Alex Lapinsky (photo courtesy Pictures Plus)
Another game, another stout opponent.
Such is life in the Mid Penn Commonwealth.
Chambersburg welcomes Central Dauphin to Trojan Stadium on Friday night at 7 p.m. in its last regular season home game, and the Rams are, as usual, a quality football team.
While the Trojans are 6-2 (3-2 MPC), CD is 5-3 (3-2 MPC) and is ranked No. 4 in the District 3 Class 6A power rankings to Chambersburg’s No. 5. It will be a battle.
“They’re another very good team with a different style of play (than last week’s opponent, Harrisburg),” Trojan coach Mark Luther said. “CD is more old-school. They have decent size up front and their backs are stockier and they’ll try to run over you.”
Chambersburg has gotten into a trend of being stronger in the second half on defense.
Luther said, “The kids have responded in the second half. (The staff) makes some adjustments and I think the kids are believing in our system more, and they are making plays.
“There are always a lot of things you prepare for in a game, but obviously they’ll try to introduce something new. Like, CD will try to pound the ball at you and use that to set up some throws outside. We expect two tight ends and all the backs behind the quarterback. But who knows? They might try to spread it out. We just have to get a sense for what they’re doing.”
The Rams’ QB, Noah Hoffman, has connected on 73 of 112 passes (65%) for 941 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. His favorite receiver is Nick Chimienti, with 22 catches for 389 yards and three scores.
The top running back is Adam Burkhart (5-foot-11, 215), who has 670 yards and nine TDs on 109 carries, while Tyler Leisher has 47 carries for 324 yards and two scores.
“The only other time we faced a team with this (power) style was Cumberland Valley,” Luther said, “and it took us a little time until we adjusted. We have to expect that from the get-go.”
What Luther is hoping for is his team reducing the number of mistakes made this week. Harrisburg scored four touchdowns — one when the safeties got burned on a post pass, another long pass when a defender slipped and two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Luther said, “We hung in there last week, but we made mistakes that they capitalized on. If we had made tackles after those interceptions, they might not have scored.
“We’re still a team that’s learning and growing. In games like this we can’t make those kinds of mistakes and get away with them. The good teams will hurt you.”
Chambersburg’s running game was stifled by Harrisburg (20 yards total), and although the passing game put up 192 yards, finding a way to get Keyshawn Jones room to run on the Rams will be important.
HIGHLIGHTED: Alex Lapinsky, a 6-1, 175-pound junior, made his presence felt last week, subbing for Tucker Perry … He caught two passes for 41 yards, and helped out on defense at linebacker … Luther said, “He played well on defense and helped shut them down on the outside. He exceeded our expectations.”
NOTES: Central Dauphin has lost to three very good opponents — Manheim Twp., Harrisburg (20-5) and State College (35-28) last week … For the Rams, Cameron Sansoni has five sacks, and Malachi Bowman has picked off four passes.
TROJAN LEADERS: Passing — Brady Stumbaugh 61-for-123 (49%), 976 yards, 11 TDs, 10 int. … Rushing — Keyshawn Jones 149-1,288 (8.6 avg.), 12 TDs; Stumbaugh 88-289, 7 TDs … Receiving — Jones 11-134, 1 TD; Kevin Lee 8-242, 2 TDs; Garner Funk 8-131, 2 TDs … Kicking — Tyler Luther 24-28 PATs, 3-4 FGs.