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Week 1 Games To Watch – Eastern PA

Tagged under: District 1, District 11, District 12, District 2, District 3, District 4, News

| September 2, 2015


Here is a list of some of the best games in PA High School football for Week 1.

(2014 record in parenthesis)

DISTRICT 1/12

Council Rock South (6-4) at Pennsbury (13-1)
(2014 Result: Pennsbury 28-0)
It will be fun to watch how Pennsbury and star linebackers Daulton Hose and Luke Snyder handle Council Rock South’s triple option offense. Golden Hawks quarterback Shaun Stackhouse might be a District 1 hidden gem. Meanwhile, we expect the Falcons offense to be pretty good in its own right with QB Mike Alley leading the way.

Garnet Valley (9-3) at Unionville (6-4)
(2014 Result: Unionville 8-6)
We got a defensive battle in this one last season and we could see another one in 2015. The Indians bring back a lot of experience on the defensive side of the ball which will be their strength. If they can get solid QB play, the offense can be better. Keep an eye on Navy recruit CB Elan Nash. For the Jaguars, the running game should be solid with RB Derrick West bulling his way behind Division 1 recruit Ted Field. DE Tim Bradley is the leader for Garnet Valley on defense.

Haverford High (8-4) at Downingtown West (6-5)
(2014 result: Downingtown West 31-2)
The Whippets are trying to get back on top of the Ches-Mont with 18 starters returning. That experience and QB Tom Mattioni should give them a good chance. RB Jake Barr scored 17 touchdowns last season splitting time and will be a major contributor on offense. The Fords qualified for the playoffs last season and should be in the mix for a Central League title along with Conestoga and Garnet Valley.

LaSalle College HS (8-3) at North Penn (7-4)
(2014 result: LaSalle 29-7)
New Explorers head coach John Steimetz jumps right into the fire with the very successful LaSalle program as they battle a very good North Penn team to open the season. North Penn’s offense will be much-improved in 2014. The Knights have one of the fastest running backs in District 1 Nyfease West.  The Explorers have to replace some very good players but still have 13 starters returning. The offensive line will be big and that could be a problem for North Penn. If LaSalle’s skill players progress quickly, they will be even better than most think.

DISTRICT 2
Crestwood (12-1) at Berwick (9-3)
(2014 results: Crestwood 28-20 & 35-19)
This matchup pits the past two District 2 Class AAA champs against each other. The Comets swept Berwick last year including the championship game. Crestwood has some holes to fill but has a solid core with all-state DB Lance Blass leading the defense. C Noah Kita is the anchor up front. The Dawgs have several key players returning including DL Kyle Pierce and Sean McCole. Berwick’s defense should be its strength as they will try to deal with Crestwood’s unique single wing offense.

Old Forge (12-1) at G.A.R. (7-4)
(2014 results: Old Forge 21-14)
The Blue Devils have won 20 straight games against District 2 opponents including a come-from-behind victory over GAR last year. Both these teams are favorites to win their classification. Old Forge is led by DB Joey Gutowski and LB Mando Sallavanti. The offense struggled at times last season, but should be better. The Grenadiers are led by RB Anthony Maurent who was the offensive MVP for the Wyoming Valley Conference Small Schools last season. QB Gary Kroll also returns for GAR.

DISTRICT 3
Central Dauphin East (10-3) at Milton Hershey (9-3)
(2014 result: CD East 36-7)
CD East came so close last year to getting to the district title game and they should be in the hunt again. Led by QB Jahad Neibauer and boosted by Shyheim Brown, who transferred from Mechanicsburg, the Panthers have the skill players to make another run. Milton Hershey returns 14 starters and will be fast.  Very fast. QB Keonte Lewis will be a player to watch and the Spartans’ defense will be better.

Cocalico (10-4) at Daniel Boone (8-5)
(2014 result: Cocalico 32-14)
What a run for the Eagles in 2014, but can they repeat that performance? The option-oriented flexbone offense will be back to give District 3 foes fits led by RBs Hunter High and Brandon Brubaker. The defense might not be as good as last season, but good enough. The Blazers won two playoff games last year and return QB Nick Hughes. Many experts think Daniel Boone lost too much, but this game will be a good litmus test.

Manheim Township (8-4) at Central Dauphin (11-3)
(2014 result: Central Dauphin 34-27)
QB Erik Benjamin is one reason the Blue Streaks will be in every game this season and can compete with the L-L big boys. Manheim Township has the meat up front to protect Benjamin and open gaping holes for the running game. The defense will take a step back from last year and will be the key against the better teams on their schedule. The Rams are ranked in PFN Top 10 and are poised to get back to the District 3 title game. RB Raleigh Sirb is a good one and the Rams defense will be one of the state’s best led by sophomore stud Micah Parsons.

Wilson (14-1) at Governor Mifflin (11-2)
(2014 result: Wilson 35-34 OT)
A crazy come-from-behind overtime win for the Bulldogs allowed them to start a 14-game winning streak. We could see something similar in 2015. Wilson is ranked No. 3 in the PFN 4A rankings led by RB Shane Dantzler who rushed for 1,659 yards last season. LB Ike Schannauer leads a very good defensive unit. The Mustangs are rebuilding, make that reloading. It’s not a good draw to play Wilson Week 1, but Governor Mifflin will give them everything they can handle. Watch out the Garner brothers (Tucker & Lucas) who will make their presence known on the defensive side of the ball.

DISTRICT 4
Mount Carmel (7-4) at Loyalsock (9-4)
(2014 result: Mount Carmel 25-22; Loyalsock 20-6)
The Red Tornadoes are under new leadership with alum John Darrah. He has a quick rebuilding task as Mount Carmel was hit hard by graduation. They still return RB Kyle Karyicki and are going to try to pull the upset in Week 1 like they did last season. Loyalsock lost some recognizable names but they are expected to still compete for a District 4 Class AA title with 18 starters coming back.  The Lancers do not want to repeat the slow start and they should be good running the football and stopping the run.  Can they create a passing game and stop the pass? That will be the key.

District 11
Northwestern Lehigh (11-2) at Notre Dame (0-10)
(2014 result: NW Lehigh 32-6)
The defending District 11 Class AA champs feel like they have another run in them. Northwestern Lehigh has some key players returning including RB Harry Hall. Overall, they list 15 returning starters which will help because they did lose some talented players. Notre Dame will be interesting this season with an influx of transfer from now-closed Pius X. Those players won a District 11 Class A title last season including QB Tre Jordan.

Bethlehem Liberty (7-5) at Bethlehem Catholic (12-2)
(2014 result: Becahi 56-27)
Great QB matchup to start the season with the Hurricanes’ Doug Erney and the Golden Hawks’ Julian Spigner. Becahi is state ranked by PFN in Class AAA while Liberty is coming off an Eastern Conference title. The Golden Hawks have almost every skill player back, but must improve on defense to compete on the state level. Liberty hopes to get back to the District 11 playoff for the first time since 2009.

 

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