LAST WEEK: 11-6. How’s that for a flying start?
Alrighty … my Week 2 picks.
Drum roll please …
ANNVILLE-CLEONA @ HAMBURG – Dutchmen feeling fine after opening-night home win under the lights; Hawks smarting after coughing up 20-0 halftime lead in 21-20 loss to Elco. Momentum says A-C but my gut says Hamburg. Fly, Hawks, fly, 28-13.
COCALICO @ EXETER – Eagles vs. Eagles. I’ll take the Eagles. Hardy-har-har. Cocalico cruising after sweet opening-night win against defending District 3 Triple-A champ Lampeter-Strasburg. Exeter’s field is turf, and I’m guessing that will favor Cocalico’s speed game (particularly Kyle Fisher). Cocalico goes to 2-0, 38-7.
CONRAD WEISER @ CEDAR CREST – Falcons were grounded (I’m on a roll here, eh?) in opening-night loss to rival Lebanon. Weiser looking for a pick-me-up after loss to District 11 power Whitehall. I like Weiser’s ground attack. Weiser wins, 27-10.
ELCO @ PINE GROVE – Raiders are feeling fine and dandy after come-from-behind win over Hamburg. Pine Grove needs a 180 after getting shutout by Northern Lebanon in opener. Momentum is a good thing, and the Raiders have it. Take Elco, 20-7.
EPHRATA @ LANCASTER CATHOLIC – Still can’t believe neither of these teams scored last week. Wowzer. Crusaders will bounce back – and bounce back in a large way … and then get ready for the Barons in Week 3. How much fun is that going to be, by the way? Catholic 45-7.
LAMPETER-STRABURG @ PENN MANOR – Power Machine! Comets have an extra skip in their steps this week after solid win over Solanco in Week 1. L-S fell to Cocalico, but did some nice things for a team breaking in 18 new starters. Keep an eye on this Nate Shank kid. And just a hunch, but Chad Frey has a breakout game for L-S. I think the Pioneers get back on track here, especially on turf. L-S 31-14.
MANHEIM CENTRAL @ WILSON – How great is this game for Week 2, by the way? Barons moved the ball at breakneck pace in 32-10 win over Susquehannock. Wilson’s D was large and in charge in 35-14 win over rival Governor Mifflin. Wilson’s D is gnarly, and will save the day against the Barons. ‘Dawgs’ win a dynamite game, 21-14.
McCASKEY @ YORK HIGH – It’s Feldman vs. Ortega, and the Red Tornado is looking to pick up the pieces after turning the ball over (gulp) six times in 53-7 loss at home to Elizabethtown. McCaskey picked a bad week to be cold: York High returned its top three skill kids, and they all played big in 49-13 win over Reading. Take the Bearcats, 35-7.
MUHLENBERG @ ELIZABETHTOWN – I like this game a lot. Both teams here won a game in Districts last year, and both are coming off Week 1 victories. Muhlenberg QB Nate Daniels is tricky, but the mojo definitely appears to be back in E-town. Da Bears, 30-21. (It never gets old typing ‘da Bears’ by the way)
NEW OXFORD @ NORTHERN LEBANON – Vikings D pitched a shutout in opener, and New Oxford was shutout in its opener. Could be another big night for Northern Lebanon’s defense. I’ll take the Vikings, 35-7.
POTTSVILLE @ READING – This rivalry goes way, way back, so this is always a heated game. Both teams struggled in Week 1 (Pottsville lost 34-6; Reading lost 49-13). Home debut for Reading coach Preston McKnight, but Crimson Tide rain on that parade. Pottsville 20-13.
RED LION @ MANHEIM TOWNSHIP – Personnel is certainly different, but this is a rematch of last year’s District 3 Quad-A opener, won by the Blue Streaks 27-7. Red Lion would love some payback, but I like Township at home and on the turf. Streaks go to 2-0, 34-14.
WARWICK @ CONESTOGA VALLEY – Both teams coming off tough opening-night losses. Nice RB duel in this one between Warwick’s Eric Resch and CV’s Kevin Kelley. Keep an eye on that for sure. Warriors snap back. Warwick wins, 31-14.
YORK SUBURBAN @ COLUMBIA – Crimson Tide fumbled (gasp) nine times against Eastern York, turning it over two times. I know Columbia is at home, but I’m taking York Suburban here, 24-14.
DONEGAL @ EASTERN YORK – Indians are still my sleeper Section 3 team, even though Donegal got walloped by Daniel Boone (40-0) in its opener. Eastern York is feeling giddy after snapping 15-game losing streak to Columbia. Indians get back on track, 34-14.
HEMPFIELD @ GARDEN SPOT – Black Knights’ new spread attack had tremendous debut in 41-13 win over Conestoga Valley. Spartans knocked off Warwick, so they’ll bring some serious momentum into this one. Will playing on grass slow down Hempfield? Maybe a smidge. But the Knights have enough in their arsenal to win this one – on any surface. Hempfield goes to 2-0, 35-20.
LEBANON @ SPRING GROVE – Rockets are playing in their spiffy new stadium for the first time. Cedars “Air Raid” cranked it up in 39-7 win over rival Cedar Crest. Gotta believe Spring Grove will be flying high playing in their new digs. So take the Rockets in a barnburner, 28-23.
SPRINGFIELD @ PEQUEA VALLEY – Braves D was better in opener, and PV moved the ball at a pretty good pace and Sean Persch scored a couple of touchdowns. But it looks like this Springfield team has a pretty gnarly offense (35 points in Week 1 win over Schuylkill Valley). So I’ll go with Springfield, 35-21.
SOLANCO @ KENNARD-DALE – Only Saturday game on the slate, so plan accordingly. Golden Mules are jonesing for a win after O sputtered a bit in loss to Penn Manor. I think Solanco snaps back here. Mules win 17-6.
