MCSHERRYSTOWN, Pa. — As we approach the season's midpoint, the division races in Central Pennsylvania's three athletic conferences are starting to heat up.
In the YAIAA, a pair of preseason title contenders in Division III meet this week as Bermudian Springs visits Delone Catholic in the FOX43 High School Football Frenzy Game of the Week.
Both teams are 3-1 overall and are two of four 1-0 teams in the division race. Both have won three straight games after opening the season with losses. And both are hoping to win at least a share of the Division III title, like they did last year.
Here's a look at Friday's matchup, which kicks off at 7 p.m. (Be sure to check out a preview of all the action on the FOX43 High School Football Frenzy at 6.)
ABOUT BERMUDIAN SPRINGS: The Eagles won their third straight game last week with a 42-13 victory over Fairfield in their first Division III matchup of the season. Since its 28-13 loss to New Oxford in Week 1, Bermudian Springs defeated York Suburban (42-14) and Susquehannock (21-14) prior to last week's triumph over the short-handed Knights, who had just 14 active players after forfeiting the week before.
Against Fairfield, the Eagles jumped to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and were leading 35-0 at the break. The remainder of the game was shortened by the Mercy Rule in the second half.
Jack Gautsch scored two touchdowns for Bermudian, while Colby Watkins took a punt return 68 yards to paydirt. Eddie Sebright, Nayel Lua, and Blain Cruz also found the end zone for the Eagles.
Sebright is the Eagles' top rusher this season, with 349 yards and six TDs on 60 carries. Lua (20-138, TD) and Gautsch (20-132, TD) are effective rushers for Bermudian as well. The Eagles average 184.7 yards per game on the ground.
Junior Lane Hubbard has completed 28 of 44 passes for 433 yards and seven touchdowns in his first four games.
Bermudian finished tied with Delone Catholic and Littlestown for first place in the Division III race last season. All three teams made brief appearances in the District 3 playoffs.
ABOUT DELONE CATHOLIC: The Squires won their third straight game with a 28-20 victory over Biglerville last week. After opening the season with a 26-10 loss to Susquehannock, Delone notched tight victories over Lancaster-Lebanon League foes Lancaster Catholic (34-21) and Northern Lebanon (22-21) before taking their Division III opener over the previously unbeaten Canners.
Against Biglerville, the Squires survived a late charge from the Canners after jumping out to a 28-7 lead at halftime. Biglerville cut Delone's lead to eight points with 2:08 left, but the Squires recovered the ensuing onside kick and were able to run out the clock.
Zach Staub completed 16 of 24 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns for the Squires. For the season, the senior signal-caller has completed 39 of 56 pass attempts for 351 yards and three TDs.
Senior Braden Smith leads Delone's ground attack with 389 yards and five TDs on 48 attempts. Chris Cole (16-171) and Logan Ford (16-116, two TDs) are the Squires' top receivers.
Delone has won at least a share of the Division III title in four of the last five seasons.