Schuylkill-Colonial League Mid-Season Report: Contenders or Pretenders ?

Tagged under: District 11, News

Daniel Reed | September 24, 2024

Well, it’s that part of the season where we can see who are the contenders and who are the pretenders. It’s no surprise who leads the way as far as a contender but, we do have a bit of a surprise on the list as well. Five really strong teams make the list of contenders for sure with a few following closely behind. Let’s dip into who should make a run at the District XI Title, and get to the state tournament.

CONTENDERS: *(PFN State Ranking/Classification)*

(#1/3A)-Northwestern Lehigh Tigers(5-0)

The Tigers look just as impressive as they did last season if not even a little bit better on both sides of the football. They can put up the points to keep them in any game averaging a decent 46 per game, while only giving up just under 6. Next opponent for the Tigers are the Spartans(3-2) of North Schuylkill, a team the Tigers defeated last time they played 34 to 14 back in 2022 in the District XI Class 3A Championship. If the Tigers can keep going like they have been, look for them to make a run a their 3rd straight DXI title. Last time a team from DXI Class 3a won 3 straight was Allentown Central Catholic back in 2012 when the Vikings won 4 in a row.

(#9/3A)-Tamaqua Blue Raiders(5-0)

Tamaqua is 5-0 for the first time since the 2019 season, only to lose their next game to Pottsville 34 to 17. However, this year could be different as they play a Bangor(0-5) team that has been struggling to say the least. For me, Tamaqua is the biggest surprise the Schuylkill-Colonial league by far. Coach Bonner has his players believing this year and it has been showing on the field. The Blue Raiders have been impressive putting up some points as well this season, averaging 38.8 a game, and giving up just under 12. As long as the Raiders don’t look ahead to next week’s game against a (4-1)-Southern Lehigh team, they should get their 6th win in a row, something that hasn’t been done since the 2018 season when they started 8-0.

(#HM/3A)-Notre Dame-Green Pond Crusaders(4-1)

The Crusaders started off the season a little questionable with how well their defense had been playing, giving up a whopping 31.6/PPG in the first 3 games, which included a shutout. The last two games have been much better defensively, giving up just 7 a game. Offensively, its no shock that they haven’t lost a beat scoring an incredible 48.6 points a game. The Crusaders only loss came from what some might even say, a rival team in North Schuylkill(3-2) in week-3 in the final seconds of the game 31 to 29.

(#6/2A)-Williams Valley Vikings(5-0)

Williams Valley seems to have not lost a beat either under 2nd year head coach Steve Sedesse, who has guided his players to a 15-3 career record thus far. Offensively for the Vikings, they look very good, putting up decent numbers and against some good teams along they way in Nativity BVM(4-1) and previously ranked Minersville(3-2). Williams Valley averages 37.4 points a game, giving up 17.2. The Vikings will be heavily tested, hard this week when they travel to Rotary Field to take on the (4-1)-Hurricanes. Williams Valley is looking to win out the season, and repeat as District XI Class 2A Champs.

(#8/2A)-Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes(4-1)

Since the season opening loss to (4A)-Blue Mountain(4-1) 19 to 14, the Canes have been pounding their opponents with a vicious running attack, scoring 265 points, average of 66.2 a game, giving up 60(includes 2 shutouts), 15 a game. I think it’s safe to say that this week’s matchup against undefeated (5-0)Williams Valley at Rotary Field in Schuylkill Haven is going to be one for the ages. Maybe not as offensive as last weekends Hurricanes/Minersville game which put up a score of 72 to 52 in favor of the Canes. If Coach Farr has his way, his Canes will be rushing the Vikings defense all night long to run down that clock and allow that potent Vikings offense to be on the field.

Teams to Keep an Eye on:

Blue Mountain Eagles(4-1)
The Eagles are a team still trying to find themselves I feel, even though they have put up some decent numbers in all but 1 game. Let’s not forget to mention however, that game was against one of the best in the state, as the Eagles fell to the Class 3A #1 Northwestern Lehigh Tigers 30 to 8, week-4 at the Eagles Nest. Blue Mountain rebounded nicely with a win in last weeks game 49 to 7. On average, the Eagles put up 31 points a game, while giving up 14.2. Blue Mountain should earn wins this week and next week, when they travel to a struggling Palisades team that is just (1-4) on the season, then to Lehighton(2-3) before being tested again against North Schuylkill(3-2).

(#HM/Class 1A)-Nativity BVM Green Wave(4-1)
Nativity has looked pretty good thru the first five weeks, only losing the an undefeated Williams Valley team in a game that ended when the Vikings scored late in the game to win 34 to 31. That said, they 4 wins have come against teams that have a combined record of just (5-15). Now again, with that said, those are the games that should be won, and the Green Wave has shown, they can, and by a lot, scoring 199 points in those games, an average of 49.7, and giving up just 20 points, 5 per game which include two shutouts. The Green Wave have two games, which should be wins, before traveling to previously ranked Minersville who is currently (3-2).

Southern Lehigh Spartans(4-1)
The Spartans are a team I don’t know much about other than their quarterback Colton Sams. Southern Lehigh has recorded some decent wins over teams in Quakertown, Pottsville, Lehighton,and North Schuylkill, all of which are (2-3) on the season. The Spartans lone loss came to Blue Mountain 32 to 20, a game in which the Spartans led for most of the first 3 quarters. Southern Lehigh should the a victory this week as long as they’re not looking ahead to next week’s opponent and state ranked Tamaqua who currently sits at (5-0).

Fallen under the Radar:

(Previously Ranked)-Minersville Battlin’ Miners(3-2)
Last week, the Miners had a few injuries during their high scoring affair with Schuylkill Haven in the 72 to 52 loss. Among those injured was QB-Dante Carr, who is expected to be suited up this week but the team is going day to day to made a decision to start/play him. Two of the four injured will be out for a couple of weeks, and the younger players will have to step up to fill the roles, They’re very good players that we want to get back asap, said Coach Frantz earlier today.

Looking Up:

Northern Lehigh Bulldogs(4-1) and Saucon Valley Panthers(4-1)
Not sure what to make of these next two teams on this portion of the list, first the Bulldogs. Northern Lehigh has four wins verse teams with a combined record of (5-15), however, the only blemish on their record came against the number 1 ranked team in Class 3A, Northwestern Lehigh 56 to 7. Saucon Valley… Really not sure what to make of this team even more as their 4 wins have come against teams with a combined record of just (1-19). The lone loss came to a high powered offensive team in Notre Dame-Green Pond in which they did keep it close for awhile, then eventually losing 24 to 7.

MID-SEASON STATS(TOP-10):