The District 3-6A football playoffs don’t officially kick off until next week, but Friday’s Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division matchup between Chambersburg and Central Dauphin was most certainly a win-or-go-home contest for both teams.
It was a competitive game, but in the end the Rams prevailed by a 28-20 score to punch their ticket as the 10th and final team into the postseason. The Trojans (4-6, 3-6 Commonwealth) finish their season one spot outside of the district playoff picture.
Central Dauphin (4-6, 4-5) raced ahead to a 14-0 lead on a pair of TD runs from Isaac Hodgson, before Chambersburg sliced that lead in half with a 37-yard scoring pass from Cam Green to Davonte Scott.
The Rams opened scoring in the third quarter with a one-yard TD plunge from Hodgson, but CD’s lead was trimmed to 21-14 when Chambersburg responded with an eight-yard scoring pass from Green to Scott.
The Trojans barely had a chance to celebrate their score before the ensuing kickoff, which was returned by the Rams’ Jadyn Johnson 85 yards for a TD. Scoring concluded with 3:48 remaining, when Cobe Penick returned an interception 95 yards for a score.
Chambersburg, which was held to negative-14 rushing yards, was forced to rely on Green and the passing game. Green completed 18 of 23 passes for 208 yards, two TDs, and two interceptions. His favorite target was Scott, who hauled in 11 catches for 117 yards. Bryson Murray (3-33), Malachi Tasker (2-31), and Penick (2-27) also had receptions.
The Trojans also got an interception from Tavian Ferguson.
West Perry 31, Greencastle-Antrim 13
Leading just 17-13 early in the fourth quarter, West Perry used a pair of TDs to pull away from Colonial Division opponent Greencastle-Antrim.
The Blue Devils (4-6, 3-5 Colonial) took an early 7-0 lead and were driving to go ahead 14-0, but instead West Perry (8-2, 6-2) cashed in on a red zone interception to knot the game up at 7-7.
The contest remained tied until the third quarter, when WP used a touchdown and a field goal to build a 17-7 lead over the Blue Devils. Greencastle scored in the fourth quarter to cut the Mustangs’ lead to 17-13, before West Perry put the game away down the stretch.
The Blue Devils conclude their season at No. 13 in the District 3-4A power rankings, three spots removed from the 10-team postseason.
Hershey 29, Waynesboro 16
Hershey rode the arm and legs of QB Cam Sweeney to victory over Waynesboro in Friday’s Keystone Division contest.
Sweeney accounted for 47 rushing yards and a pair of TDs, while also throwing for another 117 yards and a score. The Trojans (7-3, 6-3 Keystone) kept Waynesboro at bay with interceptions from Sweeney and Bryan Maduena.
Waynesboro’s season comes to an end at 2-8 (1-8).
Boonsboro 35, North Hagerstown 26
North Hagerstown went punch-for-punch with Washington County rival on Friday, but the Hubs eventually fell for their second-straight loss.
Boonsboro (5-3) drew first blood in the opening quarter with a 68-yard scoring run from Jadon King. North Hagerstown (5-3) punched back with a 49-yard TD strike from Colt Butts to Michael Stewart, with a conversion run from Ty Fauntleroy putting the Hubs ahead by an 8-7 score.
It would be the last lead of the night for North Hagerstown.
Boonsboro pulled ahead on a 14-yard TD scamper from Parker DeBaugh before taking a 21-8 lead into halftime following a 15-yard scoring pass from Blake Main to Jayden Paugh.
North Hagerstown didn’t give up and pulled to within one score of the Warriors, 21-14, following a 17-yard TD run from Tai Gilliam. Boonsboro punched back with another TD pass from Main to Paugh, but the Hubs struck back with Butts’ second scoring pass — a 20-yard dart to James Jackson — to stay within reach of Boonsboro, 28-20.
Unfortunately for North Hagerstown, the Warriors once again had an answer, expanding their lead to 35-20 with a 69-yard TD run from DeBaugh. The final TD of the game was scored by Fauntleroy, who plunged into the end zone from one yard out late in the fourth quarter.
Butts had a solid game for North Hagerstown, completing 10 of 13 passes for 220 yards and two TDs. Jackson hauled in three of those passes for 66 yards, while the Hubs’ defense got a monster effort from Bryant Noubissie, who exploded for six tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble.
North Hagerstown is back on the field on Friday with a home game against South Hagerstown (2-6), a squad coming off an 18-13 loss to Liberty.
Liberty 18, South Hagerstown 13
South Hagerstown put forth a competitive effort, but ultimately fell short against Liberty.
The Rebels (2-6) first got on the board with a 30-yard TD strike from Lucas Semler to Grant Beall. South Hagerstown scored a second TD late in the game, when John Dahler forced a fumble, which was returned 40 yards for a score by Tavon Harris.
The Lions (5-3) fumbled the ball once again, giving South Hagerstown a chance to secure a go-ahead TD. The Rebels drove into the red zone, but turned the ball over on downs.
South Hagerstown returns to action on Friday, when travels to take on North Hagerstown (5-3), a team coming off a 35-26 loss to Boonsboro.
Fort Hill 56, Smithsburg 6
Smithsburg scored the game’s first TD on a 29-yard pass from Luke Scott to Dakota Sowers, but it was all Fort Hill after that.
The Sentinels improved to 5-3, while the Leopards fell to 4-4.
Smithsburg will be looking to bounce back on Saturday, when it hits the road to take on Boonsboro (5-3), a team coming off a 35-26 (OT) win over North Hagerstown.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STANDINGS
Mid-Penn Commonwealth (final): 1. Harrisburg (10-0 overall, 9-0 division), 2. State College (8-2, 7-2), 2. Bishop McDevitt (8-2, 7-2), 4. Cedar Cliff (5-5, 5-4), 4. Cumberland Valley (5-5, 5-4), 6. Central Dauphin (4-6, 4-5), 7. Chambersburg (4-6 overall, 3-6 division), 7. Altoona (3-7, 3-6), 9. CD East (2-8, 1-8), 10. Carlisle (0-10, 0-9).
Mid-Penn Keystone (final): 1. Mechanicsburg (9-1 overall, 8-1 division), 2. Shippensburg (7-3 overall, 7-2 division), 2. Lower Dauphin (7-3, 7-2), 4. Red Land (7-3, 6-3), 4. Hershey (7-3, 6-3), 6. Mifflin County (6-4, 5-4), 7. Gettysburg (2-8, 2-7), 7. Palmyra (3-7, 2-7), 9. Waynesboro (2-8, 1-8), 9. Northern York (1-9, 1-8).
Mid-Penn Capital (final): 1. Line Mountain (10-0 overall, 8-0 division), 2. Steel High (7-2, 7-1), 3. Halifax (7-3, 6-2), 4. Juniata (6-4, 5-3), 5. Upper Dauphin (4-6, 4-4), 6. Newport (4-6, 3-5), 7. James Buchanan (3-7, 2-6), 8. Susquenita (1-9, 1-7), 9. Camp Hill (0-10, 0-8).
Mid-Penn Colonial (final): 1. Susquehanna Township (10-0 overall, 8-0 division), 2. Trinity (7-3, 6-2), 2. West Perry (8-2, 6-2), 4. East Pennsboro (5-5, 4-4), 4. Middletown (5-5, 4-4), 4. Big Spring (6-4, 4-4), 7. Greencastle-Antrim (4-6, 3-5), 8. Milton Hershey (2-8, 1-7), 9. Boiling Springs (1-9, 0-8).
Washington County: 1. Saint James (6-2), 2. Boonsboro (5-3), 2. Williamsport (5-3), 2. North Hagerstown (5-3), 5. Smithsburg (4-4), 6. South Hagerstown (2-6), 6. Clear Spring (2-6), 8. Hancock (0-6).
Scores
Friday, Oct. 24
Central Dauphin 28, Chambersburg 20
West Perry 31, Greencastle-Antrim 13
Hershey 29, Waynesboro 16
Boonsboro 35, North Hagerstown 26
Liberty 18, South Hagerstown 13
Fort Hill 56, Smithsburg 6
