B. Hollywood’s Mid-Week 2/11 Report.

Tagged under: District 11, District 2, News, pfn

Brian Ptashinski | October 9, 2019

This high school football is moving rapidly, as we move into week eight. Some teams are positioning themselves for the post-season, others are scrambling to get into the playoffs, while others are looking forward to the winter sports season.

We take a look at District XI, the last three teams that were unbeaten coming into this past weekend’s action all lost: Easton fell to Bethlehem Freedom 26-14, Northwestern Lehigh stopped Southern Lehigh on a two-point conversion attempt and held on for a 36-34 win and Pine Grove nipped Williams Valley 28-26.

In the EPC South, Nazareth (5-1, 6-1), Easton (4-1, 6-1) and Freedom (4-1,6-1) lead the way. Parkland (4-1, 5-2) and Bethlehem Catholic (3-2, 5-2) are lurking in the shadows. The Red Rovers of Easton still has games with Bethlehem Catholic, Parkland and Nazareth remaining, who have a combined 16-5 record. Nazareth can guarantee themselves at least a share of the EPC South title with a win over 0-7 Whitehall Friday night. The Blue Eagles remaining two games would be with William Allen (EPC North), and then Easton to close out the regular season.

Saturday night at Bethlehem School District Stadium will feature two of the area’s top signal-callers in Cole Transue for Easton 90 completions in 142 attempts for 1,13 yards 11 TD’s 5 picks and Jared Richardson for the Golden Hawks of Bethlehem Catholic completing 96 passes in 151 attempts 880 yards 6 scores and 5 int’s. Red Rovers RB Nahjee Adams leads the conference in rushing 1,333 yards on 153 carries and 16 TD’s. Tavion Banks is third for the Hawks 140 carries 875 yards and 17 scores.

Allentown Central Catholic had earned itself a statement win over Emmaus 35-17. Viking Junior quarterback Matt Rauscher had 3 rushing scores and threw for two more in the win.

The Konkrete Kids of Northampton are in position to win the EPC North title. Their last championship was in the old Mountain Valley Conference in 1997. Northampton (6-1) defeated defending champion Stroudsburg Friday night 35-7. Joe Kerbacher completed 9 of 16 passes for 176 yards and 3 TD passes. The K-Kids can clinch a tie for the title this Friday with a win over William Allen (2-5) and could win the championship outright the following week against Pocono Mountain East.

East Stroudsburg North snapped a 29 game losing streak with a 28-21 win over Pleasant Valley Friday. Rahsaan Jacobs had 200 yards rushing and 4 scores in the win. Johndlee Francois clinched the win with a late fourth quarter interception.

There was a scoring barrage in the Colonial League this past weekend. The six games averaged 58.3 points, and the winning teams scored at least 29 points.

Northwestern Lehigh (6-1), pre-season favorites to win the Championship, won their 6th game in a row, after an opening night loss to Notre Dame Green Pond. Southern Lehigh (6-1) scored on a 87 yard pass with 2:15 left in the contest but could not convert the two-point conversion that gave the Tigers a 36-34 win. Notre Dame is 5-2 tied with Saucon Valley. Saucon Valley was stunned by Wilson (4-3) as place-kicker Lorenzo Sigue connected on a 27 yard field goal with eight seconds on the clock.

Northern Lehigh behind running back Mike Repsher’s 138 yards on 10 carries and 4 touchdowns stunned Salisbury 42-14. Palisades shutout Bangor 36-0 with Mason Smeland gaining 187 yards on 26 tallies and two scores.

Southern Lehigh will be “Up On The Hill” Saturday afternoon at Pen Argyl. I will be providing live updates from this contest. From one of the most picturesque stadiums. Saucon will travel to Northwestern key showdown Friday night.

The Schuylkill League Division 1 race has tightened up with Pottsville, North Schuylkill and Jim Thorpe all at 6-1 followed by Tamaqua 5-2. North Schuylkill outscored Tamaqua 27-18 Friday night. Jim Thorpe game from behind to edge Blue Mountain 21-17. Pottsville crushed Lehighton 61-6.

Pottsville will be at Jim Thorpe Friday. Blue Mountain will host North Schuylkill this week in key division match-ups. I will have live updates from this game. Pottsville leads the league in scoring with 306. Jim Thorpe is second with 277 points. They are also 1-2 in scoring defense, The Olympians have given up only 65 points and the Crimson Tide has surrendered 84 points. Pottsville’s QB Damon Yost was 8 of 10 passing for 152 yards and 3 TD’s against Lehighton. CJ Selby led the ground attack for Jim Thorpe 28 carries 143 yards 2 scores in the win versus Blue Mountain.

Williams Valley (6-1) is out in front of Schuylkill Haven (3-4) and Mahanoy Area (4-3) in Division 2. Williams Valley coming off their first loss to Pine Grove with face District 3 powerhouse and unbeaten Upper Dauphin (7-0).

Current District XI Football Power Rankings cane be found here:

B. Hollywood’s Hot Top 25 District XI Football Rankings
1. Freedom
2. Nazareth
3. Pottsville
4. Easton
5. North Schuylkill
6. Bethlehem Catholic
7. Parkland
8. Northwestern
9. Jim Thorpe
10. Southern Lehigh
11. Tamaqua
12. Pine Grove
13. Notre Dame Green Pond
14. Northampton
15. Williams Valley
16. Saucon Valley
17. Allentown Central Catholic
18. Mahanoy Area
19. Wilson Area
20. Northern Lehigh
21. Emmaus
22. East Stroudsburg South
23. Stroudsburg
24. Salisbury
25. Blue Mountain

B Hollywood’s Bold Prediction Prognostications EPC Edition. Hollywood was 6-3 last week, 51-12 overall:

3-4 Pocono Mountian East over 1-6 East Stroudsburg North
5-2 East Stroudsburg South over 2-5 Louis Dieruff
6-1 Bethlehem Freedom over 4-3 Emmaus
2-5 Pocono Mountain West over 0-7 Pleasant Valley
5-2 Parkland over 4-3 Stroudsburg
6-1 Nazareth over 0-7 Whitehall
6-1 Northampton over 2-5 William Allen
4-3 Allentown Central Catholic over 2-5 Bethlehem Liberty
5-2 Bethlehem Catholic over 6-1 Easton

Colonial League. Hollywood was dismal 2-4 bring season record to 26-16:

4-3 Northern Lehigh over 2-5 Palisades
5-2 Notre Dame Green Pond over 0-7 Catasauqua
4-3 Salisbury Twp over 2-5 Bangor
6-1 Northwestern over 5-2 Saucon Valley
4-3 Wilson over 2-5 Palmerton
6-1 Southern Lehigh over 2-5 Pen Argyl

Schuylkill/Tri-Valley Leagues 6-3 last week, 58-21 on the season.

6-1 Pine Grove over 3-4 Line Mountain
4-3 Mahanoy Area over 2-5 Panther Valley
3-4 Schuylkill Haven over 3-4 Minersville
3-4 Nativity BVM over 1-5 Bucktail
6-1 North Schuylkill over 4-3 Blue Mountain
6-1 Pottsville over 6-1 Jim Thorpe
0-7 Shenandoah Valley over 0-7 Marian Catholic
5-2 Tamaqua over 3-4 Lehighton
4-3 Newport over 3-4 Tri-Valley
7-0 Upper Dauphin over 6-1 Williams Valley

In District 2, the story of the week was the drama of the on again off again game between Southern Columbia and Wyoming Area. The Heartland Conference threatened sanctions against Southern Columbia being that the game was posted on social media before the conference was notified. So Southern decided not to play the game citing that possible penalties were too costly to move forward. However, that was not the end of the saga, two other teams were involved in the process: Holy Redeemer and Shikellamy. Redeeemer was scheduled to play Wyoming Area and Shikellamy was to play Southern. Those two teams agreed to play each other at Crispin Field in Berwick. Shikellamy appealed to the Heartland Conference to keep the date with Redeemer. Monday, the decision was made to approve the switching of games.

The other key game this week will be 7-0 Dallas traveling to 7-0 Valley View. The Cougars lead the District 2 power rankings in 4A with a .787 rating while the Mountaineers are second with .769. Berwick is third with a 6-1 record and a .703 rating. Dallas and Berwick will meet next week in the Back Mountain.

Wilkes-Barre Area won the inaugural “Battle of the Bridge” over cross-river Wyoming Valley West 28-0. The Susquehanna River separates Kingston from Wilkes-Barre. The Wolfpack in it’s first season improved to 4-3, while the Spartans dropped to an uncharacteristic 1-6 record.

Up in Lackawanna County, the “Battle for the Bell” took place as West Scranton and Scranton got together Sunday afternoon, being threats were made during the week, so the district citing safety concerns moved the game from Friday night. Scranton dominated the contest 41-7.

Hanover Area got a 24-14 win Friday over Northwest Area. Riverside slipped by Mid Valley 17-16. North Pocon edged Wallenpapack 18-3. Valley View dropped previously unbeaten Western Wayne 35-15. Dunmore was on short-end of a 35-14 decision to Wyoming Area in some other key games.

Other games of note in week 8 will be 6-1 Berwick will be at 5-2 Crestwood, 5-1 Old Forge will have a short trip to face rival Riverside 4-3. Wilkes Barre will be in the Poconos to face Wallenpaupack.

The PIAA District 2 Power Rankings can be found here:

Being there are only 17 teams in District 2 with a .500 record or better. Hollywood cut down his Hot Top 25 to Top 15:

1. Wyoming Area
2. Valley View
3. Dallas
4. Del Val
5. Berwick
6. Lake-Lehamn
7. Western Wayne
8. Dunmore
9. Old Forge
10. Tunkhannock
11. Scranton Prep
12. Scranton
13. Wilkes-Barre Area
14. Lackawanna Trail
15. Lakeland

B. Hollywood’s Bold Prediction Prognostications. Last week I was 5-3. 42-11 on the season in the WVC and 7-2 in LFC 56-20 overall:

1-6 Wyoming Valley West over 1-6 Abington Heights
6-1 Berwick over 5-2 Crestwood
7-0 Valley View over 7-0 Dallas
4-3 Lackawanna Trail over 3-4 Hanover Area
6-1 Del Val over 3-4 Williamsport
1-6 Shikellamy over 0-6 Holy Redeemer at Berwick’s Crispin Field
5-2 Lake-Lehman over 2-4 Mid-Valley
4-3 Lakeland over 1-6 Nanticoke Area
0-6 Montrose over 0-7 Honesdale
4-3 Tunkhannock over 3-4 North Pocono
5-1 Old Forge over 4-3 Riverside
5-2 Scranton over 1-6 Hazleton
7-0 Southern Columbia over 7-0 Wyoming Area
6-1 Western Wayne over 1-6 West Scranton
4-3 Wilkes Barre Area over 3-4 Wallenpaupack
3-3 Northwest Area over 2-5 Wyalusing Area
4-3 Dunmore over 1-5 Susquehanna
5-2 Scranton Prep over 3-4 Pittston Area

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