While the Eagles will lean on Sebright in the rushing department, BC features a pair of 800-yard rushers in Bryce GumbyNate Rose; that combo has combined for 1,679 rushing yards and 23 TD runs. Gumby had two TD runs last week vs. Biglerville. ... Key kid: BC QB Zach Suski has been unreal during the Saints' 5-game winning tear. He was 8-for-8 for 238 yards with a pair of TD passes last week vs. Biglerville, and he's thrown for 807 yards with 11 TD tosses and no picks in the last five games. Bermudian Springs' D must find a way to rattle Suski, who has thrown for a single-season program-record 1,524 yards for the Saints. ... Crux: Nothing flashy about Bermudian Springs, which simply goes about its business. And lately, that has meant a lot of winning; Eagles are riding a 9-game victory streak. Their lone loss was a 28-13 nonleague setback vs. undefeated New Oxford — the 1-seed in D3-5A — way back in Week 1. ... They punched right back, rolling to a 7-0 conference mark and YAIAA-3 supremacy. ... Can Suski summon some more magic in the passing department and get BC back in the finals for the first time since 2017? ... And this: One common opponent here: Biglerville. Bermudian Springs beat the Canners 28-6 in a Week 6 league game; BC dispatched Biglerville 48-7 last week. ... FYI: Bermudian Springs is No. 9 in the PennLive Class 3A state rankings.
No. 2 Lancaster Catholic (7-4) vs. No. 1 Steel-High (9-2) at Donegal — The Crusaders are back in a title game for the first time since 2011, and they'll get a Steamrollers' outfit that won the last four D3-1A championships in a row, and Steel-High is angling for its 17th crown overall. They'll have to slow down LC RB Brandon Way (1,788 rushing yards, 8.6 avg., 26 TD runs) to get back to the finals. ... Steel-High is the back-to-back reigning PIAA-1A state champ, with wins over Union and Fort Cherry the last two years. They're up in 2A this fall. ... Winner gets: District 5 champ — Bedford (8-3) or Berlin Brothersvalley (7-4) — next week in a PIAA sub-regional state-playoff opener. ... Bisons vs. Mountaineers D5-2A finale is also Friday. ... Lancaster Catholic D3 playoff history: Crusaders are making their 21st trip, and they're 26-14, including last week's 27-20 victory over Camp Hill, as the Crusaders ended up sweeping the Lions this fall after a 42-41 2-OT win back in Week 1. ... Catholic has six titles in nine championship appearances. ... This is the Crusaders' first finale since 2011, when they topped Wyomissing 21-14 for 2A gold. Since that tilt, Catholic is 5-7 in D3 games. ... The win over Camp Hill snapped a 4-game D3 slide, including consecutive 3A semifinal setbacks to West Perry in 2022 (63-20) and last year (49-20). ... Steel-High D3 playoff history: Rollers are here for the 26th time, and they're 34-9, including last week's 34-14 semifinal victory over Upper Dauphin. ... Steel-High has won 16 D3 titles — right behind Manheim Central's 18 and Bishop McDevitt's 17 — including the last four D3-1A crowns in a row, with wins over Delone Catholic, Delone Catholic, Fairfield and Halifax, respectively. ... Rollers have won five D3 games in a row; last loss was 39-27 against Delone Catholic in a 2A semifinal in 2019. ... Key stat: Steel-High is averaging 41.1 points per game, with three shutout victories this fall: 69-0 over Fairfield, 55-0 over James Buchanan, and 49-0 over Susquenita. ... Rollers' two loss this season: 29-14 vs. Juniata and 41-20 vs. Susquehanna Township in Mid-Penn Colonial play. ... Key kid: LC WR-DB Colton Hegener just makes plays; team-best 40 catches for 472 yards with six TD grabs, plus a 90-yard kick-return TD vs. Kutztown, an 85-yard kick-return TD vs. Camp Hill (Week 1) and a 25-yard pick-6 D TD vs. Columbia. ... Crux: Steel-High won't fear this stage; Rollers have been here four years in a row, won all four — plus consecutive state crowns — and the only thing that really changes is the classification (2A, up from 1A) and an opponent they haven't seen — but have been cramming for. It'll be up to Catholic to shake the butterflies, and hope Way continues his monster season toting the rock. ... FYI: In the PennLive Class 2A state rankings, Steel-High is No. 10 and Catholic received an honorable mention nod.
SATURDAY'S GAME
No. 7 East Pennsboro (8-3) at No. 2 Wyomissing (8-2) — Familiar territory for the Spartans, who won the last five D3-3A titles in a row, and now they're out to conquer 4A. They should be plenty motivated, coming off a Week 10 setback against Lampeter-Strasburg in the Section 4 title game. ... The Panthers picked off Susquehannock 42-14 in the first round, so they have some mo. ... Winner gets: No. 3 West York (8-2) or No. 4 West York (8-2) next week in the semifinals; Bulldogs and Golden Knights in an all-directional York quarterfinal on Friday. ... East Pennsboro D3 playoff history: It's the 12th trip for the Panthers, who are 6-11, including last week's 42-14 triumph over Susquehannock. ... EP is 0-2 in D3 title games: 1985 (31-27 loss to Columbia in 2A) and 2002 (31-7 loss to Lower Dauphin in 3A). ... Panthers fell to Lampeter-Strasburg 23-20 in a double-OT thriller in the 4A quarterfinals last fall. ... EP's three setbacks this season: Bethlehem Catholic (28-14) and Trinity (37-14) for a 0-2 start, then four wins in a row before a 35-28 loss to Susquehanna Township in Mid-Penn Colonial play. EP has now won four in a row, and they'll need that mo going into Wyo, where the Panthers must tame Spartans' multi-purpose back Justice Hardy (728 rushing yards, 9.6 yards per carry, 11 TD runs; 2 TD catches). ... Wyo D3 playoff history: Spartans are here for the 31st time, and they're 42-18, with 12 crowns in 20 championship appearances. ... This is the 18th year in a row that Wyo has graced a D3 playoff bracket; last time they missed the field was in 2005. ... Spartans are riding an 11-game winning streak in D3 play, and they're 14-3 in their last 17 games dating back to 2016. ... They won the last five 3A crowns in a row — with wins over Middletown, Middletown, Boiling Springs, West Perry, West Perry, respectively — and now they're up in 4A, looking for an even six straight D3 titles. ... Key stat: Wyo is giving up 210.7 yards a game, fourth-best in the L-L. ... Key kid: EP WR-LB Aaron Angelo has been tough to mark on O (43 catches for 879 yards, 20.4 avg., 8 TD grabs) and he's a ball-hawker on D (65 tackles, 13 TFL, 3 pass breakups, 2 INT, 2 fumble recoveries). ... Crux: Stepping into Wyo's den is never easy. Yes, L-S pulled it off in Week 10, snapping the Spartans' snazzy 36-game home winning streak. But Wyo is a different animal in the postseason, and here's thinking the Spartans will have a little extra pep in their steps after stewing on the L-S setback for two weeks. ... FYI: Wyo is No. 6 in the PennLive Class 4A state rankings.
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