PIAA-5A Semifinals: Upper Dublin set for showdown with Manheim Central
Upper Dublin will try to break through to the state final for the first time when the Cardinals take on Manheim Central Friday night in a PIAA-5A Semifinal contest at Wissahickon.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Upper Dublin is coming off a thrilling 35-28 win over Bayard Rustin, as the Cardinals captured their second district title in the program’s history (4A in 2015). Central routed Cocalico 48-14 last week in the District Three Final to reach the state semis for the second year in a row.
The Barons come into this one a perfect 13-0. Their last loss came in the final four a year ago, a 31-28 heartbreaker against Gateway.
Upper Dublin is 12-1, its only defeat this fall coming against Penn Charter.
Both quarterbacks are coming in hot.
Manheim Central’s Evan Simon shredded Cocalico for 373 yards last week, along with five touchdown passes. The Barons are trying to get to Hershey for the first time since 2009, when they fell to Selinsgrove in the 3A Final. Central’s only state title came in 2003 (3A).
Upper Dublin’s Mike Slivka again showed his versatility in the state quarters, throwing for 231 yards and a touchdown as well as running for 38 yards and a pair of scores.
The ground game was held in check but picked up crucial yards when it needed to: Lucas Roselli gained 51 yards and scored a touchdown on 12 carries, and Mason Novak had 48 yards and a score on 13 carries.
The Cardinals reached this point back in 2015, when they were 14-0 before falling to Parkland in the 4A State Semis.
The winner of this contest advances to the PIAA-5A State Final, to take on either Penn Hills or two-time defending champion Archbishop Wood.
PIAA-5A State Semifinal
(1-1) Upper Dublin vs. (3-1) Manheim Central
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon.
Records: Manheim Central is 13-0 overall and 5-0 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, Section 2. Upper Dublin is 12-1 overall and 6-0 in the SOL American.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Last Week: The Barons rolled, 48-14 over Cocalico. The Cardinals held on for a 35-28 win over Bayard Rustin.
Up Next: The winner advances to the State Final against either Archbishop Wood or Penn Hills.
Players to Watch: Manheim Central junior quarterback Evan Simon passed for a whopping 373 yards and five touchdowns last week in leading the Barons to their 18th District Three championship. Upper Dublin quarterback Mike Slivka is also coming off quite a performance — last week he threw for 231 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 38 yards and two scores.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 24, Manheim Central 17.
PIAA-5A State Semifinal
(7-1) Penn Hills vs. (12-1) Archbishop Wood
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m. at Chambersburg.
Records: Penn Hills is 14-0 overall and 8-0 in the WPIAL Class 6A Northern Seven. Archbishop Wood is 9-3 overall and 4-2 in the Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division.
Last Week: Penn Hills won 28-18 over West Allegheny. Wood advanced with a 38-7 victory over Hollidaysburg.
Up Next: The winner advances to the State Final against either Upper Dublin or Manheim Central.
Players to Watch: The Indians’ Dante Cephas made two huge plays in the win over West Allegheny. He caught a 56-yard touchdown pass late in the first half and also took a screen pass 65 yards for a score in the second. He finished with three catches for 144 yards, and quarterback Hollis Mathis completed 9 of 17 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns. Tom Santiago finished with 103 rushing yards for the Vikings last week in the win over Hollidaysburg, with Chris Blackstone adding 91 on the ground and Cardel Pigford chipping in with 25. Quarterback Jack Colyar didn’t have huge numbers in the win but completed 5-of-7 passes for 74 yards and a score.
Prediction: Archbishop Wood 35, Penn Hills 21.
