Football Game Preview: Hempfield Black Knights vs. Penn Manor Comets

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Previous Games

09/27/24 - Home	36-0 W
09/29/23 - Away	19-23 L
09/30/22 - Home	34-7 W
10/29/21 - Away	27-0 W
09/25/20 - Home	40-7 W
+ 5 more games

Hempfield is 9-1 against Penn Manor since September of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Black Knights will venture away from home to face off against the Comets at 7:00 p.m.

Hempfield is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 56 points two weeks ago, they were much more limited against Manheim Township on Friday. They came up short against the Blue Streaks, falling 35-13. The Black Knights haven't had much luck with the Blue Streaks recently, as the team has come up short the last four times they've met.

Meanwhile, the third road game was the charm for Penn Manor, as they earned their first away victory of the season. They breezed past Reading to the tune of 41-8 on Friday. The Comets have beaten the Red KNights the last four times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Red KNights has come to flipping the script.

Hempfield better keep an eye on Randy Guthrie. He was instrumental in Penn Manor's win, rushing for 143 yards and three TDs on only 11 carries. Guthrie's longest rush was for an impressive 69 yards, which helps to explain his lofty yards per carry total. Another player making a difference was Collin Robinson, who picked up 66 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Penn Manor didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Christian Herman, Elijah Valentin, and Rashaun Doyle picked up one apiece. Herman has been hot, having also posted six or more total tackles the last five times he's played. He got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

Hempfield now has a losing record of 2-3. As for Penn Manor, their win (their first of the season) made their record 1-4.

Everything came up roses for Hempfield against Penn Manor in their previous matchup back in September of 2024, as the team secured a 36-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Black Knights since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.