CARDINALS TAKE WING
Upper Dublin set for showdown with Manheim Central
Upper Dublin will try to break through to the state final for the first time when the Cardinals take on Manheim Central Friday night in a PIAA-5A Semifinal contest at Wissahickon.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Upper Dublin is coming off a thrilling 35-28 win over Bayard Rustin, as the Cardinals captured their second district title in the program’s history (4A in 2015). Central routed Cocalico 48-14 last week in the District Three Final to reach the state semis for the second year in a row.
The Barons come into this one a perfect 13-0. Their last loss came in the final four a year ago, a 31-28 heartbreaker against Gateway.
Upper Dublin is 12-1, its only defeat this fall coming against Penn Charter. Both quarterbacks are coming in hot. Manheim Central’s Evan Simon shredded Cocalico for 373 yards last week, along with five touchdown passes. The Barons are trying to get to Hershey for the first time since 2009, when they fell to Selinsgrove in the 3A Final. Central’s only state title came in 2003 (3A).
Upper Dublin’s Mike Slivka again showed his versatility in the state quarters, throwing for 231 yards and a touchdown as well as running for 38 yards and a pair of scores.
The ground game was held in check but picked up crucial yards when it needed to: Lucas Roselli gained 51 yards and scored a touchdown on 12 carries, and Mason Novak had 48 yards and a score on 13 carries.
The Cardinals reached this point back in 2015, when they were 14-0 before falling to Parkland in the 4A State Semis.
The winner of this contest advances to the PIAA-5A State Final, to take on either Penn Hills or two-time defending champion Archbishop Wood.