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High school football York-Adams Week 8 preview: York Suburban, Dover set for showdown


The York Suburban football fan base has been waiting 26 years for a division championship and for the first time in many years an end to that drought is within reach. But first, the Trojans will have to get past Dover.

With three weeks left in the regular season, York Suburban (5-2, 3-0 YAIAA Division II) is in a deadlock with Dover (4-3, 3-0) at the top of the division standings. Those two teams meet Friday night at Dick May Stadium, where the Trojans are undefeated this season.

With a win, the victor would control its own destiny for a division crown. The Trojans, who are coming off a comeback 23-22 win at West York, have the league's top passing attack, while the Eagles, who had won three in a row before falling to Reading last week, have cycled through three quarterbacks this season.

Beware of Dover's running attack and ball-hawking defense though, Trojans' head coach Andy Loucks warned. The Eagles are tied atop the league leader board with 18 forced turnovers and the backfield duo of Brett Mohn and Durran Ledbetter have combined for 919 yards and nine touchdowns.

Can the Trojans pick up their sixth-straight win and continue toward their first division title since 1989? Or will Dover take sole control of first place?

Friday's games

Northeastern (6-1, 3-1 YAIAA Division I) at Spring Grove (4-3, 3-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Northeastern, 27-10

The skinny: Both teams remain in the mix for the Division I title, trailing first-place Dallastown by one game.

Bobcats must: Pass the ball. The Bobcats struggled to score points in Weeks 5 and 6, then got off to a slow start against William Penn last week. Even in the win, they threw for just 14 yards.

Rockets must: Move the chains. Kicker Andrew Luckenbaugh can make the difference in a close game if the Rockets can consistently give him opportunities in Northeastern territory.

York Catholic (3-4, 3-1 YAIAA Division III) at Bermudian Springs (3-4, 3-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Bermudian Springs, 42-21

The skinny: Both teams are off to a good start in division play after going winless outside the division. Winner stays in the mix for the Division III title.

Irish must: Establish the running game. The Irish ran for more than 200 yards in a surprise win against Biglerville last week.

Eagles must: Finish drives. The biggest difference between the Eagles' overtime win last week and their close losses early in the season was their ability to finish second-half drives with touchdowns.

York County Tech (2-5, 1-3 YAIAA Division III) at Hanover (7-0, 4-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Hanover, 22-14

The skinny: Hanover looks to maintain sole possession of first place in Division III.

Spartans must: Rely on Damarius Wiggins to make plays. The quarterback ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 108 yards in a win against Fairfield last week.

Nighthawks must: Create running lanes. The Nighthawks ran for 323 yards last week, which allowed them to dominate time of possession.

Littlestown (1-6, 1-3 YAIAA Division III) at Biglerville (4-3, 3-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Biglerville, 28-14

The skinny: The Canners look to bounce back from a tough loss to York Catholic last week and stay in the hunt for first in Division III.

Thunderbolts must: Be more consistent. The Thunderbolts have hung with their opponents in the first half of most of the games, but they have let those games get away in the second half.

Canners must: Improve the run defense. The Canners allowed two players to rush for more than 80 yards in last week's loss.

Delone Catholic (2-5, 1-3 YAIAA Division III) at Fairfield (1-6, 0-4)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Delone Catholic, 17-14

The skinny: The Squires get a good opportunity to turn things around after an overtime loss.

Squires must: Play more consistent football. After struggling with slow starts all season, the Squires took a 14-0 last week but couldn't score again until overtime. They need to find a way to start and end games the same way.

Knights must: Capitalize on turnovers. The Knights recovered two fumbles in last week's loss to York Tech, but had little to show for it.

Gettysburg (1-6, 0-4 YAIAA Division II) at Conrad Weiser (5-2, 3-1 Berks Section I)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Gettysburg, 24-21

The skinny: The Warriors take a week off from conference play.

Warriors must: Finish games. The Warriors led, 14-0, going into the fourth quarter last week before losing, 21-14, in overtime.

Scouts must: Take advantage of special teams. The Scouts did this in a win against Pottsville last week, scoring on a kick-return just before halftime.

Central York (2-5, 1-3 YAIAA Division I) at Red Lion (4-3, 2-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Red Lion, 20-13

The skinny: The Lions, who put up 61 points last week, host an inconsistent Panthers squad.

Panthers must: Play with pride. The Panthers lost to a division rival, who soaked their coach in an ice bath on Central's field. Use that as motivation going forward.

Lions must: Throw to No. 15. Kendrick Boyd-Gillespie. He caught 10 passes for 202 yards and five scores last week, and the Panthers defense is among the worst in the league this season.

Eastern York (3-4, 1-3 YAIAA Division II) at Kennard-Dale (2-5, 1-3)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Eastern York, 49-0

The skinny: Can Kennard-Dale, who beat Gettysburg last week, start a winning streak?

Golden Knights must: Get back to the running attack. The Knights are dead last in passing but top five in rushing. Stick to what works well. Last week, three pass attempts were picked off.

Rams must: Hold on to the ball. The Rams, who have coughed up the ball 23 times in seven games, face a defense that is tied atop the league with 18 forced turnovers.

Mechanicsburg (0-7, 0-3 Mid-Penn Keystone) at Red Land (2-5, 0-3)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Red Land, 28-18

The skinny: Which team will walk away with its first divisional win of the season?

Wildcats must: Move the ball. The Wildcats managed just 74 yards of offense in last week's 51-0 loss to Lower Dauphin.

Patriots must: Stop the run. Red Land has given up a combined 510 yards rushing in the last two weeks.

New Oxford (1-6, 0-4 YAIAA Division I) at Dallastown (7-0, 4-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Dallastown, 34-7

The skinny: The Wildcats look to avoid a potential trap game.

Colonials must: Get the ball to Trevon Brown. The receiver is averaging 24.9 yards per catch but has been limited to 15 receptions in seven games.

Wildcats must: Find support for Cade Gold. The offense has looked unimpressive at times in recent weeks when their quarterback isn't scrambling for yards.

Northern York (6-1, 4-0 Mid-Penn Colonial) at Greencastle-Antrim (6-1, 2-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: Greencastle-Antrim, 27-9

The skinny: Northern goes for a sixth-straight win when they make the 55-mile trip to Greencastle.

Polar Bears must: Go for the knockout. Northern has allowed its last three opponents to hang around deep into the second half.

Blue Devils must: Find a weakness in Northern's defense. The Blue Devils have scored at least 30 points in five games.

South Western (5-2, 3-1 YAIAA Division I) at William Penn (0-7, 0-4)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: South Western, 41-29

The skinny: The Mustangs try to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss to Dallastown.

Mustangs must: Take control. The Bearcats have a tendency to dig themselves in a hole early. Take advantage of that.

Bearcats must: Have a quarterback step up. At arguably the most important position, the Bearcats have cycled through five different players.

West York (2-5, 2-1 YAIAA Division II) at Susquehannock (3-4, 2-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Last year: West York, 55-0

The skinny: Two teams looking to stay in the division race square off in Glen Rock.

Bulldogs must: Don't overlook the Warriors. Yes, the score was lopsided last year, and rival Dover awaits next week, but Susquehannock won't roll over.

Warriors must: Feed Jack Allred. The fullback bulldozed his way to 151 yards and three touchdowns last week.