Are you ready for some football?
Welcome to the official forum on high school football for the 2018 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.
881 Responses
@ Neutral Observer
Thanks for the Nanticoke info. Any idea why they chose the EC over Districts/PIAA???
@Jeff H Agreed. I’m a Holy Name graduate (one of the two schools that merged to form BC) and have seen them play a few times. Their non-league schedule has gotten them ready for the district final and state playoffs far better than schedules of years past. I just don’t know if they have the experience in the secondary to match up with McDevitt. They start a Freshman and a Sophomore back there and Malvern Prep absolutely torched them earlier this year. While Malvern Prep might have won 5A if they actually played in the PIAA, it’s still a fair comparison for what BC will see from McDevitt’s offense. That final should be one of the best games in the District 3 playoffs. Also interested to see Middletown vs. Lancaster Catholic and if anyone can give Harrisburg or Manheim Central a football game.
@Ndgp82 I’ve only seen North Schuylkill play but from what I’ve heard you can pretty much flip a coin on all of those games. I think Tamaqua beat NS who beat Jim Thorpe who beat Tamaqua… so around and around they go. NDGP has the best offense but has also played the weakest schedule so it will probably depend on November weather and turnovers. A final with Jim Thorpe would be entertaining since Jim Thorpe’s defense averages around 4 PPG while NDGP scores 44 PPG.
District XI 3A Playoffs: Jim Thorpe at North Schuylkill, Notre Dame Green Pond at Tamaqua. I think Notre Dame has a great chance to win Districts. What are your thoughts?
@Kevin X
Greater Nanticoke Area announced a few weeks ago that they would voluntarily decline any invitation to the District playoffs. They decided to go Eastern Conference instead.
Appears North Penn has a much tougher draw than Coatesville, as Uncle T. noted face a hot Ridley team coming in with some confidence, get either Neshaminy or Haverford in the quarterfinals, then likely either DTWest or Truman in the semi’s, as I’ve stated on here before I have a hunch before they lose before the final. I don’t see any team in the bottom half of the bracket preventing a Coatesville/GV showdown in the semi’s.
@D3 Mike – completely agree there’s about a half dozen teams that have a legit shot at the 4A title, unlike the last few years when it was pretty much a foregone conclusion in would be Erie Prep and Imhotep. Whoever wins D3 might be the favorite, or at least be the favorite to get there from the west, I think either of those teams have a good chance to beat the Thomas Jefferson/Prep winner, expect the TJ/Prep game will be much closer than the last few years and TJ has a chance, game will be in the Pittsburgh area this year and not Erie. If I’m picking now I’d say Berks vs. Imhotep in Hershey and BC would definitely have a shot in that game.
Hey Uncle T,
I don’t think DTE will beat C’ville (if both get that far), but DTE’s first drive went 92 yards and took over 9 minutes (I think) and the quarter was basically over (and C’ville looked a little rattled). I think it depends on the adjustments and game plan (and turnovers). I want to see C’ville go all the way and beat Prep (if they have the chance), but I think both D-town teams have been underestimated a little bit in this forum and can be tough outs.
Tough bracket for North Penn. They get a hot Ridley team that’s won 6 in a row after a dreadful start, then would stare at the winner of Neshaminy/Haverford (one of the best games of the whole tournament). DTown West vs. Truman will be really fun in round 2.
Bottom half should be steamroll city for Garnet Valley until the semis, and Coatesville/DTown East part 2 looks likely (not sold on Spring Ford.) Chief- do yo think East can play with them if they have a clean game (no bad penalties/turnovers)?
The D1 playoff brackets are posted on the District One web page. They are “unofficial” until noon tomorrow (Monday).
When does the seeding committee meet?
Buddy, Not sure about D-1…We are working on brackets today..I will have most of the games set today.
Looking at the power rankings for District 2, under the 4A teams, Greater Nanticoke Area is highlighted in red, are they illegible for post season play?? Probation or something?? What’s the meaning of the red highlighting???
Solid win this afternoon for Berks Catholic, 28-7 at rival and 3A ranked Wyomissing.
4A appears more balanced than its been in awhile. IMO Imhotep is still the favorite but there are a half-dozen teams with a realistic shot at the state title this year.
Add Bethlehem Freedom to that list.
Aliquippa – Lost
Pine Richland – Lost
Upper Dublin -Lost
Cathedral Prep – Lost
Academy Park – Lost
Haverford School – Lost
Good teams lost lost this week
Michael, Upper Dublin won…A newspaper had the wrong score
As a C’ville fan, I still think they are the odds on favorite to win D1 and possibly more, but don’t count out DTE or DTW for some D1 tournament wins — would love to see them play NP. The DTE game last night appears to be a blowout, but 3 turnovers, a bad punt, and some holding penalties really turned the game around. They also hit on the formula on how to beat C’ville by grinding out a 92-yard drive for the lead in the 1st (C’ville was frazzled — but their defense adjusted well). The DTE defense played well — subtract some improbable throws and a long run on 3rd and forever — they were pretty good. Looking forward to seeing the playoffs — hope all the teams stay healthy, and the weather is good (and the refs are too). Oh, I almost forgot, why in the bleep was C’ville throwing backwards passes!?? — some weird play calling last night. Also, if one were to look at the playoff brackets, the not-so-awesome Ches-mont League looks like the best (3 in the top 9 or 10 for 6A (and the best team), 4 in 5A (Rustin might even be the best team), and Shanahan in 4A).
Tonight’s rain:
Most places will receive .25″ or less through 10 PM tonight so I don’t see a problem playing games Friday evening. About .1″-.2″ should fall in the southern tier counties south of York, Lancaster, Coatesville, and West Chester. Areas to the north of those cities will generally receive .1″ or less. Places near the PA/MD border between the Susquehanna river and just south of Oxford could get .25″ by 10 PM. The Allentown area and points north should receive little rain while areas north of Harrisburg to Williamsport and Wilkes-Barre will just see about .1″ or less although a few isolated areas may get a bit more than .1″.
Have fun at the games!
Did they move the S-F/PJPII game to Spring-Ford tonight?? PJPII’s field does not have lights, so I am assuming they are not play at PJPII, or maybe down at Conchy “A”???
I saw that the Malvern Prep @ Haverford game has been moved up from Saturday afternoon to Friday @ 3p. Anybody know of any other schedule changes for Saturday’s game due to this impending weather??? Pennridge @ CB East is a huge game with playoff implications for both teams that is scheduled for Sat. afternoon, but at least they have a turf field and maybe they’ll just soldier on. S-F @ PJPII Saturday afternoon tho has the makings of an epic slog fest mud bowl game 🙂
Kevin X…I am sure more will be coming…I will have a list ready.
Neshaminy is improving on both sides of the line. Top player has been hurting the last 2 games. Sophmore running back playing very good..Tough little guy. Don’t be surprised if they are in the D1 semis. Must beat Pennsbury this week.
Neshaminy is improving on both sides of the line. Top player has been hurting the last 2 games. Sophmore running back playing very good..Tough little guy. Don’turprised if they are in the D1 semis. Must beat Pennsbury this week.
I see that our boys from Baltimore, St. Frances Academy, that is, are heading up I-95 on Friday to play Northeast. Any chance someone can pull some stings and/or work some magic, and have St. Frances meet up with SJP again (@Northeast, Widener, heck anywhere in the DelVal), and have Ryan simply go down the Boulevard and play the Vikings?? That actually might be a good, competitive game. Otherwise Its going to be ugly, real ugly, on Cottman on Friday evening.
@Buddy: I don’t now about handily, and I shouldn’t have said Coatesvile was probably than that NP team. We’ll have to see how Coatesville does in the playoffs before we can say more definitively. The thing about that ’16 NP team- even with how good Swift was, NP was the clear better team for most of that game vs. SJP. Udinski just had all those interceptions and the fumble on the last drive as they were marching in for the game winning score. I felt so bad for the kid. They would have smoked PCC in the final too like Prep did.
@Knight Time: Man, I don’t have anything against your team. They’re always a threat, and still could be this year if they get it together over the next 2 weeks which should basically be scrimmages. But even a loyalist has to admit they’ve looked very vulnerable, like Buddy has. As for seeds, I’d have Coatesville, GV, Truman, Haverford ranked above NP, and yes, at least one of the Downingtowns too depending on how East looks this week vs. Coatesville. You can bring up schedules and the 5A/6A stuff all you want, but the fact is that NP barely survived Neshaminy while DTown West clobbered them, and likewise to a lesser extent with CB South. I’ve said that I don’t think the DTowns are anything special, but those head to head comps favor West. They would be in a 3rd tier of quality with Truman, Haverford, NP, and East (tier 1- Coatesville; tier 2- GV; tier 3). You can interchange tier 3 any way you want, but that’s just how I would have them based off of performance this year.
Not sure Uncle is insulting anyone — look at common opponents — DTW beat CB South 37-0 (NP 21, CB South 10), DTW beat Neshaminy 35-14 (NP 34, Nesh 33 in OT)
@Uncle T there you go again spewing your madness. If they were ranking like the NCAA please tell me the 5 seeds you have ahead of North Penn in District 1 and please insult me with DTE and DTW
Uncle T:
The 2016 NP team would beat this years C’ville team rather handily, maybe worse then they did in 2016.
NP was best team in state that year except for one player………………… D’Andre Swift,
Having said that, NP is most definitely over-rated this year. Not very stellar performance against mediocre teams.
Going to the PV/Pottsgrove game Fri. P’grove will be favored I’m sure, but if the avid PV student body has anything to say, it won’t matter.
Best fans I ever seen in District one!