By The Daily Item

DANVILLE -- After a 41-point win over Milton the week before, Danville seemed prepared to set a similar tone against Central Columbia on Friday when Michael Smith hauled in a 42-yard touchdown strike from Andrew Shoop with 3:04 gone in the first quarter. That tone was overshadowed by drops and turnovers and its 7-0 lead quickly became a 28-7 deficit. The Ironmen never fully recovered, but their offense looks like it will be just as prolific as it was in a record-setting performance last year, amassing nearly 450 yards and scoring five TDs.

Central might be the same kind of team. The two foes amassed almost 1,000 yards in offense and scored 10 TDs between them. They combined for 35 second-quarter points and 28 third-quarter points.

WORKHORSE: Central's Jake Machinski rushed 17 times for 100 yards. Eight other Blue Jays rushed 26 times for 78 yards.

JOHNNY ON THE SPOT: Selinsgrove outside linebacker Drew Kuhns scored the first touchdown for the Seals this season. He picked up a fumble and scored from three yards out early in the second quarter of Friday night's 20-0 win over Mifflinburg.

The senior said he didn't have to do much on the play.

"Bryant (Trautman) made the play on the sack. The ball was just right there. The only thing I had to worry about was either tripping over the quarterback's shoe or the goal line," Kuhns joked.

BROBST, JAMES BROBST: Going into Friday night's contest, Selinsgrove coach Dave Hess was very concerned about Mifflinburg's three down linemen in their 3-5 defense. The Wildcats didn't disappoint, especially James Brobst. Brobst had four tackles -- three for a loss -- and a sack in the first half against Selinsgrove.

TOO MANY HANKIES: Shikellamy shot itself in the foot by committing too many penalties in Friday night's 35-7 loss to Jersey Shore. The Braves were penalized eight times for 70 yards, and many of the violations came at inopportune times. In the second quarter, the Bulldogs moved the ball 49 yards on seven plays en route to a touchdown. Jersey Shore didn't have any positive rushing yards on the drive, and only completed two passes. But Shikellamy was hit for three 15-yard penalties on the drive.

In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs went on a 73-yard scoring drive. On that possession, the Braves were offsides on two consecutive plays, giving Jersey Shore a first down it didn't have to work for.

THE CLOSER: Jake Potter is Jersey Shore's feature back, but the junior only had three carries for six yards before intermission Friday. The second half, however, was a different story, as Potter finished the night with 72 yards on 10 carries and also added a 1-yard TD reception from Taylor English.

Bulldogs coach Steve Eck said that he wanted to keep Potter's legs fresh for the second half.

"That was the idea," Eck said. "It was so hot; we were trying to rotate a lot of people around."

CHOICES: Milton coach Mike Bergey had a difficult decision to make in the waning minutes against Warrior Run. Leading 6-0, the Black Panthers faced 4th-and-1 at the Defenders' 33 with 1:24 left. A first down would clinch the win, as Warrior Run was out of timeouts, while the Milton punt team had been victimized by three returns for touchdowns against Danville the previous week.

Going against the wishes of several vociferous assistant coaches, Bergey opted to punt, and the move paid off. Bobby Turnbaugh's boot came to rest at the Warrior Run 5, forcing the Defenders to move 95 yards in a minute's time. It didn't happen, and Milton beat its arch rival.