Protime Predictions – Calling it a Career
Tagged under: News, pfn, Protime Predictions
Phil Myers | December 5, 2024
It’s with a conflicted heart that Protime is stepping down from his prestigious throne as king prognosticator after over 55 years of pigskin prophecies. He got a crystal ball back in 1967 for Christmas and put it to good use ever since, although it has gone in for repairs a few times. His favorite rock song is ‘Crystal Ball’ by Styx. His flipping coin is the vintage 1959 Lincoln penny. Since not all of his records still exist, Protime’s conservative estimate has him correctly picking the winner over 15,000 times in probably over 20,000 high school, college, and pro games combined. He hasn’t predicted any college or pro games for a number of years now since PA high school football became a passion.
Protime has had a lot of fun predicting winners each week and has never had a coach or players needle him for picking against them. A couple of times, coaches have wondered why in the world he picked their team though. Only fans have, once in a blue moon, gotten a little peeved their team wasn’t picked. It was always for fun and something for folks to read in recent years. Early on it was just a hobby and a competition among friends and Brother Protime.
The lovely Mrs. P has put up with Protime’s antics for a while now and deserves a heartfelt thanks for her support. Just last week when trying to think of the position of the player who hikes the ball to the quarterback she said with affirmation, ‘that’s the snapper or is he called the hiker guy?’ Well, you know what? That was close enough. Kudos to Mrs. P, she has been paying attention all these years. Protime owes it to her to be available more Friday nights in the fall and plans are in the making for a long trip or two.
It’s not goodbye, Protime will still cover an occasional game and maybe voice his opinion on the outcome of a few games, but he grows weary and all the research and new technology doesn’t interest him anymore. For the year Protime is 309-85 (.784). Here are his last six game prognostications.
Thursday
Bishop Guilfoyle (14-1) vs. Port Allegany (14-0) – This should be a good one. Port Allegany surprised many last Friday by going through Fort Cherry like a beaver goes through trees. And BG has been to 5 title games in the past ten years winning four of them. This will make their 6th appearance while Port is making their first. The Gators are also going to strive to be the first D9 champ ever. The experienced Marauders are the only team left in their way. Port Allegany is third in the state in scoring, averaging 51.8 points a game. Guilfoyle averages 40. Protime struggled with this game, but it came down to the Gator’s offensive line and, Protime doesn’t usually do this but, his heart says why not a team from D9 winning it all. Port Allegany 30 Bishop Guilfoyle 28.
Bonner-Prendie (11-2) vs. Lampeter-Strasburg 14-0) – Give the Friars their due, they are a really good team and hardly anyone knows it. Their two losses came at the hands of the two best teams in PA, St. Joes Prep and LaSalle. Meanwhile, the Pioneers deserve a ton of credit going through the season undefeated and then knocking off maybe the favorite to win it all, Thomas Jefferson. With that in mind, this game will not be a cakewalk for the Bonner-Prendie eleven. Both teams average about 38 points a game. It may come down to who wants it more. In that case, Lampeter-Strasburg could just win, but Protime is going with Bonner-Prendie in another tight one 34-31.
Friday
Troy (15-0) vs. Central Clarion (14-0) – Here is the one game Protime and many others have waited all year to witness! This dynamite contest may be the best of the weekend and is the only game with both teams being undefeated. These are the top two scoring teams in Pennsylvania. CC averages 53.3 points and Troy 52.2 points. The Wildcats of Central Clarion are another D9 team and could become the first or second D9 state champ ever depending on what Port Allegany does. The ‘Cats mercy ruled 5A DuBois who almost beat Hollidaysburg in the playoffs. They mercy ruled 6A Butler. The mercy ruled Farrell and who does that. Last week they mercy ruled the D7 rep, South Park. Troy, on the other hand, mercy ruled Southern Columbia the defending state champs and beat Dover, Delaware which is a much larger school. Again, Protime is picking a D9 school even though the Trojans have been numero uno all year. Central Clarion 35 Troy 20.
Roman Catholic (11-4) vs. Bishop McDevitt (13-2) – Two great quarterbacks will duke it out in this one. Many think this may just be the game of the weekend. Both teams average 39.8 points a game. Roman lost to St. Joes, LaSalle, Bonner-Prendie, and DeMatha Catholic, a top 25 team in the country. So don’t let the record fool you. McDevitt lost to 6A Harrisburg in overtime and 6A State College 58-55. Both schools are talented beyond their QBs. Both teams are very fast. Protime thinks this game comes down to who minimizes mistakes and who can take care of the ball. In overtime, the Cahillites of Roman Catholic will prevail over the McDevitt Crusaders 36-35.
Saturday
Northwestern Lehigh (15-0) vs. Avonworth (12-3) – In a battle of teams that only ever made it to the title game one other time, one will claim gold, the other will receive their second silver trophy. The NW Tigers average 42.2 points a game and return for the second year in a row probablt stronger than last year and certainly have some experience. Avonworth would rather not talk about their only appearance. Suffice it to say they played Southern Columbia and those Tigers were named the best small school in the nation in 2019. Avonworth has played some very good teams, beating in successive weeks Imani Christian, Central Valley, and Penn Cambria in low scoring games. Northwestern Lehigh has been pretty impressive each week with their only close game being with 5A Southern Lehigh. The Tigers are trying to become D11’s first champ since 2010. Protime’s crystal ball has NW Lehigh 21 Avonworth 14.
St. Josephs Prep (10-2) vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (12-2) – The big boys are always fun to watch with college talent all over the field. The size and speed are phenomenal. These two have met twice before with the Hawks of St. Joes coming out on top both times. The PCC Vikings are hoping the third time is going to be a charm. Since losing to LaSalle, the Hawks have won 7 straight including a playoff win against LaSalle. They average 36.5 points per contest. The Vikings opened the season with a pair of losses, but since have reeled off 12 straight victories. They average 42.1 points a game. Protime had to flip a coin for this affair. St. Joes Prep 38 Pittsburgh Central Catholic 31.
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