LAST WEEK: 10-2
OVERALL: 54-21
Time for more pigskin prognostications … the Week 7 slate is a tricky one. A couple of really big games on the docket, including a first-place showdown in Millersville, where Penn Manor will welcome Manheim Township.
Better put my thinking cap on …
Hempfield @ Cedar Crest – Black Knights are thinking Districts. Falcons (minus-9) need to cut down on the turnovers. Hempfield O gets back in the saddle. Knights soar, 42-13.
Manheim Township @ Penn Manor – Can the Comets go to 7-0? I really like Township here. Call it a hunch. A lot of the Blue Streaks’ players have been in big games like this one. I think that experience will pay dividends in the end. Could be a defensive struggle here, so don’t expect a score-fest. But do expect a ton of heavy hitting. Township 14-13.
Warwick @ McCaskey – Warriors feeling a little better about things after topping Reading at the wire last Friday. Red Tornado not scoring enough and turning it over too much. That’s not a good formula. Warwick wins 27-7.
Wilson @ Reading – Mother of all Berks County rivalries in this one. Red Knights showed some signs of life last Friday against Warwick, taking the Warriors to the wire in Lititz. Wilson is playing in its own stratosphere these days. Bulldogs growl (again), 45-7.
Cocalico @ Elizabethtown – Really like this game, and I’ll be blogging live from E-town on Friday. Rematch/payback/revenge game from Week 10 last year, when the Eagles bumped off the Bears and cost them an outright Section 2 title. So this one has been circled in E-town’s camp for a bit. Veer vs. Wing-T with two of the top offenses in the league slugging it out. So it should come down to who can make the most stops. And E-town’s D is pretty good at that. Bears in a brawl, 28-20. (And here’s some free advice to E-town’s special teams coach: pssst, don’t kick the ball to Kyle Fisher. You’re welcome.)
Conestoga Valley @ Manheim Central – Remember when time used to stand still for this game? Not so much anymore. Buckskins made some waves with that nice win in 2006. But Central has won 19 of the last 20 in this series. Make it 20 out of 21. Barons continue to pick up speed, 49-7.
Solanco @ Lebanon – Calling this my upset special of the week. Not that Vegas has a point-spread on this game, but you know what I mean. I really, really like Solanco’s D, and they always find a way to make you do things you just don’t like to do. That said, I have a gut feeling the Golden Mules’ brass will find a way to discombobulate the “Air Raid” and frustrate the heck out of Lebanon. I’m going Solanco here, 21-20. And I should get some extra credit for using ‘discombobulate’ in a sentence, right?
Ephrata @ Garden Spot – Spartans’ passing attack is one of the best in the league. Mountaineers’ passing D is last in the league. That could spell big trouble for Ephrata – which continues to improve week-to-week. But the Mounts will have their hands full with Weston Martin, Kyle Kelley, Tyler Eby and Co. Garden Spot 35-10.
Columbia @ Annville-Cleona – No, don’t adjust your glasses: the Little Dutchmen really are 3-0 and tied for first in Section 3 with Lancaster Catholic. What a nice story they’ve been. Columbia’s D has been punished. Crimson Tide is last in the league in total team defense and in rushing yards against. That’s not a very good trend. Look for Tide back Dakotah Lightfoot to crash the 1,000-yard club in this one. But A-C is sailing, and is really enjoying its view from the top. Dutchmen 35-14.
Donegal @ Lampeter-Strasburg – Any other year, this is your typical monster Section 3 game. This year … well, it doesn’t have the luster. But it’s still a pivotal game, because you know L-S wants to run the table and salvage a .500 season. And you know Donegal would love to run the table, get to six wins and keep its fingers crossed for a district bid. Still scratching my head about the fortunes of both of the teams, if you must know. I’m going L-S here, 27-21.
Northern Lebanon @ Lancaster Catholic – You know the Crusaders have had this one circled since Week 10 last year, when the Vikings upset Catholic in Week 10, forcing the Crusaders to share the section hardware with L-S. Catholic didn’t like that very much, and you know they’ve been salivating for this rematch for the last 10 or 11 months. I’ve learned over the last couple of years not to make the Crusaders angry. And I think they’ll go into this game with huge chips on their shoulders. I also think Catholic won’t get caught looking ahead again. Crusaders get some redemption, 34-13.
Pequea Valley @ Elco – Digging the Raiders right now. They’ve won two in a row, their rushing attack is gnarly, and at 3-3, they have postseason aspirations. The Braves? Well, they have 18 kids on the roster. Do the math. Elco, 52-14.
