Last week: 2-1
Overall: 22-4
Record ATS: 18-8
The final week of the regular season is here and playoff seeds are on the line. This weeks set of games will start to clear up the picture in 6A and 5A on the eastern side of the state. Will Springfield continue its undefeated run towards a Central League title and perhaps show they're ready to take on Archbishop Wood down the road? Will Pennsbury or Neshaminy start a run towards a 6A title that will have to go through either of their home fields? How does LaSalle bounce back after playing Prep close last week?
Neshaminy (8-1) @ Pennsbury (8-1) (-2.5)
These two Bucks neighbors are always in the conversation for District 1 but this year’s game will determine the #1 seed in 6A. Now that the district has gone away from neutral site championship games being the top dog in the playoffs is HUGE! Expect a large, raucous crowd around 8,000 as these two teams (and communities) will have more than pride on the line tonight. As for the game, Neshaminy has been inconsistent at best this year but for a team that many will say is still a year away, that’s to be expected. Their young QB has filled in admirably and his weapons are more than capable of putting points up. The Falcons are starting to look like a spread team (that sounds strange to even write) and Coach Dan McShane is making use of his background on O to bring his team to the brink of being a top seed. Both teams have had their issues on D so that could make for an unusually high scoring game. My gut tells me the Falcons will find one more way to score as their Sr. QB Zach Demarchis outduels his Soph. counterpart Brody McAndrew…Pennsbury 38-35
Springfield (9-0) (-5.5) @ Haverford (8-1)
The matchup of Springfield and Garnet Valley lived up to the hype as the Cougars now have control their own destiny for the Central League title. Shutting down GV to one score definitely got Coach Gallagher’s attention I’m sure as his Fords rely on a high flying offense to give teams fits. What most people don’t realize though is that only one team has scored more the 2 TD’s against the Fords D all season-you guessed it, Garnet Valley. If Haverford can’t slow down McKenzie and the Cougars running game it could be long night. I don’t like to compare scores as a way of figuring out who will win games because in high school you never know from week to week but something tells me the Haverford D will bring their hard hats with the Central League on the line. I am predicting a low scoring game and an outright claim on the Central for Springfield…Springfield 17-13
LaSalle (6-2) (-2.5) @ Archbishop Wood (6-2)
LaSalle comes off a hard fought game against bitter rival St. Joe’s Prep and may look back on a few missed opportunities that could have changed the outcome. Now on to another PCL Red battle with Wood and their stellar ground game. Wood was off last week resting and game planning for LaSalle’s always-potent offense for sure. While these two teams will go their separate ways once the playoffs start (LaSalle to 6A, Wood to 5A) I know both staffs would love nothing more than to build some momentum towards a long post season run by knocking off a very good team. I think LaSalle will bounce back this week with another good defensive effort shutting down RB Nasir Peoples and forcing Wood to beat them in the air….LaSalle 24-20
