Skip to main content

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.