Schuylkill-Colonial Preview and Predictions for Week-8 !

Tagged under: District 11, News

Daniel Reed | October 14, 2022

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Week-7 Review:

Last week we saw some good, hard fought battles, even some upsets as some would say between teams in both the Schuylkill-Colonial Leagues starting with the game of the week, Notre Dame-GP falling to Northern Lehigh 40 to 33. The Bulldogs led the way with a powerful rushing attack, racking up over 350 yards on the ground. Nick Frame rushed for 206 yards, 1 TD, and Aj Jimenez scored 3x on the ground. One game I felt was somewhat of an upset, at least the score was more of the shock, was Catasauqua taking down Minersville 38 to 8. The Rough Riders held the Battlin’ Miners to just 135 total yards, while putting up just under 300 themselves. In a very close battle, Williams Valley overcame early mistakes to come back and defeat the Golden Bears of Mahanoy Area 22 to 21. About midway through the 4th quarter, the Vikings felt was a good time to go for two, since on the drive, they were averaging over 10 yards per carry, led by their stud running back Alex Achenbach who finished the night with 220 yards on 25 carries, scoring twice. Mahanoy Area’s rushing attack was on point as well on the night, racking up 335 yards on 44 carries, led by Colm McGroarty, finished with 246 yards on the ground on 21 carries, scoring 3 touchdowns.

Week-8 Preview:

Lots of very good, important games play out this weekend such as Minersville, who started off hot, going 4-1, lost their last two games, travels to Palisades, a team that took down Palmerton in week-3 47 to 40 and is riding a 3 game win streak coming in. Even though these two teams are having yet another sub-par season, Pen Argyl travels to Rotary Field in Schuylkill Haven to take on the Hurricanes, who just picked up their second victory of the season last week over Panther Valley. A couple of very BIG games are on the list as well, starting with my Games of the Week….

PFNDan570FB’s *Game of the Week*

Bangor Slaters(5-2) at Northwestern Lehigh Tigers(6-1) **HOMECOMING**
Last Meeting: Tigers won 53 to 24(2021)
Streak: NWL has won the last 3 meetings

Key Player(s) to Watch:
Bangor – Jacob Weaver(jr)-(DE/TE)
NWL – Eli Zimmerman(so)-(RB/WR/FS)

Preview: The Tigers enter this weeks matchup on a 5 game win streak, averaging 36 points a game, piling up the yardage led by Senior QB-Cade Christopher, who has thrown for just 359 yards on 63 attempts but has rushed for a team leading 888 yards on 114 carries, with 21 total touchdowns offensively. Eli Zimmerman, has 2 interception on the year for the Tigers. For the Slaters, they also have a very good quarterback in Eric Striba(sr), Striba has compiled over 1300 yards in total yards, 635 passing, and 693 rushing, scoring 16 times in 7 games. Northwestern Lehigh holds a 10 point advantage on average, scoring 35 a game to 25 for Bangor. Defensively, both teams give up an average of 16 points a game. This one will most likely be decided by turnovers.
PREDICTION: Tigers win by 9

PFNDan570FB’s *Game of the Week*

Palmerton Blue Bombers(5-2) at North Schuylkill Spartans(5-2)
Last Meeting: Spartans won 38 to 0(2014 PLAYOFF GAME)
Streak: North Schuylkill has won 1

Key Player(s) to Watch:
Palmerton – Matt Machalik(jr)-(QB/FS), Emilio Gonzalez(jr)-(WR/MLB/OLB)
North Schuylkill – Joey Flail(jr)-(WR/CB), Neekoli Carabello(jr)-(T/DE)

Preview: Friday nights game between these two clubs looks to be one of the best offensive game around the league. Palmerton can score at will behind their leader Machalik, who accounts for 2384 yards of the teams 2992 total yards. Machalik has thrown for 23 touchdowns, ran for another 14. North Schuylkill can score with the best of them as well, putting up an average of 32 points a game, giving up 14. The Spartans are led by junior wide receiver Joey Flail, Jared Tinari(RB), (QB)Trevor Minalda, and a slew of very good defensive players, one of which is Neekoli Carabello, who has 35 tackles(8 for loss), 4 sacks, Collin McGee, who has 3 interceptions on the season, and the man on the line at the DE position, Steven Davis Jr. Palmerton may have the better offense on paper but the Spartans have by far played against much better competition in my opinion. As they say, defense wins championships, therefore….
PREDICTION: Spartans by 12

IN OTHER GAMES AROUND THE SCHUYLKILL-COLONIAL:
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: *ALL GAMES 7PM START*

Lehighton Indians(1-6) at Southern Lehigh Spartans(6-1)
Last Meeting: Spartans won 56 to 14(2021)
Streak: Southern Lehigh has won 1 dating back to at least 2004
PREDICTION: Spartans by 24

Jim Thorpe Olympians(3-4) at Notre Dame-GP(5-2)
Last Meeting: Olympians won 26 to 28(2021)-(PLAYOFF)
Streak: Jim Thorpe has won 1
PREDICTION: Crusaders by 12

Mahanoy Area Golden Bears(4-3) at Tri-Valley Bulldogs(7-0)
Last Meeting: Bulldogs won 47 to 0(2021)-(PLAYOFF), and 21 TO 0(2021)-(REGULAR SEASON)
Streak: Tri-Valley has won the last 5 games
PREDICTION: Bulldogs by 4

Marian Catholic Colts(4-3) at Williams Valley Vikings(5-2)
Last Meeting: Vikings won 35 to 7(2021)
Streak: Williams Valley has won the last 5 games
PREDICTION: Vikings by 16

Minersville Battlin’ Miners(4-3) at Palisades Pirates(5-2)
Last Meeting: N/A dating back to 2004
Streak: N/A
PREDICTION: Pirates by 2

Nativity BVM Green Wave(2-5) at Shenandoah Valley Blue Devils(1-6)
Last Meeting: Green Wave won 35 to 26(2021)
Streak: Nativity BVM has won the last 3
PREDICTION: Blue Devils by 6

Blue Mountain Eagles(4-3) at Saucon Valley Panthers(2-5)
Last Meeting: Panthers won 35 to 14(2021)
Streak: Saucon Valley has won at least 1 dating back to 2004
PREDICTION: Eagles by 15

Catasauqua Rough Riders(4-3) at Panther Valley Panthers(2-5)
Last Meeting: Rough Riders won 32 to 6(2021)
Streak: Catasauqua has won at least 1 dating back to 2004
PREDICTION: Rough Riders by 12

Tamaqua Blue Raiders(3-4) at Northern Lehigh Bulldogs(6-1)
Last Meeting: Bulldogs won 21 to 0(2021)
Streak: Northern Lehigh has won at least 1 dating back to 2004
PREDICTION: Bulldogs by 20

Pen Argyl Green Knights(2-5) at Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes(2-5)
Last Meeting: N/A
Streak: N/A
PREDICTION: Hurricanes by 6

Pine Grove Cardinals(1-6) at Salisbury Twp. Falcons(0-7)
Last Meeting: N/A
Streak: N/A
PREDICTION: Falcons by 1

SATURDAY FOOTBALL:

Pottsville Area Crimson Tide(3-4) at Wilson Area Warriors(0-7)
Last Meeting: Crimson Tide won 43 to 8(2021)
Streak: Pottsville has won 1
PREDICTION: Crimson Tide by 27
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BONUS COVERAGE:

State College Little Lions(7-0) at Harrisburg Cougars(5-1) 1:00pm
Last Meeting: Little Lions won 16 to 13(2021-PLAYOFF), Cougars won 15 to 13(2021-REGULAR SEASON)
Streak: State College has won 1
PREDICTION: Little Lions by 3

Parkland Trojans(4-3) at Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks(4-3) 7:00pm
Last Meeting: Trojans won 35 to 7(2021)
Streak: Parkland has won 1
PREDICTION: Trojans by 4
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HIGHLIGHT VIDEO FROM LAST WEEK’S COVERAGE:

Week-7 Prediction Record: 10-5
OVERALL PREDICTION RECORD: 55-25

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