2014 Short Picks – Week 7

Tagged under: pfn

Pa Football News | October 9, 2014

If you are paying attention to the scores of the games from around the state, you probably noticed the continued dominance of the offense over the defense. I am not sure why that is occurring, but I have a hunch it might be the emergence of the wildcat offense being so much more prominent in high school football. Whatever the reason it sure has made for some high scoring games. Last week’s “Short Picks” had one of the worst weeks in PFN history as I racked up a dismal 16 and 10 record. But hey this is a new week so let’s get started.

I will open with a District 5 “Backyard Brawl” with the Meyersdale Red Raiders taking a short bus ride to nearby Berlin to face the 5-1 Mountaineers. The Red Raiders are riding a 6-0 record into this fray. The Red Raiders won last year’s big rivalry game by a 46-38 score. Both towns will be all in for this one as the Berlin stadium will be standing room only. I like the same score this year as in ’13, but I like the ‘Eers this time around…Berlin.

The Everett Warriors in District 5 face another top team this week as they travel to Mt. Union. The Trojans look like a strong contender for a District 6 title. The Warriors haven’t seen speed like these Trojans…Mount Union.

In another inter-district game, the Clearfield Bison (4-2) visit the Tyrone Golden Eagles. This is another one of those games that usually goes right down to the wire. Clearfield won last year by a 27-26 score. Same score this year with the home team on top…Tyrone.

The Bobcats of Blairsville have their sights set on a Heritage Conference Crown. The Bobcats travel to once beaten Penns Manor. The Bobcats are striving for a District 6 top seed…Blairsville.

In District 9 the Kane Wolves surprised me with a 9-7 win last week over Brockway. The Wolves have another tough test this week as they travel to Curwensville home of the Golden Tide. Wolves howl, but the Tide rolls…Curwensville.

The Punxsutawney Woodchucks travel to Saint Mary’s home of the Flying Dutchman. The Dutchman keep it close, but the Chucks should prevail…Punxsutawney.

The Brockway Rover Dogs have another dandy this week when they visit the Elks of Ridgway. The Elks have become quite a force in District 9…Ridgway.

Two huge games are on tap in District 2. The first finds the undefeated Crestwood Comets at the Spartans of Wyoming Valley West. The Spartans are 5-1 and have a frenzied home field crowd supporting them. But the Comets should bring a pretty good fan base with them. By a whisker…Crestwood.

In another game going right down to the wire, the Old Forge Blue Devils with a 6-0 record ramble into the home of the Lions of Lackawanna Trail. The Blue Devils have a winning swagger about them…Old Forge.

In District 3, the Delone Catholic Squires will attempt to hand the Bermudian Springs Eagles their first loss of the season. The Eagles crib is a tough place for visitors to play…Bermudian Springs.

The Cedar Cliff Colts are 5-1 as they prepare for PFN’s top five ranked Crusaders of Bishop McDevitt. In the college ranks last week, we saw an unprecedented number of upsets. Could this be the case this week in Pa. high school football? If so this game might fit the bill…Cedar Cliff.

In District 4, a big game pits two undefeated squads as Troy’s Trojans host the Panthers of North Penn. The winner will in all likely hood be in the driver’s seat for the Northern Tier League title and a very high seed come playoff time. The Panthers by a nat’s eyelash…North Penn.

Two jauggernauts in District 12 meet when the Explorers of LaSalle (5-1) tangle with the St. Joe’s Prep Hawks. The Hawks have been playing out of state teams with the exception of one game as they have produced a record of 2-3. Don’t be fooled by the Hawks record into thinking this will be a cake walk for the Explorers. In fact I would not be surprised to see the Hawks come out on top in another upset special…St. Joe’s Prep.

The Girard Yellow Jackets in District 10 lost for the first time last week and will attempt to regroup this week against the 5 win and 1 loss Cambridge Springs Blue Devils. The Yellow Jackets rebound and sting…Girard.

The Slippery Rock Rockets welcome the General McLane Lancers. The Rockets will be trying to protect an undefeated season while the Lancers come in with just one loss. In 2013 the Rockets lost just once in the regular season and that loss came at the hands of the Lancers. ’14 looks like a repeat…General McLane.

In the slobber knocker in District 11, the once beaten Parkland Trojans entertain the Red Rovers of Easton. The Red Rovers offense is well rounded and explosive. I don’t think the Trojans can keep up the pace with…Easton.

A good match up in District 11 finds the undefeated Tigers of Northwestern Lehigh hosting the Spartans of Southern Lehigh. Both offenses will make for a high scoring game. Tigers score one touchdown more than the Spartans…Northwestern Lehigh.

In the other District 11 slobber knocker, Whitehall (5-1) hosts the Bethlehem Freedom Patriots who are riding a 6-0 record. The Zephyrs are coming off a loss last week to Easton in a game where Whitehall gave up 63 points. Whitehall and Bethlehem Freedom will engage in a slugfest with the Patriots winning by a TD…Bethlehem Freedom.

Council Rock North is one of the top AAAA schools in District 1. The Indians take on a feisty Harry S. Truman team. Truman puts up a good fight but the Indians are a bit too much…Council Rock North.

My source, Mike Smoll, informed earlier in the season to watch the Quakertown Community team as he felt they could be a contender in the Continental Conference. The Panthers are 6-0 and should have no trouble with Central Bucks West this week…Quakertown Community.

Undefeated Pennsbury hosts the Pennridge Rams. The Rams have but one loss to date and should be in this game to the final whistle. I expect a close call, but a win for…Pennsbury.

Abington’s Galloping Ghosts opened the season with three straight wins, but followed with three losses to three top schools in District 1. Abington should not be counted out of the payoffs just yet. The Ghosts face another top ranked team in the Titans of Central Bucks South. Dave Rackovan left the head coaching job at C.B. South, but he did not leave the cupboard bare…Central Bucks South.

The Upper Dublin Cardinals and the Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials are tied for the conference lead. My source says the Cardinals win going away…Upper Dublin.

A couple of good games in WPIAL involving top ranked teams are on tap for District 7 fans. The first one involves undefeated Seton-LaSalle’s Rebels and the 4-2 Quaker Valley Quakers. This looks like an easy pick, but I am giving the Quakers a pretty good chance for an upset…Quaker Valley.

The Avonworth Antelopes match up fairly evenly with the Trojans of C.W. North Catholic. Both schools are undefeated with this game being rated a tossup. I think the home standing Trojans win by a point or two…North Catholic.

New Brighton’s Lions travel to Washington to face the undefeated Little Prexies. In another closely fought game…Washington.

In other games:
Coatesville over Kennent
North Penn over Bensalem
Dunmore over Lakeland
Berwick over Williamsport
Cocalico over Elizabethtown
Governor Mifflin over Daniel Boone
Canton over Montgomery
Selinsgrove over Montoursville
Northern Bedford over West Branch
Tussey over Juniata Valley
Central Cambria over Penn Cambria
Altoona over Kiski
Montour over Blackhawk
Perry over Westinghouse
Dubois over Bradford
Smithport over Cameron Co.
Fort LeBoeuf over Corry
Oil City over Titusville
Palisades over Bangor
Jim Thorpe over Mahanoy Area