Short Picks – Week 14
Tagged under: pfn
Bill Engelhardt | November 28, 2014
The biggest surprise from last week was the shutout of Old Forge by South Williamsport. In District 9, the Kane Wolves are still playing and Neumann-Goretti of District 12 improved to 9-4. “Short Picks” registered a not so flashy 21-10 record. But I know the picking gets much tougher as the final weeks are played out. Sixteen games on tap this week so let’s see if we can shed some light on the outcomes.
Clairton’s Bears are back in the state playoff action after missing out on a trip to Hershey in ’13 due to their loss in the WPIAL finals. The Bears won four straight championships prior to last year. This week’s opponent is the Berlin-Brothersvalley Mountaineers. The ‘Eers played solidly all season in all aspects of the game while recording a 12-1 record. This week’s game will be the toughest test of the season for Berlin-Brothersvalley. Clairton might be just a bit flat after winning the WPIAL championship, but should get it going after a period or two…‘Da Bears.
I love what the District 9’s Kane Wolves have done this season. If the Wolves can pull off another win this week against the Blue Devils of Sharpsville it might be one of the greatest athletic achievements for the community of Kane. My heart roots for Kane but my head says…Sharpsville.
Camp Hill’s Lions carry the District 3 banner against the Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders of District 6. The Lions won a shootout last week by a 63-49 score. Camp Hill will need a good portion of those points this week if they hope to stay with the offensive juggernaut of the Marauders…Bishop Guilfoyle.
Piux X’s Royals and the South Williamsport Mountaineers represent District 11 and District 4 respectively. The Mountaineers have their offense running on high octane as they have scored 149 points in the last three playoff games. The Royals offense registered 100 points in the same span. After the convincing shutout in last week’s game by the Mountaineers I like…South Williamsport.
The State College Little Lions enter this week with 6-6 record while the Little Lions opponent, Pine-Richland, sports a 13-0 record. On paper it looks like a lock for the Rams, but hold your horses. I think it will be closer than most think for two reasons. One, the Rams are coming off some very emotionally draining games in the WPIAL playoffs. Two, State College plays a difficult schedule in the AAAA of District 3. That said, the Little Lions will keep it close, but in the end…Pine-Richland.
In District 3, Wilson’s Bulldogs beat Central Dauphin’s Rams earlier in the season by a 14-12 score. This one will be just as close and just as low scoring. Two good defensive teams clash with the outcome being determined by a costly turnover…Central Dauphin.
District 11’s Parkland Trojans surprised not only me, but just about everyone following the playoffs last week when the Trojans got a win over previously undefeated Easton. The Trojans played a great schedule with some very close losses so I guess the win was not out of the realm of possibility. So this week, Parkland plays PFN’s top ranked St. Joe’s Prep. I have noted in the past where the Hawks got off to an 0-3 start in the season, but have won 8 straight. A big factor in the outcome of this game is Hawk’s playmaker, John Reid, maybe out for this game. The loss of Reid is a tremendous blow to the Hawks scoring ability. That said, a not so definite call for the Hawks to continue the winning streak…St. Joe’s Prep.
In the District 1 AAAA championship game, undefeated Coatesville plays once beaten Pennsbury’s Falcons. This will be a slugfest. My main source of info in District 1 tells me the Falcons’ defensive and offensive lines are huge and should wear down the smaller, but quicker Coatesville line. I love the advice, but I like quickness over hugeness (is that a word?)…Coatesville.
In the AAA bracket, District 3’s Bishop McDevitt Crusaders have the number 1 seed as they prepare for the Cocalico Eagles. The Eagles defense played superbly in its first three playoff games. Cocalico’s defense will find the Crusaders offense much better than teams of the previous weeks…Bishop McDevitt.
Great Valley has what I consider the toughest game of all for an underdog in week 14. The Patriots face the Vikings of Archbishop Wood from District 12. Wood says they “play them one game at a time” but I’ll the Vikings are thinking chocolate…Archbishop Wood.
Somerset’s Eagles showed off their offensive prowess the past week in racking up three lopsided wins. Somerset’s opponent this week is the Bethlehem Catholic Hawks. The Hawks have a pretty good offense of their own as they have outscored three opponents by 128-76. Hawks’ defense seems a bit too generous, so this one could blow out the scoreboard with the Hawks coming out on top…Bethlehem Catholic.
District 10’s Hickory Hornets face the Tyrone Golden Eagles of District 6. Tyrone made it to the state finals in 2013 while Hickory won numerous District 10 championships including the past three years. Both teams will play it close to the vest with the winning score coming from special teams…Tyrone.
The Karns City Gremlins’ defense will get a look at one of the better quarterbacks in the state when they take the field against the South Fayette Lions. The Lions’ QB is the prolific Brett Brumbaugh. Brett and company always find a way to win…South Fayette.
The Dunmore Bucks are no stranger to the Pa. playoffs with a trip to the finals a couple of years ago. The Bucks face District 12 upstart Neumann-Goretti. The Saints play in a very tough Catholic League in Philadelphia and come into this game with a 9-4 record. So will this be the week the Saints go marching in? I almost called this game my upset special, instead I’m going with the Bucks…Dunmore.
Wyomissing’s Spartans clash with the Warriors of Montoursville. Three weeks ago I would have never given the Warriors a chance to be in this position, but after Montoursville knocked off top ranked Southern Columbia, I had a change of heart. The Warriors have another tough foe in the Spartans who won the District 3 championship last week over top ranked Berks Catholic. I would not be surprised if Montoursville pulls off another win, but I’m sticking with…Wyomissing.
In other non-state related games:
Easton plays the traditional rivalry game on Thanksgiving Day against Phillipsburg, N.J. Look for the Red Rovers to prevail.
In another rivals game, Pennridge and Quakertown get together on Turkey Day. I liked Quakertown all season. No way do I change horses in the middle of the steam…Quakertown.
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