ADVERTISEMENT

Live feed

Forum list Trending threads

Live feed

 Posts

Lehigh Valley Week 7

R
bucksftball said:
Let’s go Rovers! We need those bonus points.
Click to expand...
If I’m making predictions for you - I think Easton wins tonight and beats Liberty next weekend. I also think, based on the way Nazareth is trending, Easton is a slight favorite at home in that one on senior night.

Easton-Freedom very well might be the D11 championship game. Freedom has more experience and their best guys (Tanner Wheeler, Shacre Colwell) are better than Easton’s top end. But they are way closer than I thought they’d be in the preseason. - and Freedom without Justin Peluso is different on defense. Their only common opponent is Becahi who Easton beat 28-7 and Freedom beat 24-3. Northampton will add another common opponent tonight. I think I’d take Freedom in the regular season match up, but we’ll see where they’re both at. An 8-2 regular season would be a huge step in the right direction for the Rovers.
Click to expand...
  • Like
Reactions: lilromeo and bucksftball

Lehigh Valley Week 7

R
Big School Top 5
1. Freedom Patriots (7-0)
Freedom beat up Bethlehem Catholic 24-3 last night to get a jump start on the weekend and be the first D11 team to get to 7-0. This is one of the best teams in the state, would love to see what would do against the best from D1, D3, and D7. Well potentially see what they can do against the biggest and baddest kids on the block in November.
2. Parkland Trojans (5-1)
Trojans are on their tour of Allentown, with a win over Allen last week, Dieruff coming to town tonight, then meeting former coach Rob Melosky and Allentown Central Catholic tomorrow. Rooting for some Northampton County chaos to see if they can snag the 1 seed and Homefield advantage.
3. Liberty Hurricanes (6-0)
We’ll find out if the Canes are for real, starting tonight with Nazareth. They’ve done everything they’ve been asked to do - blowing out ESN, Pennridge, Stroudsburg, and Dieruff, and surviving Allentown Central Catholic and Northampton in big EPC South contests. Now they get three real contenders in the final three weeks of the season. The defensive line and running game have been stellar, getting a little more out of Antonio Fontanez is the passing game and in QB run is a must in this stretch.
4. Easton Red Rovers (5-1)
A win tonight gives the Rovers as many wins as the prior two seasons combined. They’re playing really well since the opening loss to CB West, and have had different kids step up on offense. In the opener, it was JC Wilson, against Spring-Ford it was the running back duo, Jasir Frutchey caught four touchdowns against Northeast, and last week it was quarterback Cole Ordway, who threw for 220 and ran for 90 in a rout. Stroudsburg sold out to stop the run, and he made them pay in the RPO game, pulling the ball and hitting wide open receivers down the seam. He’s turned into a nice decision maker. Junior DE/TE Kurtis Crossman (6’3 225) also took issue with me leaving him off my all midseason defense, with 9 tackles, 5 TFL, and three sacks. He’s been awesome on both sides of the ball, and playing his way into FCS offers - kid may have his choice between Division I baseball, football, or wrestling.
5. Nazareth Blue Eagles (4-2)
A 60 spot against winless Pleasant Valley was just what the doctor ordered after a two game losing streak to Freedom and Parkland. Nazareth needs to get healthy on the offensive line, you see it in how relatively limited their FBS running back Marquez Wimberly has been through six games. They’re tiny up front (Jacob Cozze is 6’1 240 and they have multiple linemen under 200 pounds) so they need to use speed in space as much as possible.

HM: Northampton Konkrete Kids (5-1), East Stroudsburg South (4-2), Emmaus (4-2)

Small School Top 5
1. Northwestern Lehigh Tigers (6-0)
Brutalized North Schuylkill last week, should do the same to Pottsville tonight. Eli Zimmerman broke head coach Josh Snyder’s NWL single game rushing record that stood for 25 years in last week’s win.
2. Tamaqua Blue Raiders (6-0)
Tamaqua and Southern Lehigh tonight is a huge clash in the Colonial League and will really tell us how for real the undefeated Blue Raiders are.
3. Notre Dame (Green Pond) Crusaders (5-1)
Notre Dame won’t see NWL in the regular season and that is the one 4A team that may be able to slow down their passing game. They’ll put up silly numbers the next four weeks before playoffs.
4. Southern Lehigh Spartans (5-1)
Sean Steckert has made four straight starts and gone over 100 yards in all of them. Adding him to the offense with Andrew Olesh as a receiving threat had totally changed the dynamic. I think they’re the 4A favorite, even over the two EPC Catholic schools.
5. Blue Mountain Eagles (5-1)
Like ND, they’re going to cruise, but for a final week showdown with Tamaqua, assuming they can exorcise some demons against a down North Schuylkill team.

HM: Saucon Valley Panthers (5-1), Norther Lehigh Bulldogs (4-2)

Game of the Week: Nazareth vs Liberty
Liberty is undefeated against a charmin soft schedule. But they. Close with Nazareth, Easton, Freedom and we will find out exactly how good they are. Their first big test comes tonight with the defending D11 champ Blue Eagles, who have lost THEIR two big tests with Freedom and Parkland. A Liberty win here would be the biggest for the program since…the 2008 state final?

Easton Outlook
Rovers host Northampton tonight, in a game the KKids have circled. The knock had been they can’t beat EPC South teams, and a crack at Easton is their first to silence those doubters. Easton’s defense has been stout, and they’ll need to run the ball effectively. Easton is playing as well as they have since 2014, and needs to make a statement headed into the final three weeks with Liberty, Freedom, and Nazareth.
Click to expand...
  • Like
Reactions: bucksftball, Stalker and lilromeo

Prep LaSalle

S
tulla said:
I agree that the records and scores to this point in the season don't mean a lot.

For a team like SJP with several inexperienced players in key roles opening in Cleveland against St. Edward's was especially tough. You could focus on the 35 points they gave up in 8 or 9 minutes of the second quarter or on St. Edward's not scoring in the other three quarters and the Prep putting up two second half TDs. They should have beaten Good Counsel by a couple of TDs but a strange combination of things (including a very questionable penalty call) made it a nail-biter. Erasmus is much weaker than the Erasmus team SJP played two years ago. The Judge game was simply a big mismatch--like LaSalle's games against O'Hara and Episcopal.

Calvert Hall is not nearly at the same level of Good Counsel. LaSalle's best opponent so far has probably been Malvern, but Malvern lost to Roman, which has since lost to Bonner and by a big margin to DeMatha.

My point is obvious: very little in August and September for either team tells us much more than that LaSalle has improved a good bit and the Prep is not as strong as the they've been most years recently. I suspect the winner will be determined by penalties and turnovers--unlike in some games in recent years where the Prep got penalized much more than LaSalle but still won handily. I also think the game in November could look very different depending on injuries--not having West available at the end of the Good Counsel game made a big difference-- on how much Folkes develops, etc. Not sure how much depth LaSalle has.
Click to expand...
"You could focus on the 35 points they gave up in 8 or 9 minutes of the second quarter or on St. Edward's not scoring in the other three quarters and the Prep putting up two second half TDs." Excellent point tulla. If that Hawk team takes the field, it's a long day for LaSalle.
I'll second your view on turnovers and penalties. Some are so untimely at key moments in the game to be major game changers, especially in the red zone. I also think a lot especially in HS about missed tackles and dropped passes that are tremendous momentum shifters. As critical, especially again at the HS level, is special teams play, especially punting and coverage.
While the game has changed dramatically over the years, the play of Special Teams, Defense then Offense as per Paterno, and in that order, still decides the day.
Click to expand...

PIAA District 1 - Halfway Point

B
CAMoleskinner said:
The $64,000.00 question!

It does seem they have a fair amount of talent this year (and the roster looks like half the school is suited up).

The NP game they really weren't in it. Against CBW there were moments I kinda thought "maybe" before it just sort of slipped away.
Click to expand...

They almost always put up a good fight but that was a very short-handed West team that still ran for 275+ yards against the typically strong Neshaminy front four. (Clemens gave his usual incredible performance on both sides of the ball) Maybe I'm missing something, but I really think the Skins are a sleeping giant. Great stadium, community support, big school, big roster, nice mix of size and talent... seems to be all there. And the QB is only a junior? The future is bright, with the right hire.
Click to expand...

PIAA District 1 - Halfway Point

B
Fletchster1 said:
1. North Penn - Running through everyone after struggling in W1.
2. Downingtown West - Not much competition overall, but nice win versus PV. Rustin is tough one.
3. CB South - Similar to DWest with close win over CB West.
4. Neshaminy - Smacked by NP with a close one over Emmaus. Big one tonight vs West.
5. Owen J Roberts - Only competition so far was PV where they didn't fare well.
6. Perkiomen Valley - Sleeper to make some noise.
7. Haverford - GV handled them but won all other games easily. Springfield and Ridley will tell the story.
8. Pennridge - Probable first round runner-up.
9. CB West - Middle of the pack.
10. Ridley - Not sure they can beat a playoff team.
11. Pennsbury - Probable first round runner-up.
12. Downingtown East - Could be a spoiler in playoffs.
13. Upper Darby - Not sure they can beat a playoff team.
14. Norristown - Not sure they can beat a playoff team.
15. Spring-ford - Not sure possible to do less with their roster. QB out now.
16. Plymouth-Whitemarsh - Might be a top 5 team in District 1.
17. Quakertown - Last second win catapult them to winning out?
18. Coatesville - Will make noise in playoffs.
19. Souderton - Jekyll and Hyde, but could win out.
20. Council Rock South - Outside chance of winning out.

PW (might get bored) and Cville (play both Dtowns, avoids Rustin) will climb up the playoff rankings in the coming.
Click to expand...
I think it's currently wide open after 6 weeks. Obviously, a lot can happen over the next month and Friday night will give us a better idea of who's near the top of D1. My Bucks are middle of the pack based on that horrible loss to Souderton, but South needing two miracles to beat them says that if West gets healthy for November, and the weather turns cold... they'll be a tough out in the playoffs.
Click to expand...
  • Like
Reactions: lilromeo

PIAA District 1 - Halfway Point

B
CAMoleskinner said:
Fletch -

I sure hope the 'Skins see a playoff game. They'll have to go 3-1 the remainder of the run which does seem doable/possible (Pennridge, CB East and Pennsbury can be wins but I'm not banking on CB South -- and nothing against any of those teams, by the way).

We'll see soon enough.

And I'm probably stating the obvious.
Click to expand...
They should be a playoff team, but I'm thinking they'll come in at 6-4, with a loss to South and getting picked off by one of the other three teams. I just don't think they're at the level yet where they can run the table against those three. I think all three of those games could be one score in either direction. Their first win looked very promising, but their three wins since then came against teams with a combined three wins.

Watching them against West last week... they have size, talent (the QB was very impressive), and a good-sized roster. There's no reason that they shouldn't be competitive with the top teams in the league. Really at a crossroads with the upcoming coaching change. Hand it off to an assistant or get a full program reset with a new coach from outside the program?
Click to expand...

Prep LaSalle

Relayer
paul from philly said:
The Holy War. Hasn't meant much in recent years but with Brett running things, there will be no shortage of offensive strategies. But then again Tulla may be right that it will be a defensive game. Should be a good one! And I think the Beef and Ale is close enough to Upper Dublin. Right down Joshua!

Get your popcorn!!!
Click to expand...
Better get to the Ale House early. Game 1 starts at 4:08 and one can anticipate a packed bar.
Click to expand...
  • Like
Reactions: lilromeo

WPIAL 5A

A
NH is kind of an odd team. Their defense is easily one of the top 5 in 5A. The LB and DB groups are elite level. The defensive line is a bit small but they have been very effective. On the other hand the offense is very average. The offensive line is not good which is a big problem. The QB was just a sandlot player when the season started. They still rely on big plays but have been showing some improvement as the season progresses. I think they are a legit team that has a chance to be 9-1 when the season ends.
Click to expand...

Prep LaSalle

T
Stalker said:
Got a few. Will say the following.
* Both play solid defense with SJP at 21ppg, LS 7 (!)
* SJP's schedule includes no winning teams but a few real powers in OLGC and St. Eds.
OLGC at 4-2, who they edged 21-19, includes losses to undefeated Depaul-NJ and Riverdale Bapt-Md. Loss to St. Edward at 3-3 shouldn't mislead with St Ed losing to undefeated Boyle-Ky (-17), Massillon (-10) and Glenville (-1). Big wins vs Elder and Pick-North. SJP's 2nd qtr meltdown (allowed 5Tds, historic for St. Eds) something of an anomaly, despite St. Eds typically being one of the best programs in the country.
* LS's schedule is respectable (5 of 6 winners) with Harrisburg, Malvern and Calvert Hall wins but nothing like Hawks. Most of their opponents played powerful teams where you can do "linkage" for comparison. Calvert Hall at 4-2, is not their strongest team. Being routed by Spalding (6-0) 38-0 not as troubling for linkage thoughts knowing this is one of Spalding's very best teams. Harrisburg was managing (poorly) the loss of one of the best quarterbacks in the state in the opener. Most thought they were in BIG trouble but not by 38pts., 21-28 ok.
* Both score a lot of points, SJP at 32, LS at 31.

These are observations anyone can make. And I don't know these teams intimately. Saw some film where I thought SJP looked a little slower unless that was the comp of St. Ed's.....plus film that can mislead. LS's passing game could wreck things but Hawk's could steal a pick or two as well. A lot of risk in a HS passing attack.

Agree with RobberLucky that "It's hard to catch the Prep in one off-season," and leave it with that inference.
Click to expand...
I agree that the records and scores to this point in the season don't mean a lot.

For a team like SJP with several inexperienced players in key roles opening in Cleveland against St. Edward's was especially tough. You could focus on the 35 points they gave up in 8 or 9 minutes of the second quarter or on St. Edward's not scoring in the other three quarters and the Prep putting up two second half TDs. They should have beaten Good Counsel by a couple of TDs but a strange combination of things (including a very questionable penalty call) made it a nail-biter. Erasmus is much weaker than the Erasmus team SJP played two years ago. The Judge game was simply a big mismatch--like LaSalle's games against O'Hara and Episcopal.

Calvert Hall is not nearly at the same level of Good Counsel. LaSalle's best opponent so far has probably been Malvern, but Malvern lost to Roman, which has since lost to Bonner and by a big margin to DeMatha.

My point is obvious: very little in August and September for either team tells us much more than that LaSalle has improved a good bit and the Prep is not as strong as the they've been most years recently. I suspect the winner will be determined by penalties and turnovers--unlike in some games in recent years where the Prep got penalized much more than LaSalle but still won handily. I also think the game in November could look very different depending on injuries--not having West available at the end of the Good Counsel game made a big difference-- on how much Folkes develops, etc. Not sure how much depth LaSalle has.
Click to expand...
  • Like
Reactions: Stalker and HSFB99

Prep LaSalle

S
MC1975 said:
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Got a few. Will say the following.
* Both play solid defense with SJP at 21ppg, LS 7 (!)
* SJP's schedule includes no winning teams but a few real powers in OLGC and St. Eds.
OLGC at 4-2, who they edged 21-19, includes losses to undefeated Depaul-NJ and Riverdale Bapt-Md. Loss to St. Edward at 3-3 shouldn't mislead with St Ed losing to undefeated Boyle-Ky (-17), Massillon (-10) and Glenville (-1). Big wins vs Elder and Pick-North. SJP's 2nd qtr meltdown (allowed 5Tds, historic for St. Eds) something of an anomaly, despite St. Eds typically being one of the best programs in the country.
* LS's schedule is respectable (5 of 6 winners) with Harrisburg, Malvern and Calvert Hall wins but nothing like Hawks. Most of their opponents played powerful teams where you can do "linkage" for comparison. Calvert Hall at 4-2, is not their strongest team. Being routed by Spalding (6-0) 38-0 not as troubling for linkage thoughts knowing this is one of Spalding's very best teams. Harrisburg was managing (poorly) the loss of one of the best quarterbacks in the state in the opener. Most thought they were in BIG trouble but not by 38pts., 21-28 ok.
* Both score a lot of points, SJP at 32, LS at 31.

These are observations anyone can make. And I don't know these teams intimately. Saw some film where I thought SJP looked a little slower unless that was the comp of St. Ed's.....plus film that can mislead. LS's passing game could wreck things but Hawk's could steal a pick or two as well. A lot of risk in a HS passing attack.

Agree with RobberLucky that "It's hard to catch the Prep in one off-season," and leave it with that inference.
Click to expand...

WPIAL 5A

2
new2pa said:
That may be true. Would lead me to believe 5A not as good as people think - cause NH is not good.
Click to expand...
yes maybe- the local "top 25" list for Pittsburgh area- like 13 out of 25 are A? Kinda stupid. Overall, as a "group of teams" 4A is underrated, and 5A is overrated. Both have some great teams.

idk- NH looked pretty solid against PR- and they game-planned well. I would not be the "top 2" of PH, PR and NH, maybe both will make 5A semi
Click to expand...

WPIAL 5A

2
BradlyPitt said:
but aren't they handpicking a few playoff teams this year so they don't repeat what happened with USC last year missing the playoffs with only two losses? no way they don't pick Peters if they only have a loss to USC and Bethel Park
Click to expand...
yes but any system is gonna be flawed and get criticized. part of my point, is the "south hills" teams in 5A are massively overrated. North Hills or Woody would kick the crap out of a couple of those teams. Several of the "wins" of those teams are 3A, yea 3, crazy. Once the "dust settles" this conference will looks weak and might not get a wildcard- so if Peters loses to Bethel and Moon, they are 4th, not locked into playoffs. That could happen
Click to expand...

WPIAL 5A

B
2020sports said:
still too early to say- but no way South Fayette belongs that high, they might not even make the playoffs- their team has not gone "deep" in playoffs for many years- certainly not in 5A-

crazy to say, but its possible for Peters to miss the playoffs! Every team has win at least 3 conference games, and they only have 1 so far

just too early
Click to expand...
but aren't they handpicking a few playoff teams this year so they don't repeat what happened with USC last year missing the playoffs with only two losses? no way they don't pick Peters if they only have a loss to USC and Bethel Park
Click to expand...
Load more
ADVERTISEMENT

Filter

ADVERTISEMENT
Top Bottom
Back