Well, we're officially two weeks from the close of the regular season of high school football. All but one area team took the field Friday night -- Carlisle travels to Market Street this morning to square off with undefeated Bishop McDevitt at 10:30-- so when the sun comes up in a few hours, the playoff picture will be a little clearer.With that in mind, let's take a moment to switch gears, look at some teams that aren't in our coverage area and see what they proved Friday night.
The first thing that stood out Friday was Cumberland Valley's inability to stop Harrisburg's offense. The Cougars ran the ball straight at CV's respected front eight and were rewarded with chunks of yardage each time. Had it not been for a missed extra point, a pair of failed 2-point conversions and two lost fumbles, Harrisburg likely walks out of Harry C. Chapman Field a winner. The Cougars (4-4) need to beat Central Mountain and Altoona in the final two weeks to have a shot at the playoffs but you heard it here first: Harrisburg will not be a team any top seed wants to face.
Heading down to the YAIAA, we now wonder, following a 22-0 punishing loss at the hands of Biglerville, if Delone Catholic really deserved that statewide praise the young Squires received after upending Trinity in overtime Sept. 5. Delone, which was out gained 342-219 Friday, was leading the ultra-deep District 3 Class AA power rankings. There are now zero unbeaten teams in that classification and there could be a new leader. Lancaster Catholic (No. 2) and Wyomissing (No. 4) both won. Trinity (No. 3) lost to Steelton-Highspire. Don't look now but thanks to a win over Camp Hill, Middletown (No. 5) is right back in the thick of the race for the top seed or at least a home game.
Moving up to Class AAA, we know the love has been flowing for Mid-Penn unbeatens Greencastle-Antrim and Mechanicsburg and that's great, they deserve it. But look at the numbers West York is putting up. That offense is simply scary. The Bulldogs (6-1) are averaging 50 points per game. In the team's only loss, it scored 47 points and lost to Dallastown on Sept. 5. That was the Dallastown prior to eight starters being booted for allegedly breaking a behavioral contract student-athletes sign. FYI: West York isn't winning shootouts. The team averages 13.3 points against and has allowed double-digits three times.
Now, to wrap things up, we're heading out of District 3. A lot of time and money may be saved by conceding at least the District 3 Class A championship to Steelton-Highspire. A Middletown team the Rollers beat, 40-14, cruised by Camp Hill - likely Steel-High's only real competition in the district - 38-21 tonight.
In the first round of the PIAA tournament, the Rollers might not, well, roll over their opponent. There appears to be three teams that could win District 6 and contend with this team. Bishop McCort, the two-time defending 6-AA champs, moved down this year and have dominated in starting undefeated. The Crimson Crushers are most likely to dance with Steel-High the day after Thanksgiving. But don't sell short an unbeaten Portage team that was the second highest scoring team in the state headed to Week 8. And then there's Bellwood-Antis, the reigning two-time 6-A champion that has five shutouts and seven wins after opening the season with a loss at Class AA power Tyrone. The winner of that district should offer a test to Steel-High.
Now for some predictions. First, the future District 3 champions (subject to change by Nov. 1):
AAAA - Wilson
AAA - Manheim Central
AA - Trinity
A - Steelton-Highspire
This year's PIAA champions:
AAAA - Gateway
AAA - Thomas Jefferson
AA - West Catholic
A - Riverside
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