Weekly Results
Final Grades for Football This Week
November 1, 2006
We are now through the first nine weeks of the 2006 high school football campaign and the final points for PIAA playoff slots will be determined this week. With an expanded playoff format, it appeared that former power house teams like Strath Haven, CB West and Cardinal O’Hara would be assured of post season action for years to come.
However this season revealed that early losses may well doom each of their chances this year.
Strath Haven must beat Penncrest in the Media Bowl while Marple Newtown must fall to Central League rival Conestoga in order for the Panthers to attain a AAA playoff berth. Over in the Catholic League Cardinal O’Hara must find a way to defeat St. Joe’s Prep the top rated team in Ed Thomas’ Southeastern Pa top 20 in order to have any shot at post season play.
Last week’s predictions left this writer with another 4-1 record (31-9) on the season. The only game to go against last weeks predictions was O’Hara’s loss to Roman Catholic. This game all but eliminates the Lion’s for a run at The Catholic League crown.
Over in the Central League, Ridley was able to ride its 49-0 win over Lower Merion to capture their first league championship since 1996. This week’s action features two games that will determine AAA playoff berths. Strath Haven must win over cross town rival Penncrest to keep their hope alive. The Panthers will make it 19 straight Media Bowl victories
Prediction: Strath Haven 28 Penncrest 17
Marple Newtown enters this game with their first chance to enter post season action. All they need is a win over Conestoga. They will accomplish this goal.
Marple Newtown 20 Conestoga 14
Here is the rest of my fearless forecast:
Prediction: St Joe’s Prep 31 Cardinal O’Hara 13
Prediction: Council Rock North 17 Council Rock South 7
Prediction: Pennsbury 24 Neshaminy 21
League Championships Determined this Week
October 25, 2006
We are now through the first eight weeks of the 2006 high school football campaign and this week’s games will determine several regular season league championships. In addition District One playoff berths will be clinched by a majority of the teams that will make the final cut. This year found many of the pre-season favorites falling to some new upstarts and this opens the door for some new names placed in those coveted playoff slots.
Last week’s predictions left this writer with another 4-1 record (27-8) on the season. The only game to go against last weeks predictions was Downingtown West’s defeat of cross town rival Downingtown East 24-13. Downingtown East travels to West Chester East for a Ches-Mont league showdown. A victory by West Chester East will clinch a league championship as well as a District One AAAA playoff berth.
Over in the Central League Ridley jumped to a 21-0 halftime lead on its way to a 27-6 win over Upper Darby. The Green Raider win clinched at least a tie for Central League Championship and dropped the Royals out of Ed Thomas’ Southeastern Pa top twenty for the first time this year. Ridley will clinch its first championship since 1996 with a win over Lower Merion
Prediction: Ridley 49 Lower Merion 0
West Chester East will face a determined Downingtown East squad but will rise to the challenge and win the Chest-Mont league title on Friday night.
West Chester East 31 Downingtown East 21
Here is the rest of my fearless forecast:
Prediction: Salesianum 35 Interboro 20
Prediction: Pennsbury 27 Abington 13
Prediction: Cardinal O’Hara 17 Roman Catholic 14
Week Eight will tell the tale
October 18, 2006
We are now through the first seven weeks of the 2006 high school football season and the playoff picture will become much clearer after this week’s action. Perennial AAA power Strath Haven is 4-3 and the Panthers have greatly improved their post season chances with recent victories over Upper Darby and Lower Merion. Haven could move into one of the top six positions in District One with a victory over Central League rival Springfield this Friday night.
Last week’s predictions left this writer with another 4-1 record (23-7) on the season. The only game to go against last weeks predictions was Unionville’s last minute victory over Garnet Valley. Eric DiProspero’s plunge for a touchdown and a two point conversion accounted for the hard fought 29-28 victory.
There are plenty of great games to watch this weekend. Undefeated Ridley travels to Upper Darby for a Central League showdown. A Green Raider victory will assure them of their first Central League championship since 1995. The Upper Darby Royals have just one loss and are hungry to grab the league championship as well as an AAAA playoff slot. The Royals will not be able to contend with the Ridley defense this week and will have to wait one more week to clinch a playoff invitation.
Prediction: Ridley 21 Upper Darby 10
Downingtown East faces cross town rival Downingtown West on Saturday. This game not only allows for hometown bragging rights but a playoff berth and Chest-Mont League supremacy depending on the outcome
Prediction: Downingtown East 31 Downingtown West 21
Here is the rest of my fearless forecast:
Prediction: North Penn 28 Neshaminy 17
Prediction: Souderton 35 Norristown 7
Prediction: St. Joe’s Prep 17 LaSalle 10
The Upsets Continue to Rock Top Teams
September 28, 2006
By Joe Stokes
The 2006 High School Football season enters its fifth week and upset victories over early season favorites continue to be the rule. Cardinal O’Hara suffered its third set back of the season with a 35-28 loss to Catholic League rival Father Judge last Friday night. This loss pushed the Lions down to number 16 in Ed Thomas’s Southeastern Pa Top Twenty.
Last week’s predictions left this writer with another 4-1 record (11-4) on the season. The only game not going as predicted was O’Hara’s setback to Judge. Ridley continued their winning ways but struggled against a stubborn Conestoga defense to eek out a 7-0 victory with a late TD drive saving the day for the undefeated Green Raiders.
Upper Darby, Interboro, and Strath Haven all posted easy victories and continue their march to a possible playoff slot at seasons end. The Interboro Bucs were impressive in their home opener by dominating Simon Gratz on both sides of the ball. The 50-16 victory came with the help of running backs Mike Sullivan and Tim Ridewood who combined four touchdowns and 293 total yards to assure the win.
The games to watch this week starts with Downingtown West traveling to West Chester East on Friday night. West Chester East will be hard pressed to slow down Whippets running back Roshaad McCain and will lose this one despite their own high powered offense.
Prediction: Downingtown West 49 West Chester East 21
Strath Haven faces its next Central League test at Marple Newtown this Friday and will need to play mistake free football to win this one. However the call from here is that Marple pulls off a slight upset.
Prediction: Marple Newtown 24 Strath Haven 21
North Catholic will continue the agony for the Lions of Cardinal O’Hara with a hard fought victory this Saturday afternoon.
North Catholic 17 Cardinal O’Hara 14
Here is the rest of my fearless forecast:
Interboro 35 Kennett 7
Garnet Valley 28 Great Valley 17
Wide Open Run for New Top Dogs
September 20, 2006
By Joe Stokes
The 2006 High School Football season enters its fourth week with perennial powers St. Joseph Prep, North Penn, Cardinal O’Hara, Neshaminy and Strath Haven all suffering early season defeats. Last week found St. Joe’s Prep and O’Hara traveling to Ohio for the McDonald’s USA Challenge. Both teams were defeated by nationally rated Colerain and Hilliard Davidson High Schools. Strath Haven, Neshaminy and North Penn all rebounded with hard fought victories.
Last week’s predictions left this writer with an improved 4-1 record (7-3) on the season. The only game not going as predicted was fourth ranked Pennsbury (Ed Thomas’s Southeastern Pa rankings) defeat of Glen Mills on Friday night. The Bulls defense was unable to slow Falcons running back Jason Fagan who scored two touchdowns and rushed for 193 yards in a 28-6 Pennsbury rout.
Upper Darby, Interboro, Ridley and Strath Haven all posted well played victories and are all in good position to continue their winning ways this week.
The games to watch this week starts with some Thursday night specials. Conestoga will travel to Ridley to face the top ranked Green Raiders in the Delaware County Times Super 7. Ridley has relied on the pass game led by quarterback Al Humes in its first three victories. Two late TDs saved Ridley from defeat to a stubborn Penncrest defense last Friday and that second half surge may just be the ticket to this week’s victory over Conestoga.
Prediction: Ridley 28 Conestoga 7
Cardinal O’Hara returns to Pennsylvania for a game against Catholic League rival Father Judge on Friday night. Count on O’Hara to take out their early season frustration on Judge with a big victory
Prediction: O’Hara 42 Father Judge 0
Springfield (Delco) plays their first home night game in the schools history on Thursday night. However Central League rival Marple Newtown will rain on the Cougar parade:
Marple Newtown 14 Springfield 10
Here is the rest of my fearless forecast:
Pennridge 24 Bonner 10
Interboro 28 Simon Gratz 17
Will Top Teams Tumble In Week Two
By Joe Stokes
The 2006 High School Football season opened last Friday with little fanfare as a tropical storm charged up the East Coast playing havoc with the early schedule. Many schools moved their games to earlier times while some played in a wind driven rain on Friday night.
It seems that several preseason favorites maybe in for a long hard road to live up to those lofty expectations. Perennial District One powers Strath Haven, Neshaminy, Interboro and North Penn all fell to defeat last week. Catholic League’s Cardinal O’Hara also dropped a tight game to Easton to kick off the season.
All of these teams were highly ranked in Ed Thomas’s Southeastern Pa Preseason Top 20 and will face fairly tough opponents in week two. Several great games await District One fans this weekend and with favorable weather conditions likely it will be great for a Friday night outing.
The premier Delaware County showdown features Strath Haven at Ridley. The Green Raiders are rated number one in the Delaware County Times Super 7 and number twelve in the Southeastern Pa top 20. Ridley used an effective passing attack with quarterback Al Humes hooking up with favorite receiver Marcus Payton for 84 yards and two touchdowns for a 21-7 victory over Bensalem.
Strath Haven struggled in the mud fumbling five times and losing the ball on two of those mishaps. Although out gaining Sun Valley 239 to 155 in total yards they were unable to convert this advantage and lost 12-7.
Prediction Ridley 27 Strath Haven 12
North Penn ranked number two in the Southeaster ranking will seek its first victory of the season over Cardinal O’Hara the third ranked team in Delaware County Times poll. Both of these teams are now fighting for early season survival. O’Hara’s offense needs to recover from last week but they will have to wait one more game.
Prediction North Penn 17 O’Hara 7
In other key contests this weekend look for the following outcomes
Interboro 21 Bonner 12
Upper Darby 24 Marple Newtown 14
Springfield 21 Radnor 10
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