Week 9 Glance: Panthers hoping to silence Music, keep victory march playing
Seven days after one of the biggest wins in program history and seven days before what looms as potentially the biggest game in program history the Schuylkill Valley Panthers face the ultimate “trap” game this week.
Bruce Harbach knows the importance emotions play in high school football. He is wary.
“I’m kind of worried about this week,” the Panthers coach said on the eve of a Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 5 game against Annville-Cleona. “Are we ready to play? That weighs on my mind a little bit.”
The Panthers (5-0, 6-2) are on course for the first football championship in program history. If they defeat unbeaten Lancaster Catholic in next week’s season finale they’ll win the championship.
A loss to the Dutchmen (3-2, 5-3) Friday in Leesport would spoil that, of course, and mean the Panthers likely would share the title with Catholic.
| Section 5 | League | League |
| Lancaster Catholic | 5-0 | 8-0 |
| Schuylkill Valley | 5-0 | 6-2 |
| Hamburg | 3-2 | 6-2 |
| Annville-Cleona | 3-2 | 5-3 |
| Kutztown | 1-4 | 2-6 |
| Northern Lebanon | 1-4 | 2-6 |
| Pequea Valley | 1-4 | 1-7 |
| Columbia | 1-4 | 3-5 |
Harbach wants none of that, of course.
“We don’t want to share anything,” he said.
For the second straight week Schuylkill Valley football is at the top of the Berks football card — that’s practically unheard of. A week ago it captured the Frost Bowl at Hamburg to earn its sixth straight win — the longest win streak in program history.
The rest of the Berks Week 9 match-ups have more to do with District 3 playoff positioning than league championships — most of those will be determined in Week 10.
Wilson (3-1, 6-2) still has hopes — slim ones, granted — of sharing the Section 1 title. That’ll take a slip-up by Section 1 leader Hempfield (4-0, 6-2), either Friday at Cedar Crest (2-3, 4-4) or next week at Reading High (1-4, 3-5). Meanwhile, the Bulldogs need wins Friday against McCaskey (0-4, 1-7) and next week at Manheim Township (3-1, 6-2).
Exeter (4-0, 8-0) can keep its Section 2 title hopes alive with a win over visiting Conestoga Valley (2-2, 4-4) Friday as section co-leader Manheim Central (4-0, 8-0) plays at Gov. Mifflin (2-2, 3-5). The Eagles and Barons meet next week at Manheim.
In Section 3, Twin Valley (2-3, 4-4) is at Daniel Boone (0-4, 1-7) and Fleetwood (0-4) is at section-leading Solanco (4-0, 8-0). The Raiders are out of the Section 2 race but in the thick of the district Class 4A playoff chase.
In Section 4, Cocalico (3-2, 4-4) is at Berks Catholic (3-2, 3-5), Conrad Weiser (2-3, 3-5) is at Lampeter-Strasburg (5-0, 7-1) and Wyomissing (5-0, 8-0) is at Octorara (0-5, 1-7). Wild upsets aside, the Spartans and Pioneers figure to settle that championship next Saturday at Wyomissing.
In Section 5, Hamburg (3-2, 6-2) is at Northern Lebanon (1-4, 2-6) and Kutztown (1-4, 2-6) is at Columbia (1-4, 3-5).
In non-league play, Reading High is at Central York (7-1) and Muhlenberg (2-6) is at Ephrata (5-3).
At Leesport, Schuylkill Valley’s focus will continue to be on limiting turnovers and getting the ball in the hands of Dominic Giuffre. That formula has worked well following an 0-2 start.
“After the second game I was really upset,” Harbach said. “We had 10 turnovers (the first two games) and I said, ‘This has to stop; you’re not gonna win another game if you keep turning the ball over. You’re giving up 2-3 touchdowns a game with turnovers.’ The kids understood; they took it to heart.”
Giuffre, a junior and first-year starter, has become a dominant back. He ran for 202 yards in a 35-6 Week 6 win over Columbia and set a program record with 302 yards last week in the 41-34 win at Hamburg. He scored four touchdowns in each game.
“He’s being patient, waiting for the linemen to get on their blocks, then making the cut,” Harbach said of Giuffre. “The past 4-5 weeks he’s really developed into a nice runner.”
Giuffre has rushed for 1,256 yards and a Section 5-leading 19 TDs. He’s second in the section in rushing to Annville-Cleona’s Phoenix Music, who has gone for 1,456 yards and 17 TDs.
Silencing Music, Harbach said, will mean harmony for the Panthers.
“We have to stop the running game, that’s our point,” Harbach said. “They’re gonna (try to) control the ball with 12-, 13-play drives. We’ve got to keep him off the scoreboard.”
The Dutchmen were considered a Section 5 contender in the preseason and are just a couple plays short of making that happen. They led Hamburg at the half in Week 4 before Pierce Mason busted out to lead the Hawks to a 39-26 victory. Their other losses came to Elco (22-19) in a Week 3 non-leaguer and to Lancaster Catholic (14-13) two weeks ago.
“If we come to play, the game is over,” Harbach said confidently, “but if we let ’em in the game and make mistakes it’s gonna be a long night.”
| Section 2 | League | Overall |
| Exeter | 4-0 | 8-0 |
| Manheim Central | 4-0 | 8-0 |
| Conestoga Valley | 2-2 | 4-4 |
| Gov. Mifflin | 2-2 | 3-5 |
| Warwick | 2-2 | 3-5 |
| Muhlenberg | 1-4 | 2-6 |
| Lebanon | 0-5 | 0-8 |
| Section 1 | League | Overall |
| Hempfield | 4-0 | 6-1 |
| Wilson | 2-1 | 5-2 |
| Penn Manor | 3-1 | 3-3 |
| Manheim Twp. | 2-1 | 4-2 |
| Cedar Crest | 2-2 | 3-3 |
| Reading High | 1-3 | 2-4 |
| McCaskey | 0-3 | 1-5 |
| Section 3 | League | Overall |
| Solanco | 4-0 | 8-0 |
| Elizabethtown | 3-1 | 7-1 |
| Garden Spot | 3-1 | 6-2 |
| Ephrata | 3-2 | 5-3 |
| Twin Valley | 2-3 | 4-4 |
| Fleetwood | 0-4 | 2-6 |
| Daniel Boone | 0-4 | 1-7 |
| Section 4 | League | Overall |
| Wyomissing | 5-0 | 8-0 |
| Lampeter-Stras. | 5-0 | 7-1 |
| Cocalico | 3-2 | 4-4 |
| Berks Catholic | 3-2 | 3-5 |
| Conrad Weiser | 2-3 | 3-5 |
| Elco | 1-4 | 4-4 |
| Donegal | 1-4 | 2-6 |
| Octorara | 0-5 | 1-7 |