Harrisburg is on a seven-game streak of home wins (dating back to last season), while Manheim Township is on a three-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Cougars will host the Blue Streaks at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Harrisburg's defense has only allowed 12.4 points per game this season, so Manheim Township's offense will have their work cut out for them.
On Saturday, Harrisburg beat Central Dauphin 21-9. Given the Cougars' advantage in MaxPreps' Pennsylvania football rankings (they are ranked 19th, while the Rams are ranked 188th) , the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
The critical scores for Harrisburg came from Messiah Mickens, Jaiyon Lewis, and Elias Coke.
Harrisburg was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 244 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 159 rushing yards in seven consecutive games.
Meanwhile, everything came up roses for Manheim Township against Hempfield on Friday as the team secured a 49-7 victory. The Blue Streaks might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six contests by 21 points or more this season.
Manheim Township's win came from a few key players Harrisburg will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Daryus Dixon, who picked up 165 receiving yards and three TDs. He showed off some serious burst, connecting on a big catch for 61 yards. Another player making a difference was PJ Myers, who rushed for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Manheim Township didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off four passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Dixon and Zachary Bomberger. Dixon got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Harrisburg's record now sits at 11-0. As for Manheim Township, their record is now 10-1.
Saturday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Harrisburg has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 190.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Manheim Township struggles in that department as they've been averaging 148.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Saturday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Harrisburg took their win against Manheim Township in their previous matchup back in November of 2024 by a conclusive 35-14 score. Do the Cougars have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Blue Streaks turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
