Better late than never!
1. Parkland (4-0)
Last Week: Parkland rushed for almost 300 yards in a comfortable 63-14 win over Pocono Mountain West. No back carried the ball more than six times, but they got touchdowns from Eric DiGiralomo, Jahan Worth, and Nolan Ridgway. Kenny Yeboah also grabbed a TD.
My Take: Parkland came into the season a heavy favorite. To this point, they have not been challenged. The ACC looks more impressive now that they’ve taken down Easton, but wins over PMW, Northampton, and Dieruff simply don’t provide much information.
This Week: Parkland takes on Whitehall. Although it’s a very different Whitehall team than the one that beat the Trojans last season, this has been a real rivalry for the last twenty five years. Gianni Sinatore has been shockingly interception prone, throwing 8 in the first four weeks after only throwing six as a junior. Parkland will want to keep the turnover train rolling and take advantage of a very young Whitehall offensive line to put pressure on Sinatore.
2. Wyoming Valley West (4-0)
Last Week: Wyoming Valley West crushed Berwick in what was billed as the game of the year so far in District 2. Devon Weidman scored a pair of TDs, including a 64 yard run, and Sean Judge also had a 60+ yard touchdown as the Spartans piled up 376 yards against the vaunted Berwick defense. On the other side of the ball, they allowed just 147 yards on 44 snaps (3.3 yards per play)
My Take: This WVW team looks to be in the conversation with 2007 Hazleton, 2009 East Stroudsburg South, and 2012 Delaware Valley as non-Lehigh Valley teams that are real threats for a subregional title. They don’t have an NFL running back like Hazleton and ESS did, but they have balance on offense, a plus sized offensive line, a pair of FCS players (LJ Wesneski and Chris Reese) at defensive end, plus another at inside linebacker (Bill Davidson) and a quarterback who has been more than solid in his first year as a starter.
This Week: The Spartans take on a 3-1 Coughlin team, with wins over Crestwood and Dallas, but an ugly loss to Hazleton in the opening game of the season. They got pushed around in that week one game, and though WVW doesn’t have a running back built like Adrien Otero, they have the offensive line to maul Coughlin.
3. Freedom (4-0)
Last Week: Nothing to see here, Freedom 36-7. Northampton’s run of Parkland-Easton-Freedom is over, though they did break 100 yards of total offense for the first time since week 1. Freedom got three different quarterbacks snaps and seven different players carried the football, none more than seven times.
My Take: I was skeptical of Freedom coming into the year, but they’ve been nothing but solid so far. Their close call with Nazareth, originally taken by my as an indictment of the Patriots, is turning out to be a real quality win. The loss of Roberto Diez hurts, it’s particularly unfair to lose such a key player two years in a row, but Joe Young has the look of a college quarterback and can handle the offense, even without his top running back. The defense, meanwhile, has been as good as advertised, which is where I was really skeptical. They’ve continued forcing turnovers at a ridiculous clip, and at this point I don’t think it’s just the ball bouncing the right way.
Next Week: Freedom takes on Allentown Central Catholic. The Vikings are fresh off of a huge win against Easton. Freedom will need to tackle in space and be solid against the screens and hitches Ethan Persa loves to throw in their offense. Freedom’s base defense has five DBs on the field, so they’re suited to stopping spread teams. Offensively, ACC can take away yAlkhion Dunkins with Dallas Kassis, as good a DB as there is the league, so Young will have to spread it around.
4. Nazareth (3-1)
Last Week: It’s Travis Stefanik’s world, we’re just living in it. The junior quarterback threw for 235 yards (15-22) and five touchdowns and ran for another 202 (on 18 carries) and two touchdowns. Nazareth outscored Emmaus 28-7 in the second half, and withstood a monster effort from Kyle Boney (33 carries, 205 yards, 5 TDs) to move to 3-1 for their best start since winning a D11 title in 2011. Once again Jahan Dotson was the biggest weapon on the field, catching eight passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.
My Take: While at the top, I think D11 is down this year from 2014, the middle class is demonstrably better, and nowhere is that more evident than in Nazareth. The EPC South has had an influx of good coaching talent over the past few years, with Tom Falzone being one of the brightest stars. The turnaround he’s engineered in year two has been extremely impressive, and I think he’s going to have this Nazareth program firing for as long as he’s the head coach.
This Week: Nazareth takes on a struggling Northampton team. It should be a light night for Jahan Dotson and Julian Liaci, both with the weather and the potential final score. Maybe this is the week Nazareth gets some semblance of a running game going?
5. Liberty (3-1)(now 4-1)
Last Week: I had serious doubts about Liberty heading into their battle with Whitehall and boy was I wrong. The Hurricanes waxed Whitehall, 42-7, thanks to three interceptions, including a 90 yard pick 6 by Justin Haynes on the game’s opening drive. Doug Erney was an efficient 9-12 for 154 yards and three touchdowns, and freshman running back Nasir Legree ran for 109 yards, his second straight game over 100, and it looks like he’s emerging as a real guy in their three headed rushing attack of Legree, Erney, and Gunner Anglovich.
My Take: With rumblings that John Truby is coaching for his job (with overtures being made about a certain displaced head coach) , his boys have really rallied. They’re a sleepwalked second half against Nazareth form being 5-0. The running game has been better than I was anticipating, and there really isn’t anything this team can’t do on offense. Defensively, there’s tons of talent there, and game by game they figure it out a little more.
This Week: These were drafted before Liberty’s 34-31 win over Emmaus, moved to Thursday night due to weather. Doug Erney was tremendous, throwing for 230 yards and four touchdowns in the driving rain and the Hurricanes racked up 440 yards of total offense. Like all defenses, they had trouble with Kyle Boney (216 yards, 4 touchdowns), though 188 of those yards came before halftime, great adjustments by the Hurricane defense. Ultimately, Emmaus just can’t contend in a shootout and Liberty was able to shut down the non-Boney elements of the Green Hornet offense.
1. Parkland (4-0)
Last Week: Parkland rushed for almost 300 yards in a comfortable 63-14 win over Pocono Mountain West. No back carried the ball more than six times, but they got touchdowns from Eric DiGiralomo, Jahan Worth, and Nolan Ridgway. Kenny Yeboah also grabbed a TD.
My Take: Parkland came into the season a heavy favorite. To this point, they have not been challenged. The ACC looks more impressive now that they’ve taken down Easton, but wins over PMW, Northampton, and Dieruff simply don’t provide much information.
This Week: Parkland takes on Whitehall. Although it’s a very different Whitehall team than the one that beat the Trojans last season, this has been a real rivalry for the last twenty five years. Gianni Sinatore has been shockingly interception prone, throwing 8 in the first four weeks after only throwing six as a junior. Parkland will want to keep the turnover train rolling and take advantage of a very young Whitehall offensive line to put pressure on Sinatore.
2. Wyoming Valley West (4-0)
Last Week: Wyoming Valley West crushed Berwick in what was billed as the game of the year so far in District 2. Devon Weidman scored a pair of TDs, including a 64 yard run, and Sean Judge also had a 60+ yard touchdown as the Spartans piled up 376 yards against the vaunted Berwick defense. On the other side of the ball, they allowed just 147 yards on 44 snaps (3.3 yards per play)
My Take: This WVW team looks to be in the conversation with 2007 Hazleton, 2009 East Stroudsburg South, and 2012 Delaware Valley as non-Lehigh Valley teams that are real threats for a subregional title. They don’t have an NFL running back like Hazleton and ESS did, but they have balance on offense, a plus sized offensive line, a pair of FCS players (LJ Wesneski and Chris Reese) at defensive end, plus another at inside linebacker (Bill Davidson) and a quarterback who has been more than solid in his first year as a starter.
This Week: The Spartans take on a 3-1 Coughlin team, with wins over Crestwood and Dallas, but an ugly loss to Hazleton in the opening game of the season. They got pushed around in that week one game, and though WVW doesn’t have a running back built like Adrien Otero, they have the offensive line to maul Coughlin.
3. Freedom (4-0)
Last Week: Nothing to see here, Freedom 36-7. Northampton’s run of Parkland-Easton-Freedom is over, though they did break 100 yards of total offense for the first time since week 1. Freedom got three different quarterbacks snaps and seven different players carried the football, none more than seven times.
My Take: I was skeptical of Freedom coming into the year, but they’ve been nothing but solid so far. Their close call with Nazareth, originally taken by my as an indictment of the Patriots, is turning out to be a real quality win. The loss of Roberto Diez hurts, it’s particularly unfair to lose such a key player two years in a row, but Joe Young has the look of a college quarterback and can handle the offense, even without his top running back. The defense, meanwhile, has been as good as advertised, which is where I was really skeptical. They’ve continued forcing turnovers at a ridiculous clip, and at this point I don’t think it’s just the ball bouncing the right way.
Next Week: Freedom takes on Allentown Central Catholic. The Vikings are fresh off of a huge win against Easton. Freedom will need to tackle in space and be solid against the screens and hitches Ethan Persa loves to throw in their offense. Freedom’s base defense has five DBs on the field, so they’re suited to stopping spread teams. Offensively, ACC can take away yAlkhion Dunkins with Dallas Kassis, as good a DB as there is the league, so Young will have to spread it around.
4. Nazareth (3-1)
Last Week: It’s Travis Stefanik’s world, we’re just living in it. The junior quarterback threw for 235 yards (15-22) and five touchdowns and ran for another 202 (on 18 carries) and two touchdowns. Nazareth outscored Emmaus 28-7 in the second half, and withstood a monster effort from Kyle Boney (33 carries, 205 yards, 5 TDs) to move to 3-1 for their best start since winning a D11 title in 2011. Once again Jahan Dotson was the biggest weapon on the field, catching eight passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.
My Take: While at the top, I think D11 is down this year from 2014, the middle class is demonstrably better, and nowhere is that more evident than in Nazareth. The EPC South has had an influx of good coaching talent over the past few years, with Tom Falzone being one of the brightest stars. The turnaround he’s engineered in year two has been extremely impressive, and I think he’s going to have this Nazareth program firing for as long as he’s the head coach.
This Week: Nazareth takes on a struggling Northampton team. It should be a light night for Jahan Dotson and Julian Liaci, both with the weather and the potential final score. Maybe this is the week Nazareth gets some semblance of a running game going?
5. Liberty (3-1)(now 4-1)
Last Week: I had serious doubts about Liberty heading into their battle with Whitehall and boy was I wrong. The Hurricanes waxed Whitehall, 42-7, thanks to three interceptions, including a 90 yard pick 6 by Justin Haynes on the game’s opening drive. Doug Erney was an efficient 9-12 for 154 yards and three touchdowns, and freshman running back Nasir Legree ran for 109 yards, his second straight game over 100, and it looks like he’s emerging as a real guy in their three headed rushing attack of Legree, Erney, and Gunner Anglovich.
My Take: With rumblings that John Truby is coaching for his job (with overtures being made about a certain displaced head coach) , his boys have really rallied. They’re a sleepwalked second half against Nazareth form being 5-0. The running game has been better than I was anticipating, and there really isn’t anything this team can’t do on offense. Defensively, there’s tons of talent there, and game by game they figure it out a little more.
This Week: These were drafted before Liberty’s 34-31 win over Emmaus, moved to Thursday night due to weather. Doug Erney was tremendous, throwing for 230 yards and four touchdowns in the driving rain and the Hurricanes racked up 440 yards of total offense. Like all defenses, they had trouble with Kyle Boney (216 yards, 4 touchdowns), though 188 of those yards came before halftime, great adjustments by the Hurricane defense. Ultimately, Emmaus just can’t contend in a shootout and Liberty was able to shut down the non-Boney elements of the Green Hornet offense.