Hollywood’s Cutting Room Floor-EPC Edition
Tagged under: District 11, News, pfn
Brian "Hollywood" Ptashinski | August 24, 2022
HOLLYWOOD’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR-EPC EDITION OPENING WEEKEND
By Brian Ptashinski @BPtashinski on Twitter
With the start of the 2022 high school football season beginning on Friday night. Hollywood returns for another action-packed year of coverage of District XI Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and Colonial/Schuylkill League match-ups. With the EPC being my main focus. We will first take look the new District XI Classifications beginning with the 6A which will include District 2 and District 4:
Dieruff
Easton
Emmaus
Freedom
Hazleton(D2)
Liberty
Nazareth
Northampton
Parkland
Stroudsburg
Wilkes-Barre(D2)
William Allen
Willamsport(D4)
5A
East Stroudsburg South
Pleasant Valley
Pocono Mtn East
Pocono Mtn West
Southern Lehigh
Whitehall
4A
Allentown CC
Bangor
Bethlehem Catholic
Blue Mountain
East Stroudsburg North
Pottsville
There are no EPC teams in 1A-3A Divisions. Bethlehem Freedom survived the brutal gauntlet to capture District XI Gold and gave state runner-up St. Joe’s Prep all they wanted before coming up short 24-21 in the state playoaffs. With an abundant amount of returnees, the Patriots will be one of the favorites to capture a district title and make a deep run in the state playoffs. Their will be some major challengers for district gold that will come from Emmaaus, Nazareth and Parkland in the EPC South. In the EPC North the top two contenders will be Northampton and Stroudsburg.
Some of the key contests this weekend:
Emmaus at Freedom
Easton at Parkland
Wilkes-Barre at Scranton (District 2)
Liberty at Allentown CC (Saturday Night)
In the 5A classification, East Stroudsburg South is the defending district champion with a come-from-behind win over Whitehall 46-41. Expect the Cavaliers to be there again when all is said and done. Whitehall, Southern Lehigh and Pleasant Valley to be the main stumbling blocks for the Cavs.
Key Contests in week 1:
Bethlehem Catholic vs Whitehall
Southern Lehigh at Quakertown
The 4A Division is interesting with the loss of Northwestern Lehigh to 3A and the addition of East Stroudsburg North could make for wide open and competitive season. Defending champion Allentown Central Catholic being the favorite with several returning starters and the fact they play in the EPC. Expect Bangor, Pottsville, Blue Mountain and Bethlehem Catholic to be primary contenders in 4A.
Games to keep an eye on
Liberty vs Allentown CC
Pottsville vs Jersey Shore
Blue Mountain vs Jim Thorpe
Bethlehem Catholic vs Whitehall
Palisades vs Bangoraa
HOLLYWOOD’S BOLD PREDICTION PROGNOSTICATIONS OPENING WEEKEND
EPC
Bethlehem Freedom by 7 over Emmaus
Parkland by 8 over Easton
Nazareth by 42 over Dieruff
Pleasant Valley by 40 over ESN
East Stroudsburg South by 42 over William Allen
Stroudsburg by 28 over PME
Bethlehem Catholic by 3 over Whitehall
Northampton by 20 over PMW
Allentown Central Catholic by 12 over Bethlehem Liberty
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