Protime Predictions – Advice from a Veteran
Tagged under: News, pfn, Protime Predictions
Phil Myers | November 15, 2024
It’s hard to believe Protime joined the Corps 50 years ago. He still made time to go to high school football games if he wasn’t working or on guard duty. He also had time to make his weekly prognostications, most of which he still has. Veteran’s Day was this past Monday, and many of you may not know it, but the Marine Corps had its 249th birthday on Sunday November 10th. Ooorah! Yes, the Marines are actually a year older than the USA is as a country. So, Protime wanted you all to ponder this, be thankful for those who serve and say a prayer for them if you think about it. Many of these guys and gals have put their lives on hold to serve our country, and some love our country so much they have made a career out of being in the military.
Many of Protime’s fondest memories are from the four years he served. The camaraderie amongst most servicemen and women is not unlike that of a close-knit football team fighting for a win each week or now fighting to advance in the state playoffs. You learn how to get along, you learn how to lead, you learn a lot about yourself, you learn self-discipline, and in the service, you learn a trade believe it or not. Add to that, the GI Bill paid for Protime’s college education. For you who are still in high school and if you are uncertain about your future after high school, consider one of the branches of service. You will not regret it and you will be blessed more than you know.
Now on with the fantastically fabulous forecasts from the premier football forecaster, who for the first time ever, picked the winner and the score correctly twice in one year. Last week it was Conestoga Valley over Shippensburg 35-24.
General McLane (8-2) @ Clearfield (11-0) – Clearfield is led by Brady Collins, one of the best backs in PA this season. Collins has raced around the field to the tune of 2,390 yards and 34 touchdowns. He averages 10.6 yards a carry. Carter Freeland has 823 yards to his credit and has scored a dozen times. Colton Ryan leads a defense in tackles that has 24 quarterback sacks to date.
This week the Bison face one of the best QBs in the state in Isaac Zietz. Mr. Zietz has tossed the football for 2,553 yards and 34 scores in only 10 games for the Lancers. His twin brother, Jacob, has 56 receptions for 1,112 yards and 15 touchdown catches. Jared Corwin has hauled in 41 passes and scored 6 TDs. Teige Berger has 8 rushing touchdowns and 7 more receiving. Portland ‘PJ’ Mitchell heads up a pretty good Lancer defense.
This game may actually come down to who plays better when they don’t have the ball. Protime thinks it will be Clearfield as they down General McLane 28-24.
Pope John Paul II (11-1) @ Valley View (11-1) – The Golden Panthers of PJP are led by quarterback Luke Terlesky. He has thrown for 2,117 yards and 27 touchdowns. WR Braden Reed has snagged 81 passes for 1,133 yards and 14 scores. RB Dylan Skarbek is an asset in the running game with 9 TDs so far. Sean McNally and Ryan Lamson lead the Golden Panthers in tackles, and Lamson also leads the team in TFLs with 24. PJP as a team has 153 TFLs thus far and 50 QB sacks.
For Valley View, Zach Cwalinski is a dual threat signal caller, passing for 846 yards and running for 895 more. He has 7 TDs passing and 19 running. There are two running backs that have made significant contributions and make the Cougar running game kind of a three-headed monster. Preston Reed has 951 rushing yards and has scored 8 TDs. Nick Kucharski has 895 yards carrying the ball with 7 touchdowns scored. Gianni Marino has 129 tackles this year. Kucharski has 4 interceptions.
It’ll be Pope John Paul 32 Valley View 24.
Williams Valley (11-1) vs. Schuylkill Haven (11-1) @ Blue Mountain – 38-30 was the score the first time these two played. Schuylkill Haven won. Williams Valley has a good one at quarterback in Brady Shomper. Brady has thrown for 2,145 yards and 33 TDs, plus he’s used his legs to scurry for 930 more yards and 16 additional touchdowns. Fletcher Thompson has racked up 1,341 yards on the ground and scored 16 touchdowns so far. WR Kian Krzyzanowski has 60 catches for 1,161 yards and 16 TDs. The Viking defense is led by Skylor Green and Trevon Bair who each have over 115 tackles. The Vikings have 84 TFLs for the year and 25 sacks.
Schuylkill Haven’s Hurricanes run and they run and they run some more. Niko Carestia has 2,637 yards on the ground and has scored 37 touchdowns. Colton Reber has 1,092 yards and 12 TDs. Niko Castillo has 802 yards running the ball with 12 touchdowns. Carestia and Castillo average 11.8 yards a carry, while Reber averages 13.5. As a team they average 11.5 yards a tote. That is unbelievable! Castillo leads the Canes in tackles and Leyden Hertz has 6 interceptions.
Protime’s pick: Schuylkill Haven 35 Willams Valley 34.
Richland (10-2) vs, Cambria Heights (12-0) @ Mansion Park in Altoona – The Richland Rams will have to find a way to crack one of the best scoring defenses in Pennsylvania as the Cambria Heights Highlanders allow an average of 5.8 points a game which is second best behind Clairton.
For the second year in a row Richland has had their quarterback hurt. Jacob Regan took over for Grayson Mahla a few weeks back and is doing a nice job. He’s thrown for 945 yards and 11 touchdowns. Arnold Mugerwa is the top receiver with 697 yards receiving and a dozen TDs. Joe McAneny has rushed for over 88 yards and 11 scores to lead the Ram ground game. Kicker Noah Ritko has been perfect in the PAT department nailing all 51 attempts. He also has booted 6 field goals including a 50-yarder. Joe Penna and Nate Pugh headline the Richland defense. Penna has 123 tackles and 27 TFLs. The Rams as a team have 88TFLs and 23 QB sacks.
The Highlanders of Cambria Heights are hoping to extend their unbeaten season. QB Isaac Weiland has passed for 1,390 yards and 16 scores. Trey Trybus has caught 6 TD passes. RB Stephen Nelen has rushed for 10 touchdowns and has 8 TD receptions. Marshall Eckenrode has 8 TDs toting the ball. Kicker Cameron Abrams is 47 of 48 in the extra point department and is 5 for 5 in field goals. Eckenrode leads the phenomenal defense in tackles. The Highlander ‘D’ has recorded 137 TFLs with Garrett Jasper having 29 of those. The team also has recorded 24 sacks.
In possibly a slight upset, Protime has Richland scoring 21 points and Cambria Heights 17.
The Others:
Pittsburgh Central Catholic 21 North Allegheny 17 – The Vikings topple the Tigers a second time to advance in this D7 Class 6A final.
Harrisburg 30 Manheim Township 24 – Harrisburg is on a roll. The Cougars are getting stronger and they’ll need that against the Blue Streaks.
Hollidaysburg 28 Abington Heights 21 – The Golden Tigers are getting closer to their goal of making the state title game, but the Comets will not be an easy out.
Scranton Prep 34 Wyoming Area 21 – Protime likes the Cavaliers to defeat the Warrriors in this one.
Bishop Guilfoyle 35 Northern Cambria 16 – The D6 Class A title game will find the Marauders galloping by the Colts.
Danville 42 Lewisburg 21 – The Ironmen are focused on getting to the state championship and Lewisburg’s Green Dragons are just another notch in the belt.
Emmaus 17 Parkland 14 – The Hornets buzzed by Parkland’s Trojans the first time but this one will be closer but Parkland will feel the sting even more.
Steel Valley 37 Seton LaSalle 34 – The biggest upset of the week as the Barksdale brothers continue to wreak havoc on the opposition. This time it is the top seed in D7, the Rebels of SLS.
St. Joes Prep 38 Imhotep 21 – A lot of people have been looking forward to this game since the beginning of the year. Protime has the Hawks coming out victorious over the Panthers in a battle of last year’s state champions. (Imhotep was the 5A champ.)
Steelton-Highspire 33 Bedford 20 – The Steamrollers steamroll the Bison.
Port Allegany 40 Redbank Valley 26 – This game will be closer than the first time these two met. The game is a contrast in styles too. Port loves to run and has one of the best in the state in Aiden Bliss who leads PA in rushing touchdowns with 41. Redbank has one of the top QBs in PA in Braylon Wagner who has thrown for 2,784 yards and 34 TDs.
Central Bucks South 28 North Penn 14 – The Titans remain undefeated as the turn out the lights on the Knights.
Wilmington 20 Greenville 19 – In a closer game than many think, the Greyhounds eke out a ‘W’ over the Trojans.
Wilson West Lawn 24 Central York 21 – The Bulldogs won’t be denied. They squeeze past the Panthers.
Riverside (D2) 27 Lansdale Catholic 20 – The Vikings topple the Crusaders.
Central Valley 31 Elizabeth-Forward 28 – This can be called the clash of the Warriors. Central Valley’s Warriors have fought all year and despite the odds Protime has them in the 3A finals with a win over the EF Warriors.
Lackawanna Trail 20 Muncy 10 – The Lions trim the Indians to advance.
Bishop McDevitt 28 Mechanicsburg 17 – The Wildcats’ perfect year falls by the wayside as the McDevitt Crusaders stop Mechanicsburg.
Hickory 15 Sharon 14 – These two teams always have a battle when they play. The Hickory Hornets get a bit of revenge for their only defeat of the year by going for two and getting the win over the Sharon Tigers.
Bonner-Prendie 34 West Philadelphia 8 – Monsignor Bonner-Prendergast is known as the Friars. These Friars have a good shot of making the state finals. The Speedboys of West Philly are in the way, but the Friars zoom by them.
Pine-Richland 17 Bethel Park 14 – A battle to the end has Protime flipping a coin. The Rams will be the victor in an epic game over the Black Hawks.
Follow Phil Myers on Twitter: @Protime_PFN
Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews
