YAIAA Week 9 football preview: Hanover can clinch title
After turning heads all season long, the undefeated Hanover Nighthawks have a chance to lock up some hardware to commemorate their surprising and successful season.
Hanover (8-0, 5-0 YAIAA Division III), led by the YAIAA second-leading passer in senior Kyle Krout, has already won twice as many games this season as it did in the last four years combined. Now the Nighthawks have the opportunity to clinch the Division III title with a win at Biglerville (5-3, 4-1) — a team many saw as the division favorite coming into the season — on Friday.
A Hanover win would also put to rest some criticism about the Nighthawks schedule, which currently includes wins against eight teams whose combined record is 17-47. None of those teams have winning records, and 10 of their 17 wins came against each other.
While its an important game for the Nighthawks for multiple reasons, it's an equally important game for the Canners, who can move into a tie for first place in the division with a victory. Biglerville started 0-2 after two close losses and has rebounded with wins in five of its last six games.
Friday's games
Bermudian Springs (4-4, 4-1 YAIAA Division III) at Littlestown (1-7, 1-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: Bermudian Springs, 42-0
The skinny: The Eagles, who started 0-4, have a chance to go above .500 for the first time this season.
Eagles must: Protect the passer. Opening day starter Tristan Hoke is back at quarterback for the Eagles after Chase Dull went down last week against York Catholic. Hoke went 4-for-10 for 75 yards in that game to lead the Eagles to a come-from-behind win.
Thunderbolts must: Slow the running game. Bermudian Springs relies on the running games and uses multiple backs, and the Thunderbolts allowed 271 to a similarly-built Biglerville team last week.
York County Tech (2-6, 1-4 YAIAA Division III) at Delone Catholic (3-5, 2-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: Delone Catholic, 36-8
The skinny: The Squires look to get back to .500 in division play.
Spartans must: Be more consistent. The Spartans played undefeated Hanover evenly in the first half last week but were outscored 37-0 in the second half.
Squires must: Establish the running game. The Squires played their best game of the year last week as both Tavian Dorsey and Zach Hart ran for more than 150 yards.
York Suburban (6-2, 4-0 YAIAA Division II) at Gettysburg (1-7, 0-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: Gettysburg, 51-14
The skinny: The Trojans can clinch the Division II title with a win.
Trojans must: Keep airing it out. Trojans quarterback Thomas Merkle is approaching the county passing record, and the Trojans have won six straight games much to his credit.
Warriors must: Move the chains. The best way to keep the Trojans offense from doing damage is to keep it off the field. The Warriors mustered just seven first downs last week at Conrad Weiser, and need to do better than that.
Northeastern (7-1, 4-1 YAIAA Division I) at South Western (6-2, 4-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: South Western, 16-7
The skinny: Both teams need a win to stay in the hunt for a Division I title. Undefeated Dallastown leads both teams by one game.
Bobcats must: Hold onto the ball. The only negative in the Bobcats' 30-0 win at Spring Grove last week was that they fumbled three times. They managed to fall on all three, but can't expect to always get so lucky.
Mustangs must: Get the running game going. The Mustangs rely on several running backs out of necessity, and them to have a big day to open things up for the passing game.
William Penn (0-8, 0-5 YAIAA Division I) at New Oxford (1-7, 0-5)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: William Penn, 43-7
The skinny: The Colonials haven't won a game since Week 1 and the Bearcats haven't won all season. Something has to give.
Bearcats must: Slow the running game. The Bearcats gave up nearly five yards per rush last week, which made it difficult for the defense to get off the field.
Colonials must: Limit turnovers. The Colonials have struggled with fumbles in several games, and have turned the ball over 13 times this year.
Dallastown (8-0, 5-0 YAIAA Division I) at Central York (2-6, 1-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: Dallastown, 47-21
The skinny: Two division rivals heading in opposite directions square off at Central York.
Wildcats must: Keep the balance. After weeks of watching Cade Gold carry the offense, Dallastown got 432 total yards of offense and strong performances across the board on offense last week.
Panthers must: Get off to a fast start. Central has been dominated the last few weeks after digging themselves in deep holes early on.
Eastern York (3-5, 1-4 YAIAA Division II) at Pine Grove (1-7, 0-7 Tri-Valley)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: Eastern York, 21-14
The skinny: The Knights, who have lost five of six, take a respite from divisional play.
Golden Knights must: Win the close game. Three of Eastern's five losses have come by seven points or fewer.
Cardinals must: Get a win on the field. Pine Grove's only win was a game that Northern Lebanon had to retroactively forfeit.
Fairfield (1-7, 0-5 YAIAA Division III) at York Catholic (3-5, 3-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: York Catholic, 42-19
The skinny: The Irish try to keep pace in the district playoff race when they host Fairfield.
Green Knights must: Stop the run. Fairfield's run defense was non-existent against Delone Catholic, who ran for 452 yards, last week.
Irish must: Finish. York Catholic led 10-0 last week before surrendering 20 second-half points to Bermudian Springs.
Northern York (7-1, 5-0 Mid-Penn Colonial) at Lower Dauphin (7-1, 4-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: Lower Dauphin, 60-0
The skinny: Two cross-division Mid-Penn powerhouses square off in Hummelstown.
Polar Bears must: Remember last season's blowout loss. Use it as bulletin board material, then show Lower Dauphin that this is a much-improved Northern squad.
Falcons must: Slow down Northern's run game. Last week, Northern used three ball carriers, who each tallied at least 12 carries, to wear down the defense.
Red Land (3-5, 1-3 Mid-Penn Keystone) at Bishop McDevitt (7-1, 3-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: Bishop McDevitt, 53-31
The skinny: Can Red Land build on last week's blowout win and upset the Crusaders?
Patriots must: Have a strong first quarter. If the Patriots let Bishop McDevitt get off to a fast start, the game can get away from them in a hurry.
Crusaders must: Avoid the trap game. Don't get caught looking ahead to next week's showdown with Lower Dauphin.
Spring Grove (4-4, 3-2 YAIAA Division II) at Red Lion (5-3, 3-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: Red Lion, 41-28
The skinny: The Rockets travel to Horn Field, looking to bounce back after last week's shutout loss.
Rockets must: Get Red Lion's offense off the field. Last week, the Lions were 9-for-12 on third down.
Lions must: Follow in Northeastern's footsteps. Study whatever the Bobcats' defense did against Spring Grove last week because it worked. Northeastern held the Rockets to 89 total yards.
Susquehannock (3-5, 2-2 YAIAA Division II) at Kennard-Dale (3-5, 2-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: Susquehannock, 10-9
The skinny: Two squads that have already exceeded expectations battle in Fawn Grove.
Warriors must: Slow down Chase Carlile. The Rams' biggest weapon ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns against Eastern York last week.
Rams must: Limit turnovers. The Rams have had trouble holding onto the ball all season, including last week, when Kennard-Dale turned it over four times.
West York (3-5, 3-1 YAIAA Division II) at Dover (4-4, 3-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: West York, 51-0
The skinny: An undermanned Dover squad tries to avenge last year's blowout loss to their backyard rival.
Bulldogs must: Don't give up the big play. Dover threw it deep often last week, and scored on plays of 56 and 59 yards in the first quarter.
Eagles must: Air it out. The Eagles, who are traditionally a run-first team, threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns last week at York Suburban.