Johnson Motors presents: PROTIME PREDICTIONS by Phil

Tagged under: News

Phil Myers | November 21, 2018

Last year Protime was covering a game in the middle of the state.  When the game was over, he headed home.  After driving for an hour east on I-80, he realized he had gone the wrong way.  He needed to go west, not east.  Finally, when arrived home at 1:00 A.M. instead of 11:00 P.M., Mrs. Protime asked what took him so long.  “Overtime,” Protime fibbed.  “Oh, I thought maybe you took a wrong turn,” she jokingly replied.  “No, my sense of direction is impeccable,” smiled Protime sheepishly.

Protime knows that one of the keys to a good offense is misdirection, because it’s deceiving and creates confusion for the defense.  He also knows that come this time of year, it is very difficult to predict winners because records and stats can be misleading.  Besides, everyone is a winner that has made it this far.  Protime went 22-8 last week and stands at 274-67 (.804) for the year.  The Profit of Premonition will make a valiant attempt to discern this week’s state quarter-final winners.

State College 12-1 vs. Pine-Richland 10-2 – This should be a good one.  The Little Lions are led by signal-caller Tommy Friberg and his 2,002 yards passing with 23 TDs.  The WR tandem of Cohen Russell (795 yards – 9 TDs) and Keaton Ellis (14 TDs) are Friberg’s main targets.  RB Dresyn Green has 929 yards and 11 scores on only 92 carries.  Fellow halfback, Isaiah Edwards, has found the end zone 15 times.  Tyson Brennan and Sammy Knipe lead a menacing Lion defense.  Sophomore QB Cole Spencer is playing with a lot of confidence for the Rams.  He’s thrown for 1,342 yards and 13 TDs, plus he’s scurried for 688 more yards and 11 scores.  RB Luke Meckler has rushed for 1,257 yards and 15 touchdowns.  Andrew Kristofic, a Notre Dame recruit, is a huge advantage on the offensive line for Pine-Richland.  Tyler King and Anthony Cerninara are like a stone wall on defense.  Miguel Jackson leads the team with 11 sacks.  Protime’s crystal ball says Pine-Richland’s Rams win, 28-17.

Bethlehem Freedom 12-1 Vs. St. Josephs Prep 10-0 – Jared Jenkins quarterbacks Freedom’s offense and has pitched the pigskin for 1,819 yards with 25 TDs.  Wide outs Gabriel Caton and Vincent Reph lead in TD receptions with 8 and 7 respectively.  RB Jalen Stewart leads the backs with 9 TDs, while Matt Russin leads in yardage, averaging 9 yards per tote.  Sophomore Kyle McCord is the real deal at QB for the Hawks as he has 2,140 yards passing plus 27 TD tosses.  Receivers Johnny Freeman (647 yards – 8 TDs) and Marvin Harrison (565 yards – 8 TDs) spell trouble for defensive secondaries.  Kolbe Burrell has 631 yards running the ball and Marques Mason has scored 15 TDs, 9 rushing.  The Patriots may give nationally ranked St. Joes a scare, but still will fall short, 38-23.

Coatesville 13-0 vs. North Penn 13-0 – All you D-1 fans, here is the game that was anticipated before the season even began.  Coatesville wins by scoring a lot of points in a very flashy way.  North Penn just wins as evidenced by 7 victories of 10 points or less and two of those were double overtime wins.  The Red Raiders are led by QB Ricky Ortega (2,005 yards passing and 34 TDs, plus 811 yards rushing with 12 TDs), RB Aaron Young (1,430 yards-24 TDs), and WR Dapree Bryant (985 yards receiving and 15 scores).  The O-Line has 89 pancake blocks to their credit and Than Hylen has booted all 67 point after tries through the uprights.  MLB Nikolas Thompson has 72 solo tackles and 15 of those were for losses.  The Knights’ offensive leader is RB Shamar Edwards with 1,545 yards and 13 touchdowns.  Julian White has 14 rushing TDs.  QB Solomon Robinson has over 1,000 yards passing to keep defenses honest.  Protime predicts Coatesville to win by a score of 35-20.

Hollidaysburg 9-4 vs. Archbishop Wood 8-3 – The Golden Tigers have a big task this week.  They’ve been playing well of late, but Wood is a different beast.  The Tigers are led by Brady Walters, the QB who has thrown for 1,679 yards plus scrambled for over 1,000 markers.  He’s rushed for 17 scores and tossed the agate for 18 more.  RB Nate Fisher has 15 tallies and WR Jacob Sensenig has 7 receiving toushdowns.  PK Ethan Pinter has only missed one PAT all year.  The Golden Tiger defense is led by Gus Dellinger taking down 114 opposing ball carriers, Hunter Barr’s team leading 11 tackles for loss, and DJ Heim.  The Vikings are getting some key personnel back in time for the playoffs.  QB Jack Colyar, who led Wood to the past two state titles missed most of the year, but has come back to throw 5 TD tosses in the past two games.  RB Tom Santiago is the workhorse out of the backfield this season.  He has 1,548 yards rushing and scored 14 TDs.  Chris Blackstone, who was a big contributor last year, also missed much of the season, but has comeback recently.  Look for Wood to dominate the line of scrimmage and the game, even though they may not be quite as big as in the past.  Archbishop Wood 38 Hollidaysburg 14.

West Allegheny 10-2 vs. Penn Hills 13-0 – RB Nico Flati scored 4 TDs in helping the West A. Indians upset top-ranked Gateway last week.  Brother Dante leads the team in rushing yardage with 909 yards and 9 Scores.  Kam Kruze quarterbacks, and has 1,211 yards passing with 14 TDs plus another 7 TDs running.  Placekicker, John McArdle has booted 7 field goals.  Mateo Vandamia has 83 tackles with 20 being for losses.  He also has 11 sacks.  Ian McBain has 82 tackles for West A.  Hollis Mathis has worked some medicine man-like magic this year for the Penn Hills Indians.  He’s thrown for 2,358 yards and 34 scores.  He can and will run too (6 TDs).  Dante Cephas has nabbed 11 TD passes and has 726 yards.  Daquon Hardy has caught 10 TD passes and has 17 total scores.  The Tank, Tank Smith, has galloped for 1,426 yards and 19 touchdowns.  Protime’s coin flip came up Indians, Penn Hills that is, by a score of 34-32.

Berks Catholic 10-2 vs. Bishop McDevitt 11-1 – Oh, when the Saints come marching in, the Crusaders of McDevitt better be ready for that tune.  Terrance Derr has 1,111 yards and 15 touchdown throws for Berks.  Abdul Macfoy leads the rushers with with 953 yards and 13 scores.  RB Brandon George has 13 TDs to his credit.  George also is one of Berks’ top defenders.  The Crusader offense has some prolific numbers.  QB Chase Diehl makes it look easy at times with 3,430 yards and 41 TD tosses.  WR Nazir Burnett has 70 catches for 1,581 yards and 24 touchdowns!  WR T’nyis Becker has 947 yards hauling in passes and 9 TDs plus another 6 rushing the pigskin.  RB CJ Reyes-Diggs traversed for 1,360 yards and 13 TDs.  Protime sees it 41-40 McDevitt.

Erie Cathedral Prep 10-3 vs. South Fayette 12-1 – QB Connor Schleicher has 1,172 yards flinging the agate with 15 TDs for the Ramblers.  His main target is Jack Oedekoven who has snabbed 10 TD tosses.  Billy Lucas has scurried for 1,318 yards and 16 touchdowns.  Schleicher has 10 rushing scores.  Colin Kelly has kicked 7 FGs.  Jaheim Williams is the man on Prep’s defense.  Lions’ QB Jamie Diven has 3,031 yards and 44 touchdowns through the air.  Mike Trimbur has 57 catches for 1,104 yards and 17 scores.  Charley Rossi has caught 9 TD tosses.  RB Drew Franklin has scored 11 times.  D-1 kicker, Ryan Coe, is one of the best kickers Protime has seen for awhile.  Coe could be a huge factor, just as he was against Thomas Jefferson.  However, Protime had a little birdie tell him Erie Prep wins, 31-27.

Sharon 9-3 vs. Bald Eagle Area 11-2 – The Tigers of Sharon are peaking at the right time as they are coming off wins over unbeaten teams the past two weeks.  Lane Voytik has pitched the pigskin for 2,551 yards and 26 scores.  CJ Parchman has hauled in 64 passes for 974 yards and 9 TDs.  RB Jordan Wilson has rumbled for 1,722 yards and scored 24 touchdowns.  Luke Gaston heads up an improved defense.  Josh Torr has 10 tackles for loss.  The Bald Eagle Area Bald Eagles are not to be counted out, in spite of losing their top running back.  They have put together a nice run.  Jaden Jones is the straw that stirs the drink, as they say, on offense.  BEA’s quarterback has 2,833 yards passing with 32 TDs.  WR Nick Turner leads the receiving corps in yardage and TDs scored with 9.  RB Blake Roberts is heating up.  On defense, Kael Gardner has 128 tackles with 16 for losses.  Roberts has 93 tackles with 14 being for losses, and Tommy Snyder has 10 sacks.  Protime has it Sharon 33 Bald Eagle 24.

York Catholic 12-0 vs. Southern Columbia 13-0 – The Fighting Irish are confident that they can beat the defending 2A champs.  But, to do so they will have to play flawlessly.  The defense will be one of the keys and York has the Kohl twins wreaking havoc on opposing offenses.  Both have over 100 tackles, with Jarred having 17 of those for losses while Harris has 12 tackles for losses.  Offensively, Wesley Burns has 1,154 yards slinging the ball along with 14 TDs.  Noah Kiel leads all receivers in TD catches, while Manual Montes leads in yardage gained on receptions.  RBs Cole Witman and Massimo Antolick have scored 15 and 11 touchdowns respectively.  The Tigers’ offense is led by QB Stone Hollenbach (1,277 yards – 20 TDs), WR Julian Fleming (62 grabs – 1,290 yards – 18 TDs), Gaige Garcia (1,542 yards – 30 TDs on 152 carries), and brother Gavin (975 yards – 19 TDs on 88 totes).  Max Tillett and Cal Haladay headline a carnivorous Tiger defense.  SCA 37 and York Catholic 17.

The Others:

Upper Dublin 31 West Chester Rustin 23 – Many are favoring the Golden Knights, but the Cardinals will be tweeting and singing a happy song after defeating the Knights in a really good game.

Manheim Central 35 Cocalico 28 – Upset minded Cocalico gives the Barons a run for their money.  However, the maroon and grey have their sights set on Hershey and they will their way to a victory over the Eagles.

Bethlehem Catholic 42 Pottsgrove 28 – Beca High has found some mojo of late and that will transcend into another win.  In the battle of the birdies, the Golden Hawks prove superiority over the Falcons.

Imhotep 18 Valley View 14 – This will be a tremendous cat fight with the Panthers scratching out the victory at the end.  The Valley View Cougars have one of the better defenses down east, but Imhotep’s is ever so slightly better.

Middletown 28 Conwell-Egan 21 – The Blue Raiders find a way to edge the CEC Eagles in an entertaining affair and keep alive their hopes of getting to the dance for the third consecutive year.

Scranton Prep 34 Montoursville 21 – The Cavaliers of Scranton Prep appear to have the upper hand on the Warriors of Montoursville.  The Cavalier defense is one of the best in the east.

Richland 24 West Catholic 20 – The Rams meet the Burrs and triumphantly return home with the ‘W’.  The reward for the Rams is probably a date with Southern Columbia.  But first things first and the Burrs are always a tough out.

Steel Valley 40 South Side 23 – The Ironmen have been playing lights out since an early season shellacking by Shady Side.  In fact, the Ironmen have not scored less than 31 points in a game all year.  This will be South Side’s second attempt to knock off the Ironmen, but the Rams will not be able to prevail.

Wilmington 34 Ridgway 7 – A short week doesn’t help the Elkers against the always tough Greyhounds.  The past two weeks, the Elker ‘D’ kept them in the game so the offense could mount 4^th quarter comebacks.  Protime doesn’t see it happening this week versus Wilmington.

Lackawanna Trail 21 Halifax 11 – Another battle of the cats finds the Lackawanna Trail Lions reigning superior to the Wildcats of Halifax.

Farrell 48 Coudersport 20 – The revenge tour is over for the Falcons as they defeated three teams in a row that had beaten them during the regular season.  Has that ever been done before?  But alas, their prize is the #1 single A team in the state, the Farrell Steelers.

Juniata Valley 26 United 24 – This actually may be one of the more exciting games and Protime will be there.  The Hornets buzz off with the win over the United Lions.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!!!

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews