The 2026 high school football action continued this past weekend with some great games across Pennsylvania! Here is Mr. PA Football’s recap of some of the top games.
#8 (3A) Mount Carmel Stuns #1 (2A) Southern Columbia, 27-26
Mount Carmel pulled off one of the biggest wins of the season Friday night, rallying in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 1 Southern Columbia, 27-26, in a thrilling matchup between two of District 4’s top programs.
The Red Tornadoes defeated the Tigers at the Silver Bowl in a Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference Division II matchup, improving to 6-0 on the season. Southern Columbia suffered its first loss and fell to 5-1, ending the Tigers’ 20-game winning streak.
Southern Columbia struck on its second offensive play when Ayden Hockenbroch found Grady Garcia for a 65-yard touchdown pass. Mount Carmel answered late in the first quarter when Jaylen Delaney broke free for a long touchdown run, tying the game at 7-7.
The Red Tornadoes moved in front in the second quarter when Mikey Higgins scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Delaney also intercepted a Hockenbroch pass, helping Mount Carmel take a 14-7 lead into halftime.
Southern Columbia tied the game early in the third quarter when Garcia scored on a 4-yard touchdown run. Mount Carmel answered immediately, with Delaney returning the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown to put the Red Tornadoes back in front, 21-14.
The Tigers continued to battle and pulled within one late in the third quarter when Hockenbroch converted a fourth-and-inches play with a 2-yard quarterback sneak. The extra point was blocked, leaving Mount Carmel with a 21-20 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Southern Columbia then took its first lead of the night with 4:36 remaining when Garcia scored on a 20-yard touchdown run. The Tigers attempted a two-point conversion, but the pass was incomplete, leaving Southern Columbia ahead 26-21.
Mount Carmel answered with a dramatic final drive. Facing fourth-and-11 from its own 29-yard line, Delaney escaped pressure and found Mikey Higgins for a 21-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Delaney connected with Aidan Brokenshire for a 46-yard completion, moving the Red Tornadoes to the Southern Columbia 2-yard line.
Delaney scored on the next play with 1:13 remaining, putting Mount Carmel back in front, 27-26. The Red Tornadoes’ two-point attempt was unsuccessful.
Southern Columbia had one final opportunity, moving the ball to the Mount Carmel 41-yard line. The Red Tornadoes’ defense held, however, as the Tigers’ fourth-down pass fell incomplete to preserve the one-point victory.
Mount Carmel finished with 254 yards of total offense, including 185 rushing yards and 69 passing yards. Delaney rushed 12 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns while completing 3 of 4 passes for 69 yards. Higgins rushed six times for 19 yards and a touchdown, while Cooper Karycki added 9 carries for 42 yards. Brokenshire caught one pass for 46 yards.
Southern Columbia finished with 385 yards of total offense, including 224 rushing yards and 161 passing yards. Garcia carried 24 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns while also catching a 65-yard touchdown pass. Hockenbroch completed 8 of 13 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown while rushing 11 times for 41 yards and another score. Blaise Kissinger caught four passes for 56 yards, while Jace Malakoski added three receptions for 40 yards.
Standouts of the Game:
Mount Carmel:
- Senior QB/ATH Jaylen Delaney
- Senior RB/CB Cooper Karycki
- Sophomore LB/RB Mikey Higgins
- Junior WR/LB Aidan Brokenshire
Southern Columbia:
- Junior RB/DB Grady Garcia
- Senior QB Ayden Hockenbroch
- Senior WR/DB Blaise Kissinger
- Senior TE/DE Jace Malakoski
Next Week: Mount Carmel travels to Montoursville, while Southern Columbia hosts Danville.
Fort Cherry Runs Away From #9 (1A) Burgettstown, 55-12
Fort Cherry delivered a dominant performance Friday night, pulling away from previously unbeaten Burgettstown for a 55-12 victory in a battle between two of the top teams in the WPIAL Class 1A Black Hills Conference.
The Rangers improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play, while Burgettstown suffered its first loss of the season and also fell to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Black Hills Conference. Fort Cherry scored 42 points in the first half and held the Blue Devils scoreless after halftime.
Eli Salvini got Fort Cherry on the scoreboard with a long touchdown run before adding a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Rangers a 14-0 advantage. Josh Silveira recovered a Burgettstown fumble, setting Fort Cherry up in Blue Devils territory. Ryan Huey converted the turnover into a 3-yard touchdown run, making it 21-0.
Burgettstown answered when Braeden Larue scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, but Fort Cherry continued to control the game on the ground. Huey added touchdown runs of 7 and 1 yards as the Rangers extended their lead to 35-6.
Burgettstown quarterback Blake Neal connected with Michael Carrozza for a touchdown late in the second quarter, but Fort Cherry answered before halftime. Freshman quarterback Colin Sieg found Landon Trnavsky for a 24-yard touchdown, giving the Rangers a 42-12 lead at the break.
Fort Cherry continued to add to its advantage in the third quarter when Salvini scored his third touchdown of the night, a 5-yard run that pushed the lead to 49-12.
The Rangers’ defense then came up with another big play when Trnavsky intercepted a tipped pass. Fort Cherry later added its final touchdown when Zemorian Evans broke loose for a long touchdown run, completing the 55-12 victory.
Fort Cherry was led by a dominant rushing attack. Salvini finished with 197 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries, while Huey added 131 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries. Evans also scored on the ground, while Sieg threw a touchdown pass to Trnavsky.
Burgettstown entered the game having allowed only 13 points through its first five games, but the Blue Devils were unable to slow Fort Cherry’s running game. Larue and Carrozza accounted for Burgettstown’s two touchdowns.
Standouts of the Game
Fort Cherry
- Senior RB/LB Eli Salvini
- Freshman QB/FS Colin Sieg
- Senior WR/CB Landon Trnavsky
- Senior RB/LB Ryan Huey
- Senior DE/TE Josh Silveira
Burgettstown
- Senior QB/CB Blake Neal
- Senior WR/CB Bryce Speer
- Junior RB/LB Brady Rightweiser
- Senior RB/LB Caleb Matalik
Next Week: Fort Cherry hosts Bentworth, while Burgettstown travels to Washington.
Exeter Township Rallies From 17 Down to Defeat Elizabethtown, 30-27
Exeter Township erased a 17-point second-half deficit Friday night, scoring 20 unanswered points to rally past Elizabethtown, 30-27, in a thrilling Lancaster-Lebanon League Section-2 matchup.
The Eagles improved to 5-1 with their fourth consecutive victory and remained unbeaten in Section-2 play at 3-0. Elizabethtown saw its four-game winning streak come to an end and fell to 4-2. Exeter trailed 27-10 midway through the third quarter before mounting its furious road comeback.
Exeter got on the scoreboard first when Aidan Gerhart connected with Nicky Pashley for a 7-yard touchdown in the opening quarter. Austin Williams added a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter, but Elizabethtown answered with 13 points before halftime to take a 13-10 lead into the break.
Prince Wratto led Elizabethtown’s first-half surge, scoring on an 8-yard run before catching a 42-yard touchdown pass from Kolton Eckinger. Wratto then returned the second-half kickoff 85 yards to set up Eckinger’s 3-yard touchdown run, and added a 34-yard rushing touchdown to help the Bears build a 27-10 lead.
The Eagles finally broke through when Gerhart found Braylon Reinert for a touchdown pass late in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 27-17.
Early in the fourth quarter, Gerhart delivered another big play, connecting with Cayden Reinert on a 70-yard touchdown pass. Williams converted the extra point, bringing Exeter within 27-24 with 3:26 remaining.
The Eagles completed the comeback with 52 seconds remaining. Joshua Jackson broke through for a 6-yard touchdown run, putting Exeter ahead 30-27. The extra-point attempt was blocked, leaving the Bears with one final opportunity.
Cayden Reinert came through with a 17-yard sack on fourth-and-nine, forcing a turnover on downs and sealing Exeter’s 30-27 victory.
Gerhart completed 24 of 39 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson added 90 rushing yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 17 yards. Wratto rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries while adding 55 receiving yards and another touchdown.
The comeback gave Exeter its fourth consecutive victory after a 1-1 start to the season, while Elizabethtown dropped to 4-2 after entering the game on a four-game winning streak.
Standouts of the Game
Exeter Township
- Senior RB/SS Joshua Jackson
- Junior QB/CB Aidan Gerhart
- Senior TE/LB Braylon Reinert
- Senior WR/S Nicky Pashley
- Sophomore TE/DE Cayden Reinert
Elizabethtown
- Junior RB Prince Wratto
- Junior QB Kolton Eckinger
- Senior WR/LB Gannon Shank
- Senior WR Matthew Beck
Next Week: Exeter Township travels to Lebanon, while Elizabethtown travels to Governor Mifflin.
Quick Hitters Rundown
Big School Games:
Penn Manor Rallies Past Hempfield, 28-23
Penn Manor erased a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Hempfield, 28-23, Friday night in a key Lancaster-Lebanon League Section-1 matchup. The Comets improved to 5-1, while Hempfield dropped to 3-3. Jalen Dupree scored three rushing touchdowns, including the game-winning 6-yard run with 18 seconds remaining.
#3 (6A) State College Cruises Past Cumberland Valley, 41-15
State College remained unbeaten Friday night, defeating Cumberland Valley, 41-15, to improve to 6-0. Rowan Walker led the way with 176 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Anderson “AJ” Fry added 152 total yards and a touchdown as the Little Lions continued their dominant start under head coach Matt Lintal. Cumberland Valley fell to 2-4.
Hanover Survives Littlestown in Overtime, 28-27
Hanover rallied from a 17-6 halftime deficit to stun Littlestown, 28-27, in overtime and remain unbeaten at 6-0. Jesus Chavez scored on a 1-yard run in overtime, and Boden Strausbaugh connected with AJ Wright on the game-winning two-point conversion. Littlestown fell to 4-2 and had its three-game winning streak snapped.
#9 (5A) Chester Defeats Interboro, 36-14
#9 Chester remained unbeaten Friday night with a 36-14 victory over Interboro, improving to 6-0 while handing the Buccaneers their first loss of the season. Freshman Sa’Mhad Williams scored two touchdowns as the Clippers extended their Del-Val League winning streak to 17 games. Interboro fell to 5-1.
Downingtown West Pulls Away From Coatesville, 41-19
Downingtown West opened Ches-Mont League American Division play with a 41-19 victory over Coatesville Friday night, extending its winning streak to five games. The Whippets improved to 5-1, while Coatesville fell to 3-3. Downingtown West travels to Downingtown East next Friday in a matchup of two of the Ches-Mont’s top teams.
Great Valley Steamrolls West Chester Henderson, 44-14
Great Valley remained perfect Friday night, rolling past West Chester Henderson, 44-14, to improve to 6-0. Beau Kosmalski continued his outstanding season, helping the Patriots pile up 375 rushing yards in the victory. Henderson fell to 4-2.
#7 (6A) Downingtown East Blanks Bishop Shanahan, 35-0
#7 Downingtown East remained unbeaten Friday night, shutting out Bishop Shanahan, 35-0, to improve to 5-0. The Cougars have now won three games by at least 28 points this season and will host Downingtown West next Friday. Bishop Shanahan fell to 4-2.
Norwin Holds Off North Hills, 24-17
Norwin handed previously unbeaten North Hills its first loss Friday night, holding on for a 24-17 victory in a nonconference matchup between ranked teams. Max Ritz threw a touchdown pass and scored the deciding touchdown on an 18-yard run, while Potter Brozeski scored twice, including a 61-yard screen reception from Ritz. North Hills reached the Norwin 4-yard line in the final seconds, but the Knights stopped the Indians on fourth-and-goal at the 2 to preserve the victory. Norwin improved to 4-2, while North Hills fell to 4-1.
West Allegheny Smacks Bethel Park, 33-13
West Allegheny opened Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference play in impressive fashion Friday night, smacking Bethel Park 33-13. Mason Bryan rushed for 141 yards on 15 carries and added 86 passing yards with a touchdown, while Brodie Cornell scored twice in the first half as Bob Palko’s Indians built a 27-0 halftime lead and improved to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
New Castle Defeats Blackhawk, 50-34
New Castle handed previously unbeaten Blackhawk its first loss of the season Friday night, beating the Cougars 50-34 in a Parkway Conference shootout. Jermaine Walker rushed for 207 yards and four touchdowns, while quarterback Marino Graham added 159 rushing yards and two scores as Trevor George’s Red Hurricanes piled up 460 yards on the ground.
#7 (5A) Upper St. Clair Hammers Peters Township, 44-0
#7 (5A) Upper St. Clair continued its perfect start Friday night, dominating Peters Township 44-0 in the Allegheny Six Conference opener. Josh Snyder threw for 252 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing score, while Jon Banbury and Luca Coury each scored twice on the ground as Mike Junko’s Panthers improved to 6-0.
Canon-McMillan Makes History, Downs North Allegheny, 23-13
Canon-McMillan earned its first victory over North Allegheny on the road Friday night, defeating the Tigers 23-13 in a Class 6A Quad County Conference matchup. Ty Jansma completed 15 of 26 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Roman Cimarolli and Brayden Collins for scores, while Rhys Maentz added three field goals and Bryce Collins rushed for 111 yards for Mike Evans’ Big Macs.
Armstrong Survives Plum, 38-35
Armstrong survived a furious Plum comeback Friday night, escaping with a 38-35 victory after Kayden Lewis returned a kickoff 90 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute. Jaydon Oliver accounted for four touchdowns, rushing for 145 yards and three scores while throwing for 102 yards and a touchdown as Frank Fabian’s River Hawks secured their fifth straight win.
McDowell Pummels Cathedral Prep, 37-13
McDowell rolled past Cathedral Prep 37-13 Friday night in a rivalry showdown at Veterans Stadium, scoring 30 consecutive points to take control. Deonte Flemings Jr. scored two touchdowns and Chase Carrick added two rushing scores for Aaron Slocum’s Trojans after Cathedral Prep grabbed an early lead on Eli Elwell’s 58-yard touchdown run, but McDowell capitalized after a Ramblers fumble on a free kick, with Evan Kuhn finding Flemings for a 23-yard touchdown just before halftime.
#9 (4A) General McLane Stays Unbeaten, Holds Off Harbor Creek, 27-19
#9 (4A) General McLane remained unbeaten Friday night, holding off Harbor Creek, 27-19, in a District 10 Region 5 battle. Charlie Bennett rushed for 164 yards and Josh Caro added 64 rushing yards as Marshall McCormick’s Lancers improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in Region-5, taking sole possession of first place. John Angerer’s Huskies dropped to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in region play.
Roman Catholic Edges #2 (4A) Bonner-Prendie, 14-6
Roman Catholic earned its third consecutive victory Friday night, edging #2 (4A) Bonner-Prendie 14-6 in a Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division defensive battle. The Cahillites improved to 3-2, while Jack Muldoon’s Friars dropped to 3-3 and Rick Prete’s Cahillites continued their recent surge.
#4 (6A) St. Joseph’s Prep Smacks #10 (4A) Cardinal O’Hara, 28-7
St. Joseph’s Prep opened Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division play with a 28-7 road victory over Cardinal O’Hara. Nickee Holden completed 11 of 21 passes for 111 yards and a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jett Harrison, while Tim Roken’s Hawks’ defense limited the Lions to one score and improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league play.
Big School/Small School Crossover:
Blue Mountain Crushes Panther Valley, 60-0
Blue Mountain exploded for 42 first-quarter points Friday night and rolled to a 60-0 victory over Panther Valley in a District-11 crossover matchup. Cohen Kirby threw two touchdown passes, including a 43-yard completion to Cole Luckenbill that became a fumble-recovery touchdown by Chase Guers, while Sonny Amato added a 4-yard touchdown run as Chuck Kutz’s Eagles improved to 5-1.
Small School Class 1A-3A:
Lakeland Downs Riverside, 33-20
Lakeland remained unbeaten Friday night, defeating previously undefeated Riverside, 33-20, in a battle of Lackawanna Football Conference Division II powers. The Chiefs overcame an injury to Jackson Pochas in the fourth quarter, with Chase Rosenkrans taking over at quarterback and throwing a late touchdown pass to Luke McFarland to seal the victory. Pochas completed all seven of his passes for 81 yards and a touchdown while adding 78 rushing yards and a score before leaving the game; Rosenkrans rushed for 57 yards, caught five passes for 40 yards and threw the clinching touchdown as Dave Piwowarczyk’s Chiefs improved to 6-0, while Riverside fell to 5-1.
Punxsutawney Survives Port Allegany, 29-28
Punxsutawney pulled out a thrilling 29-28 nonleague victory over Port Allegany on Friday night, surviving a late rally by the Gators. Max Presloid threw for 172 yards and three touchdowns and added 124 rushing yards, while Ian Leseman accounted for 152 total yards and two touchdowns. With 26 seconds left, Kellen Veilleux was stuffed just short of the goal line by a swarm of Chucks defenders on the game-deciding two-point conversion run, preserving the victory for Brandon Snyder’s Chucks, who improved to 4-2 while Port Allegany fell to 4-2.
Meyersdale Knocks Off Unbeaten Berlin Brothersvalley, 21-0
Meyersdale handed previously unbeaten Berlin Brothersvalley its first loss of the season, winning 21-0 in an Inter-County Conference matchup. Caleb Sines rushed for 182 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, while Spencer Whitfield added 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Ryan Donaldson’s Red Raiders. Meyersdale improved to 5-1, while Berlin Brothersvalley fell to 5-1.
Bellwood-Antis Rolls Past Philipsburg-Osceola, 33-0
Bellwood-Antis dominated Philipsburg-Osceola, 33-0, Friday night. Alex McCartney rushed for 103 yards and two offensive touchdowns on 17 carries and returned a fumble for another score as Nick Lovrich’s Blue Devils built a 20-0 first-quarter lead. Bellwood-Antis improved to 5-1, while Philipsburg-Osceola fell to 4-2.
Neshannock Trounces Freedom Area, 52-6
Neshannock continued its strong season with a 52-6 Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference victory at Freedom Area. Freshman quarterback Jarey Corey threw for 256 yards and five touchdowns, while Justin Edworthy II caught three passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. The Lancers improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play, while Freedom fell to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
