Last week: 3-0
Overall: 12-3
Unofficially, we'll call this Rivalry Week as the schedule has given us some great league and neighborhood rivalry games that will have a huge impact on playoff seeding and league champions. Because of this, I am going in for a couple bonus picks.
Downingtown West (3-3) vs. Downingtown East (6-0) (-20)
This latest edition of the Downingtown Civil War probably won’t live up to the hype this year. While the Whippets always get up for their Lionville rivals, this year’s Cougar team seems to be operating on a different level. Coach Matta’s teams are always known for physical, smash mouth football but this year they have made it a point to grind through opponents with 3 RB’s already at 1300 yards between them. RB’s Aviado, Jonassaint, and Stocker give teams nightmares as East rotates 3 guys who would easily be 1000 backs by themselves. The running game takes pressure of QB Bryce Lauletta and opens up play action at just the right time. West was pounded for 390 yards last week by Avon Grove RB Kevin Francis so expect more of the same with a bigger, more physical OL. Their D has given up lots of big plays & the Whippets are too young & inexperienced. I expect East will take great pleasure in running over their fierce rivals en route to a matchup with Unionville next week & Coatesville in 2 weeks…..DEast 42-7
Neshaminy (5-1) (-3.5) @ CB South (5-1)
CB South is back at home after suffering a blowout loss at North Penn last week. The Titans don’t get any favors hosting a non-league game against a Neshaminy team aiming to win the SOL National. Neshaminy will spread the wealth on O but has shown some leaks on D. I would bet that the Neshaminy D will set its sights on shutting down Titan RB Ryan Watson while the Titans may struggle to slow down soph QB Brody McAndrews and his weapons. Neshaminy will be kicking themselves come playoff time for a letdown game at home against Downingtown West. Coach Wilmot will not let his guys forget that from here on out I bet. I’ll go with Redskins winning on the road….Neshaminy 27-16
Spring-Ford (4-2) @ Perk Valley (5-1) (-1)
The 422 rivalry is alive and well as both teams bounced back from some tough early season setbacks to setup a deciding game for the PAC-Liberty Division. Spring-Ford has probably had the tougher non-league schedule between the two (Unionville, Exeter, Wilson-West Lawn) but they have shown progress in moving the ball on O in the last few games. Perk Valley has been solid on D all year minus the 29 they gave up against Pennridge. The stadium will be packed as these two neighborhood rivals have established themselves as D1 6A contenders year-in and year-out. Both coaching staffs deserve credit for bouncing back this year when they lost a ton from last year’s teams. That’s the sign of a good program when you can play “next man up”. I have a feeling that Spring-Ford may be ready for a big game but something tells me Perk Valley will make a stop late to decide this one…PV 21-19
Bonus games:
Pennsbury (5-1) (-6.5) @ Truman (5-1) Pennsbury takes on familiar faces in another local rivalry. Truman isn’t quite ready for this one yet but they’re on the right track… Pennsbury 31-23
WC Rustin (4-2) @ Unionville (6-0) (-6.5) Ches-Mont American championship runs through these two teams. Unionville has some impressive wins so far (Spring-Ford, Academy Park) and they sit at #1 in the 5A playoff rankings. Meanwhile Rustin got blown out last week versus Coatesville & has given up 90 points in the last 3 weeks...Unionville 27-21
Overall: 12-3
Unofficially, we'll call this Rivalry Week as the schedule has given us some great league and neighborhood rivalry games that will have a huge impact on playoff seeding and league champions. Because of this, I am going in for a couple bonus picks.
Downingtown West (3-3) vs. Downingtown East (6-0) (-20)
This latest edition of the Downingtown Civil War probably won’t live up to the hype this year. While the Whippets always get up for their Lionville rivals, this year’s Cougar team seems to be operating on a different level. Coach Matta’s teams are always known for physical, smash mouth football but this year they have made it a point to grind through opponents with 3 RB’s already at 1300 yards between them. RB’s Aviado, Jonassaint, and Stocker give teams nightmares as East rotates 3 guys who would easily be 1000 backs by themselves. The running game takes pressure of QB Bryce Lauletta and opens up play action at just the right time. West was pounded for 390 yards last week by Avon Grove RB Kevin Francis so expect more of the same with a bigger, more physical OL. Their D has given up lots of big plays & the Whippets are too young & inexperienced. I expect East will take great pleasure in running over their fierce rivals en route to a matchup with Unionville next week & Coatesville in 2 weeks…..DEast 42-7
Neshaminy (5-1) (-3.5) @ CB South (5-1)
CB South is back at home after suffering a blowout loss at North Penn last week. The Titans don’t get any favors hosting a non-league game against a Neshaminy team aiming to win the SOL National. Neshaminy will spread the wealth on O but has shown some leaks on D. I would bet that the Neshaminy D will set its sights on shutting down Titan RB Ryan Watson while the Titans may struggle to slow down soph QB Brody McAndrews and his weapons. Neshaminy will be kicking themselves come playoff time for a letdown game at home against Downingtown West. Coach Wilmot will not let his guys forget that from here on out I bet. I’ll go with Redskins winning on the road….Neshaminy 27-16
Spring-Ford (4-2) @ Perk Valley (5-1) (-1)
The 422 rivalry is alive and well as both teams bounced back from some tough early season setbacks to setup a deciding game for the PAC-Liberty Division. Spring-Ford has probably had the tougher non-league schedule between the two (Unionville, Exeter, Wilson-West Lawn) but they have shown progress in moving the ball on O in the last few games. Perk Valley has been solid on D all year minus the 29 they gave up against Pennridge. The stadium will be packed as these two neighborhood rivals have established themselves as D1 6A contenders year-in and year-out. Both coaching staffs deserve credit for bouncing back this year when they lost a ton from last year’s teams. That’s the sign of a good program when you can play “next man up”. I have a feeling that Spring-Ford may be ready for a big game but something tells me Perk Valley will make a stop late to decide this one…PV 21-19
Bonus games:
Pennsbury (5-1) (-6.5) @ Truman (5-1) Pennsbury takes on familiar faces in another local rivalry. Truman isn’t quite ready for this one yet but they’re on the right track… Pennsbury 31-23
WC Rustin (4-2) @ Unionville (6-0) (-6.5) Ches-Mont American championship runs through these two teams. Unionville has some impressive wins so far (Spring-Ford, Academy Park) and they sit at #1 in the 5A playoff rankings. Meanwhile Rustin got blown out last week versus Coatesville & has given up 90 points in the last 3 weeks...Unionville 27-21