Keith’s midseason report cards from ‘The Huddle’ blog here
LAST WEEK: 8-4.
OVERALL: 57-21.
Is it me, or every time I look up, it’s Thursday morning and I’m sitting here at my desk making L-L League football predictions? It’s like a broken record or something.
Speaking of predictions … didn’t do very well in the prognostication department in Week 5, falling flat on my face with just an 8-4 mark. On the other hand, I guess that also means that I made four teams really, really happy because I picked against them, and they used that as fuel to earn Week 5 victories.
Yeah, that’s it. That’s my story, and I’m sticking with it. Always glad to help, by the way. Whatever it takes, right?
Week 6 is now in the on-deck circle, which means the second half of the regular season is officially upon us, which means the weather is getting a little colder, all the games will likely be a little tighter, and basketball season (gulp) can’t be too far off.
But for now, it’s still all football all the time.
So here are my Week 6 selections in all their glory …
Manheim Township @ Cedar Crest – Digging the Blue Streaks after getting an up-close and personal look at them last Friday in 34-14 victory over Warwick. This Brian Sourber kid is a handful to bring down, and Township has weapons aplenty and they’ll stick you on D. The Falcons are coming off back-to-back burner losses – blowing a fourth-quarter lead and falling to Warwick by 7, then totaling just 135 yards and five first downs in a 31-0 setback to Wilson. Speaking of Wilson, Township and the Bulldogs are tied for the top spot in Section 1, and the Streaks will need a win here to stay in at least that perch another week, while looking forward to a possible first-place showdown vs. Wilson on Oct. 23. Just a hunch, but I think that showdown materializes. So I’ll take Township here. Streaks clip the Falcons, 38-14.
McCaskey @ Penn Manor – Red Tornado is up to 16 losses in a row, but man ‘o man they’ve done some nice things and they’re on the verge of busting out here. Comets are coming off the stinger of all stinger losses, when Penn Manor rallied from down 26-7 to take the lead, only to fall to Reading 32-27 on a TD with 25 seconds to go. Ouch, babe. So you know the Comets want some redemption this week, and I’m sure they’re jonesing and watering at the mouth to take on a winless team on their home turf. I think McCaskey takes another step forward. But I think Penn Manor gets back in the W column. Comets tame Tornado, 30-13. Keith Schweigert blogging live from this game at LancSports.com by the way.
Warwick @ Reading – Very, very interesting game here. I kid you not: This is one of the best games of the week matchup-wise. Warwick is stinging, coming off a loss to Manheim Township. Reading is feeling fine after rallying past Penn Manor. I do like that Warwick will get to show off its speed game on Albright College’s turf field. But I also like Reading’s athletes and how well they’re playing at the moment. Geez-o, this is a really tough call. I said before the season that Reading would have a memorable final run in Section 1. This is the Red Knights’ chance to get everyone’s attention, and I think they will. In a good, old-fashioned shootout, I’ll take Reading over Warwick, 29-28.
Wilson @ Hempfield – Bulldogs are picking up some major steam here lately, and their D was stingy last week in a shutout win vs. Cedar Crest. Hempfield’s season has been a roller coaster ride already, in just five weeks. Lots of ups and downs and twists and turns for the Black Knights, who might (might) be down their starting QB for the second week in a row. Just a hunch, but you probably want your regular starting QB in there for Wilson. With one eyeball on the Manheim Township-Cedar Crest score, the Bulldogs win again, remain atop the heap, and start the countdown for their trip to Neffsville on Oct. 23. Wilson wins, 35-14.
Cocalico @ Lebanon – The Cedars? 2-0? Tied for first place? Yeah, believe it. After a sluggish 0-3 start, Lebanon is 2-0 in the section race and is tied for the top spot with Conestoga Valley and Manheim Central. Going to 3-0 in the section will be no cakewalk for the Cedars who, despite a beefed up defensive effort through five weeks, must take on the league’s No. 1 offense and No. 1 rushing attack in this one. And Cocalico is back on track after be tripped up by Manheim Central at the wire in Week 4. Fly, Eagles, fly. Cocalico cruises past the Cedars, 38-13.
Elizabethtown @ Garden Spot – Angry pack of Bears here. E-town is coming off a tight loss to Conestoga Valley, and the Bears’ D has been a maligned unit, giving up rushing yards left and right. This might be just what the doctor ordered for E-town: Garden Spot has fewer rushing yards than any team in the L-L League. So take E-town here. Bears (insert snarling bear sound here) over Spartans, 34-7.
Ephrata @ Manheim Central – Mountaineers’ losing streak at 15. And Ephrata has made a midseason QB change. Barons are ranked fifth in the state and are thinking big – really, really, really big. Central 49-7.
Solanco @ Conestoga Valley – You think the Buckskins want to go to 3-0 here and set up an old-school Section 2 showdown in Week 7, when Manheim Central is set to visit Witmer? Um, yes. Which makes this a dreaded ‘trap’ game for the Bucks, who don’t want to get caught looking ahead. So I say give the ball to Kevin Kelley 40 times. That should do the trick. Golden Mules, on a two-game slide, are in dire need of a pick-me-up, but CV’s ground attack – and stingy D – has been tricky. Bucks edge Mules, 24-17.
Donegal @ Annville-Cleona – Hmmm. Donegal coming off first win this season and finally has some positive momentum. Annville-Cleona coming off a close loss to a backyard rival (Northern Lebanon), one week after a win – and Rickey Snyder has had a heck of a two-week run toting the pigskin. Wow, a coin flip game. Haven’t had one of those in a while. Tails it is – I’ll take the Indians to make it two in a row. Donegal over Dutchmen, 20-13.
Elco @ Lampeter-Strasburg – My favorite game of the week, considering: Elco is undefeated and has been waxing everyone in its path. And the Pioneers’ three losses are to Cocalico, Penn Manor and Lancaster Catholic – who are all 4-1, by the way – by a grand total of 18 measly points. Tons of firepower on the field for this one. Could be a busy night for the scoreboard operator. Since I said don’t be surprised if Elco is 9-0 going into Catholic in Week 10, I guess I better go with the Raiders here. Elco over L-S in a classic, 38-35. Don’t forget: I’ll be blogging live from this game at LancSports.com if you can’t make it out.
Pequea Valley @ Lancaster Catholic – The Crusaders won this game 68-14 last year. But before I predict a similar outcome, let the record show that the Braves have a win, they lead the league (comfortably) in passing yards, and PV is cranking out 353 yards per game – fifth-best in the L-L League. So there has been some major marked improvement in Kinzers this season. Still, Catholic has its eyes on a much bigger prize. Crusaders cruise, 48-12.
Northern Lebanon @ Columbia – Crimson Tide is dead last in the league in a lot of key departments (points against and yards against, to name a few), and Columbia is just looking for some kind of a spark. Scoring 20 points against undefeated Elco last week might be the kick-start the Tide is looking for. But the Vikings and their tricky Veer option attack is tough to contend with. And with three wins, Northern Lebanon is looking for victories and power points for a third trip in a row to Districts. So I’m taking the Vikings here, 35-7.
