SAFR Football Helmet Covers: Safer Through Science
 
PA Football News Scoreboard powered by Circle W Sports
 
Leading Edge Fundraising
 
2026 PIAA District and State Playoff Brackets
2026 PIAA District and State Playoff Brackets
 
 
 

Cumberland Valley Eagles Upset Penn Manor, 40-17 In First Round Of Class 6A Playoffs

 
Tagged under: District 3, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

| November 7, 2026

On Friday night, Penn Manor hosted its first playoff game in 12 years. The eighth-seeded Comets (6-4) faced off against the ninth-seeded Cumberland Valley Eagles (5-5) in a postseason first round rematch. However, Penn Manor failed to avenge their 12 year-old quarterfinal loss against the Eagles, losing 40-17 this time. Head Coach Josh Oswalt earned his third career playoff win under Cumberland Valley, seeking his fourth next week against the Central York Panthers. When asked about preparation for next week, he commented “…obviously, we’re battered and bruised 11 weeks in, but, I’m gonna make sure that our bodies are healthy to go perform the best  next Friday, and we gotta know the opponent better than we know ourselves.”

 

Winning the toss was Cumberland Valley, who elected to defer to start the game. Penn Manor’s senior halfback Randy Gutherie gained 12 total yards before the Comets were forced to punt on a 4th & 19 from the 47-yd line. Cumberland Valley started their possession on their own 13-yd line. Sophomore Rocco Bushman bursted down the field for a gain of 41 yards on the ground. Shortly after, they found themselves on a 3rd & 19 on the 37-yd line after a holding penalty. On a third and long, junior QB Colton Stamy connected with his fellow junior, Torin Lang for a 63-yard touchdown reception.


The Eagles jumped ahead 7–0, but Comets senior Dawson Warfel answered with a massive kick return to flip field position. Coming out of a timeout on 4th & 5 at the Eagle 29, Penn Manor went for it, but the drive ended when Cumberland Valley junior Cole Hockenberry intercepted senior QB Connor Smeigh. Hockenberry managed to return the interception into Comet territory on the 21-yd line.


Starting the second quarter, the Eagles were inside the 10, threatening the Penn Manor endzone. Soon enough, Stamy found his target of the night, Torin Lang for a 9-yd touchdown pass to extend their lead to 14-0. Their offense was firing on all cylinders, but Penn Manor would have to respond soon. The Comets could not respond on their following drive as they fumbled on the kickoff, leaving Cumberland Valley with great field position on their own 44 yard line. Penn Manor responded on the defensive end forcing a punt. However, their response was short lived after they lost the ball due to a “butt punt.”

 

Penn Manor continued to fight as their defense showed up once more, forcing a strip sack fumble recovered by sophomore Chris Carl. Junior Elijah Valentin and senior Randy Guthrie were the common targets this drive as the Comets worked their way down, inside the 10 with under a minute left in the first half. On a 4th & 3, the Eagles were guilty of holding a receiver for an automatic Penn Manor first down. The Comets had to settle for a field goal going into half-time but 14-3 was something to build on in the second half. With under 20 seconds left in the first half, Colton Stamy completed a sideline pass down to the 5-yard line with an opportunity to disregard Penn Manor’s points, however senior Joshua Weaver sacked Stamy on the final play of the half.

 

Out of the half, the Eagles soared offensively. Rocco Bushman carried the load and eventually extended their lead to 21-3 with 8:47 left in the 3rd.  Then, Penn Manor put together a solid drive that was then derailed by sacks. Smeigh completed a 26-yd pass on 3rd & 27, but they could not convert on 4th & 1. Rocco Bushman of the Eagles made the Comets pay with a 33-yd rushing touchdown. The score was now 27-3 after a missed PAT.

A few minutes later, the Eagles were punting after unfortunate, scoreless drives from both teams. The Comets had struck Earth with Elijah Valentin returning a punt for a touchdown with under 10 minutes remaining to make this one 27-9, due to a failed 2pt conversion. Senior Dom Lethbridge followed this score for the Eagles to make it 33-9 on a 1-yd rushing touchdown. Penn Manor was never out of it as they pulled some trickery with Elijah Valentin completed a pass for a touchdown to senior Tristan Ronan. 33-17 was the deficit for the Comets now.

 


That deficit would not be stationary for long as the Cumberland Valley Eagles scored once more in the air with Colton Stamy connecting with senior Josh Bruaw. A 23-point lead for the Eagles would allow them to comfortably win 40-17 and move onto Central York next week, while Penn Manor’s season is over. 

 

Following the commanding victory, Rocco Bushman of the Eagles credited the offense’s momentum to preparation and execution up front.“Just working at practice, working extra hard, and watching a ton of film with my linemen,” Bushman said on carrying the momentum into next week’s matchup against Central York. “Pretty much how we did tonight…just keep doing what we’re doing.”



2026 PIAA District and State Playoff Brackets
 
 
 
CWTAP TV
 
Showcase by Circle W Sports
 
CoachComm Cobalt Plus All-In-One
 
LSV Sports - Covering high school sports in the Lehigh and Susquehanna Valleys
 
 
 
x