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
As someone with deep ties to LS, I felt they played scared tonight. Family who got to watch the game on tv felt the same way. From the beginning it looked like LS was afraid to kick to preps receivers. Penalties, lots of missed tackles and poor clock management did LS in. 2nd half showed promise except again time management. They came out a bit more confident. Everything can be fixed so next time they come out on top. Looking forward to playoffs.
@ JiveTurkey
There’s no question the Prep has played a tougher schedule. LaSalle is lucky to only have 1 loss. They very easily could have lost to Judge or Malvern Prep if a play here or there had gone differently. Anyway, I expect Prep to win going away.
My Bad!!!! Imhotep and Dallas Jesuit is not a wash according to maxpreps. Imhotep and Wood would be a wash. So we are comparing Dallas and Bosco to O’Hara, Ryan, and Judge. Still no comparison, but I wanted to be accurate.
@PCL FAN,
I usually agree with most of your comments. I can’t agree with the LaSalle has probably played the tougher teams so far. LaSalle hasn’t played a team in the same class as Bosco. Let’s look at who they played.
Lasalle week 1, North Penn. Both played a bad NP team.
week 2, Imhotep, good team comparable to Dallas Jesuit.
week 3, O’Hara, not a good team, won 28-14 but was closer than the score.
week 4, Malvern, OK team that beat 2-4 Roman by 2, only won 23-17.
week 5, Ryan, beat up on a bad O’Hara team and some very weak D1 teams. 0-2 in CL play.
week 6, Judge, No idea on Judge whether they’re good or bad, but got very lucky to pull it out 17-16.
Preps opponents; I’ll wash Roman with Malven, NP is a wash both ways, Dallas Jesuit and Imhotep wash. So we are comparing Don Bosco Prep and Archbishop Wood to O’Hara, Ryan, and Judge? Really no comparison.
You said their problem is not skill players but turnovers. I was at the Judge game, weren’t their skill players the ones that turned over the ball? I don’t want to get into a long battle over this, but it’s right there, Prep has had the much tougher schedule.
All of that being said, this weather could turn this game into a real dud. Hopefully the rain stops from 7:00-9:30.
Just a breakdown from what I see position wise leading into tonight. I saw LaSalle D line, aside form 1 run, control Judge’s ground game and held Imhotep pretty good. I saw Prep D line shut down Roman ground game and after a halftime adjustment, completely shut down Wood. O line for LaSalle gave QB all day to throw, Prep O line did the same. At QB I give the passing edge to LaSalle, and the rushing edge to Prep. At RB LaSalle has 2 very capable backs in 23 and 25. Prep has 2 fantastic backs in 1 and 7. Prep should keep 26’s rushes to a minimum like they did against Wood. 1 and 7 are the horses that will carry the ground game. LaSalle has the best LB, Prep has the best player on the field #25. I see Prep by more than 2 TD’s. Might be wrong, but that’s how I see it.
CYOBall. I never questioned Preps coaching, check original post. Everyone may get better next month, but not everyone has a blue chip Big 10 recruit at QB. Last counter point, I am sure Prep would rather have a win to build from as opposed to the PCL finals loss. LaSalle is building off 5 consecutive PCL titles….
My comment about the skill players was an opinion and not a fact, sorry if it came out that way.
In my opinion the prep skill players are more dynamic than LaSalle’s skill players. I personally would take O, swift, McKallister and Reid over Herron , Meacham, Headon and Rinella.
I will not use NP stats as an indication of which teams better . NP is clearly down this season. I know LaSalle is shaky line play on O and D as I have been to more than 2 of their games.
When you take your starting MLB and put him at tackle you’re in desperation mode. LaSalle got zero pressure on the QB against Ryan.
This is my opinion. Prep will win tonight. I believe the prep is a better team. My opinion.
Will LaSalle be prepared? yes. Can LaSalle win?, yes. Would I be completely shocked if LaSalle pulls it off? No.
@ CYOBall
The perception is the Prep skill guys are better than LaSalle but the stats from play on the field don’t show that. LaSalle has better rushers, receivers and passer, as you did note, than the Prep. You could point to who they play but overall but LaSalle probably has played tougher teams overall. If you want to compare NP games, LaSalle had better stats their too. So when you say the Prep skill guys are better what are you basing that on?
The difference for LaSalle this year has been turnovers and penalties not skill players.
Check Ted Silary’s site for the details.
The 2nd best team in D-1 is Rustin and they will give Coatesville or anyone else in the east all they can handle there big, fast and well coached.
HS FB FAN I understand that LaSalle will be a better team next month however so will everyone else.
LaSalle is still a very good team and will hang with the prep. When you can pass like LaSalle you’re never going to be out of a game. PREP is a better team than LaSalle at just about every position other than QB and LB. Prep has better backers , LaSalle has the best backer. LaSalles weakness is on the O and D line. Hard to tell in with all of the skill guys and play makers at LAS but that’s where they have won in the past. Its not happening this year.
I wouldn’t be quick to question the preps coaching, they prepare just about as well as anyone out there.
I think the loss in the PCL final last year helps them going forward.
Regarding Prep – LaSalle game…..One of the posts below call LaSalle a middleweight, they are certainly not that but i don’t think that they match up well with Prep this year. Prep has four legitimate burners who can take it to the house on any play. LaSalle playing a bunch of young guys had 18 starters to replace and their youth and inexperience has been exposed at times this year. I see Prep taking it tomorrow but they will most likely play again in November for PCL championship. Most who follow LS will tell you that they are looking at 2014 as a big year, not this season with so many new players. They still have plenty of talent and will make it interesting, but Prep will win it tomorrow.
@Buddy
Thank you for keeping your glooting to a minimum.
Both LaSalle and Prep are maturing. I think LaSalle might be ahead of Prep at this point in the season. Still I think Prep has more talent but what do I know? It’s hard to figure out through common opponents. If LaSalle gives ups a little space to Preps speed it could be a beat down.
Then again it’s LaSalle’s game to lose they are top dog in the PCL until proven not.
Last post,
I meant ” no one from D11 threatening……….”
@tank
North Penn did not have 10 guys hurt early in the season, they are just that down this year.
They have discovered a new running back about 2 games ago, that helps account for their recent success, but they are nowhere ready for prime time.
I see no one from D12 threatening LaSalle or Prep, so it should be Neshaminy or C’ville vs Prep or LaSalle. I’m curious to see if Neshaminy’s defense is as good as been reported.
They’ll need it if they make the final.
All you Coatesville haters will find out.Neshamny has no chance. Coatesville is bigger and faster than anyone out there.
I think people were saying the same thing last year about prep beating La Salle. Prep definitely has talent no question, do they have the discipline and coaching of la salle? I think LS has the edge there
General
Looking at the District 1 power standings and the matchups for this week 7; it would appear that the favorites are heavily just that. Of the 31 teams listed in the 4A classification, fully 14 play a 3A opponent, with only two of the 3A schools having a better record than 3-3. And very few teams play another team in the 4A category within the 31 teams in contention. That said; it would seem that the key games will be Oxford-Great Valley; W C East-W C Henderson; Pennridge-C B South; and Haverford-Springfield-Delco. However, it looks like all of the games will be played in sloppy conditions if played Friday or Saturday, and slips on the field or a wet ball can take a toll. Enjoy all of the games.
LaSalle is a team that is maturing as the weeks progress. They may take Prep, but it is the second go round that counts. LaSalle will be a tough team next month. I think Prep takes this one. LaSalle takes game 2. We shall see??
North Penn played two of the best teams in D12 and lately two of the better teams in the state in 4A and 3A. They haven’t really played a top team in D1 yet. If I’m not mistaken I think City kids can pretty much choose their schools where kids in the suburbs have to go to the school in their area. Now we know most of these perennial powerhouses do not stick to that rule but they can only do so much. You take an area like West Chester that has 3 high schools and they still find a way to compete to at least make the playoffs. If West Chester had one high school they’d probably compete for district and state titles every year. Some of these school districts are a lot bigger or more densely populated than others so even though they make the minimum for 4A they dont have as many people to choose from as these bigger 4A schools. And other schools have an advantage to legally recruit kids like Catholic Schools.
I honestly have no clue about most of the teams in D1. Just figured I’d stir the pot a bit and get Buddy fired up. North Penn could have had 10 guys hurt early in the year, or they could’ve gotten lucky beating CBS. Like I said, I have no clue. In 2 months I think we are going to see Neshaminy play Prep in the Eastern playoffs, should be a good game from what I hear about Neshaminy.
@ Paul,
Agreed, you can never count out Gordon the second time around. I thought Prep had the better team last year and LaSalle got them when it counted. However, I’m not sure, even with some Gordon magic, they’ll be able to pull one out in November this year. I think the second game will be much closer than this week though.
@ jive
Never said NP is good this year. I know they’re not. The only reason they could make the playoffs is because D1 send 16 teams. They would be low seed ( like 16) & lose 1st game.
D12 is definetly on top this year all away around. Won’t last forever. It’s cyclical.
Hope Neshaminy meets Prep in final and wins of course. But unlike you, I’ll keep my glooting to a minimum.
In District 2, Scranton Prep and Abington Heights is the game to see. It should be interesting to see how well Abington can move the ball on Prep with their size. This game will most likely have a rematch in 4 weeks.
Anyone from District 4, looks like Montoursville and Danville should be a great game. Don’t know much about them other than they both enter the game at 6-0.
When you look at it honestly, suburban and Philly schools match up pretty evenly. That is, geographically (how rivalries are created), as opposed to a district number that, in this case, means somewhat less. Maybe SJP or West Catholic could go play in district 1, say, in the new Suburban Catholic League (not sure why city teams would). Or maybe, just as oddly, Lansdale Catholic, LaSalle or AW could move into the Philly Catholic League in D12. Oh, they already do play there. Weird, but, oh well.