Hollywood’s Cutting Room Floor- EPC Edition Week Eight
Tagged under: District 11, News, pfn
Brian Ptashinski | October 19, 2022
Just Two Weeks Left In The Regular Season, But So Much Still So Much Left To Be Decided.
Well the “Game of the Year” lived up to the hype as Nazareth knocked off previously unbeaten Emmaus 20-14 behind a stout defensive effort by the Blue Eagles and quarterback Sonny Sasso throwing for nearly 150 yards on 12 of 19 completions and throwing for a score and rushing for another.
Despite that loss Emmaus still holds a slim lead in this week’s District XI Power rankings in 6A .79893 to Nazareth’s .77852. We do have four teams qualify for the postseason: Emmaus, Nazareth, Northampton and Freedom. Whitehall captured one of the four spots in 5A. 4A still has no clear-cut favorite. With that let’s get to this week’s game that will begin on Thursday night.
1-7 POCONO MOUNTAIN EAST CARDINALS at 4-4 ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS THURSDAY at J. BIRNEY CRUM STADIUM 7PM.
Last week ACC lost to Whitehall 37-6. PME dropped a 48-0 decision to Northampton.
This game was originally scheduled for Saturday night, but with the Vikings having Bethlehem Catholic looming and wanting time to prepare, they moved this game to Thursday night. Griffen Patridge returns for Central Catholic. Caiden Shaffer leads the rushing attack with 658 yards and 11 touchdowns but was held to just 71 yards against the Zephyrs. Ethan Hosak has 67 tackles for the Viking defense. The quarterback play has been an issue though as Tamlin Ferguson and Matt Keyes have just one passing touchdown between them on the season. The Cardinals should be a perfect Rx as Ferguson tossed three score versus the Cardinals last season in a 49-0 romp. PME only managed 33 yards on offense versus the K-Kids
Hollywood thinks this is pretty going to the same way in favor of the Vikings 56-0
0-8 WILLIAM ALLEN CANARIES at 1-7 EAST STROUDSBURG NORTH TIMBERWOLVES FRIDAY 7PM.
Allen lost to Stroudsburg last week 48-0 while the Timberwolves were humbled by the other Allentown School Dieruff 50-6.
The Canaries have been held to six points or less five times this season and could only muster 76 yards and five first downs against Stroudsburg. ESN only win came against PME 20-14 and have been giving up 56 points per game.
Hollywood sees this as a toss-up between evenly matched teams, both struggling but feeling the Canaries by 7.
8-0 NORTHAMPTON KONKRETE KIDS at 2-6 LOUIS DIERUFF HUSKIES FRIDAY 7PM atb J. BIRNEY CRUM STADIUM
Dieruff got their second win 50-6 over East Stroudsburg North. Northampton kept their perfect record in tact by taking down Pocono Mtn East 48-0.
Jordey Guzman was on fire for the Huskies with four touchdown passes last week twice finding Noah Ozorio and Mekhi Ashby had two rushing scores. Dieruff has scored 90 points the last two weeks. The K-Kids are only unbeaten teams left standing in the EPC and have clinched the Northern Division title. Northampton had 330 yards against East despite playing the entire second half in mercy rule.
Hollywood says look for the K-Kids to be unbeaten going into the finale against Whitehall. Northampton by 42.
3-5 EAST STROUDSBURG SOUTH CAVALIERS at 5-3 STROUDSBURG MOUNTIES
The Cavs lost a close 10-8 decision to Pocono Mtn West, Stroudsburg shutout Allen 48-0.
South has lost four games in a row which is uncharacteristic for team that had been 30-11 the past four years a Colby Mitchell to Nathan gray plaus a two point conversion was lone score last week.
Expect Stroudsburg to hand ESS their fifth loss by 10
5-3 PLEASANT VALLEY BEARS at 4-4 POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST PANTHERS
PMW defeated East Stroudsburg South 10-8. Pleasant Valley took one on the chin 49-0 to Freedom.
West got a touchdown from Matt Marinovich and a Michael Lawrence field goal against South. The Bears are trying to right the ship after losing three straight by a combined score of 133-14, but those losses came against EPC South powers Parkland and Freedom and a loss to Northampton.
Expect the Bears get the win here by 7
2-6 BETHLEHEM LIBERTY HURRICANES at 5-3 PARKLAND TROJANS
The Hurricanes lost to Easton 26-7. Parkland came up with 38-14 win over Bethlehem Catholic.
Liberty has found themselves on hard times recently as the have now have seven consecutive losing seasons and could only muster 138 yards against the Rovers. Parkland now at full strength with Luke Spang(QB) and Nakhi Bullock(RB) back as well as Trey Tremba and Jack Harrison all healthy as a date with Emmaus looms next week.
Parkland should cruise in this one by 35
7-1 EMMAUS GREEN HORNETS at 3-5 EASTON RED ROVERS at COTTINGHAM STADIUM
Easton defeated Liberty 26-7. Emmaus lostb their first game 20-14 to Nazareth.
Easton has won 3 of their last four games and have an outside shot at the playoffs, but this game and then next week with Nazareth will be uphill battle. Aiden Hutchinson had 151 yards and two score against the Hurricanes. Emmaus has lost the last three games versus the Red Rovers.
Expect the Hornets to rebound and setup a classic against Parkland in the “Battle of Cedar Crest” next week. Emmaus by 21.
4-4 BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC GOLDEN HAWKS at 6-2 BETHLEHEM FREEDOM PATRIOTS at BASD STADIUM
Becahi lost to Parkland 38-14 while Freedom rolled Pleasant Valley 49-0.
Interim Coach Chuck Sonen is trying to put any distractions to the side, but have tough two games to close the season this one and then next week in the “Holy War” with Central Catholic. Freedom has won five in a row after starting 1-2 and will try to capture the :Christmas City title again as they close out with Liberty next week.
Freedom should get their sixth straight win by 19.
EPC GAME OF THE WEEK 7-1 NAZARETH BLUE EAGLES at 5-3 WHITEHALL ZEPHYRS FRIDAY 7PM
Whitehall coming off impressive 37-6 win over Allentown Central Catholic. Nazareth knocking Emmaus fromthe unbeaten ranks 20-14.
The Zephyrs have to be the surprise team of the season. They surpassed last year’s win total. Carter Troxell had an 86 yard interception return and RB Nigel Linton went off for 177 yards as well as a 60 yard run. Nazareth rushed for 180 yards against Emmaus. Mason Kuehner caught 9 passes for 114 yards while Jed Bendekovits rushed for 75 yards. Chris Bugbee connected on two field goals over 40 yards each.
Hollywood will be at this game and should be a dandy but Nazareth is rolling and should win by 10.
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