The EPC South went a perfect 9-0 in week one’s cross-divisional match ups, highlighted by two big upset wins by Nazareth (over Stroudsburg) and Liberty (over Bethlehem Catholic). The rest of the week was business as usual, and only tells us so much about the Lehigh Valley teams. Up north, Scranton drops out of the top 10 after a loss to 3A Dallas Area. Delaware Valley was pummeled by Upper Dublin, but Hazleton and Williamsport both scored opening week wins, a good sign for teams that have been bringing up the rear in D2/4. And of course, favorite Wyoming Valley West rolled and remains firmly in the top 10. Because we only have one data point, this week will just be a review of the games from last week’s top 10.
1. Parkland (1-0)
Last Week: A workmanlike, 51-13 win over Dieruff. I have not found a box score for the game, but from flipping through highlights, Parkland looked sharp. It’s a very modern looking offense; all zone read, jet-sweep action, screens, and quick throws to get the ball out on the perimeter. Devante Cross (12-20 for 116 yards and a TD, and had a sure TD dropped) gets great zip and throws an accurate ball when his feet are set in the pocket and hit about a million slant routes on the evening. He threw one touchdown pass, a fade with 1-on-1 coverage to Kenny Yeboah (2 catches 23 yards), he also ran for two touchdowns, one on a zone read from four yards out and a 60 yard run on an inverted veer where he really turned on the jets. On the night, Cross carried it 6 times for 104 yards. Jahan Worth scored his first career varsity touchdown at running back where he plowed through two defenders at the goal line. He has the look of a back who gets better as the game goes on, very physical. Eric DiGiralomo, who is Parkland’s leading returning tackler, also got to carry the football and scored on a ten yard rush. Yeboah, in addition to the TD catch, returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown.
This Week: Parkland takes on the triple-option attack of Northampton, who looks like they’ve improved immensely throwing the ball (they actually had more passing yards Friday than they did in the final six games of last season combined). The Konkrete Kids also held William Allen to just 65 yards of total offense last week, but something has me thinking Parkland will have a little easier time moving the football. Mark Scisly is a good football coach, but Northampton isn’t on this level yet.
2. Freedom (1-0)
Last Week: Freedom’s defense beat East Stroudsburg South 28-14. The offense chipped in three more touchdowns, for a 49-13 win by the Patriots. Senior corner Alkhion Dunkins returned two interceptions for touchdowns, including a 108 yarder on ESS’s first possession. The Cavaliers had major problems snapping the football, as three times Freedom took advantage when quarterback Jeff Cirillo could not handle shotgun snaps, two they scooped and scored on, and the third set up a short field for a touchdown on the third. All in all, ESS turned the ball over seven times and gained just 269 yards of offense. Freedom looked on track with last year’s defense, which forced 33 turnovers in 12 games, though problems with the center-quarterback exchange gave them some cheap ones too. Roberto Diez looked very sharp at tailback, displaying impressive balance and burst on his way to 93 yards and a TD on eight carries. Joe Young was solid in his return from a hip injury, throwing for 108 yards and a TD on a beautifully thrown deep ball to Jonah Gundrum. ESS did a nice job getting pressure on Young, but he consistently extended plays with his legs and found receivers downfield.
This Week: Freedom takes on Nazareth, who upset returning EPC North champion Stroudsburg last weekend. Freedom’s defense will get a nice test from Nazareth’s receivers, who have as much speed as any team in this part of the state. Freedom will need to take advantage of their physicality up front on both sides of the ball. Diez could have a field day rushing against a Nazareth front that was gashed for 300 yards last week on the ground.
3. Wyoming Valley West (1-0)
Last Week: The Spartans used a handful of big plays to race past Wyoming Area, 42-17. Devon Weidman and Sean Judge each turned screen passes into 50+ yard touchdowns in the second quarter (55 for Weidman, 68 for Judge) and this game was a 42-7 mercy rule contest with 5 minutes left in the third. Aaron Austin had a brilliant varsity debut, going 14-18 for 262 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a zig-zagging, highlight reel 21 yard score. The big three of Weidman, Judge, and LJ Wesneski each gained 75+ yard receiving, led by Weidman’s 5 catch, 90 yard effort. Judge also ran for a touchdown and returned a fumble 31 yards for a third score. Defensively, the Spartans held Wyoming Area to 153 yards of offense, only 19 yards through the air and seven first downs. Wesneski forced a fumble and made four tackles behind the line of scrimmage from his defensive end spot.
This Week: Wyoming Valley West takes on Delaware Valley, which will be our only real transitive property game between teams in the northeast and the best teams in District 1. Del Val had a rough go of it against Upper Dublin last week. If WVW is as good as I think they are, they’ll have a similar showing.
4. Liberty (1-0)
Last Week: The big mover is the Liberty Hurricanes, who announced their presence with authority, racing out to a 39-13 lead over Bethlehem Catholic, then hanging on for a 39-34 victory. Doug Erney was the D11 player of the week, torching the much vaunted Becahi secondary for 303 yards and two touchdowns on 13-19 passing and no interceptions. Erney also ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Liberty’s offense consistently exploited the Golden Hawks overaggressiveness, hitting huge passes over the top on play action. Six different Liberty receivers caught passes, led by Victor Santiago’s four catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. Every receiver averaged at least 17 yards per catch. Erney set the tone early with an 82 yard score when he was forced to scramble on a Becahi blitz. He also scored on a ridiculous 23 yard run on a completely busted play, where he faked a handoff to nobody, eluded four tackles in the backfield, and out-raced a safety to the pylon. On the night, Liberty racked up 510 yards of total offense and averaged 8.8 yards per play. Defensively, Liberty was torched by Nate Stewart, but held EJ Fineran and Joe Jay Smith to just three catches for 19 yards and got a great performance out of their defensive line. They also forced a pair of turnovers in the red zone, a forced fumble that rolled out of the end zone for a touchback, and an interception at the goal line that was actually returned 100 yards for a score, but the return was negated by a block in the back. They also got a massive stop on a fourth and one right before Santiago’s 53 yard TD catch that was a clear momentum swing.
This Week: Liberty gets their second cross over game out of the way early, hosting long time rival William Allen at BASD Stadium on Friday. Allen dropped their 25th consecutive game last week, and Liberty should have this one well in hand early.
5. Easton (1-0)
Last Week: It took a while to get the offense going, but Easton pulled away from Pleasant Valley, 43-13 in their opener at Cottingham. Special teams were big early, as Greg Albertson returned a punt 61 yards for the season’s first touchdown, Corey Deemer forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to set up Easton’s first offensive score, a Ryan Greene’s punt was downed at the 1 to set up a safety two plays later, and Katrell Thompson returned the ensuing free kick inside the PV 20 to set up the Rover’s third score and give them a commanding 23-0 early in the second quarter. Easton held PV star running back Austyn Borre to 29 yards on 12 carries, and gave up 108 total yards on 38 plays for the night, 78 of which came on PV’s 10 play fourth quarter touchdown drive. Offensively, Easton had to make some adjustments to get the run game going, but got a big night from senior Nysir Minney-Gratz, who gained 110 yards on 12 carries and scored 3 touchdowns, including a 59 yard burst on a draw play. Thompson chipped in 69 yard and a score on 9 carries and senior wide receiver/cornerback Trevon Mills caught three passes for 77 yards, made five tackles, and recovered a fumble.
This Week: Easton takes on Emmaus, see the EPC Game of the Week thread for more info.
