Short Picks – Week 13

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Pa Football News | November 20, 2014

Entering week 13 of the season we have 31 games on the schedule with Conneaut having a bye this week after that huge win over Cathedral Prep. Last week’s “Short Pick” racked up 43 correct wins against 16 incorrect. I was thoroughly surprised by a couple of outcomes. First, in District 9 the Kane Wolves beat the once beaten Clarion Bobcats. Kane had a stretch of four games in mid season when the Wolves won one game and lost three all by a total of five points. A tough stretch like that is hard to overcome mentally. Second, the Portage Mustangs comeback to win after being down by three touchdowns with their head coach being ejected from the game in the first quarter. Also, congratulations to the Conneaut Eagles for their win over PFN’s top 10 Cathedral Prep. I’m sure not too many saw that one coming. Finally, how about Montoursville beating top ranked So. Columbia. All of those scores is why we play the game on the field and not on paper.

Starting in the single A class, the Antelopes of Avonworth surprised # 1 WPIAL seed North Catholic and now face the number 2 seed in District 7 the Clairton Bears. Clairton beat Neshannock last week in overtime in what was the only game this season where the Bears failed to impose the mercy rule. Bears versus Antelopes. I like…’Da Bears.

In District 5 the Meyersdale Red Raiders get a second shot at neighboring Berlin-Brothersvalley. The Red Raiders are playing at their best right now and should keep the game much closer than the regular season loss to the Mountaineers. Berlin plays close to the vest with running back Braden Fochtman giving the Red Raiders a snootfull…Berlin-Brothersvalley.

Sharpsville’s Blue Devils have a re-match with the West Middlesex Big Reds. The first encounter between these two produced a 14-7 win for the Blue Devils. Close again with a reversal (Tom Elling loved a reversal) in the score…West Middlesex.

Kane’s Wolves lost to the Brockway Rover Dogs by a 9-7 score. The Wolves get a second chance against the Rover Dogs. Since that mid season stretch for the Wolves, they have been on a “pack like” mission…Kane.

York Catholic’s Fighting Irish battle the Camp Hill Lions for the District 3 single A title. No luck of the Irish needed in this one…York Catholic.

Bishop Guilfoyle is the beast in District 6’s single A class. You had better pull on your big boy pants when you meet the Maruaders on the gridiron. The Portage Mustangs get a chance to showcase their offense led by running backs Dividock and Kephart. The Maruaders shut down every team this season. This one will be a little more difficult, but I still like…Bishop Guifoyle.

District 2’s Old Forge plays District 4’s South Williamsport. Old Forge is undefeated while the Mountaineers are 11-1. I like the Blue Devils defense to contain the Mountaineers offense…Old Forge.

The Mt. Union showed last week an explosive offense against what was a pretty good defensive team. The speedy Trojans battle the Tyrone Golden Eagles on the fast track at Altoona’s Mansion Park. Tyrone’s ball control style attempts to keep the Mt. Union offense off the field, but not enough to allow the Trojans to outscore the Golden Eagles…Mount Union.

District 10 has a re-match on tap as the Hickory Hornets battle the Greenville Trojans. The Hornets were held scoreless by the Trojans in the first go around. You won’t find much sting in either offense …Greenville.

Karns City’s Gremlins come off a bye week while this week’s opponent Chestnut Ridge pulled off a squeaker of a win with a field goal in the final minutes of play winning by a 17-14 margin. The Lions might be spent after last week’s highly charged rivalry win against neighboring Bedford. The Gremlins should be well rested with minor injuries healed. I will be close in the first half, but the Lions will pull away late in the game…Chestnut Ridge.

Aliquippa’s Quips advanced to the WPIAL finals last season only to be denied by the South Fayette Lions. Same place, Heinz Field, as last year as the Quips meet the Lions on Friday morning for a re-match of the 2013 season’s title game. Aliquippa must find a way to keep South Fayette’s quarterback Scott Brumbaugh from taking control of the game. The Quips might be hoping for the flu bug to hit. Look for shoot out with the Quips getting redemption…Aliquippa.

Another one of those surprise wins last week had Montoursville beating So. Columbia. The Warriors advance into round 3 against the Loyalsock Township Lancers. Montoursville beat the Lancers in week 10. It is hard to beat a team twice in one season, but the Warriors are riding an exceptional high and I was impressed by last week’s results…Montoursville.

A couple of weeks ago, I picked the Wyomissing Spartans over the Berks Catholic Saints. I was wrong. This time around I think I got it right. I can’t be wrong twice can I?…Wyomissing.

Neumann-Goretti has Springfield-Montco in round 3. Spingfield-Montco is coming off a one point victory last week. The Spartans win by the same score this week…Springfield-Montco.

An interesting match-up pits District 2’s Dunmore Bucks against District 11’s Northwestern Lehigh Tigers. The Bucks are due for a trip to the Eastern finals…Dunmore.

In the AAA class, Conneaut gets a bye this week and will await the winner of the WPIAL title game.

Speaking of the WPIAL, West Allegheny’s Indians lost to the Central Valley Warriors in week #9. This game will be the 7:00 game at Heinz Field on Friday night and it should be a dandy. Both schools are loaded with talented athletes anyone of whom could be the star of the game. Warriors by a whisker…Central Valley.

In the District 3 semi-finals, Red Land takes on #1 seed Bishop McDevitt. The Crusaders have too much offense and a stout defense…Bishop McDevitt.

In the other semi-final, Daniel Boone’s Blazers get another chance for a win against the Cocalico Bears. The Bears’ running back Matt Weinhold will be the difference in this game…Cocalico.

In District 12, a classic match-up has the Imhotep Charter Panthers and the Archbishop Wood Vikings on a collision course. Either of these teams could be in the finals in Hershey. I like the Vikings chances this week…Archbishop Wood.

In District 1, I called upon my guy, Mike “I got the scoop” Smoll to get me some information on the Great Valley/Springfield-Delco game. After about a page of info he finally says he has to flip a coin as this game is a “definite maybe”. You get all that. And the call is heads…Springfield-Delco.

So Mike and I discussed the Crestwood/Bethlehem Catholic game and Mike was much more certain…Bethlehem Catholic.

I must thank Mike for all the information on Eastern teams. Mike is very knowledgeable and a loyal supporter of Eastern football. We need people like Mike especially since he reads PFN.

District 6 Somerset travels to Johnstown and waits for the Selinsgrove Seals to arrive. The Eagles should bring a huge following and the game should have a hometown feel to it…Somerset.

In the Quad A Class, Benjamin Franklin’s Electrons sport a 10-0 season record. The Electrons would like to short circuit this week’s opponent the St. Joe’s Prep Hawks. The Hawks started the season with three losses, then roared back with seven straight wins. Make that eight…St. Joe’s Prep.

Easton and Parkland battle for the District 11 Quad A title. Easton’s Red Rovers have two shutouts in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Parkland’s offense scored 64 points in its last two games. Easton won the first meeting by a touchdown. All that information means the Trojans keep it close, but Red Rovers win by a field goal…Easton.

In a slobber knocker in District 1, the Downingtown East Cougars tangle with the Coatesville Red Raiders. Both teams have stingy defenses. Coatesville runs a very conservative offense. Look for a low scoring final of something like 14-10 in favor of…Coatesville.

Also in District 1, Upper Dublin is a mild surprise as the Cardinals have posted an 11-1 record. The Cardinals meet the once beaten Pennsbury Falcons. This week the Falcons offense brings home the bacon…Pennsbury.

The McDowell Trojans and the St. College Little Lions prepare for this week’s game at Clarion University. I like the Little Lions defensive effort last week in holding the high scoring Dubois offense to just one score…State College.

In District 3, Wilson’s Bulldogs won its first two games of the playoffs by identical scores of 21-7. The Bulldogs seem to be relying on the defense more so this year than in the past. Wilson’s defense will be tested this week by Central Dauphin East’s Panthers. Low score again this week for…Wilson.

Staying in District 3, Governor Mifflin needs a win this week to get another opportunity to play Wilson (provided that “Short Picks” has the previous game pegged correctly). To get to the District 3 title game, Governor Mifflin must get by a pesky Central Dauphin Rams team. The Rams don’t score a bunch, but just enough to win so look for another low score…Governor Mifflin.

And finally in the WPIAL title game at Heinz Field, the Pine-Richland Rams and the Vikings of Pittsburgh Central Catholic meet once again after having played each other in week eight. “Short Picks”, to the surprise of many, correctly picked the outcome of that first meeting. A lot of top quality football players on both teams will make this a very exciting game. I am sticking with my pick in week 8…Pine- Richland.

In a game played last Monday night, Delaware Co. Christian beat Calvary Christian to advance to play this week against the District 11 Royals of Pius X. Short week of preparation for Delaware Co. Christian makes for a long night against…Pius X.

Enjoy the games this weekend and drink plenty of (Hershey’s) hot chocolate.