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2014 Short Picks – Week 5

Tagged under: pfn

| September 24, 2014


This week marks the halfway mark in the 2015 season. Some of the unranked schools are starting to assert themselves as the hunt for a playoff position becomes more important. Two schools who seem to be turning the season around were North Penn and Neshaminy both of whom came up with wins as predicted by yours truly. Last week’s totals were a pretty solid 26 correct and 8 incorrect. This week has a plethora of good games on the schedule.

In District 2, North Pocono’s Trojans welcome the Scranton Prep Cavaliers. The Trojans came away with a second straight win by a margin of just one point last week and two points two weeks ago. Close again this week, but the Trojans will be on the short side this time around. The Cavs should win by a couple of points…Scranton Prep.

District 2’s Berwick Bulldogs travel into District 4 to tangle with the Seals of Selinsgrove. The Seals look to reverse last year’s 36-0 loss to the Bulldogs…Selinsgrove.

A couple of teams in District 5 are undefeated and one of those is the Red Raiders of Meyersdale. The Red Raiders travel to Conemaugh Valley. The Blue Jays will have their hands full with that Red Raiders offense…Meyersdale.

Greater Johnstown’s offense is centered around quarterback Jeremy Updyke. The Trojans lost a key ingredient in the offense when they lost running back Terrell Jones. The Trojans travel to Somerset home of the Eagles where they will find one of the best defensive teams on their schedule. The Eagles should be able to control Updyke and his talented recievers…Somerset.

In District 6, the Mountain Lions of Altoona host the Norwin Knights in WPIAL action. The Mountain Lions are building a solid program and pick up win number 3…Altoona.

Gateway’s Gators have fallen on hard times in the AAA WPIAL. The Gators visit the Tigers of Hollidaysburg who have found a comfortable home in the WPIAL. Tigers growl…Hollidaysburg.

State College is a much better team than the 2-2 record. The Little Lions travel to Chambersburg. Little Lions quarterback John Weakland picks apart the Trojans defense…State College.

Continuing in District 6, the Purchase Line Dragons were thought to have a team to contend for the Heritage Conference. Somehow the Dragons find themselves with a 2-2 record. The Dragons host the 4-0 Wildcats of Homer Center. A win for the Dragons would be huge at this point in the season. On a hunch…Purchase Line.

In what might just be one of the best games in the state, the undefeated Trojans of Mount Union travel to Bellwood to face the Bellwood-Antis Blue Devils. There is no better place for football than in Bellwood. If you are going you better get there early as this will be a standing room only Friday night in Bellwood. I see this game as a toss-up. The Trojans might just have a bit more speed so I am going with…Mount Union.

Some good ones in District 9 where the Brockway Rover Dogs travel to Clearfield home of the Bison. The singleA Rover Dogs are 4-0 while the Bison are 2-2. Forget the records as this will be a nail biter…Clearfield.

Two undefeated teams meet in Curwensville. The Golden Tide welcome the Crusaders of Elk County Catholic. An extra point or two will be the difference. Roll Tide roll…Curwensville.

The undefeated Ridgway’s Elks roll out the red carpet for the 4-0 Wolves of Kane. This is just another great game for fans in District 9. I give the edge to the home team…Ridgway.

In what was once one of the biggest rivalry’s in District 9 and probably still is, the Woodchucks of Punxsutawney host the Beavers of DuBois. The Chucks are 3-1 while the Beavers are 2-2. DuBois offense is led by quarterback Gabe French and running back Devin Clark. That duo might be just too much offense for the Chucks…DuBois.

The Moniteau Warriors put a 4-0 record on the line as they welcome the 4-0 Karns City Gremlins. The Warriors are led by running back Josh McBride. The Gremlins’ defense has been tough to score upon, so Josh will find the going difficult…Karns City.

Highly ranked Cathedral Prep is always one of the best teams coming out of District 10. The Rambers are led by quarterback Billy Norfolk as they prepare for out of state Aquinas Institute of Buffalo…Cathedral Prep.

Two quality programs clash when the Conneaut Eagles battle the General McLane Lancers. With two teams so evenly matched, I don’t like going against the home team, but…Conneaut.

How about this one. The Hickory Hornets visit the Slippery Rock Rockets. Both the Hornets and the Rockets are undefeated. This will be a good one…Slippery Rock.

The Big Reds of West Middlesex are led by running back Eric Lucich as they prepare for the undefeated Blue Devils of Sharpsburg. The Blue Devils keep Eric in check and move to 5-0…Sharpsburg.

In District 12, I found just one game I thought most interesting. Martin Luther King meets the Electrons of Benjamin Franklin. The Electrons should light ’em up…Ben Franklin.

Turning to District 1, North Penn’s Knights are 2-2 as they continue in league play this week against the Titans of Central Bucks South. C.B. South has D-1 recruit Josh Adams . The Knights won’t keep the talented Adams from a 100 yard game, but they should be able to keep pace with the C.B. South offense. By a field goal…North Penn.

Neshaminy’s Redskins are rebuilding while this week’s opponent, the Pennridge Rams, is making a run for the conference title. The Redskins rebuilding is coming along nicely…Neshaminy.

Are the Panthers of Quakertown for real? The Panthers are 4-0 as they travel to Norristown to take on the 3-1 Eagles. I am just not sure about the Panthers so maybe this week they will convince me…Norristown.

One of the only single A teams in District 1 is the Bristol Warriors. The Warriors get little attention with all the big boys in the district. Bristol hosts the Valley Forge Military Trojans. Maybe a win here will get some ink for the Warriors as they improve to 5-0…Bristol.

Abington’s Galloping Ghosts were handed the first loss of the season last week. The Galloping Ghosts will have a tough go in trying to get back into the winning column this week against a very solid Pennsbury Falcon team…Pennsbury.

In District 11, the Pirates of Palisades visit the Bulldogs of Northern Lehigh. Both schools are 3-1. My source, Mike Smoll, likes Palisades in an mild upset. I like Mike’s input on this one…Palisades.

In a battle between two undefeated teams, we have Saucon Valley’s Panthers at Nortwestern Lehigh’s Trojans. Both schools have proficient offenses and very stingy defenses. This should be a close one so I revert to the old coin toss for a pick. It’s heads…Saucon Valley.

In the “Slobber Knocker” in District 11 we have the PFN #5 ranked Parkland Trojans visiting PFN’s honorable mention Whitehall Zephyrs. Two 4-0 teams who most likely will meet again later in the year are set for one heck of a battle. Zephyrs will give the Trojans all they can handle and keep the home town fans on the edge of their seats. This time around it’s the Trojans win by a whisker…Parkland.

In District 7, New Brighton visits PFN’s #2 ranked Aliquippa. The Lions 4-0 record is in danger of picking up its first loss of the season at the hands of the mighty Quips…Aliquippa.

Highlands welcomes the Vikings of Apollo Ridge. I consider both teams as contenders in the hunt for a WPIAL class AA title. I like the home standing Golden Rams by a field goal…Highlands.

Two undefeated teams meet in Mount Pleasant home of the Vikings. This week’s visitor is the Washington Little Prexies. These teams match up very well in all phases of the game. I give a slight edge to the visiting Little Prexies…Washington.

In a AAAA “Slobber Knocker,” the North Hills Indians visit the Pine-Richland Rams. One of these two will be 5-0 when the dust settles. The Rams are playing their best football since moving up in class a few years ago…Pine-Richland.

In District 3, The Camp Hill Lions take an undefeated record into Milton Hershey home of the Spartans. The Spartans surprise the Lions with a mild upset…Milton Hershey.

The AAAA Cedar Cliff Colts visit Lower Dauphin’s Falcons. The AAA Falcons continue on their undefeated path and improve to 5-0…Lower Dauphin.

Bermudian Springs entertains the Knights of Fairfield. The Eagles defense will be the difference…Bermudian Springs.

I see what shapes up to be a potential high scoring shootout when two undefeated teams tangle in East Pennsboro. The Panthers welcome the high scoring Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils. Last team with the ball wins in a classic offensive display…Greencastle-Antrim.

District 11 Pius X travels into District 3 to meet the Spartans of Wyomissing. Both schools are undefeated with 4-0 records. I can’t get a handle on the Royals, so I’ll go with what I know on the Spartans…Wyomissing.

In other games:
Central Bucks West over Harry S. Truman
Octorara over Oxford Valley
Downingtown East over West Chester East
Sun Valley over Kennett
Dunmore over Carbondale
Pittston over Hazleton
Lackawanna Trail over Lakeland
Old Forge over Riverside
Scranton over Valley View
Central Dauphin over Harrisburg
Berks over Twin Valley
Manheim Central over Lebanon
Muhlenberg over Daniel Boone
Wilson over Cedar Crest
Sayre over Columbia
Montoursville over Shikellamy
Dallas over Williamsport
Northern Bedford over So. Huntingdon
Richland over Bishop McCort
Blairsville over Northern Cambria
Tyrone over Bellefonte
Otto-Eldred over Coudersport

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