Wyatt Hull (photo courtesy Pictures Plus)
For the second week in a row, the Chambersburg football team will face an opponent with a deceivingly poor record.
The Trojans were able to overcome 0-5 Cumberland Valley last week, 28-14, but it was anything but easy. This Friday, Chambersburg travels to Landis Field to take on the 2-4 Central Dauphin East Panthers, and, again, it won’t be easy to come home with a victory.
“We’ve tried to emphasize this week again that we can’t look past any of these teams because of their record,” Trojan coach Mark Luther said. “East has played some really good teams and they’ve played well against them.”
CD East fell 39-15 to State College last week, and its other losses came at the hands of Harrisburg, Manheim Township and Archbishop Stepinac of White Plains, N.Y. The first three teams are a combined 16-2, while Stepanic is 1-3, but won a state championship a year ago.
Luther said, “Outside of Harrisburg (42-0), they’ve been in all their games. Last week at State College, they were down only by a touchdown at the half. They are scary — you can’t look at their record.”
The Panthers’ Shawn Brown is a dual-threat at quarterback, passing for 103 yards (13-for-24) and running for 186 (9.3 average). If he gets moved to the backfield, Jerimiah Green takes his place, and he’s hit 24 of 50 passes for 452 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions.
Bryce Baker is the top rusher (39 carries, 367 yards, 9.4 avg., 2 TDs), while Shawn Brown (11-213) and Stephon Brown (9-169, 2 TDs) are the top receivers.
On defense, linebacker James Banks leads with 48 tackles, and Stephon Brown has three of his team’s seven picks.
Luther said, “They have some quick, shifty and athletic kids. They’re not real big, but they have team speed. Shawn Brown has made some big runs in long-distance situations, and if they need to throw it, they’ll bring in Green.”
In the win over CV, Luther pointed out the fine play of three players who were under the radar a bit:
— Wyatt Hull: “He did a nice job up front on defense in the second half. He got penetration and controlled their center.”
Tyeshawn Worrell (photo courtesy Pictures Plus)
— Tyeshawn Worrell: “He’s playing well at safety. He’s being physical and he’s one of our better tacklers.”
— Levi Mixell: “He’s been great on special teams. He almost blocked a punt last week and he’s had really good coverage on kicks.”
The Trojans are trying to ride the wave of positive feelings their 5-1 season (2-1 MPC) has brought to the school and community.
“It was awesome last week when we came out of the locker room and saw that the stadium was packed,” Luther said. “From what I’ve heard, there is a different vibe at school with us winning.”
To keep that feeling going, Chambersburg will have to get over a tough hurdle at CD East.
Luther said, “It’s a game we can win, but we will have to play well. We can’t give up big plays and we have to keep making plays ourselves.”
NOTES: A big reason for Chambersburg’s success: a plus-10 turnover ratio, thanks to a plus-3 last week … Six players have interceptions (Kyere Morton and Andrew Shetter have 2 each) and six players have fumble recoveries (Tucker Perry has 4) … The Trojans are averaging 36.5 points per game and allowing 22.5.
TROJANS LEADERS: Passing — Brady Stumbaugh 44 of 92 (48%), 756 yards, 10 TDs, 7 int. … Rushing — Keyshawn Jones 106-974 (9.2 avg.), 10 TDs; Stumbaugh 66-233, 6 TDs … Receiving — Jones 10-122, 1 TD; Kevin Lee 6-222, 2 TDs; Garner Funk 5-62, 2 TDs … Kicking — Tyler Luther 21-23 PATs.