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Hollywood’s Cutting Room Floor- EPC Week Nine

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| October 18, 2023


With Just Two Weeks Left in the Regular Season Still so much yet to Decided in the District XI Playoff Race.

As the 2023 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference season winds down there still so much to play for as the EPC only occupies spots in the 4A, 5A and 6A classifications only Allentown Central Catholic have clinched one of the for spots in 4A Bethlehem Catholic currently sits in second place. There are three openings in the 5A as only Southern Lehigh is a lock, but they are in the Colonial Schuylkill League. Pocono Mountain West, Whitehall and Pleasant Valley hold the 2-4 place with East Stroudsburg South in 5th. Three teams clinched a spot in 6A: Unbeaten Parkland, and two one loss teams sit in second and third Nazareth and Northampton have a spot. Emmaus, Freedom along with Wilkes-Barre Area from District 2 follow. Stroudsburg, Easton and Williamsport (District 4) occupy 7-9th spot as eight teams will qualify.

With no further adieu, let’s look back to this past weekend’s games and what we can look forward to this weekend as well as the current District XI Official Power Rankings:

Week Eight Final Scores

Louis Dieruff 38 East Stroudsburg North 14
East Stroudsburg South 40 Stroudsburg 7
Bethlehem Freedom 20 Easton 7
Emmaus 21 Bethlehem Liberty 6
Nazareth 56 Pleasant Valley 0
Parkland 40 Bethlehem Catholic 7
Northampton 28 Pocono Mountain West 3
Pocono Mountain East 18 William Allen 8 OT
Allentown Central Catholic 30 Whitehall 14

This Week’s Games and Predictions:

(4-4) Whitehall Zephyrs at (2-6) Bethlehem Liberty Hurricanes Thursday 6PM at BASD Stadium

The Zephyrs blew a lead last week against Central Vikings after leading at halftime. Whitehall has lost three games in a row and will need to win this game to give themselves a chance to secure a District XI 5A playoff spot as they will finish up next week against rival Northampton. Trey Dogmanits did throw for almost 200 yards last week but were shutout in the second half. The Hurricanes have lost six in a row and only managed 36 yards rushing against Emmaus last week. Anthony Vega caught five passes for 90 yards in the loss. The Zephyrs Need This Game Desperately Zephs by 10.

(0-8) William Allen Canaries at (4-4) Stroudsburg Mountaineers Friday 7PM

Allen, quite possibly played their best game of the season in an overtime loss to PME last week. QB Jamier Thomas scored the only touchdown in a 14-8 decision. The Mounties gave up 40 points to ESS and allowed South to rush for over 300 yards and six touchdowns in the upset loss. Expect the Mounties to bounce back in a big way by 40.

(7-1) Northampton Konkrete Kids at (1-7) East Stroudsburg North Timberwolves Friday 7PM

This will be the final game for the K-Kids in the EPC North as next year the will be in the Northampton Division with Liberty, Freedom, Becahi, Nazareth and Easton. Northampton has a record of 38-1 versus EPC North competiition in the five years they participated. ESN is struggling but getting some good production from QB Wayne King, a Sophomore will solidify the position ext few years. Northampton wins by 60.

(2-6) Pocono Mountain East Cardinals at (4-4) PLeasant Valley Bears Friday 7PM

Xander Gonzalez scored the game winning touchdown last week in overtime against William Allen on a 10 yard run and snapped a three game losing streak. Pleasant Valley has lost three straight games but are still in the hunt for a 4A District playoff spot. Expect Pleasant Valley to win this one by 10 points.

(3-5) East Stroudsburg South Cavaliers at (2-6) Louis Dieruff Huskies Friday 7PM J. Birney Crum Stadium

Louis Gonzalez picked up over a hundred yards of total offense and had a couple of touchdowns in the win over ESN. South is feast or famine with scoring 43 points in their three wins but only 6 points in their five losses. Nathan Gray gained 235 yards on 26 carries last week and two touchdowns. Cavs get it done by 35 over Dieruff

(6-2) Allentown Central Catholic Vikings at (5-3) Pocono Mountain West Panthers Friday 7PM

The Vikings rallied to score 23 unanswered second half points against Whitehall last week in a 30-14 win. Though they lost Nathan Schults and DJ Kelly to injuries. QB Antonio Fantanez threw for almost 180 yards on 20-24 passing and three touchdowns. PMW also had a 3-0 halftime lead on Northampton last week before losing 28-3. Ryder Bray threw for 88 yards for the Panthers but had less than 40 yards rushing in the contest. Expect the Vikings to roll on by 28.

(8-0) Parkland Trojans at (3-5) Easton Red Rovers Friday 7PM at Cottingham Stadium

A balanced Trojan attack last week against Bethlehem Catholic with 235 yards passing and 130 rushing. QB Luke Spang tossed for 222 yards on 16 of 25 passing and three scores. East are barely hanging on to the eighth and final 6A playoff spot. The Rovers got a good performance from Dorian Thomas picking up almost 170 yards rushing but only had 83 yards passing against Freedom. Parkland should have no problem to stay unbeaten by 21.

(5-3) Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks at (7-1) Nazareth Blue Eagles Friday 7PM at Andrew Leh Stadium.

Bethlehem Catholic have dropped three straight after a five game winning streak to start the season. The Hawks only have scored three points in the losing streak. Cayden Vassa has cooled off since the hot start to the season by only completing five passes for 70 yards against Parkland last week. Sophomore QB Peyton Falzone completed 9 of 12 passes for 167 yards last week. Mason Kuehner caught four passes for 11 yards and two touchdowns in 56-0 beat down of Pleasant Valley. Blue Eagles should give the Golden Hawks their fourth straight loss by two scores.

(4-4) Bethlehem Freedom Patriots at (5-3) Eammaus Green Hornets Friday 7PM at EPSD Stadium

Freedom is on a three game winning streak and the defense only allowed six points in those wins. Noah Pierce picked up 122 yards on 20 carries to ignite the offense last week. Chase walk tossed two scores on 15 of 20 passing and 175 yards. Emmaus also struggled to start the season but have picked it up the last few weeks as the took care of Liberty last week. This will be the Game of the Week in the EPC and a toss up but take Emmaus at home by 2.

CURRENT PIAA DISTRICT XI POWER RANKINGS

PIAA 1A CLASSIFICATION (4 TEAMS QUALIFY)

1. y-Minersville 7 1 .643835
2. Nativity BVM 5 3 .485971
3. Marian Catholic 5 3 .485939
4. Tri-Valley 4 4 .429926
5. Northern Lehigh 3 5 .386143
6. Mahanoy Area 2 6 .313379

PIAA 2A CLASSIFICATION (4 TEAMS QUALIFY)

1. y- Schuylkill Haven 7 1 .655100
2. Williams Valley 6 2 .627927
3. Catasauqua 4 4 .449807
4. Executive Education 3 5 .435473
5. Pen Argyl 4 4 .435073
6. Palisades 2 6 .371996
7. Shenandoah Valley 2 6 .302427
8. Panther Valley 2 6 .261090
9. Salisbury Twp 0 8 .169109

PIAA 3A CLASSIFICATION (8 TEAMS QUALIFY)

1. y-Northwestern Lehigh 8 0 .772003
2. y-Palmerton 8 0 .721394
3. y-North Schuylkill 6 2 .647482
4. y-NDGP 5 3 .560778
5. Saucon Valley 3 5 .436067
6. Tamaqua 4 4 .434907
7. Lehighton 2 6 .409203
8. Jim Thorpe 2 6 .351954
9. Pine Grove 2 6 .326665
10. Wilson Area 0 8 .204348

PIAA 4A CLASSIFICATION (4 TEAMS QUALIFY)

1. y-Allentown CC 6 2 .778654
2. Bethlehem Catholic 5 3 .669399
3. Blue Mountain 6 2 .644816
4. Bangor 5 3 .540309
5. Pottsville 3 5 .463529
6. East Stroudsburg North 1 7 .284170

PIAA 5A CLASSIFICATION (4 TEAMS QUALIFY)

1. y-Southern Lehigh 8 0 .751961
2. Pocono Mtn West 5 3 .650494
3. Whitehall 4 4 .629867
4. Pleasant Valley 4 4 .579133
5. East Stroudsburg South 3 5 .531986
6. Pocono Mtn East 2 6 .403436

PIAA 6A CLASSIFICATION (8 TEAMS QUALIFY)

1. y-Parkland 8 0 .840767
2. y-Nazareth 7 1 .808576
3. y-Northampton 7 1 .736075
4. Emmaus 5 3 .651575
5. Freedom 4 4 .639132
6. Wilkes-Barre (D2) 5 3 .607601
7. Stroudsburg 4 4 .564456
8. Easton 3 5 .507639
9. Williamsport (D4) 3 5 .488523
10. Liberty 2 6 .463579
11. Dieruff 2 6 .418945
12. Hazleton (D2) 2 6 .385132
13. William Allen 0 8 .256646

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