Mid State League Cardinal (MSL) – Conference Preview
By: Evan Johnson
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Berne Union Rockets:
The Berne Union Rockets started the season off hot, winning four of their first five games. That was followed by five straight losses, which eliminated the Rockets from the playoffs. The team was very young, but the experience sets Berne Union up to compete in the MSL-Cardinal.
Carson Kiger returns after an outstanding sophomore season. The quarterback threw for over 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns but did throw 13 interceptions. Kiger was also the team’s leading rusher with 489 yards and seven touchdowns. Berne Union also returns their top three receivers. Ashton O’Rourke, James Hocking and Dillan Cornell combined for 66 receptions, 1,068 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In the second half of the season, the defense was the biggest issue, allowing over 40 points per game in the final five games. The biggest loss was Dylan Finnefrock, but O’Rourke and Hocking will make a big impact on both sides of the ball. The Rockets are still young, but they could easily compete for the top spot in the conference if they can stay healthy and players keep progressing. They will face off against River Valley on Aug. 21.
Bishop Rosecrans Bishops:
Bishop Rosecrans had a strong end of the season, winning their final three games of the regular season before losing in the playoffs in a shootout 78-46 to Conotton Valley. The Bishops went 4-2 in conference play, with the two losses coming to the top teams, Grove City Christian and Fisher Catholic. They have been outscored 90-0 in their last two meetings against the Eagles; they will have to find a way to take out the top teams.
The focus on offense was letting the ball fly as senior Hayden Perdue threw for over 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns. Perdue is now graduated along with the Bishops’ leading rusher and top two receivers. Junior Jacobie Balo and sophomore Frankie Palandrani both got significant carries and will lead the backfield. Junior Titan Grandstaff is the only receiver returning with double-digit receptions. One side of the ball can only take so much change; there could easily be a step back after averaging over 32 points per game in 2025.
The defense really struggled, as almost every game turned into a shootout. They allowed over 35 points per game and still graduated a lot of the top guys. This will be the biggest question mark heading into the season. Bishop Rosecrans will have a very young roster heading into the season, and there could be a couple of speed bumps along the way. They will play Shenandoah in week one.
Fairfield Christian Academy Knights:
In the first season with head coach Craig McGruder, Fairfield Christian was able to take a step forward. They went from 3-8 in 2024 to 5-5 last season. Similar to other teams in the conference, the Knights are a very young squad, only having two seniors.
FCA threw the ball a lot, with Brayden Stem throwing for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. Junior Connor Perkins will take over the job, recently transferring from Lancaster. The Knights did lose their top weapon in TJ Blair, but Lucas Brinley will be the next man up.
Brinley will also be the top guy on defense, as he led the team in wins tackles last season with 73. Connor Varnell is one of the two seniors to keep an eye on, as he will dominate the trenches on both sides of the ball. Fairfield Christian is expected to take another step forward and could be a sneaky team to end the season at the top of the conference. The Knights will kick off the season against Southeastern.
Fisher Catholic Irish:
Fisher Catholic turned things around after going 8-3, which was the first winning season with Luke Thimmes running the team. In week nine, the Irish had a chance to win the conference outright but had a tough game as they lost 41-0 to Grove City Christian. Despite the loss, it was a tremendous step in the right direction.
The offense was solid behind quarterback Jacob Welsh, who was selected as the Ernie Godfrey Award winner. The Irish ran the ball a lot and fed a lot of different mouths. Ethan O’Rielley will be one of the biggest returners in the ground game. The offensive line will be great again behind Nick Harris Jr. and Deaglan Neighbor Jr.
For most of the season, the Fisher Catholic defense was fantastic, allowing just 19.73 points per game. The strength on both sides of the ball will be the trenches; opposing teams will have to face a lot of pressure. There is enough returning talent to make another run at the MSL-Cardinal title, which would be the program’s first since 2004.
Grove City Christian Eagles:
The Grove City Christian Eagles have owned the MSL-Cardinal for the past two seasons. They have gone undefeated in the conference the past two years, with nearly every single game being a blowout. The Eagles met Caldwell for their first matchup and were dominated 42-7.
The offense was outstanding, averaging over 34 points per game. Dougie Housley led the offense, but the quarterback has now graduated. The team does lose a couple of other key players, such as receiver Josiah Harmeyer and lineman Michael Hatfield. The running game will be led by senior Giovanni Cotton, and with a good line in front of him, the offense could be lethal again.
While the offense was spectacular, the defense was the best in the conference by a wide margin. They only allowed just over 10 points per game in the regular season and only 6.5 points per game in conference play. Grove City Christian remains the favorite to win the conference, and they will start their season against Worthington Christian.
Miller Falcons:
The Miller Falcons were riding high into the 2025 season after an impressive 10-win season the year before. But the 2025 season did not go as expected; the Falcons had a rough stretch where they lost five straight games and missed the playoffs. Miller will be looking to get back on track but will do it with a young roster.
The heart of the Falcon offense has graduated. Zander Bice had an outstanding senior campaign, rushing for over 1,600 yards and 13 touchdowns. Bodey Dorsey does return at quarterback; he threw for 872 yards and eight touchdowns in his sophomore season. Unfortunately for Dorsey, he lost his top three weapons, as the three returning receivers combined for just eight receptions last year.
The defense saw a dip in production last season after allowing nearly 35 points per game in conference play. Bice also led the team in tackles as he made the biggest impact on both sides of the ball. There is a solid handful of players that will look to lead the defense, such as sophomore Anthony Adkins, senior Noah Lemaster, and junior Dawson Dyer, who had six sacks in 2025. The Falcons will need a lot of guys to step up in order to compete with the top teams in the MSL-Cardinal.
Millersport Lakers:
The Millersport Lakers have had a tough couple of years, winning only four games in the last four seasons. After splitting their four non-conference games, the Lakers lost their next six MSL-Cardinal games. Heading into the 2026 season, Millersport has to find a way to take a step forward.
Both sides of the ball really struggled last year, especially in conference play. The Lakers averaged just five points per game while allowing 40.5 points per game. On top of that, Millersport graduated a decent-sized senior class, which included All-MSL Cardinal First-Team recipient Jason Wells. Heading into Jack Treinish’s sixth season, the Lakers will look to continue to grow and find ways to compete in the MSL-Cardinal.