Protime Predictions – Protime Hearkens Back to the Days of Yore
Tagged under: News, pfn, Protime Predictions
Phil Myers | October 26, 2023
On occasion Protime loves to hearken back to the days of yore and wax nostalgic. As Mary Hopkin sang back in 1968, “those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end.” Protime and brothers Protime used to love watching Captain Kangeroo, Tom and Jerry, the Bugs Bunny Show, etc. In fact, Protime still watches that wacky wabbit when he gets the chance. Protime and brothers Protime played hours of board games and had feety fights when inside (don’t ask). They logged even more hours of baseball, football, snowball fights, tag, and the like when outside. What memories!!
The Protimes still get together to play games on holidays and reminisce about the good ole days. One of the memories that seems to always rear its head is the time Protime threw a party, a wrestling match ensued, and when Protime raised the hand of the victor, he smacked the priceless chandelier of mom and pops Protime breaking one of the shades (glass covers over the light bulbs) into many pieces when it hit the floor. Protime recalls vividly that mom and pops were not happy even after Protime did his best to scotch tape the pieces back together.
Heading into the last week of the regular season Protime the Gamester is 184-45-1 (after going 22-5 last week). There are some huge contests with playoff and rankings implications this week and the prodigious prognosticator thinks he has those games correctly predicted.
Central Clarion (9-0) at Redbank Valley (9-0) – On paper this maybe the best game in the state. We have the #1 scoring offense (C. Clarion at 62 points a game) versus the #3 scoring offense (RBV at 54 points a game). Pennsylvania also may never have seen a regular season contest where quarterbacks with a combined total of 75 touchdown passes faced off.
Jase Ferguson is the C.C. quarterback. He has thrown for 2,004 yards, 37 TDs, and only 2 INTs. Jase has found the end zone 7 times running the ball. His top two receivers are Dawson Smail and Mason Burford. Smail has snagged 32 passes for 699 yards and 13 scores. Burford has 25 grabs for 512 yards and 12 TDs. RB Noah Naser has scored 7 rushing TDs also. Placekicker Thomas Ukert is a weapon too. He’s hit on 69 of 72 extra point attempts. Braylon Beckwith has 106 tackles on a defense that has 78 TFLs and has forced 18 turnovers. Ferguson leads the Wildcats with 4 picks.
Braylon Wagner is RBV’s quarterback. He has pitched the pigskin for 2,374 yards, 38 touchdowns, and only 2 INTs. He has completed 72.5% of his passes and has 8 rushing TDs. His top three receivers are Mason Clouse, Ashton Kahle, and Ashton George. Clouse has caught 46 passes for 843 yards and 16 TDs. Kahle has 37 catches for 701 yards and 9 scores. George has snared 9 TD tosses. Drew Byers leads the running game. Owen Clouse has booted 3 field goals and 53 of 54 PATs. Caden Adams is the leading Bulldog tackler on a defense that has 82 tackles for loss and has forced 24 turnovers. Of the 16 interceptions the team has, Kahle has 7 of them.
Protime played this game out ten times on his crystal ball and Central Clarion’s Wildcats beat Redbank’s Bulldogs 6 out of 10 times by an average score of 52-50.
Pope John Paul II (9-0) at Spring-Ford (8-1) – The visiting Golden Panthers are led by quarterback Luke Terlesky, wide receiver Braden Reed, and running back Boyd Skarbek. Terlesky has thrown for 1,610 yards and 19 TDs. Reed has hauled in 40 passes for 839 yards and a dozen TDs. Skarbek has ground out 1,343 yards and 20 scores. Placekicker Ben Bosio has made 44 of 46 PATs. TJ Boccella and Mike McNally are tied for team lead in tackles and have combined for 31 TFLs. The Golden Panther defense has 84 TFLs and have forced 18 turnovers.
The Rams of Spring-Ford are led offensively by QB Matt Zollers, receivers Belal Abdelrahman, Mason Scott, and RB Mike Bendoski. Zollers has rolled up 2,309 yards passing with 29 TDs and 2 INTs. Abdelrahman has pulled down 40 passes and Scott has chalked up 38 grabs for 867 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bendoski has scored 10 TDs. The Rams have two kickers who’ combined for connecting on 42 of 45 PATs. They are Liam McGarvey and Ryan Fields. McGarvey has kicked 3 FGs also. Evan Strzeminski is the top tackler for Spring-Ford on a defense that has 20 sacks.
Protime’s best of five coin flips results in the prediction of Spring-Ford 44 PJP 38.
Mohawk (8-1) at Neshannock (8-1) – This should be anther doozy of a game. Mohawk has some quality players in QB Jay Wrona and WR Bobby Fadden among others. Wrona has tossed the rock for 1,778 yards and 30 touchdowns. Sophomore Fadden has 35 grabs for 608 yards and 14 scores. Wide outs Blake Logan and Dante Retort have combined to catch 37 passes for 747 yards and another 11 TDs. Justin Boston is the Warriors leading rusher. Josh Wilkins is one of the best kickers in the state. He’s not only hit on 40 of 42 extra points, but he has 4 FGs including one from 49 yards. Out of his 57 kickoffs, 42 have been touchbacks including one that went between the uprights. AJ Verdi leads the defense with 104 tackles and Joey Nail has 4 picks.
The Lancers of Neshannock have Jino Mozzocio at quarterback and Anthony Eakin at running back. Mozzocio is a dual threat QB with a total of 1,416 yards passing/running and has accounted for 16 touchdowns. Eakin has 761 yards via the ground game. Pat Argiro has scored 12 TDs running the rock. Ashton Allison and Braden Montgomery are the top tacklers for Neshannock.
People are leaning to Neshannock, Protime likes Mohawk 31-28.
Southern Lehigh (9-0) at Northwestern Lehigh (9-0) – The Lehigh Valley is the sight of this dandy. The 5A Spartans haven’t beaten Northwestern, a 3A school, since 2018. QB Christopher Fritts has 1,443 yards 17 TDs through the air for Southern. Cade Sawyer has ground out 1,275 yards and 25 touchdowns to balance the attack. WR Andrew Olesh has hauled in 36 passes for 713 yards and 9 scores. Kicker Jack Inglis has booted 40 PATs. The Spartan defense is led by Xavius Roman and Cade Sawyer. Southern has forced 20 turnovers with Sawyer snaring 4 interceptions.
Northwestern’s quarterback Shane Leh has 1,159 yards throwing the ball and 19 TD tosses. RB Dalton Clymer ran for 911 yards so far and 15 scores. WR Devon Hildebrand has caught 30 passes with 7 of them resulting in touchdowns. PK Scott Kern has hit 38 PATs. On defense, Clymer and Blaine Snyder are the top two tacklers. The Tigers have registered 23 sacks and 27 take aways. Eli Zimmerman has a half dozen INTs.
The Tigers of NW Lehigh won last year 45-7. Southern remembers that and should be ready to turn the tables. Southern Lehigh 45 NW Lehigh 42.
The Others:
Manheim Township 38 Wilson West Lawn 24 – Township’s average point differential is one of the best in the state at 47-6. Wilson has won 7 in a row. Protime has to go with the unbeaten Blue Streaks to defeat the Bulldogs.
Manheim Central 31 Exeter 21 – This game features a pair of 5A one-loss teams vying for seeding position in District 3. Give the Barons the nod over the Eagles.
Aliquippa 21 Central Valley 17 – Close shave for the Quips, but they remain unblemished with the win over the Warriors.
St. Joes Prep 28 Roman Catholic 14 – The Hawks get tested by a good Roman Catholic Cahillite team.
Cathedral Prep 24 Farrell 8 – Here we have a very good 5A school playing the top-ranked 2A school. Kudos to Farrell for testing themselves and kudos for Prep playing one of the best small schools in the state. Protime knows this will be a good game. The Ramblers earn the ‘W’ over the Steelers.
Troy 20 Canton 14 – The Troy Trojans, a top ten 2A team, hand the Warriors only their second loss and their second loss by one score.
Lampeter-Strasburg 23 Wyomissing 20 – Is this an upset? Protime is not sure, but he says the Pioneers will be victorious over the Spartans.
Brockway 27 Cameron County 16 – Brockway is 6-3. Cameron County is 7-2. But Brockway has played a tougher schedule and that will be a big help in defeating the Red Raiders.
Blue Mountain 28 Schuylkill Haven 24 – The Blue Mountain Eagles are 7-2, the Haven Hurricanes 8-1. Great game, great finish. Eagles eke out the win.
Central-Martinsburg 21 Richland 13 – This is the LHAC championship tilt and it’s a coin flip for Protime. Both teams are unbeaten. Richland’s Rams are #2 in AA and Central’s Scarlet Dragons are #9 in AAA.
Scranton Prep 34 Valley View 26 – Another toss-up between two pretty good teams. Protime leans toward the Cavaliers beating the Cougars.
Clairton 33 Jeannette 20 – Clairton has won 7 straight and appears to be on a roll. So, it’s Da Bears over the Jayhawks.
Downingtown East 14 Downingtown West 7 – East is the 7th ranked 6A team, while West is HM in 6A. This is one of the best rivalry games in the state, so anything can happen. The East Cougars have one of the top defenses in PA and that will be the difference as they hand the West Whippets their second loss.
Hickory 28 Meadville 21 – The Hornets get the win over the Bulldogs in a District 10 dandy.
New Oxford 30 Eastern York 21 – Protime hasn’t predicted a game this year that involved either of these teams. Both are having excellent years. Protime has the Colonials coming out on top by nine over the Golden Knights.
Cambria Heights 12 Northern Cambria 10 – A slobber knocker if ever there was one between these Cambria teams. It is the annual Coal Bowl and this year the Highlanders edge the Colts in a hard-hitting defensive struggle.
Harrisburg 29 Central Dauphin 17 – The Cougars will be a tough one to beat in the D-3 playoffs and the CD Rams always play tough-nosed football.
Belle Vernon 31 Elizabeth-Forward 25 – The Leopards give the Warriors their first taste of defeat this year. This may well be a preview of the 3A WPIAL final.
Steelton-Highspire 40 West Perry 35 – When two unbeaten foes match-up it is a battel and this should be no different. The Steamrollers’ offense is pretty potent, so the Mustangs will have to keep up. They do, but still fall short.
Hollidaysburg 31 DuBois 21 – The Golden Tigers are better than their 3-5 record and they should decide to be in the playoffs. The Beavers are better than 4-5 and have their sophomore QB back and they should also elect to go into the playoffs. Hollidaysburg’s Golden Tigers are a little deeper and that should propel them to beat the DuBois Beavers.
Schuylkill Valley 18 Lancaster Catholic 17 – The Panthers win this battle of 8-1 teams by the skin of their fangs over the Crusaders.
Muncy 42 Hughesville 28 – The Panthers gear up for the playoffs by gliding by the Spartans.
McKeesport 26 Thomas Jefferson 24 – Cat fight here and it goes down to the wire before the McKeesport Tigers scratch out the victory over the Jaguars.
Souderton 38 Bensalem 22 – The Indians scalp the Owls if that’s possible.
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