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.
#5 (5A) Twin Valley Knocks Off Solanco, 34-17, in Showdown of Unbeatens
Twin Valley made the most of key defensive opportunities and delivered two fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull away from Solanco, earning a 34-17 victory Friday night in a matchup between two unbeaten District-3 Class 5A teams entering the contest.
The Raiders traveled to Quarryville for the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section-3 showdown, with both teams carrying 6-0 records. Twin Valley improved to 7-0 with the win, while Solanco dropped to 6-1 after suffering its first loss of the season.
Solanco struck first when Wesley Bard scored on a rushing touchdown in the opening quarter. Tristan Brown added the extra point to give the Golden Mules a 7-0 lead.
Twin Valley answered with a touchdown run by senior running back Lucas Myers, tying the game at 7-7. The Raiders then took their first lead in the second quarter when senior defensive lineman Alain Bazile scooped up a fumble and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown, putting Twin Valley ahead 14-7.
Solanco responded with a field goal by Brown, trimming the deficit to 14-10. Twin Valley regained control before halftime, as Myers found the end zone for the second time. The touchdown extended the Raiders’ advantage to 21-10 at the break.
The Golden Mules refused to go away. Quarterback Chase Sensenig scored on a short rushing touchdown in the third quarter, and Brown’s extra point brought Solanco within four at 21-17.
Twin Valley answered in the fourth quarter. Myers recorded his third rushing touchdown of the night, pushing the Raiders’ lead to 27-17 after a failed two-point conversion.
The Raiders added the final points when junior running back Maverik Foster broke free for a touchdown run. The successful extra point made it 34-17, giving Twin Valley a 17-point cushion it would maintain through the final whistle.
Twin Valley finished with 281 yards of total offense, including 220 on the ground. The Raiders’ defense also delivered a game-changing play through Bazile’s 85-yard fumble return, while Jayce Oliver contributed an interception. Those defensive contributions helped Twin Valley overcome Solanco’s edge in total yardage.
Solanco compiled 362 total yards, with 257 rushing and 105 passing. Bard led the Golden Mules with 93 rushing yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 81 yards. Sensenig completed 3 of 10 passes for 105 yards and threw one interception, while adding a rushing touchdown. Jackson Eckardt recorded two interceptions for the Solanco defense.
Standouts of the Game
Twin Valley:
- Senior RB/LB Lucas Myers
- Junior RB/FS Maverik Foster
- Senior DE Alain Bazile
- Senior TE/LB Jayce Oliver
Solanco:
- Junior RB/FS Wesley Bard
- Senior QB Chase Sensenig
- Junior K/P Tristan Brown
- Junior DB Jackson Eckardt
Next Week: Twin Valley hosts Warwick, while Solanco travels to face Garden Spot.
West Allegheny Stuns Thomas Jefferson, 24-17, Behind Brodie Cornell’s Defensive Heroics
West Allegheny delivered one of the WPIAL’s biggest wins of Week 7, handing previously unbeaten Thomas Jefferson its first loss of the season with a 24-17 victory Friday night. The Indians made the most of their opportunities, highlighted by two interceptions from Brodie Cornell, including a touchdown return on the Jaguars’ opening possession.
The Allegheny Six Conference matchup featured two of the WPIAL’s most accomplished coaches, Thomas Jefferson’s Bill Cherpak and West Allegheny’s Bob Palko. The Jaguars entered the contest at 5-0, while the Indians were looking to build on a two-game winning streak. West Allegheny improved to 5-2 with the victory, while Thomas Jefferson fell to 5-1.
West Allegheny wasted little time making its presence felt. On Thomas Jefferson’s first offensive play, quarterback Harrison Kolling attempted a pass that was tipped and intercepted by Cornell. The senior defensive back returned the interception for a touchdown, giving the Indians a 7-0 lead.
Thomas Jefferson answered with a drive built around senior running back Tyler Eber. The Bucknell recruit carried the ball repeatedly before breaking through for a 16-yard touchdown run. The extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 1:56 remaining in the first quarter.
The Indians regained the lead in the second quarter after stopping Eber on a fourth-down attempt. West Allegheny capitalized when quarterback Mason Bryan connected with tight end Darcy St. Surin for a 20-yard touchdown pass, putting the Indians ahead 14-7.
West Allegheny added to its advantage just before halftime. After a short punt gave the Indians another opportunity, Bryan found St. Surin for a seven-yard completion to keep the drive alive. Senior kicker Caden Gnoth then converted a 40-yard field goal as time expired, sending West Allegheny into the locker room with a 17-7 lead.
Eber helped Thomas Jefferson close the gap early in the second half. He returned the kickoff 58 yards, setting up the Jaguars deep in West Allegheny territory. Eber finished the drive with a short touchdown run, and the extra point cut the deficit to 17-14.
The Indians responded with a drive of their own. Bryan again found St. Surin in the end zone on a short touchdown pass, extending West Allegheny’s lead to 24-14 with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter.
Thomas Jefferson continued to battle and added a 25-yard field goal by Josh Tarpey, bringing the Jaguars within seven points at 24-17. Thomas Jefferson needed a defensive stop to give its offense another chance to tie the game.
The Jaguars moved into scoring position on their final possession, reaching the West Allegheny 26-yard line with only seconds remaining. But Cornell came through again, intercepting Kolling’s pass in the end zone as time expired to secure the Indians’ victory.
Eber finished with 124 rushing yards on 28 carries and scored both of Thomas Jefferson’s touchdowns. His production kept the Jaguars in contention, but West Allegheny’s defensive takeaways proved decisive.
Bryan completed 9 of 11 passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns, both to St. Surin, who finished with three receptions for 31 yards. Bryan also added 56 rushing yards. Gnoth’s field goal before halftime provided a crucial scoring boost, while Cornell’s two interceptions helped determine the outcome.
Standouts of the Game
West Allegheny:
- Senior RB/FS Brodie Cornell
- Senior QB/FS Mason Bryan
- Junior TE/WR/LB Darcy St. Surin
- Senior K/P Caden Gnoth
Thomas Jefferson:
- Senior RB/LB Tyler Eber
- Senior QB/DB Harrison Kolling
- Junior K/P Josh Tarpey
Next Week: Thomas Jefferson hosts Bethel Park, while West Allegheny travels to face Peters Township.
#7 (6A) Downingtown East Dominates Downingtown West, 30-7, in Battle of the Brandywine
Downingtown East continued its unbeaten season Friday night, using a powerful rushing attack and a dominant defensive performance to defeat rival Downingtown West, 30-7, at Kottmeyer Stadium. Junior running back Juelz Chiron-Robinson rushed for 222 yards and three touchdowns as the Cougars improved to 6-0, while the Whippets fell to 5-2.
The victory provided East with some redemption in the 25th edition of the Battle of the Brandywine after three consecutive losses to its crosstown rival. The Cougars controlled the line of scrimmage, outgaining West 255-50 on the ground and limiting the Whippets to just 24 total yards after halftime.
East took control in the second quarter, scoring touchdowns on all three of its possessions during the period. Chiron-Robinson supplied the first two scores on short touchdown runs, finishing the first half with 142 rushing yards. His performance helped the Cougars establish control against a West defense that struggled to slow the ground game.
The Whippets answered late in the first half when Max Wolfington scored their only touchdown of the night. However, East responded with a pivotal sequence before halftime. Chiron-Robinson broke loose for a 67-yard run before being brought down by a horse-collar tackle. The penalty gave the Cougars an untimed down, and quarterback Ethan Ellis capitalized with a three-yard touchdown run to send East into halftime with a 21-7 advantage.
Downingtown East’s defense continued to dictate the game after the break. In the third quarter, Madden Miller delivered a punt that pinned West at its own six-yard line. Abraham Sesay then tackled Caiden Gray in the end zone for a safety, extending the Cougars’ lead to 23-7 and making the Whippets’ comeback attempt even more difficult.
Chiron-Robinson also contributed in the passing game, catching three passes for 35 yards. Ellis completed the night with 99 passing yards, helping the Cougars maintain a balanced offensive attack.
The Cougars’ defensive effort proved just as important as their offensive production. East held West to 50 rushing yards for the game, and the Whippets managed only 16 offensive plays and 24 total yards in the second half. Sesay’s safety highlighted a defensive performance that kept West from generating any second-half momentum.
The 30-7 victory improved Downingtown East to 6-0 and strengthened its position among District-1’s top Class 6A teams. Downingtown West dropped to 5-2 after being held to one touchdown.
Standouts of the Game
Downingtown East:
- Junior RB Juelz Chiron-Robinson
- Senior QB Ethan Ellis
- Senior DE/TE Abraham Sesay
- Junior WR/FS/P Madden Miller
Downingtown West:
- Senior LB/FB Max Wolfington
Next Week: Downingtown East hosts Avon Grove, while Downingtown West travels to face Unionville.
Quick Hitters Rundown
Big School Games:
Manheim Township Handles Penn Manor, 35-12
Manheim Township picked up a 35-12 victory over Penn Manor behind a balanced offensive performance. Riley Whalen rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Dayne Byler completed 12 of 16 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns. The Blue Streaks used their offensive production to pull away and secure the win.
Strath Haven Edges # 10 (5A) Garnet Valley, 13-7
Strath Haven earned a hard-fought 13-7 victory over No. 10 (5A) Garnet Valley in a defensive battle. Yousif Ali opened the scoring for Strath Haven on a 12-yard run before Garnet Valley quarterback Coltan Turner answered with a 37-yard touchdown run to tie the game at halftime. Landon Barlow provided the decisive score with a 38-yard third-quarter touchdown run and finished with 129 rushing yards on 22 carries. Kevin Clancy and the Panthers came away with the win over Eric Van Wyk and the Jaguars.
Upper Perkiomen Upsets #10 (4A) Pottsgrove, 14-6
Upper Perkiomen secured a 14-6 win over No. 10 (4A) Pottsgrove with two touchdown connections from quarterback Grayson Sabo. Sabo found Zach Adam for a 12-yard score before connecting with Nate Schramm on a 43-yard touchdown pass. Pottsgrove’s lone touchdown came on a 7-yard pass from Ryan Lucci to Chase Drost, but the extra point was blocked. Dan Heinrichs and Upper Perkiomen held on to finish the victory over Bill Hawthorne and Pottsgrove.
#3 (5A) Springfield-Delco Shuts Out Ridley, 20-0
No. 3 (5A) Springfield-Delco turned in a dominant defensive performance in a 20-0 shutout of Ridley. TJ Valletti opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown, and John Hopkins connected with Shane Kilroy on an 8-yard scoring pass. Jackson Sheffield added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Springfield-Delco defense limited Ridley to 89 yards of total offense and just four first downs. Chris Britton and the Cougars controlled the game from start to finish.
#10 (6A) Pennridge Tops North Penn, 20-8
No. 10 (6A) Pennridge earned a 20-8 victory over North Penn, highlighted by a defensive touchdown and a productive rushing performance. Mar’Quan Walker returned an interception for a touchdown, while quarterback Aiden Tetkowski threw touchdown passes to Nate Derstine and Brody Blomgren. Trevor Picciotti powered the ground game with 149 yards on 23 carries. The win also marked Pennridge’s first victory at Crawford Stadium since 2001. Kyle Beller and the Rams came away with the win over Dick Beck and North Penn.
#4 (6A) St. Joseph’s Prep Defeats La Salle College, 13-3
No. 4 (6A) St. Joseph’s Prep defeated La Salle College, 13-3, in Saturday’s matchup at Fisher Stadium at Lafayette College. Colin Stoner connected on field goals from 24 and 34 yards, while Ameen Williams scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. The Prep defense held La Salle to a field goal to secure the victory. Tim Roken and the Hawks came out on top against Brett Gordon and the Explorers.
#1 (4A) Shamokin Rolls Past Williamsport, 48-13
No. 1 (4A) Shamokin remained unbeaten with a 48-13 victory over Williamsport, improving to 7-0 and clinching its third consecutive PHAC Division-I title. Brayden Cavanaugh returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown and recorded a second interception. Williamsport quarterback Zion Hughes added a rushing touchdown, while Shamokin’s Logan Steele connected with Ryan Bickert on a 27-yard scoring pass. Marc Persing and the Indians continued their dominant season with another convincing win.
North Hills Blanks Armstrong, 14-0
North Hills shut out Armstrong, 14-0, behind a strong defensive effort and two rushing touchdowns from Nicco Thomas. Thomas finished with 132 yards on 14 carries, helping North Hills produce the points it needed while keeping Armstrong off the scoreboard. The shutout performance gave North Hills a key victory over Armstrong.
#7 (4A) Montour Rallies Past New Castle, 26-21
No. 7 (4A) Montour erased a 21-7 deficit to defeat New Castle, 26-21, scoring three unanswered touchdowns to complete the comeback. Quarterback Dalton Young connected with Amari Marshall on a 15-yard touchdown late in the third quarter for the go-ahead score. Montour’s defense also came up big with four interceptions, including two by Archie Collins. Lou Cerro and the Spartans improved to 5-2 with the comeback win.
#9 (4A) General McLane Outlasts Cathedral Prep, 40-27
No. 9 (4A) General McLane continued its unbeaten season with a 40-27 victory over Cathedral Prep. The Lancers improved to 7-0, while Cathedral Prep fell to 5-2 after suffering its second straight loss. Marshall McCormick and the Lancers’ offense produced 40 points to maintain their perfect record heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Big School/Small School Crossover:
#4 (3A) Scranton Prep Survives #4 (4A) North Pocono in Triple Overtime, 37-36
No. 4 (3A) Scranton Prep outlasted No. 4 (4A) North Pocono, 37-36, in a thrilling triple-overtime matchup. Owen Jeffers accounted for five touchdowns, throwing for 161 yards and two scores while adding 59 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. After Jeffers scored in the third overtime, Braedon McPartland converted the decisive two-point run to secure the victory. Terry Gallagher and Scranton Prep improved to 6-1, matching North Pocono’s record after the hard-fought contest.
#1 (3A) Northwestern Lehigh Pulls Away From Lehighton, 35-17
No. 1 (3A) Northwestern Lehigh remained unbeaten with a 35-17 victory over Lehighton on the road. The Tigers led 14-3 at halftime and extended the advantage to 28-3 early in the fourth quarter before closing out the win. Josh Snyder and Northwestern Lehigh improved to 7-0, while Tom McCarroll and Lehighton fell to 5-2.
Small School Games:
#1 (1A) Bishop Guilfoyle Keeps Bellwood-Antis Scoreless, 10-0
No. 1 (1A) Bishop Guilfoyle earned a 10-0 shutout victory over Bellwood-Antis on Saturday. The Marauders scored a touchdown in the second quarter and added a field goal in the fourth to complete the shutout. Head coach Justin Wheeler and Bishop Guilfoyle’s defense kept Bellwood-Antis off the scoreboard in a physical contest.
#4 (1A) Steelton-Highspire Outduels #7 (1A) Line Mountain, 36-27
No. 4 (1A) Steelton-Highspire came away with a 36-27 victory over No. 7 (1A) Line Mountain in a matchup between ranked Class 1A teams. Jaishawn George scored twice, including the go-ahead touchdown on a 16-yard shovel pass from Jayce Jones with 5:31 remaining. Steelton-Highspire improved to 5-1, while Line Mountain fell to 6-1 after the competitive battle.
Jeannette Reaches Historic Milestone With 24-7 Win Over Greensburg Central Catholic
Jeannette celebrated its 800th all-time victory with a 24-7 win over Greensburg Central Catholic, becoming the sixth program in Pennsylvania history to reach the milestone. Junior quarterback Hunter Schaeffer helped spark the offense after an interception set up a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Schaeffer later connected with Jayce Powell on a 9-yard touchdown pass. Tommy Paulone Jr. and Jeannette improved to 6-1, while John Thompson and Greensburg Central Catholic dropped to 5-2.
Neshannock Controls Beaver Falls, 27-8
Neshannock defeated Beaver Falls, 27-8, using a strong defensive effort to secure the win. The Lancers forced four turnovers and kept Beaver Falls off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter. Head coach Michael Bongivengo and Neshannock improved to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the Midwestern Athletic Conference, while Beaver Falls fell to 4-2.
#5 (1A) Wilmington Hands #8 (2A) Greenville First Loss, 34-14
No. 5 (1A) Wilmington defeated No. 8 (2A) Greenville, 34-14, handing the Trojans their first loss of the season. Wilmington improved to 6-1, while Greenville dropped to 6-1 after opening the year unbeaten. Head coach Brandon Phillian and the Greyhounds secured an important win against a Greenville team that had entered the matchup undefeated.
#2 (3A) Notre Dame-Green Pond Dominates #10 (3A) Palmerton, 49-6
No. 2 (3A) Notre Dame-Green Pond remained undefeated with a 49-6 victory over No. 10 (3A) Palmerton. Both teams entered the matchup at 6-0, but Notre Dame-Green Pond seized control early and built a 35-0 halftime lead. Head coach Phil Stambaugh and the Crusaders improved to 7-0, while Palmerton fell to 6-1 after suffering its first loss of the season.
Karns City Piles Up 704 Yards, Overwhelms Ridgway-Johnsonburg, 78-26
Karns City put together an explosive offensive performance in a 78-26 victory over Ridgway-Johnsonburg, piling up 704 yards of total offense, including 517 rushing yards and 187 passing yards. Senior quarterback Cole Johnston rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries while throwing for 187 yards and two more scores. Owen Kaufman caught four passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Karns City improved to 6-1, while Ridgway-Johnsonburg fell to 5-2.
