We’re taking a look around our coverage area to see who helped themselves this week and who did not as we move into Week No. 7 of the high school football season.
A refreshed Central Dauphin:
Central Dauphin comes off a COVID-19 pause of two weeks and doesn’t play a game for 21 days and answers the bell with 92 total points in two road games at Chambersburg and at State College. For the Rams it’s almost like the first two weeks didn’t happen.
They in almost no way, shape or form resemble the team that was 1-1 and somewhat fortunate to have a win under their belt when COVID-19 knocked them off the radar. This offense is now a problem for the entire Commonwealth and District 3 Class 6A field.
No cruise control in Week 7 for Bishop McDevitt:
An opponent for Bishop McDevitt, in this case Cedar Cliff, that actually has the capacity to punch back. It’s been so long for the Crusaders since anybody offered anything more than a controlled scrimmage – see the 259-21 the combined score of their last four games as Exhibit A. The Colts have nowhere near the talent level and depth of McDevitt.
And I’m pretty sure that’s just how Cedar Cliff wants it. The more established ground game over the last couple weeks could be a ball-control solution to keeping the lethal McD offense off the field. To know early in the week it won’t be 66-7 again this week is refreshing.
A balanced Mid-Penn Conference:
You look at the scores week-to-week and the inclination is to think there is a major gap between the haves and have nots in the Mid-Penn Conference. I mean there are some major blowouts on a weekly basis. But the reality is those are only small pockets of teams that are struggling big-time. For the most part, the conference has great balance.
We are heading into the final month and eight of nine teams in the Commonwealth, seven of eight squads in the Colonial and all six of the residents in the Capital have a .500 record or better after six weeks. That surprised me a bit when I did the research. I, too, thought the gap was much bigger.
Warmer weather a trend continuing:
For those of you who love the season change and that transition on Friday night to cooler weather and the chill in the air are going to have to wait. The warm days are staying around longer this season. Each of the next two Fridays are expected to be in the mid-70s. That puts us in Week 8 for maybe the first chance of needing to break out the jacket and an extra layer. And they say global warming isn’t real.
Down year for some proud programs:
The Liberty Division is laced with proud small-town football schools from the once tradition-rich Tri-Valley League. They would put on a small-school football show pretty much on an annual basis.
This just isn’t the case in 2021. Names like Line Mountain, Halifax and Newport are ones we’ve all come to know and respect for not only their championship pedigree when they were elite, but also playing at a high level even when the talent pool was a wee bit light.
It’s a struggle in 2021. Juniata, who lost its most valuable offensive weapon to an injury for the season, might claim the top spot and the previously mentioned trio of schools is a combined 2-13 overall. Hope this is just a down year and not a trend.