2014 Short Picks – Week 11
Tagged under: pfn
Bill Engelhardt | November 5, 2014
Week 11 starts the trek to Hershey except for the WPIAL teams who have the first round under their belts. “Short Picks” did not score well last week as I posted a 11-7 record. I will attempt to cover as many of the games this week as time will allow. Some of the #1 seeds versus #16 will be missing. Normally those first, and even the second and third seed teams advance to the second round, but never bet on it.
The Altoona Mountain Lions (8-2) made a strong showing this season in WPIAL action. The Mountain Lions will face # 1 seed Pine-Richland. Altoona puts up a great effort, but the Rams are a couple of play makers better…Pine-Richland.
Plum’s Mustangs tangle with the Tigers of McKeesport. Tigers won the regular season game with the Mustangs by a 20-3 score. Not much different this time around…McKeesport.
Penn Trafford is a #2 seed while the Warriors opponent this week is the #7 seed North Allegheny Tigers. I see a potential upset in the making…North Allegheny.
A great early round match-up pits the Wolverines of Woodland Hills and the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings. Central Catholic is the favorite but I like the Wolverines…Woody High.
In the AAA class, Indiana’s Indians visit the Central Valley Warriors. I think we will see the Warriors in Heinz Field…Central Valley.
Mars’ Fightin’ Planets travel to Thomas Jefferson. The Jaguars are a contender year in and year out and this year is no different…Thomas Jefferson.
Another perennial contender for the WPIAL title is the West Allegheny Indians. The Indians host the Franklin Regional Panthers. Indians want that trip to Heinz Field…West Allegheny.
In the double AA bracket, the South Fayette Lions should have no trouble with the South Park Eagles…South Fayette.
The Quips of Aliquippa meet the Mount Pleasant Vikings. The Vikings will put up a good fight for the Quips…Aliquippa.
Apollo-Ridge takes its 9-1 record into Washington to take on the undefeated Little Prexies. The Vikings season comes to a sudden stop…Washington.
Tyler Perone quarterbacks the Seton-LaSalle Rebels. The Rebels face the Highlands Golden Rams. Tyler is the difference…Seton-LaSalle.
In the WPIAL class A games, I see but one fairly competitive game between the Jeannette Jayhawks and the Neshannock Lancers. Jayhawks win by a touchdown…Jeannette.
In an inter-district game, Punxsutawney travels to Somerset. The Eagles are coming off their first loss of the season and should rebound nicely against the Woodchucks…Somerset.
Greater Johnstown’s Trojans travel to Clearfield in a first round game between two AAA schools. The Trojans lost three times this season to teams having a total of just two losses…Johnstown.
In the District 5 quarterfinals, Shade’s Panthers host the Black Panthers of Northern Bedford. This game will be decided by extra point…Shade.
Everett’s Warriors venture over the mountain to face the Meyersdale Red Raiders. The Red Raiders move on to the semi-finals…Meyersdale.
In District 6, the Penns Manor Comets meet a familiar playoff foe in the Blue Devils of Bellwood-Antis. Comets are no match for the Blue Devils this time around…Bellwood-Antis.
Portage entertains the Homer Center Wildcats. The Mustangs have too many thoroughbreds in the stable…Portage.
Huntingdon’s Bearcats qualified for the District 6 playoffs as a number 6 seed and play number 3 seed Juniata. The Indians play a schedule loaded with District 3 teams making this a tough game to pick. The Bearcats schedule seems a bit tougher, but I still like the Indians…Juniata.
Penn Cambria’s Panthers travel over the mountain to Roaring Spring home of the Central Scarlet Dragons. This will be a defensive struggle with the team making the fewest mistakes coming out a winner in low scoring contest. If the Scarlet Dragons can contain Panthers quarterback Mark Mardula, they win. If not…Penn Cambria.
Westinghouse leaves the confines of District 8 and travels to Chestnut Ridge in District 5. Ridge should roll…Chestnut Ridge.
In the District 9 semi-final of the AA class, a rematch between the Flying Dutchman of St. Marys and the Moniteau Warriors takes place at St. Marys High School. The Flying Dutchman won the first time around and should do so this time. By a whisker…St.Marys.
In District 9 single A action, Redbank Valley hosts the Brockway Rover Dogs. Both schools are coming off big score losses in week 10. I like the home team…Redbank Valley.
The Kane Wolves lost 3 games this season by a total of 3 points. One of those one point losses was to this week’s opponent the Elk County Catholic Crusaders. The Crusaders have the home field advantage, but the entire town of Kane should be on hand at St. Marys Stadium to see the Wolves win by a point…Kane.
In District 10, two evenly matched squads get together in Wilmington where the Greyhounds welcome the Cambridge Springs Blue Devils. Greyhounds lose by a nose…Cambridge Springs.
The Iroquois Braves test the up and down Sharpsville Blue Devils. I think the Blue Devils should be up…Sharpsville.
The Lakeview Sailors won’t find clear sailing when they visit the Steelers of Farrell. This one will go right down to the final gun…Lakeview.
West Middlesex welcomes the Cochranton Cardinals. The Big Reds are the favorite and I believe that is the right way to go here…West Middlesex.
Tigers versus Tigers when the Fairview Tigers meet the Sharon Tigers. I like the Tigers…Sharon.
The Greenville Trojans and the Northwestern Wildcats travel to a neutral site in Wilmington. The Trojans are on an eight game winning streak…Greenville.
The Seneca Bobcats run into a team on a 10 game winning streak. That team would be the Slippery Rock Rockets and the winning continues…Slippery Rock.
In District 11, the AAAA Whitehall Zephyrs tangle for the second time this season with the Bethlehem Freedom Patriots. Zephyrs won the first time around by a 29-28 score. Same score this time with the Zephyrs having the 29…Whitehall.
Parkland’s Trojans travel to Stroudsburg for what should be a slugfest. Mounties have a 10-0 record on the line. The Trojans face a tough battle on the road, but win by a nats eyelash…Parkland.
In a District 2 AAAA game, the Delaware Valley Warriors will attempt to beat Wyoming Valley West for the second time this season. The first time around ended in a 43-35 score. Home field advantage to the Warriors…Delaware Valley.
In the District 11 single A, Piux X and Mahanoy’s Golden Bears meet Pius X stadium. The Royals move on to round 2…Pius X.
Williams Valley enters the playoff to face a foe the Vikings lost to in the opening game of the season. The Vikes lost to the Marian Catholic Cots by a 18-7 score. Since that loss the Vikings have improved…Williams Valley.
In District 2, the Old Forge Blue Devils had no trouble in beating Holy Cross in week 8 and the Blue Devils should have no trouble in this first round game with Holy Cross…Old Forge.
Lackawanna Trail drew the Susquehanna Community Sabers as their first round opponent. The Lions find the Sabers a tough draw…Susquehanna.
South Williamsport finished the season with a 9-1 record. The Mountaineers host the Canton Warriors. ‘eers roll…South Williamsport.
Wellsboro beat North Penn Blossburg last week by 28-26. This comes down to which team can eliminate just one of last week’s mistakes…Wellsboro.
District 12 and District 1 double A champs will meet in two weeks. This week West Catholic begins its run to Hershey with a win over Neumann Goretti…West Catholic.
The District 1 team that I think will face West in two weeks is the Bristol Warriors. The Warriors get a first round win over Valley Forge Military…Bristol.
District 4 class AA has the Lewisburg Dragons with a 7-3 record playing the Montoursville Warriors. Dragons are too much for the Warriors…Lewisburg.
In the District 4 AAA, Selinsgrove’s Seals have a re-match with Shikellamy. Seals won the first time around and should win again…Selinsgrove.
Shamokin’s Indians are paired with District 4’s number 1 seed, the Jersey Shore Bulldogs. The Bulldogs might be able to go a couple of rounds into the playoff this year…Jersey Shore.
In the District 2 AAA, Scranton Prep put together a fine 8-2 record. The Cavaliers take on the Berwick Bulldogs who have re-established some dominance in District 2. Don’t be surprised if the Cavs pull off an upset of the Bulldogs. Close call for the Bulldogs…Berwick.
Crestwood Comets and the Dallas Mountaineers meet in this first round of the AAA District 2 championship. The Comets have been overpowering all season…Crestwood.
In District 11 AAA, Bethlehem Catholic faces off with the Lehighton Indians. BECA’s schedule looks like it would prepare the Golden Eagles a bit better than what the Lehighton slate would…Bethlehem Catholic.
Southern Lehigh and Saucon Valley get together for the second time this season. Saucon Valley’s Panthers won the first meeting and I see the Spartans winning this time…Southern Lehigh.
In District 1, West Chester Henderson got an 8 seed and thus drew #9 seed North Penn. The Knights scrapped and scratched their way into the playoff after a rough start. I have said all season “Don’t count the knights out”…North Penn.
Quakertown’s Panthers took their first loss of the season last week. Can’t be sure how the Panthers will bounce back from that upset as they prepare for the Pennridge Rams. I see a defensive battle with low scoring. Panthers offense scores just enough to garner the win…Quakertown.
Central Bucks South got a 10 seed and drew 7th seed Garnet Valley. C.B. South’s Titans have really struggled lately losing two straight. Maybe the Jaguars make it three straight…Garnet Valley.
In AAAA District 3, the Blue Streaks of Manheim Twp. will have their hand full with the Exeter Twp. Eagles. The Eagles by a field goal…Exeter.
In the AAA class of District 3, Garden Spot’s Spartans beat the Baron’s of Manheim Central in week 9 of the season. The Spartans are coming off a 35-14 loss last week. Barons take advantage of a Spartan letdown…Manheim Central.
Cocalico’s Eagles finished the regular season at 7-3 with a number of games being decided by a couple of points. The Eagles opponent East Pennsboro’s Panthers logged a fine 8-2 record. The game will be close right to the end and in that case I like…Cocalico.
Annville-Cleona’s Dutchman host the Newport Buffaloes. Both squads are 8-2. For some odd reason I like the Buffaloes…Newport.
In other games:
Wyomissing over Boiling Springs
Cumberland Valley over Penn Manor
Academy Park over Pottsgrove
Upper Dublin over Council Rock South
Pennsbury over Dowingtown West
Downingtown East over Perkiomen Valley
Delaware Valley Charter over Prep Charter
Springfield Twp. over New Hope -Solebury
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