Playoffs; games of Nov 26, by the numbers.
Rushed this through with partial info (stats) but maybe still some points of interest for the board. Will do tomorrow’s game if can.
6A
Garnet Valley 13-0 vs Coatesville 12-1, 2.89 G-Val
Keying some on Coatesville’s loss at home to York knowing Bearcats play no defense, exiting season losing to Central York 60-14 and Wilson 50-32. G-Val’s big wins over Downingtown West, Ridley, CB West and Quakertown says Jags will win this one at home. No one has slowed them down this season. No one!
St. Joseph’s Prep 9-2 vs Freedom 11-2, 16.55 SJP
At O’Hara in the wind and a big travel for Freedom. Schedule difficulty way in Hawk’s favor. Both with impressive stats against quality. In fact, similar against the best each have played that gets us back to schedule quality. Hawks are running well and may just pound away til Freedom stops them.
Mount Lebanon 12-0 vs McDowell 9-2, 9.92 Mount Lebanon
Both schedules challenging, McDowell beating Cathedral but losing to St. Francis- NY (7-3), 21-3 and Rock Creek Christian, MD (7-1) 50-10, while Lebo was crushing Pitt CC, twice, North Allegheny, Peters, etc. Way better stats especially on defense and they’re playing at home!
5A
Governor Mifflin 10-0 vs Exeter Township 9-3, 15.46 GM
Mustangs will beat you stupid especially if wind takes away your passing. Exeter has strong, impressive rushers. Governor Mifflin has Nicholas Singleton and more.
Strath Haven 12-1 vs Rustin 11-1, .49 Strath Haven
Looks like a nail biter especially at Rustin with Haven having a little more offense but both strong defensively. Rustin has won 11 straight. Toss it up.
4A
Bishop Shanahan 10-3 vs Valley View 12-1, 4.24 VV
The math says Valley View who pounded decent teams (Delaware Valley, Dallas) losing to undefeated Scranton Prep 17-10. Shanahan’s schedule more impressive but it's at VV.
Lampeter Strasburg 11-1 vs Bishop McDevitt 10-1, 46.22 McDevitt
McDevitt’s schedule not impressive but they devastated teams on average 53-6 and they do have outstanding personnel. LS will battle but frustrate against Crusader speedy defense and arsenal of weapons at McD,
3A
Danville 8-4 vs Neumann Goretti 12-1, 13.77 Neumann
Could get worse with no comparing Danville’s schedule to Neumann’s. They play scrappy ball in D4 (Mt Carmel, Southern Columbia, Selinsgrove, Jersey Shore) but aren’t use to the quality level Neumann will put on the field. No home cooking with the refs please!
Central Martinsburg 13-0 vs Grove City 10-2, 22.22 Central
Scarlet Dragons crushed all opposition except Bedford last week in a rematch 20-14 who has defeated Richland Twp and Bishop Guilfoyle. Good stuff. It’s at Slippery Rock who GC just defeated 28-20 (another rematch) at the University giving them the home field.
2A
West Catholic 4-7 vs Northern Lehigh 10-3, 7.12 West Catholic
The math is all over the Burrs with their big schedule difference advantage despite Northern Lehigh playing a tough as nails schedule. Tough opponent!
Richland Township 11-2 vs Southern Columbia 12-1, 2.07 Southern
Richland is a solid program losing to Central and Bedford, quality opponents while SCA’s loss was at home to Wyomissing. They’re home again here and that should be enough to get past a good Richland team.
Farrell 10-0 vs Karns City 11-1, 51.50 Farrell
Historic power Farrell is way more here, but Gremlins are home and can be exciting at 39ppg. So can Farrell at 53ppg with a shutdown D at 6ppg !
Serra Catholic 12-1 vs Beaver Falls 9-3, 9.04 Serra
Serra is a load just knocking off previously undefeated Laurel (11-1) and Sto-Rox (12-1). Beaver Falls lost to Laurel but beat Steel Valley (11-1) giving them their first loss. Looks like a war at neutral site Heinz.
1A
Bishop Guilfoyle 8-4 vs Juniata Valley 10-1, 15.03 JV
Guilfoyle is a far more established power in District-6 and the state with an impressive resume, winning 1A Gold in 2014, 15 and 16. But they’ve lost 4 games this year while JV is having one of their best years ever. It’s at the Mansion where Guilfoyle has been a few time being from Altoona. Tougher schedule goes to Guilfoyle but not the math?
Northern Bedford 9-3 vs Redbank Valley 11-1, 31.32 Redbank Valley
Northern Bedford faced a brutal front loaded schedule losing to Cambria Hgts (9-2) 29-0, Bellwood Antis (10-2) 27-0 and Windber (10-1) 56-7, then recovered from a 1-3 start to win their last 8. Redbank was upset in the opener by Keystone 22-20 then ran out scoring 42ppg allowing 9. The game is at Clarion University in Redbank’s home District-9.
Bishop Canevin 12-1 vs Our Lady of Sacred Heart 9-3, 14.12 Bishop Canevin
The math is based largely on “same opponents” outcomes. Bishop Canevin’s only loss was to Clariton 28-18, a team OLSH defeated 2 weeks ago also at Clairton 29-15. Otherwise, Canevin went 6-0 while the Chargers went 4-2. Still have to respect OLSH defeating both Clairton at Clairton and Rochester (9-3) at neutral site their last 2 games. This one is at Heinz where it will likely be closer than 14 points.
Rushed this through with partial info (stats) but maybe still some points of interest for the board. Will do tomorrow’s game if can.
6A
Garnet Valley 13-0 vs Coatesville 12-1, 2.89 G-Val
Keying some on Coatesville’s loss at home to York knowing Bearcats play no defense, exiting season losing to Central York 60-14 and Wilson 50-32. G-Val’s big wins over Downingtown West, Ridley, CB West and Quakertown says Jags will win this one at home. No one has slowed them down this season. No one!
St. Joseph’s Prep 9-2 vs Freedom 11-2, 16.55 SJP
At O’Hara in the wind and a big travel for Freedom. Schedule difficulty way in Hawk’s favor. Both with impressive stats against quality. In fact, similar against the best each have played that gets us back to schedule quality. Hawks are running well and may just pound away til Freedom stops them.
Mount Lebanon 12-0 vs McDowell 9-2, 9.92 Mount Lebanon
Both schedules challenging, McDowell beating Cathedral but losing to St. Francis- NY (7-3), 21-3 and Rock Creek Christian, MD (7-1) 50-10, while Lebo was crushing Pitt CC, twice, North Allegheny, Peters, etc. Way better stats especially on defense and they’re playing at home!
5A
Governor Mifflin 10-0 vs Exeter Township 9-3, 15.46 GM
Mustangs will beat you stupid especially if wind takes away your passing. Exeter has strong, impressive rushers. Governor Mifflin has Nicholas Singleton and more.
Strath Haven 12-1 vs Rustin 11-1, .49 Strath Haven
Looks like a nail biter especially at Rustin with Haven having a little more offense but both strong defensively. Rustin has won 11 straight. Toss it up.
4A
Bishop Shanahan 10-3 vs Valley View 12-1, 4.24 VV
The math says Valley View who pounded decent teams (Delaware Valley, Dallas) losing to undefeated Scranton Prep 17-10. Shanahan’s schedule more impressive but it's at VV.
Lampeter Strasburg 11-1 vs Bishop McDevitt 10-1, 46.22 McDevitt
McDevitt’s schedule not impressive but they devastated teams on average 53-6 and they do have outstanding personnel. LS will battle but frustrate against Crusader speedy defense and arsenal of weapons at McD,
3A
Danville 8-4 vs Neumann Goretti 12-1, 13.77 Neumann
Could get worse with no comparing Danville’s schedule to Neumann’s. They play scrappy ball in D4 (Mt Carmel, Southern Columbia, Selinsgrove, Jersey Shore) but aren’t use to the quality level Neumann will put on the field. No home cooking with the refs please!
Central Martinsburg 13-0 vs Grove City 10-2, 22.22 Central
Scarlet Dragons crushed all opposition except Bedford last week in a rematch 20-14 who has defeated Richland Twp and Bishop Guilfoyle. Good stuff. It’s at Slippery Rock who GC just defeated 28-20 (another rematch) at the University giving them the home field.
2A
West Catholic 4-7 vs Northern Lehigh 10-3, 7.12 West Catholic
The math is all over the Burrs with their big schedule difference advantage despite Northern Lehigh playing a tough as nails schedule. Tough opponent!
Richland Township 11-2 vs Southern Columbia 12-1, 2.07 Southern
Richland is a solid program losing to Central and Bedford, quality opponents while SCA’s loss was at home to Wyomissing. They’re home again here and that should be enough to get past a good Richland team.
Farrell 10-0 vs Karns City 11-1, 51.50 Farrell
Historic power Farrell is way more here, but Gremlins are home and can be exciting at 39ppg. So can Farrell at 53ppg with a shutdown D at 6ppg !
Serra Catholic 12-1 vs Beaver Falls 9-3, 9.04 Serra
Serra is a load just knocking off previously undefeated Laurel (11-1) and Sto-Rox (12-1). Beaver Falls lost to Laurel but beat Steel Valley (11-1) giving them their first loss. Looks like a war at neutral site Heinz.
1A
Bishop Guilfoyle 8-4 vs Juniata Valley 10-1, 15.03 JV
Guilfoyle is a far more established power in District-6 and the state with an impressive resume, winning 1A Gold in 2014, 15 and 16. But they’ve lost 4 games this year while JV is having one of their best years ever. It’s at the Mansion where Guilfoyle has been a few time being from Altoona. Tougher schedule goes to Guilfoyle but not the math?
Northern Bedford 9-3 vs Redbank Valley 11-1, 31.32 Redbank Valley
Northern Bedford faced a brutal front loaded schedule losing to Cambria Hgts (9-2) 29-0, Bellwood Antis (10-2) 27-0 and Windber (10-1) 56-7, then recovered from a 1-3 start to win their last 8. Redbank was upset in the opener by Keystone 22-20 then ran out scoring 42ppg allowing 9. The game is at Clarion University in Redbank’s home District-9.
Bishop Canevin 12-1 vs Our Lady of Sacred Heart 9-3, 14.12 Bishop Canevin
The math is based largely on “same opponents” outcomes. Bishop Canevin’s only loss was to Clariton 28-18, a team OLSH defeated 2 weeks ago also at Clairton 29-15. Otherwise, Canevin went 6-0 while the Chargers went 4-2. Still have to respect OLSH defeating both Clairton at Clairton and Rochester (9-3) at neutral site their last 2 games. This one is at Heinz where it will likely be closer than 14 points.
