B. Hollywood’s Mid-Week 2/11 Report.

Tagged under: District 11, District 2

Brian Ptashinski | October 16, 2019

Just two weeks left in the 2019 high school football regular season. Some teams have clinched a playoff spot in both District XI and District 2, but there is still plenty of spots still open as this week’s action gets under way.

Beginning in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference South, Nazareth (7-1 overall, 6-1 EPC South) Bethlehem Freedom (7-1, 5-1) lead the Division. Easton and Parkland are both (6-2, 5-2), Bethlehem Catholic is hanging around at (6-2, 4-2).

Freedom, behind quarterback Jared Jenkins 426 passing yards, a single-game school record, dominated Emmaus 63-28. The Patriots close out with Allentown Central Catholic Saturday and “Christmas City” rival Liberty. Nazareth, with a 56-21 win over Whitehall Friday night clinched at least a tie for Division title with only a cross-over game with William Allen this week and finish up with Easton. The Red Rovers dropped their second consecutive game Saturday night to Bethlehem Catholic 16-6. Parkland will visit Historic Cottingham Stadium Friday night. Bethlehem Catholic with travel to face Emmaus this week.

Northampton (7-1) inched closer to capturing the EPC North, which would be their first championship since 1997, with a 55-13 win over William Allen. A win this Friday over Pocono Mountain East (4-4) would give the Konkrete Kids that elusive milestone.

In the Colonial League, Northwestern (7-1) and Southern Lehigh (7-1) lead the way. Notre Dame Green Pond is lurking at (6-2). Northwestern shutout Saucon Valley 36 and will be on the road in Slatington to take on Northern Lehigh Friday night. Southern Lehigh, bounced back after suffering their first loss the week before to Northwestern, by defeating out-manned Pen Argyl 46-6. The Spartans will be at winless Catasauqua.

In The Schuylkill League, North Schuylkill (7-1 overall 4-0 Division) and Pottsville (7-1, 4-0)lead the North Division. Pottsville earned a 32-26 victory over Jim Thorpe, while North Schuylkill blitzed Blue Mountain 39-7. A showdown is looming for the Tide and the Spartans in week ten, if North Schuylkill gets by Lehighton and Pottsville can keep up their end of the bargain against Blue Mountain.

Heading into this weeks’ games the District playoffs are shaping up. However, still much to be ironed out the with finish line in sight.

In Class A Williams Valley clinched a spot with a 6-2 record and .619 rating. Tri-Valley (3-5 .377), Nativity BVM (4-4 .335), Marian Catholic (1-7 .195) Shenandoah Valley (0-8 .135) are battling for the other three playoff spots.

Districts XI/XII will represent the 2A bracket in a sub-regional four team scenario. West Catholic Prep (5-3 .525) and Bishop McDevitt (3-5 .479) out of D-XII. Mahonoy Area (5-3 .469), Schuylkill Haven (4-4 .469), Palmerton (3-5 .429) and Minersville (3-5 .303) are in contention.

Looking at 3A, where again four teams qualify. This might be the most competitive. North Schuylkill (7-1 .767), Tamaqua (6-2 .641190), Pine Grove (7-1 .641175), Notre Dame Green Pond (6-2 .618) are in the prime spots, but Jim Thorpe (6-2 .600), Salisbury Twp (5-3 .563) and Northern Lehigh (5-3 .547) may have something to say before all is said and done.

Four teams have clinched the eight spots available in the 4A classification. Bethlehem Catholic (6-2 .763), Northwestern Lehigh (7-1 .731), Pottsville (7-1 .720) and Allentown Central Catholic (5-3 .666) earned a spot in the post-season. Saucon Valley (5-3 .597), Blue Mountain (4-4 .524), Wilson (4-4 .456) Lehighton (3-5 .418) and Bangor (2-6 .371) will compete to round out the field.

Southern Lehigh (7-1 .717) and East Stroudsburg South (6-2 .697) hold two of the four slots in the 5A sub-regional with District 2. Pocono Mountain East (4-4 .559), Wallenpaupack (3-5 .509), Wyoming Valley West (2-6 .439) East Stroudsburg North (1-7 .349) and Whitehall (0-8 .328) still looking to make the post-season.

The eight team 6A bracket is half-way completed with Nazareth (7-1 .793), Bethlehem Freedom (7-1 .792), Parkland (6-2 .754), Northampton (7-1 .740) are in. Easton (6-2 .702), Stroudsburg (4-4 .610), Emmaus (4-4 .586), Pocono Mountain West (3-5 .555), Bethlehem Liberty (2-6 .473) will try to position themselves in next two weeks.

In District 2, the talk all week was the two big contests: ten-time state champions Southern Columbia making the trek to Luzerne County to face Wyoming Area, both teams unbeaten and both ranked in their respective state classifications. The other was unbeaten Dallas going up against another team without a loss Valley View.

Southern Columbia dominated the Warriors 42-0, behind the outstanding play of Julian Fleming and the brothers Gaige and Gavin Garcia. Dallas got some revenge after losing to the Cougars in last year’s District 2 championship game, by stunning the home team 37-7 behind Lenny Kelly’s 293 yards and two scores. Dallas will be home Friday night against 7-1 Berwick in another much anticipated game of the week.

Dallas took both games from Berwick last season 13-10 in the regular season and then 3-0 in overtime in the district semifinals.

Looking at the District playoffs in Class A, Northwest Area 4-4 will be at 6-1 Old Forge Friday night. Old Forge is the number one seed currently with Northwest is at number two. Lackawanna trail sits in third. Both Old Forge and Northwest has wins over Trail during the season. Northwest is finish up with Riverside next week, while Trail will face Holy Redeemer.Only two teams qualify for post-season.

Dunmore (5-3 .527) is only team to solidify a spot in 2A. Riverside (4-4 .409), Mid Valley (2-5 .365) Carbondale (1-7 .290) and Susquehanna (1-6 .253) jockeying for the last three spots.

In the 3A Playoff chase 5 of 6 spots are taken: Wyoming Area, Western Wayne, Scranton Prep, Lake-Lehman and Lakeland are in. Hanover Area has inside track for the 6th and final spot.

Dallas, Valley View, Berwick and Crestwood have locked in a playoff spots in 4A. North Pocono, Tunkhannock, Pittston and West Scranton hold spots 4-8. Eight teams qualify.

In 6A four teams make it in. Delaware Valley, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton are all in. The final spot will either go to Williamsport (3-5 .492) or Hazleton (1-7 .406)

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