H.S. FOOTBALL: Chambersburg faces tough task against rugged Central Dauphin

Central Dauphin's football team had a huge win last Friday, a 20-19 defeat over defending District 3 champion Wilson, which had won 30 consecutive regular season games.

Chambersburg had no such positive experience last week, instead taking a 38-0 beating from Lower Dauphin.

So when the Trojans play the Rams at Trojan Stadium tonight at 7:00 in the teams' first Mid Penn Commonwealth Division game of the year, one team will be coming off a big high and the other coming off a big downer.

Chambersburg coach Mark Saunders hopes the mind set of both teams will be adjusted.

"It's human nature – maybe after a big win like that, they might let down a little," he said. "In our case, I want to see what happens early in the game. We have to meet the challenge early."

Such was not the case last week.

The Trojans (0-3) stopped LD in three plays, but then were penalized for encroachment, resulting in a Falcon first down, and they went on to score. On the next series, Lower Dauphin faced a fourth-and-21 from the Chambersburg 28, and somehow threw a pass into the end zone for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Saunders said, "We stop them, and then a kid steps offside. On that fourth down play we had a kid right there and all he had to do was knock it down – instead, they catch it. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot.

"We just haven't played very well yet. I keep waiting for them to get better, but we just haven't yet. But it's only Game 4 and we can't hang our heads."

Hanging your head is not a good strategy for facing the Rams (3-0), because they have a strong defense and a capable offense.

CD has already racked up 19 sacks, led by Micah Parsons' 4.5, and has picked off five passes. Cole Veliky (34), Mike Betz (28) and Reid Albright (26) are the leaders in tackles.

On offense, running back Raleigh Sirb is big and fast, and he's put up 397 yards on 52 carries and scored three times. Quarterback A.J. Millar has hit 19 of 34 throws (56%) for 268 yards and one score, and his top receiver is Logan Gabrielson (5 catches, 107 yards). The Rams like to spread the offense to a bunch of players.

"The thing is, they're physical," Saunders said of CD, "and that's what we've been preaching all week, that we have to match that type of play."

Saunders said that linebacker Josh Honorat has been playing well for the Trojans, and he now has 20 tackles.

Saunders said, "He attacks the ball and reads things well. He was a cornerback last year and now he's at strong side linebacker, which is not an easy switch to do, but he's done well at reading the blocking and fighting through it."

NOTES >> Two running backs are out for this week for Chambersburg – Warren Lee (29 carries, 105 yards) and Carter Edmondson, who had 50 yards vs. LD last week ... QB Kaden Hoover has completed 26 of 59 passes (44%) for 274 yards, 3 TDs and 2 interceptions ... Saunders said, "He's only had three games; he'll get better." ... The top receivers are Sam Blevins (6-86, 1 TD), Darius Johnson (6-42) and Clay Myers (5-90).