11. Easton 6-3. #5, Easton’s 5-1 season deteriorated to 6-3 after losing two of their last three games to enter this weekend with the 5 seed at home against Nazareth (5-4) who holds the 8 seed. The 19-13 loss last week at Freedom in overtime was painful, dropping them in seeding to 5 and in the EPC-South to 4-3. In an 8 team field, the 4-5 seed is the same as District One’s 8-9 slots, meaning they don’t want to drop any lower. So expect a big push and monster game this weekend as Naz seeded 8 who is in a must win situation for postseason consideration.
12. Liberty 7-2. #4, Defense wins games! Really? If that means scoring more than the other guy, both Liberty and Allentown Central Catholic made a heck of an effort in that direction combining for 129 points in a game where the utter lack of defense provided for one of the most exciting-historic games in Lehigh Valley history. I guess you could do a reach saying Liberty “held” Central Catholic to 54 points while scoring 74 themselves but that might be a reach to call that a reach?! Anyway, Liberty won. Talk about incentive, Liberty was shutout last year at Freedom 29-0. It was a lack luster 5-5 season for the Canes who improved to 7-5 winning the EPC-AAAA playoff. But a shutout is a shutout and that was their only one for the year and should add a little spice to the affair.
13. Freedom 8-1. #3, Great rebound by Freedom coming back from the 38-7 loss at Parkland to nip Easton 19-13 in overtime last week. The win keeps them deadlocked atop the EPC-South with the Trojans at 6-1. Despite the loss and especially in light of injuries, they are having a strong year highlighted by marked improvement in the defense. Last year saw them end the season with a yield of 19ppg. This year they are at 13. And except for the collapse at Parkland, they’re allowing only 10ppg. They are at Liberty (5-1 EPC) to take on the 4th seeded Hurricanes while trying to protect even improve their 3 seed.
14. Wyoming Valley West 9-0. #1, This may be the Ohio State of Eastern Pa football, fielding a clearly talented team that has played nobody. But they can’t control the schedule, or that Berwick 7-2, Delaware Valley 6-3 or 6-3 Coughlin and others are having less than typical seasons. What they can control is their end of it that shows them having one of their most productive seasons ever in terms of yardage and points scored-allowed. The defense is off the chart allowing 81 points all year, an 8ppg average while the offense is at record levels scoring 396 or 44ppg. They have not reached these levels in over 20 years, if ever. They’ve always been a strong program (44-8 last five) that hasn’t been able to escape the long shadow cast by the LVC, now the EPC. Maybe this year. They play in District-2 where they hold the top seed in the D2/4/11 sub-region. They defeated Scranton last week 41-6 and are at Williamsport (6-3) Friday.
15. Quakertown 9-1. #5T, The thud heard last week was these Panthers losing at home (cardinal sin for a Top 10 team) in a major conference game to Council Rock North 41-31. The loss dropped them into a three way with the Council Rock schools at 5-1 in the Continental, impacted their seeding and saw them plummet in the rankings from 8th to 15th. About CR North, they may be the more enigmatic teams in the district. Before beating Quakertown they had no significant wins. In fact, the losses were of the non-competitive variety getting swamped at Perkiomen Valley 56-36, then Pennsbury 41-19 before losing to Norristown 44-43 in overtime!? So it’s not a good loss for Quakertown at that level, if there is such a thing. Next up is a possible tough encounter with co-leader Central Bucks East who gave them their only regular season loss last year.
16. Coatesville 6-3. #19, After coming into the season with high hopes, things are looking bleak for the district runner up sitting here with the 19th seed playing 20th seeded Rustin 7-2. With a win Friday, it’s hard imagining a 7-3 team with this talent missing the playoffs, especially viewing some of the teams that will make the cut. Stranger things have happened with 15th seeded Garnet Valley at 11th seeded Upper Darby and 13th seeded CR North home to CR South, the 17th seed.
17. Central Bucks East 7-2. #12, Now this is what you call a turnaround. At this time last year the Patriots were mired in a 4-5 season with the prospect of things going even farther south with undefeated Quakertown dead ahead. There wasn’t much reason to be confident with a meager offense scoring 21 points a game and a D allowing 24. Still, this is high school football where little of that mattered as the Pats took the Panthers apart, winning 35-21. This year’s team is significantly improved over that group scoring 31ppg with a wildly improved defense allowing just 17. Nice! Qtown is a lot better too! And with a 12th seed in hand and the conference title at stake, look for a tremendous game fueled by seeding concerns for both and last year’s revenge angle for Quakertown. That they are coming off their first loss of the season will add another layer of emotion to the mix.
18. Pennridge 6-3. #16, The Rams had a big win last week edging Souderton 14-8, allowing them to slip into the 16th spot entering the final week of the regular season. They should strengthen their seed by getting their seventh win at winless Bensalem. You may recall last year’s team came into the playoffs at 7-3 with the 13th seed, having the misfortune to draw their rival Quakertown, the 4th seed, who won 14-10.
19. Unionville 7-2. #4, Unionville may have been crushed by Exeter 31-13 and Downingtown East 49-13, both 9-0, but are sure getting good mileage from their wins against Garnet Valley, Rustin, even AAA-Great Valley, all 7-2 here in week 9 with the 4th seed! They trounced Octorara (0-9) last week 46-12 and finish at home against 2-7 Sun Valley.
20. Council Rock North 6-3. #13, Tough moving Neshaminy out after the quality loss at North Penn but you’ve got to recognize North’s road win at Quakertown that vaulted them into the playoff picture and first place tie mentioned above with CR South and Qtown atop the Continental. Been a rocky road but here they are! The win earned them the 13th seed. Let’s see if they can keep it this weekend in a battle royale against bitter rival and Continental Co-leader Council Rock South (6-3)
Honorable Mention
Rustin 7-2, #20, at Coatesville
West Chester East 4-5, #22, at Henderson
Plymouth Whitemarsh 7-, #14T, home Springfield
Neshaminy 6-3, #18, at Pennsbury
Council Rock South 6-3, #17, at Council Rock North
Northeast 8-1, Quarterfinals Bartram
Franklin 8-1, Quarterfinals Central
Gratz 7-2, Quarterfinals Olney
Emmaus 5-4, #11, at Parkland
Stroudsburg 7-2, #6, home Pleasant Valley
Garnet Valley 7-2, #14T, at Upper Darby
Upper Darby 8-1, #11, home Garnet Valley
Haverford 8-1, #5T, home Lower Merion
Ridley 6-3, #21, at Conestoga
12. Liberty 7-2. #4, Defense wins games! Really? If that means scoring more than the other guy, both Liberty and Allentown Central Catholic made a heck of an effort in that direction combining for 129 points in a game where the utter lack of defense provided for one of the most exciting-historic games in Lehigh Valley history. I guess you could do a reach saying Liberty “held” Central Catholic to 54 points while scoring 74 themselves but that might be a reach to call that a reach?! Anyway, Liberty won. Talk about incentive, Liberty was shutout last year at Freedom 29-0. It was a lack luster 5-5 season for the Canes who improved to 7-5 winning the EPC-AAAA playoff. But a shutout is a shutout and that was their only one for the year and should add a little spice to the affair.
13. Freedom 8-1. #3, Great rebound by Freedom coming back from the 38-7 loss at Parkland to nip Easton 19-13 in overtime last week. The win keeps them deadlocked atop the EPC-South with the Trojans at 6-1. Despite the loss and especially in light of injuries, they are having a strong year highlighted by marked improvement in the defense. Last year saw them end the season with a yield of 19ppg. This year they are at 13. And except for the collapse at Parkland, they’re allowing only 10ppg. They are at Liberty (5-1 EPC) to take on the 4th seeded Hurricanes while trying to protect even improve their 3 seed.
14. Wyoming Valley West 9-0. #1, This may be the Ohio State of Eastern Pa football, fielding a clearly talented team that has played nobody. But they can’t control the schedule, or that Berwick 7-2, Delaware Valley 6-3 or 6-3 Coughlin and others are having less than typical seasons. What they can control is their end of it that shows them having one of their most productive seasons ever in terms of yardage and points scored-allowed. The defense is off the chart allowing 81 points all year, an 8ppg average while the offense is at record levels scoring 396 or 44ppg. They have not reached these levels in over 20 years, if ever. They’ve always been a strong program (44-8 last five) that hasn’t been able to escape the long shadow cast by the LVC, now the EPC. Maybe this year. They play in District-2 where they hold the top seed in the D2/4/11 sub-region. They defeated Scranton last week 41-6 and are at Williamsport (6-3) Friday.
15. Quakertown 9-1. #5T, The thud heard last week was these Panthers losing at home (cardinal sin for a Top 10 team) in a major conference game to Council Rock North 41-31. The loss dropped them into a three way with the Council Rock schools at 5-1 in the Continental, impacted their seeding and saw them plummet in the rankings from 8th to 15th. About CR North, they may be the more enigmatic teams in the district. Before beating Quakertown they had no significant wins. In fact, the losses were of the non-competitive variety getting swamped at Perkiomen Valley 56-36, then Pennsbury 41-19 before losing to Norristown 44-43 in overtime!? So it’s not a good loss for Quakertown at that level, if there is such a thing. Next up is a possible tough encounter with co-leader Central Bucks East who gave them their only regular season loss last year.
16. Coatesville 6-3. #19, After coming into the season with high hopes, things are looking bleak for the district runner up sitting here with the 19th seed playing 20th seeded Rustin 7-2. With a win Friday, it’s hard imagining a 7-3 team with this talent missing the playoffs, especially viewing some of the teams that will make the cut. Stranger things have happened with 15th seeded Garnet Valley at 11th seeded Upper Darby and 13th seeded CR North home to CR South, the 17th seed.
17. Central Bucks East 7-2. #12, Now this is what you call a turnaround. At this time last year the Patriots were mired in a 4-5 season with the prospect of things going even farther south with undefeated Quakertown dead ahead. There wasn’t much reason to be confident with a meager offense scoring 21 points a game and a D allowing 24. Still, this is high school football where little of that mattered as the Pats took the Panthers apart, winning 35-21. This year’s team is significantly improved over that group scoring 31ppg with a wildly improved defense allowing just 17. Nice! Qtown is a lot better too! And with a 12th seed in hand and the conference title at stake, look for a tremendous game fueled by seeding concerns for both and last year’s revenge angle for Quakertown. That they are coming off their first loss of the season will add another layer of emotion to the mix.
18. Pennridge 6-3. #16, The Rams had a big win last week edging Souderton 14-8, allowing them to slip into the 16th spot entering the final week of the regular season. They should strengthen their seed by getting their seventh win at winless Bensalem. You may recall last year’s team came into the playoffs at 7-3 with the 13th seed, having the misfortune to draw their rival Quakertown, the 4th seed, who won 14-10.
19. Unionville 7-2. #4, Unionville may have been crushed by Exeter 31-13 and Downingtown East 49-13, both 9-0, but are sure getting good mileage from their wins against Garnet Valley, Rustin, even AAA-Great Valley, all 7-2 here in week 9 with the 4th seed! They trounced Octorara (0-9) last week 46-12 and finish at home against 2-7 Sun Valley.
20. Council Rock North 6-3. #13, Tough moving Neshaminy out after the quality loss at North Penn but you’ve got to recognize North’s road win at Quakertown that vaulted them into the playoff picture and first place tie mentioned above with CR South and Qtown atop the Continental. Been a rocky road but here they are! The win earned them the 13th seed. Let’s see if they can keep it this weekend in a battle royale against bitter rival and Continental Co-leader Council Rock South (6-3)
Honorable Mention
Rustin 7-2, #20, at Coatesville
West Chester East 4-5, #22, at Henderson
Plymouth Whitemarsh 7-, #14T, home Springfield
Neshaminy 6-3, #18, at Pennsbury
Council Rock South 6-3, #17, at Council Rock North
Northeast 8-1, Quarterfinals Bartram
Franklin 8-1, Quarterfinals Central
Gratz 7-2, Quarterfinals Olney
Emmaus 5-4, #11, at Parkland
Stroudsburg 7-2, #6, home Pleasant Valley
Garnet Valley 7-2, #14T, at Upper Darby
Upper Darby 8-1, #11, home Garnet Valley
Haverford 8-1, #5T, home Lower Merion
Ridley 6-3, #21, at Conestoga
