UPPER DAUPHIN AT WILLIAMS VALLEY
7 p.m. FRIDAY, WILLIAMSTOWN'S STAUFFENBERG FIELD AT VIKING STADIUM
RECORDS: Upper Dauphin 0-1; Williams Valley 1-0.
THE TROJANS: Flashing balance in last weekend's opener at Camp Hill — UD rushed for 168 yards, while QB Mac Ney racked up 241 through the air — Brent Bell’s club was locked in a 14-all tie at the break. UD was unable to sustain its first-half momentum, however, and wound up tumbling 45-29. While a half-dozen of Ney’s 14 completions found Tanner Miller for 129 yards and a TD, the Trojans also picked up 100-plus rush yards and another score from tailback Trey Campbell. So the offense is there for UDA. The defense had all sorts of trouble penning in the high-powered Lions, conceding more than 500 total yards and nearly 300 on the ground.
THE VIKINGS: Wheeling to a comfortable 40-0 advantage behind a productive mix of run and pass, Tim Savage’s high-octane Vikings cruised to a 46-12 victory at Minersville. QB Stephen Sedesse had it going when he put it up, completing 8 of 12 aerials for 185 yards and three scores. Two went to new target Cody Miller, while feature back Cole Barnhardt hauled in the other. Barnhardt and Trevor Whelski halved 178 rushing yards — Whelski carried twice and scored twice — for a Williams Valley rush offense that averaged 12-plus yards per crack. Vikes’ D surrendered just over 100 total yards, but should get a better test from the visiting Trojans.
THE CRUX: Facing its second straight loaded offense, the pressure is on the UD defense to keep a lid on the Barnhardt-Whelski duo and/or dirty the cannon-armed Sedesse. If the Trojans are unable to do that consistently, the Vikes will punish them.
BULLOCK SAYS: Unbelievably confident — despite a rebuilt offensive front — Savage’s Vikes (-10) would appear to have too much pop for their visiting neighbors. With this backyard Tri-Valley League scrap, the off-the-field skirmishes can be just as compelling as those between the lines.
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n
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