Short Picks – Week 8

Tagged under: pfn

Bill Engelhardt | October 16, 2014

Week 7 had some wild games all across the state. My upset special of St. Joe’s over LaSalle College was spot on. I’ll mention a couple of great contests from last week’s schedule. Bethlehem Freedom beat Whitehall 29-28, West Allegheny scored a 42-41 win over Woodland Hills, and Old Forge won by a 17-14 margin over Lackawanna Trail. These are just a couple of outstanding contests from around the state.

If you have been reading my predictions the past few weeks you would know of my pointing out of the high scoring offenses. I would like to point out one game you might have missed from last week. Meadville scored 78 points, but lost the game to Warren by a 79-78 score. You think they forgot the defensive game plan?

Last week’s picks were a respectable 20 and 6. A couple of ranked teams playing each other should make for some good ones this week.

Starting in District 1, the Central Bucks South Titans play at home for the last time this season against the Pennridge Rams. Titans have a huge game in week 9 that might divert their attention from the task at hand. The Rams keep it close in the first half, but the Titans refocus during halftime…Central Bucks South.

The North Penn Knights are 4-3 and struggling toward a playoff berth. The Knights could take a step toward that berth if they can knock off the 7-0 Pennsbury Falcons. Never count out the Knights…North Penn.

The Garnet Valley Jaguars (6-1) are close to locking up a top seed playoff spot as they travel to Springfield-Delco home of the Cougars. The Cougars are undefeated at 7-0 and should do well in the D-1 AAA playoffs. I look for the Jags to pull off a mild upset this week…Garnet Valley.

West Chester Henderson visits the undefeated Red Raiders of Coatesville. The Red Raiders might be the best AAAA school in District 1…Coatesville.

In District 2, the Dunmore Bucks are 6-1 as they prepare for the Western Wayne Wildcats. The Bucks are gunning for a playoff game with Old Forge. Western Wayne is playoff bound with a 5-2 record. The Bucks are too much for the Wildcats…Dunmore.

An excellent matchup is on tap at Delaware Valley where the Warriors host the Scranton Knights. Both AAAA squads racked up 6-1 records. I have a feeling these two could meet again sometime in November…Scranton.

Philadelphia Archbishop Wood’s Vikings visits Monsignor Bonner. Bonner is undefeated. The Friars will face their toughest test to date…Archbishop Wood.

Also in District 12, Delaware Valley Charter Warriors (7-0) visit the undefeated Prep Charter Huskies. Excellent game between two very good teams, but one undefeated season comes to an end…Prep Charter.

Moving into District 9, the Elk County Catholic Crusaders travel to Kane to face a wounded Wolves squad. The Wolves lost two of their last three games by a total of 2 points. This is another tough game for the Wolves and it will probably come down to a point or two difference…Elk County Catholic.

In a game at Curwensville, the Golden Tide host the Brockway Rover Dogs. The Rover dogs have had some close losses lately. This week could be another heart breaker for the Rover Dogs. Roll Tide roll…Curwensville.

The Keystone Panthers welcome the high flying Gremlins of Karns City. The Gremlins face their toughest tests in the next two weeks, so this week should be a tune up…Karns City.

The Flying Dutchman of St. Marys visit the Clarion Bobcats. The Bobcats defense grounds the Flying Dutchman offense…Clarion.

The Bulldogs of Redbank Valley put together a 6-0 record to date. The Bulldogs will get a test this week from the Moniteau Warriors. Bulldogs bite and don’t let go…Redbank Valley.

In District 4, the Troy Trojans attempt to bounce back after last week’s first loss of the season when they travel to Towanda home of the Black Knights. The Trojans may be a bit down after last week, but should be able to manage a win…Troy.

In a game involving two contenders for the District 4 AAA title, the undefeated Bulldogs of Jersey Shore welcome the once beaten Seals of Selinsgrove. The Seals avoid the Bulldog bite…Selinsgrove.

The top two games in District 7 involve top ranked and undefeated team in the AAAA class and the AA class. In the AA, South Fayette’s Lions visit the Seton-LaSalle Rebels. This should be a real dual between two outstanding quarterbacks in South Fayette’s Scott Brumbaugh and the Rebels’ Tyler Perone. The last team with the ball wins…South Fayette.

`In the WPIAL slobber knocker of the week, PFN’s # 1 ranked Pittsburgh Central Catholic hosts PFN’s # 6 ranked Pine-Richland. Pine-Richland’s Rams are a slight underdog to the Vikings in this match up. I think Rams’ quarterback Ben DiNucci is underrated and just might be out to prove something. My upset special…Pine-Richland.

The Myersdale Red Raiders lost last week for the first time this season. The Red Raiders are home this week to entertain the undefeated Mustangs of Portage. The Red Raiders defense can’t contain the stable of running backs of the Mustangs…Portage.

The Altoona Mt. Lions continue to show progress in the WPIAL. The Mountain Lions travel to Hempfield in search of win number 6 and berth in the playoffs…Altoona.

In District 11, the Palmerton Blue Bombers host the Tigers of Northwestern Lehigh. The Tigers were upset last week by Southern Lehigh. The Blue Bombers might catch the Tigers a little flat after that loss, but the Tigers should prevail…Northwestern Lehigh.

Bethlehem Freedom made a big statement last week in beating Whitehall. The Patriots will need a yeomen effort in the next two games if they hope to remain undefeated as they face Parkland this week and Easton next week. Parkland will be playing on the Patriots turf, so I kind of like the home team. But my hunch is…Parkland.

`Both Stroudsburg and Bethlehem Catholic are undefeated. Both the Mounties and the Golden Hawks have outstanding defenses and high scoring offenses. This slobber knocker will be a thriller with the Golden Hawks coming out ahead on the scoreboard…Bethlehem Catholic.

Jim Thorpe’s Olympic Olympians and the Spartans of North Schuylkill are vying for the top seed in District 11’s AA classification. At 7-0 the winner here would almost be sure of a top seed. The Spartans look like the team with a better offense…North Schuylkill.

East Pennsboro lost for the first time this season in week 7. The Panthers will attempt to rebound from that loss when they welcome the Crusaders of Bishop McDevitt. Not a good week for rebounding…Bishop McDevitt.

Northern Lebanon’s Vikings and the Annville-Cleona Dutchman have identical 6-1 records. The Vikings have a very strong defense while the Dutchman have a well balanced offense…Annville-Cleona.

In other games:
Rustin over Unionville
Conestoga over Radnor
Neshaminy over Bensalem Twp.
Dunmore over Western Wayne
Berwick over Pittston
Riverside over Montrose
Cumberland Valley over Central Dauphin
Pottsville over Daniel Boone
Hershey over Lower Dauphin
Newport over Upper Dauphin
Montgomery over Sayre
North Penn over Canton
North Star over Conemaugh Twp.
Central over Bellefonte
Central Cambria over Richland
Johnstown over Forest Hills
Penn Cambria over Westmont
Apollo Ridge over Deer Lakes
Mapletown over California
Baldwin over Canon-Mac
Fox Chapel over Butler
Cameron County over Coudersport
Dubois over Franklin
Cambridge Springs over Union City
Warren over Corry
Reynolds over Mercer
Southern Lehigh over Catasauqua
Pen Argyl over Wilson
Boys’ Latin over Mastery Charter North