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Media picks Jim Thorpe, Schuylkill Haven Preseason SFL Favorites

Written by: David Mika on Thursday, August 9th, 2018. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Olympians chosen to win Division I; Hurricanes tabbed as DII champs

ORWIGSBURG, Pa., August 8, 2018: In voting completed by media covering the Schuylkill League Football, Jim Thorpe was selected as the favorite to repeat as Division I champion and Schuylkill Haven was the unanimous pick to win a third straight Division II title at Wednesday’s Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Media Day at Schuylkill Country Club.

Fourteen media members that cover the 12 schools in the Schuylkill League took part in the poll, with teams ranked 1-6 in projected order of finish and points awarded 6 to 1 based on that ranking in each division.

The Olympians collected 10 of 14 first-place votes and 74 points overall. Jim Thorpe was followed by North Schuylkill, which grabbed one first-place vote and had 67 points overall.

Following Jim Thorpe and North Schuylkill were Tamaqua (62, 3 first-place votes), Lehighton (37), Pottsville (29) and Blue Mountain (25).

Defending District 11 Class AA champion Schuylkill Haven (84) was unanimously selected the favorite to capture the Division II title with 14 first-place votes. Minersville (56) was picked second. The Hurricanes and Battlin’ Miners are followed by Mahanoy Area (55) and Marian (55), which tied for third. Marian picked up one more second-place vote than the Golden Bears. Panther Valley (28) was picked fifth and Shenandoah Valley (16) was selected to finish last.

The 2018 high school football season kicks off Friday, August 24.

2018 Schuylkill League Football Preseason Media Poll

(Teams receive 6-1 points in descending order; first-place votes in parentheses)

DIVISION I