District 4 Mid-Season Review 2024
Tagged under: District 4, News, pfn
Davin Ridall | September 26, 2024
Five weeks of the 2024 high school football season have come and gone, and the season certainly hasn’t disappointed so far. Some preseason questions have been answered, and some haven’t. Some teams have met expectations, exceeded them, or fell short of them. The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference certainly has its fair share of storylines so far between the 19 teams. (to be continued)
Most Surprising Team
Shamokin Indians 5-0, 3-0 Conference
Games of the Week (Weeks 1-5)
Week 1: Jersey Shore (28) @ Dallas (21)
Week 2: Jersey Shore 14, Delaware Valley 10
Week 3: Athens (48) @ Canton (42)
Week 4: Southern Columbia (6) @ Mount Carmel (7)
Week 5: Selinsgrove (21) @ Williamsport (20)
Class 1A The Contenders:
Muncy Indians 4-1
Current Record 4-1
Head Coach: Sean Tetreault
Always a contender, the Indians have a tough run game and a favorable schedule to finish atop the D4 standings. Their one blemish came to 4-1 Warrior Run.
Remaining Schedule:
Montgomery (3-2)
North Penn-Mansfield (2-3)
South Williamsport (2-3)
Athens (2-3)
Hughesville (3-2)
Line Mountain Eagles
Current Record:4-1
Head Coach: Brandon Carson
The Eagles play in the Mid-Penn Conference – Capital division. Their schedule is loaded with contenders and they have a tough test this week with Steel High. Their remaining schedule could see another loss but look for them to finish at the top of the class.
Remaining schedule:
Steelton-Highspire (3-2)
Middletown (3-2)
James Buchanan (4-1)
Camp Hill (3-2)
Susquenita (1-4)
Spoiler Alert:
Canton Warriors
Current Record: 3-2
Head Coach: Tyler Sechrist
They’ve had a great run the past few years but this appears to be a rebuild year for Canton. Losses to Athens and Montgomery along with a close win to NP Mansfield have the Warriors mid pack right now. Key games with Towanda, Wyalusing and Troy remain.
Remaining schedule:
Towanda (3-2)
Wyalusing (3-2)
Wellsboro (1-4)
Sayre (0-5)
Troy (5-0)
Montgomery Red Raiders
Current Record: 3-2
Head Coach: Cory Tice
No matter what happens the rest of the year, the Red Raiders can already claim a successful season. They’re coming off their biggest win in years, a 19-16 win over Canton. They’ve got a tough task this week hosting Muncy but the rest of their schedule could see 4 more wins. Can they pull the upset this week and mess up the top and even enter the top? We’ll have to wait until around 10pm Friday to see.
Remaining Schedule:
Muncy (4-1)
Northwest (1-4)
Holy Redeemer (0-5)
South Williamsport (2-3)
Cowanesque Valley (1-4)
The Rest:
Northwest Area 1-4
Bucktail 0-4
Sayre 0-5
Class 2A: The Contenders
Troy Trojans
Current Record 5-0
Head Coach Jim Smith
Woah! The Trojans are for real and looking like a state playoff contender. This team is firing on all cylinders and has incredible team speed. They went to Delaware in week two and brought a big win back to the PA North Wilds over a much larger Dover team. They’re averaging 49.2 points per contest and they have a favorable remaining schedule. Anything but a top seed would be a surprise here.
Remaining Schedule:
Wyalusing (3-2)
Wellsboro (1-4)
North Penn-Mansfield (2-3)
Central Mountain (0-5)
vs. Canton (3-2)
Warrior Run Defenders (2A)
Current Record: 4-1
Head Coach: Derrick Zechman
The Defenders have a balanced attack that has seen both success and not so much success this year. They got their biggest wins against Muncy and a scrappy Montgomery team but were shut out when they faced a larger Lewisburg squad. Ultimately that game shouldn’t affect the end of year standings for the Defenders, but there are a few games that could trip up Derrick Zechman’s Warriors.
Remaining Schedule:
North Penn-Mansfield (2-3)
Loyalsock (4-1)
Hughesville (3-2)
Central Columbia (1-4)
Milton (2-3)
Southern Columbia Tigers (2A)
Current Record: 3-2
Head Coach: Jim Roth
Coming off another historic season in 2023, finishing 15-1 and winning their seventh consecutive state title, this season has seemed different for the Tigers. With their worst start to a season since 2022 where they also began 3-2, this young Tigers squad has faced its fair share of adversity this season. Southern Columbia’s two losses weren’t necessarily unexpected, as they were two road games against Wyomissing and Mount Carmel, both currently with 4-1 records. Head coach Jim Roth recorded his 500th win in the second game of the year, however he’s not satisfied with where his team currently sits, and their biggest test of the year might be upon them this week as they will face 5-0 Danville on the road.
Remaining Schedule
Danville (5-0)
Mifflinburg (0-5)
Montoursville (3-2)
Bloomsburg (1-4)
Shikellamy (0-5)
Loyalsock Lancers (2A)
Current Record: 4-1
Head Coach: Justin Van Fleet
The Lancers are also somewhat of a surprise at 4-1. Coach Van Fleet lost a lot of skill and points from a team that broke records for Loyalsock but a veteran line has paved the way for a successful run game. However, their remaining schedule is loaded with contenders. The Lancers will need to step up their game if they want to continue being a contender as well.
Remaining Schedule:
Lewisburg (5-0)
Warrior Run (4-1)
Danville (5-0)
Shamokin (5-0)
Montoursville (3-2)
Spoiler Alert:
Hughesville Spartans (2A)
Current Record: 3-2
Head Coach: Howard Rainey
They’re not out of contention but this years Spartan team isn’t as strong as some of the teams they’ll face. They do have a potent passing attack with Blake Davis. He’s surpassed 1000 yards in the air so far, but their run game hasn’t been as productive as could be. Their losses came to Sock and 3A Lewisburg. Being a contender at the end of the season isn’t out of the question but they’ll need to beat a few other contenders to be there at the end.
Remaining Schedule:
Mount Carmel (4-1)
Bloomsburg (1-4)
Warrior Run (4-1)
Wyalusing (3-2)
Muncy (4-1)
Towanda Black Knights
Current Record: 3-2
Head Coach Jamie Wecker
Can this Black Knights team be a contender? Hmmm…Not sure yet. Their three wins came against teams with a combined 4-11 record and in their two losses they gave up 98 points against 5-0 and 3-2 teams. Ya gotta beat the winners if you’re going to be a contender. Should they come out on top of Canton this weekend they’ll have proven to be a spoiler for sure.
Remaining Schedule:
Canton (3-2)
Athens (2-3)
Sayre (0-5)
Tunkhannock (1-4)
Wyalusing (3-2)
The Rest:
North Penn-Mansfield 2-3
Bloomsburg 1-4
Wellsboro 1-4
Cowanesque Valley 1-4
Class 3A The Contenders:
Danville Ironmen (3A)
Current Record: 5-0
Head Coach: Carl Majer
Head Coach Carl Majer said the team goal coming into the year was to win every game they played in, and so far for the Ironmen that has been the case. Danville cruised through their first five games of the season, behind stellar play by senior quarterback Madden Patrick and senior running back Bo Sheptock. The Ironmen hope to close the year out strong and possibly make this the year that Danville finally brings home a state title.
Remaining Schedule
Southern Columbia (3-2)
Mount Carmel (4-1)
Loyalsock (4-1)
Shikellamy (0-5)
Selinsgrove (3-2)
Lewisburg 3A
Current Record: 5-0
Head Coach: Eric Wicks
Coach Wicks has this team right where he expected them to be. This is a talented team with a running attack that comes right at you. Jeremiah Davis has the speed to break away at any time. Their passing game features two big wideouts that have the ability to go the distance at any time as evidenced by their long td catch and runs at Warrior Run last weekend. Defensively they’re a bend but don’t break team so far, but against Warrior Run they were a shut down defense until late in the fourth quarter.
Remaining Schedule:
Loyalsock (4-1)
Midd-West (0-5)
Shamokin (5-0)
Montoursville (3-2)
Mifflinburg (0-5)
Mount Carmel Red Tornadoes (3A)
Current Record: 4-1
Head Coach: John Darrah
Mount Carmel surpassed the 900 win mark this season, and head coach John Darrah is hoping for this squad to achieve even more by the end of this season. The Red Tornadoes have rallied four straight hard earned wins after opening the season with a tough loss to North Schuylkill. Behind stellar play from junior quarterback Gavin Marshalek, Mount Carmel is hoping to do something that they haven’t done since Mike Brennan was the head coach, and thats winning a state title.
Remaining Schedule
Hughesville (3-2)
Danville (5-0)
Central Mountain (0-5)
Milton (2-3)
Shamokin (5-0)
Spoiler Alert:
Montoursville
Current Record: 3-2
Head Coach: Joe Hanna
The Warriors are a mystery so far, but have some talent to make them enough of a danger to slip a win on one of the contenders. Their schedule is tough and doesn’t play to their favor. At this point they have four teams that have 1 loss or less. Add in Southern and 60% of their schedule is loaded with contenders.
Remaining Schedule
Central Columbia (1-4)
Central Mountain (0-5)
Southern Columbia (3-2)
Lewisburg (5-0)
Loyalsock (4-1)
The Rest:
Milton 2-3
Central Columbia 1-4
Mifflinburg 0-5
Midd-West 0-5
Class 4A The Contenders:
Shamokin Indians (4A)
Current Record: 5-0
Head Coach: Marc Persing
Shamokin came into 2024 looking to improve on their 5-6 record from 2023, and through the first five weeks, they’ve already matched their win total from last season, steamrolling their way to a 5-0 record. The schedule does get significantly tougher the rest of the way, however, the Indians look to finish the year strong and possibly make a deep playoff run.
Remaining Schedule:
Selinsgrove (3-2)
Williamsport (4-1)
Lewisburg (5-0)
Loyalsock (4-1)
Mount Carmel (4-1)
Jersey Shore Bulldogs (4A)
Current Record: 4-1
Head Coach: Tom Gavish
Jersey Shore had an unfortunate end to their 2023 season, however this season, head coach Tom Gavish hoped the team would return even stronger. The Bulldogs aren’t winning as dominantly as they were last season, however they are still on pace to keep their amazing run alive, winning four of their first five games. Their lone loss? Shamokin.
Remaining Schedule:
Williamsport (4-1)
Hollidaysburg (5-0)
Penn Wood (1-4)
Scranton Prep (4-1)
Central Mountain (5-0)
Spoiler alert:
Selinsgrove Seals (4A)
Current Record: 3-2
Head Coach: Matt Wenrich
Selinsgrove lost a lot of their production from last season, however they are still a competitive squad. The Seals have started off the season 3-2, their two losses being on the road against 5-0 Twin Valley and 4-1 Jersey Shore, as well as picking up a tight win on the road against 4-1 Williamsport. The schedule doesn’t get much easier the rest of the way as they’ll face three currently unbeaten teams in their final five games.
Remaining Schedule:
Shamokin (5-0)
Shikellamy (0-5)
Hollidaysburg (5-0)
Berwick (1-4)
Danville (5-0)
Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech
Current Record 4-1
Head Coach Mark Varner
Are we really doing this? Will the Rams finish 9-1? It certainly looks like they can. Now, we aren’t going to sit here and say they have a schedule to prepare them for the top teams in 4A, BUT, for any tech school to finish 9-1 is a great accomplishment! Braxtyn Brown has run for 1,300 yards. He leads the state as far as maxpreps records show and has a chance to stay there through the end of the regular season. As for being a spoiler, they have an independent schedule remaining with teams that have a combined 4-20 record.
Remaining Schedule:
Jenkintown (3-2)
Cowanesque Valley (1-4)
Hanover Area (0-5)
Holy Redeemer (0-5)
Bucktail (0-4)
The Rest:
Athens 2-3
Shikellamy 0-5
Class 6A (one team)
Williamsport Millionaires (6A)
Current Record: 4-1
Head Coach: Mike Pearson
Williamsport left the Wyoming Valley Conference for the PHAC this season, and Millionaires couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the season, wining four of their first five games of the year, their only loss being by one point to Selinsgrove. The Millionaires hope to improve on their 5-6 record from last season and to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season under head coach Mike Pearson. Williamsport will enter the D2/D4 playoffs in 6A.
Remaining Schedule:
Jersey Shore (4-1)
Shamokin (5-0)
Berwick (1-4)
Hollidaysburg (5-0)
Wilkes-Barre (2-3)
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