Are you ready for some football?
Welcome to the official blog on high school football for the 2013 season.
During the off-season let’s talk about players, recruiting news, teams and everything about high school football.
During the season each week let’s talk about match-ups and how teams did. Let us know what player(s) stood out each week.
2,248 Responses
@mark From what I have heard AH is going to have a pretty big offensive line this season. I also heard that Hollander has improved a lot in the off season with speed and added about 15lbs (He is the kid who ran the kickoff back against Berwick in the district final and also caught a TD). I did hear that Show will now be at QB for this year. They are also getting there starting running back to return to the lineup after tearing his ACL mid way through the regular season.
@mark
I just don’t see it. The problem that Redeemer has every year is on defense. They can’t stop anyone. They lost a huge chunk of their D line last year that wasn’t that great to begin with and their linebackers are pretty small. On offense they have a solid QB/WR combo but they can’t run the ball to save their lives and they lost 4/5 lineman to graduation. The QB is going to have 2 seconds to throw back there (if that) and that’s why they won’t win many games. They will beat Hanover, Nanticoke and I’m pretty sure they have some crappy out of conference team on their slate. There is no chance in hell a team that can give up 40+ pts per game for the last 3 years can be competitive the next.
@Groat
In HS sports, teams can be tough to follow as we all know because of the limited coverage in the offseason. But Im pretty sure Abington is going to be solid. They have Show who is the best athlete in the area, and a good WR named Hollander. AH usually has a good line too. Also, Berwick is going to be good but once again people are overhyping them. There have been much better Berwick teams in recent memory. Berwick has a lot of unproven skill kids and lineman.
D2 Followers:
What are your thoughts on last year’s champ, Abington Heights? Do they have enough coming back to repeat? To beat a talented Berwick team? Any confirmation that JC Show will line up at QB? I’d have to think they want their best athlete to touch the ball every play and with no proven QB coming back, the passing game might not be there.
@ Rick D
If you read my post, I said Dallas will be closer to the bottom of the standings then to the top of the standings. They lost a ton of talent. I keep reading about all of the talent they have on this year’s team and I just don’t see it. Without Jackson’s tough guy persona, this year’s team will play more like Zaruta’s persona and go 4-6 at best. I do think Lehman gets the shoe back this year.
Holy Redemer will compete this year. It is easy to say they suck, they have for years, but I’m telling you they will compete. I know alot of these kids and in talking to them they think they can win. That’s were it starts. Once you believe,you go from there.
In the last 4 years Wood/Devlin has sent 31 players to colleges … that’s 31 kids paying little or nothing for their college education … 7 playing D1 … that’s “showcasing his players” for sure … don’t know about new faces there this year, but supposedly the freshman group coming in is outstanding even by Wood standards … more talent for the future.
Let’s talk about recruiting. Let’s talk LaSalle. One D1 recruit from Philly?? None from Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware or Jersey. That’s all?? Don’t think LaSalle is recruiting players for football is they have no depth at all.
As for Wood, hell yes! Devlin is out there showcasing his players in front of college coaches. Not all talented but he gets the job done to bring more talent in the future to the school.
And Prep, yet to be seen. Talented group this year.
Now for athletes graduating at 20+ from high school. They sure are – held back in kindergarten and then repeating 9th grade. There should be something done to stop this – but don’t hold your breathe folks.
this year should be interesting – going to see a lot of new faces.
@Huck thank you for the reply, but yes i was asking Rick D about Scranton Prep.
@Rob the only problem i see with Honesdale is they play that light schedule. Will have a hard time getting playoff points.
Rob, ugh! My bad. Thanks for the clarification.
17th, good feedback. Appreciated.
@Huck
Good assessment on the Prep. The issue could be the line play mainly on offense. I think defense is in better shape then everyone anticipated. Across the board depth is an issue but the skills positions are covered. Trust me they have more then enough skill players. The other surprise will be the offense’s ability to throw points on the board. This was an issue last year and don’t see it being an issue this year. It looks as if they will use every ounce of speed that have this season and they have gobs of it! That is all I have to say! I agree with you on the less then stellar start with a strong finish.
@huck
Mark d is referring to Scranton prep, and yes, they have unproven skill kids which is why I’m not sold on them. I think Honesdale is a sleeper.
Mark D, the word you got about SJP’s skill kids being young is inaccurate. It’s the strength of their team. They return their QB, a top WR, top 2 RBs (One with D1 offers who will be a jr), and John Reid who will be one of the most sought after recruits in the state. He’ll play some slot WR on offense.
The OL you mentioned is Jon Runyan, a riding jr and returning starter. His best days are ahead of him. He’s not exactly mammoth just yet. They lost 4 starting OL and both TEs. This is where they will be young.
Defensively, they lost 6 of their front 7, including a trio of terrific LBs. They return a starting DL, but this rising sophomore has been moved to LB. They do return 2 starting DBs (including Reid). So, that terrific defense lost 8 of 11 starters.
The belief is that SJP has crept back to the days of reloading, so they think they will be fine by season’s end. Still, they play an ambitious schedule and some growing pains appear to be evident.
I think they can have a terrific season, but until someone dethrones LaSalle I still feel they are team to beat. Even if LS lost key pieces as well.
What about the Friends League? That’s another league independent of the PIAA. Do they also have fifth and sixth year seniors? I was wondering about that. I don’t think they would be any threat in football but without a doubt in basketball. Academy of the New Church can ball. They’ve been in the USA Today rankings and I think they knocked off one of those N. Jersey powerhouses a few years back.
@Rick D you seem to be on the Prep band wagon,i know they have a big d1 kid anchoring their lines, but the word i got is they are very young at the skill postions.You have a scoop on them ?
@Huck,
I do agree 100% about the tradition and comfort in their league. I have a few relatives that have played in the Inter Ac. I know for sure that 2 of them were 5th year players and another who played a 6th, it happens. It may not be the norm, but it happens. If you want a chuckle, check out the Malvern captains picture on silary from 2012. How many of them “kids” would you card at a bar?
Jive, you are correct that 5th year seniors do exist on IA teams from time to time. This is definitely one issue that they would have to change if they ever wanted to join the PIAA. Also, I don’t think the people running the IA really have great desire to join the PIAA. They enjoy their traditions and comfortable league. I don’t see them wanting to disrupt this any time soon. Maybe, down the line it could happen.
6th yr seniors and 21-year old men was quite dramatic if you ask me. Just a little bit of an embellishment on your part. But do what you have to do to get your point across.,
@Steven j Kelly,
The Inter Ac will not be permitted to participate in the PIAA until it stops allowing 5th and 6th year seniors. PIAA does not think it’s fair, and neither do I for that matter, to have 21 year old men playing against 15 year old children.
@RickD
Graduated from Lehman in 2011. Played football every year in the Lehman organization from 7th to 12th grade. Played bball too.
@Groat
Just because Dallas handled LL last year doesn’t mean they’ll have an easy time this year too. In 09, Lehman lost to Dallas 48-6 and the next year, lost 28-21. A year makes a huge difference, especially in high school sports.
When is the Inter Ac going to join the PIAA? I have been living out here in Columbus for 5 years and I am still waiting. It will only make their non league games better. My son was a CHA grad the first year they came back into the league.
I see a similar result for Dallas this year as in 2012. They start the season with AAAA WVW, 2012 District Champ AH and 2012 District runner-up Berwick. After that the schedule becomes manageable with potential close games against Coughlin and Crestwood. Lehman will be a good team, but judging by last year’s game, Dallas shouldn’t have too much of a problem with them. 7-3 regular season, maybe they lose one they should win and finish 6-4, but maybe then win one they should lose and finish 8-2. I will withhold judgment on the new coach for a little while. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Not sure I can write someone off as a failure and horrible coach after one season (especially a playoff season with no bad losses). We will see what happens this year, another year removed from Jackson.
hey guys see the preview for Holy Redeemer,their coach thinks they can be a 7-3 team this year.Maybe just maybe Mark didnt have to much to drink before he posted his picks!I got to go with Rob on Dallas believe me i know what a coaching change can do to a program i a Valley View guy.Dallas has tough nose kids who seem to be in the hunt every year i wouldnt count them out. But lets face it when was the last time a d2 school above aa won a state playoff game.Our power programs over the years Abington Berwick Dallas or Valley View have done nothing on the State stage!
@ Rob
You are absolutely correct Rob. They have tons of talent and SHOULD make the playoffs but they will not. Berwick, Abington and Prep will definitely make the AAA playoffs in my opinion. That leaves just one spot up for grabs. Dallas will certainly start out 0-3 and I think that will turn into a bad season and many bad seasons to come. It might be wishful thinking but I think LL can beat them this year and for many years to come. I cannot see Zaruta lasting very long I was told their numbers are way down. However I hope he does stick around for awhile because that will mean LL can finally win some Old Shoe games….
On a side note Rob – do you have kids that play at LL?
Joe, there are more than 5-6 good D12 teams. And the football played in D12 is just as good as any other district in the state. Why? Because in the 2A, 3A, and 4A class D12 will have their share of state title worthy teams. It’s not silly to think this.
Since 2008 in those three classifications there have been a total of 15 state semifinals. D12 has had a representative in 14 of them (PCL 13 of the 14).
@RickD
I am also a Lehman guy but Dallas should make the playoffs this year. They lost a bunch of key players but return some very talented players as well. Dallas always reloads, and I don’t think even Zaruta will screw up this years team. Too much talent. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Dallas take the shoe this year either.I know both teams fairly well and although LL is supposed to be decent, they are as one dimensional as it gets, and their competition might not prepare them. Look how WA is 8-2 every year and when they play PA they either narrowly win or lose — same thing.
@ Groat
I do not think your argument about Dallas holds water. Anything Dallas has accomplished since 1999 or prior to 1999 is directly tied to Coach Jackson. They certainly have not lost “routinely” to Berwick, VV or AH. In Jackson’s last year they hung 50+ on Berwick and had VV beat in the district title game before their QB got hurt (plus they turned the ball over 5 or 6 times). Dallas was the D2 AAA champ in 1999 beating VV and since then they have won a ton of playoff games including 2 trips to the district final and 2 or 3 EC titles not to mention MULTIPLE WVC titles. It is unfair to criticize playoff losses over a span of over a decade because unless you win a district, EC or state title………….obviously everyone loses playoff games. Coach Jackson is a Hall of Fame coach who won A LOT more football games than he should have during all his years at Dallas. Don’t forget that Dallas is among the SMALLEST AAA schools in the state and they were even AA for awhile during the 2000s if my memory serves correctly.
Dallas was 7-4 last year and I honestly believe that was because of the program that was instilled in the players by Coach Jackson and not because of the new coaching staff. They won 3 consecutive WVC titles and made it to 2 D2 title games in 3 years in Jackson’s last 3 years. Last years team accomplished NOTHING other than beating my Lehman Black Knights in their rival game. There is NO WAY they make the AAA playoffs this year and they should get used to it because the program will completely fall apart under this Zaruta guy. I am certain you will see evidence of this very soon as I was told they are struggling to get players to join the team and/or show up for workouts.
I am a Lehman guy and I would be THRILLED if Lehman had as many postseason appearances (let alone postseason wins) as Dallas had. And there are SEVERAL teams in the WVC and LFC that feel the same way I’m sure.
Talk to any coach in the WVC Groat…..and the fact is that they are not worried about Dallas anymore. Dallas is NOT a contender anymore because Coach Jackson is not there. The guy won over 230 games………..that doesn’t happen by accident. The program built at Dallas is over.
@Huck their is absolutely no question that their are bad teams average teams, and good teams in every district. Only 4 great teams exist in each class a year sometimes 2. However to say “the bigger districts” comment you made is absurd. Nobody questions how good Lasalle, Prep are in the elite class of 4A, Wood is the class of 3A, to a lesser extent O’Hara would compete, and West Catholic, and Imhotep are in the elite class of 2A. I just named 6 schools from 3 classes in an area with largest amount of people in the entire state and claim that district is just as good as other districts is silly. The population for Philadelphia is 1.5 million people I would hope they can field 5-6 good football teams a year. My question is why are their not more than 5-6 good football teams? I guess good football players are only bread in certain parts of the Philly metro area. Since the “Mighty PCL” has joined the PIAA they have about the same amount of state titles as every other Eastern PA Diatrict. It’s all comparable with state titles. I guess you can name all the times you came in second and say we’ve been there. But if anyone whoever competed said “well we’ve been their, that’s all that matters, not winning it” well then I guess you have never competed!