Are you ready for some football?
Welcome to the official forum on high school football for the 2025 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.
1,632 Responses
@ Maynard Plumm….@ D 3 Fan……THANKYOU
D2 Football
Honest question – because you seem like you’ve been around NEPA for a while. Did you also root against Gerry McNamara back when he was at Hannon?
D2 Football
“people that send their student athletes there thinking that will get more recognition and more attention”
Or, perhaps, people that send their STUDENT athletes there (to a private school) think those private schools can offer better academic opportunities, or just better opportunities in general, than their academically underperforming home public district. Maybe these parents want more for their STUDENT athletes than their home public district can provide. Maybe, just maybe, some parents still want religion incorporated into their childrens education. Not everyone who attends a private school goes there for the athletics. I don’t have kids, but if I did, I would never send them to Wyoming Valley West or Wilkes-Barre Area or Hazleton Areas, for multiple reasons I won’t get into here. I can assure you, none of those reasons are related to athletics. But I get it, you want to go back to the 1950’s and 1960’s where the Catholic schools had their own leagues and their own basketball state championships. Those days are over. They will never return. You should stop living in the past and maybe just embrace the better competition.
@ District 2 Football
You are exhausting, Public vs Private blah blah blah. When are you actually going to spit facts on quality football rather than public vs private nonsense?
Your analysis of 750 vs 340 is beyond delusional. I am a Berks Catholic Alum and D3 has superior football in the state of PA. Everyone is so sick and tired of the public vs private debate,until the PIAA changes it everyone must deal with it.
@ DV WARRIOR
First, I would like to say good luck the rest of your season. I think you guys could pull this together
I know every time I had an opportunity to chat with Keith he is such a humble head coach with great coaching abilities
But now what you were saying about you guys having 750
Male student athletes
VS them who have 340
Look at it this way it’s like going to a food pantry at Thanksgiving
You truly don’t know what kind of food is going to be in that brown bag
So good comparison to them vs the rest is simply this
The average team is like going into a food pantry pick up line and like I said, you truly don’t know what you’re going to get. You could get a whole bunch of peanut butter or yams and boxes stuffing that goes really well with a Thanksgiving dinner
Now to the average school in those 750 bags there might be a whole Lot of peanut butter and then you have a surprise and you have a whole lot of turkey yams, etc
With them they get to the store and they can pick what they want so their bags are always going to be what they want. There will be NO peanut butter on their plates.
You get what I mean in layman’s terms
All I’m saying is because they are not restricted because they are private. They can go literally wherever they want reach out to people that send their student athletes there thinking that will get more recognition and more attention. It’s just a complete racket I’m so over it. It’s disgusting.
And what I think is more disgusting is the average Joe’s who support them from the public realm it’s wild I will never understand it
The old saying goes if you can’t beat them join them
Well, not for this guy never ever
Week 5 in NEPA Football has a nice mix of games, mostly out of one league. I have 10 involving District 2 (or will have an impact on D2 standings)
– Scranton Prep vs. Scranton (LFC 1): We have a battle of 4-0 vs. 3-1 in the Electric City. Scranton Prep almost looked ahead to this game last week, with a close win over DV. Scranton just rides with momentum. I think both teams will end the night with the same record, but this game will prove if Scranton is actually legit.
– Old Forge vs. Western Wayne (LFC 2): I have a feeling this game will be sneaky good. This game will be a challenge for Old Forge, but also possibly a trap for Western Wayne. I don’t think they fall for it, but I’m hoping it’s at least close.
– Mid Valley vs. Lackawanna Trail (LFC 3): Game of the week in LFC 3 has to be this one! Trail looks super strong this year, but Mid Valley has a quietly underrated team. This is a trap game for Trail, but they should prevail up on Tunnel Hill.
– Hanover Area vs. Berwick (WVC Game Of The Week): I’m only giving the WVC one game this week, when it comes to my area picks. No divisions or honorable mentions (in fact, this would’ve been one if we had some competitive games). The schedule is repugnant. There are no games with competitive matchups. This game has seeding implications, as Hanover Area & Berwick are #8 & #9 respectively. CJ Curry gets win #1 but I feel for the league. They need some competition.
– Lakeland vs. Susquehanna (LFC HM): This game has implications. The winner of this might have the #2 seed locked up in 2A. The Sabers are a quality 3-1, even with a weak schedule. The & 1? To Western Wayne. They have the LFC gauntlet trio immediately after. Lakeland started 2-0, but lost the last two. Both are separated by nearly .04 power rating pts in 2A. Every win counts here. The edge in both will go to a good story in Susquehanna.
– Abington Heights vs. North Pocono (D2 HM): This is an overlooked game in D2. The Comets are solid & their loss last week was not surprising. North Pocono is coming off of a heartbreaker on the shores of Lake Wally. The Comets will take one on the road.
– Wallenpaupack vs. Delaware Valley (Rivalry): I had a slight feeling Paupack would end up at 3-1 at this stage of the season (at least be 2-2), but the Buckhorns have surprised me with gritty play that could make them a tough out. Meanwhile, DV has a chip on their shoulder. This won’t be close, but if we’re on a potential 3rd upset watch in a row, then Chartiers-Houston, We Have A Problem…or Liftoff (see what I did there?)
– Holy Cross vs. Col-Mont Vo-Tech (Give Some Respect): This game would not have been included if it wasn’t for the lack of WVC games. Let’s start with Holy Cross. They are a nice 2-2, as they’ve won the games they should’ve won & lost the ones they did. CMVT, on the other hand is a surprising 3-1. Keep in mind that they’re playing the worst teams in the state on an indie schedule. Wins against Shenandoah Valley, Montrose, & Renaissance Academy (who still hasn’t won a game all-time) & a loss to a decent Morrisville team have shaped their season, thus far. This is the second of four games in D2 territory for the Rams. I think Holy Cross takes this, but don’t be surprised if their winnable schedule puts them in a shocking conversation about the 4A (yes, you read it right) EC game. They’d need tons of help to do so, however.
– Selinsgrove vs. Williamsport (D4 6A): It’s good to feature a Billtown game for once! The Millionaires are in a race for home field advantage with Scranton. They, like the Knights, get a challenge against Selinsgrove. The Seals are batting .500, with two great losses (Twin Valley & Shore) to their resume. I think Williamsport gets their first true challenge this weekend. They have a mini-gauntlet with Shore & Shamokin up next. I might throw in more 6A implication games soon, but I won’t pick them to win this week.
– Tri-Valley vs. Williams Valley (D1 1A): Anyone interested in another rivalry game? These two are the class of the field in that area of Schuylkill, Dauphin, & Northumberland Counties every year, it seems. Tri-Valley suffered its first loss last week, while the Vikes have won two close games, but are perfect at 4-0. I think the team from Tower City (or Williamstown) stays perfect, but Tri-Valley needs to be careful. Marian & Nativity have two gimmes (Panther Valley & Mahanoy, respectively) & I’d expect more shuffling in the standings at the halfway point.
Scores
– Scr Prep 28, Scranton 14
– WW 31, Pizzatown 17
– Trail 24, Mid Valley 20
– Berwick 35, Hanover Area 8
– Susq. 20, Lakeland 12
– AH 30, NP 14
– DV 41, Paupack 13
– Holy Cross 26, CMVT 15
– ‘Grove 35, Billtown 6
– WV 34, T-V 20
@ DV Warrior
As someone who’s from that area, thank you for bringing up that it’s a rivalry. I feel like there are many people who forget that.
I feel like, although it’s been traditionally (in the Olsommer era) one-sided, there is a decent rivalry between the two (& especially overall in a lot of sports. I’d say the Buckhorns true rival is Honesdale, but it’s right up there.
I’m curious to see how a Matt Nawrocki led team goes up against a division power. This is his first big test as a coach. The last two games have been comebacks & gritty second half kind of games. I’m curious to see what it’ll be like against the strong competition.
@DISTRICT 2 FOOTBALL
We also played Jersey Shore and SP. Honestly there is no comparison between the two. JS is a talented football team with great tradition but SP seems to be in a different class. I guess we will see as they play late October.
Looking forward to facing off against the talented Buckhorns with weekend, always a great rivalry as I have attended this game for many man years.
@ DISTRICT 2 FOOTBALL
I disagree with your statement on SP. We have 750 boys in our school compared to SP’s 340 and they beat us. We double them in size and let me tell you they bring a physical brand of football with them. I love the LFC division 1, has all the ingredients of old school, old fashioned football (what this area needs).
Good Luck to all District 2 teams this weekend as we need to all stick together en route to district championships.
@ SP IMPORTS
I didn’t forget anybody , I only mentioned the teams that truly matter .
I don’t give much thought to the scoop and gather teams .
Get talent from a 4 to 5 block range from Importville and we will revisit this conversation. Let’s see how potent your arrogance is.
Hahahaha not today buddy
Good day
@Jc: Well, I guess you had to grow up there and spend a significant amount of your summers from ages 8-20 there to get it. A good-natured pun based upon this author’s teenage memories.
@ district 2 football
Did you forget someone in the AAA state rankings? hahahahahah
@ Kevin X
I’m assuming SJP-Roman will be at Norristown since it’s an SJP home game and all their other home games are at Norristown this year. Of course it’s possible there’s a conflict with a Norristown game or event in which case they’ll have to do something along the lines of what they did last year against Judge when the Prep used Conwell-Egan as a home field.
SJP remains a big question mark for this year. They had a disastrous second quarter against St. Edward’s which scored all 35 of its points within about eight minutes. Erasmus Hall looked a good bit weaker than the Erasmus team the Prep beat (by just a TD) two years ago. I’m sure the Prep had a game lined up for last weekend but the opponent must have bailed–last year at this time the Prep had already played IMG, St. Peter’s, Lakeland, and Bosco (NJ). Good Counsel (MD), SJP’s opponent on Friday, has already lost a couple of games, including one against DePaul of NJ (not traditionally an especially strong team), so it’s very possible we won’t get a good sense of how good SJP is until they play LaSalle in early October.
If SJP stays reasonably healthy, I think they’re still the clear favorites when they play Roman or LaSalle. But they’re quite inexperienced in a few places (e.g., offensive line, defensive secondary and have less depth than usual, so two or three key injuries could have a big impact. I know that sounds like a cop-out, but with Roy out they really need Sacco, Smith, and Haskell in good form. Same for West.
I don’t quite get the battle of or for Knoebels thing. Knoebels is in elysburg, the middle of the southern school district. Its like saying it’s the battle for mattucis in the middle of Mt. Carmel. I don’t get it???
@ Jeff H
Short answer, realistic, sure, why not. If there was a year to do it, this is it. Will they, who knows. I do look forward to being at all 3 of this games (LaSalle/Roman being the third). I tho can’t speak for SJP, their body of work this year has only consisted of two games. There are others who frequent this forum (Frank G and Joneses (spelling??) come to mind first, that probably have a much better view on SJP than me (which is very little at this point). As far as RC and LaSalle, I’d give the edge to LaSalle for winning against SJP. QB and receiving core, special teams and disciple.
Ironic that Malvern Prep lost to both LaSalle and Roman by the identical 21-17 score.
Anyone know where the Roman/SJP game will be played week 9??
Just had to say it’s definitely nice to see
Western Wayne Ranked #5 for AAA
such a great story for a school that was riddled with hard roads in football just a short seven years ago going backwards, they were more known for their marching band. That is amazing and still is.
Great job Wildcats
Also, it’s great to see representing district 2
Lackawanna Trail
And also Riverside #2 in AA
Although I think Mid Valley was snubbed
They are playing some really good football
At least they could’ve been honorable mention
Again, congratulations to all of these teams that make district 2 proud
It’s nice that we have a good amount of teams in the state rankings
Good luck to all of these teams
@D2 Fan: You are correct. MCA now has naming dibs on the Twister, the Flyer and the Haunted House. The Battle for Knoebels* has been won by the Tornadoes and to the victor go the spoils.
I had forgotten that MCA is now in 3A so they will not meet later for the D4 2A title. So to them, I tip my hat.
I think the Danville v Southern game will be a real humdinger. ‘Tucky
*Btdubs, I’m gonna hafta trademark that. 🙂
So mount Carmel had to cancel there football season a few years ago, a few years before that there pee wee and mini teams were thrown out of the tri county youth football league because of the actions of there coaches and now to present day where a parent is fighting a coach in yet another youth league they are apart of. They are supposed to be the winningest program in pa.
@D2 Fan – that was a pretty big upset last week by Waynesburg, I don’t think anyone saw that coming, they will make the playoffs but I don’t think they are a serious contender, they play at Steel Valley this week and if they can hang with them I may change my mind. Another feel good story in 2A is South Alleghany, who is 4-0 for the first time since 1977 after beating OLSH last week 23-7. They play a very solid South Park team this week and Steel Valley next month so we’ll have a better idea on South A. in a few weeks. I will say 2A is down this year in the WPIAL so the district playoffs may be pretty wide open and a lower seed could make a run because of the parity and lack of great teams.
Regarding Belle Vernon, people outside of the WPIAL have overrated them all year, based on the last 2 years in 3A. They are at best the 5th best 4A team in the WPIAL, behind the Quips, TJ, Montour and McKeesport. Speaking of McKeesport they have a huge nonconference game this week against USC, even if they lose as expected I think they run the table the rest of the way and head into the playoffs at 6-4 and could make some noise, only 8 teams make the 4A playoffs this year, and the winner enters the state playoffs in the quarterfinals, the last few cycles 4A entered in the semi-finals.
@D2 fan
I wouldn’t be surprised if Shamokin is 9-0 going into the MCA game and ends up winning the Coal Bucket for the first time since 1995.
@Kevin X – curious of your opinion on Roman and LaSalle as compared to SJP, do you think either has a realistic chance to beat them next month? I have thought since preseason that Roman was the team to beat in 5A now that Imhotep has been moved to 6A, and LaSalle would seriously challenge SJP, nothing I’ve read or seen has changed my opinion thus far, but wondering what your thoughts are on both teams after having seen them in person.
Some in-state observations.
– Thinking about Zollers & his injury. Hoping for a speedy recovery. You have to hate it for the kid.
– I clearly didn’t expect Mount Carmel/Southern to be an Iowa game. What a hard-fought win for the Red Tornadoes. The Battle Of Knoebels’ only game goes to MCA. The only thing missing is to have Twister renamed to include Mount Carmel.
– La Salle is them! They soundly beat Haverford School. I think we’ll be seeing La Salle be absolute contenders for states this year. Roman, speaking of which, really played well against Malvern Prep.
– I should’ve listened about East St. Louis. Oh well. Again, I’m no savant on STL football.
– I thought North Schuylkill would’ve given Solehi a much better fight. I truly think they’ll have a legitimate say in who advances to states. It may be them, but it may also be one of the two from the EPC Catholic duo.
– How about Liberty this year? BASD Stadium has two good teams this year. I don’t remember the last time they were undefeated up to this point, but I’m liking what I’m seeing!
– Jeff H. can answer my question: Is Waynesburg a legit contender in 2A WPIAL? Very impressed with their win over Washington.
– McKeesport got a nice win over BV. Surprised the score was what it was.
– Close, close call for P-R, as they beat North Hills 29-24.
– I got my Heartland picks wrong, but we should be impressed with how Shamokin upset Jersey Shore. They had a difficult early schedule & it may’ve caught up to them. They should have a few laughers coming up. Don’t count out Shamokin to challenge for the #1 seed in 4A.
– Is Conestoga Valley a contender in D3 5A? They seem to be rolling this season & Ephrata seems to have taken a step back.
– Lastly, congrats to Greater Johnstown for breaking a 43-game losing streak against Central Cambria. Hope this can be the first of many more to come!
Overall, if you like following along with picks. 9-1 in my area, but in-state wasn’t good: 47-16 in the rest of the state. 56-17 is good, but I made some noticeable whiffs. I whiffed on D9 & D10, which are my weakest areas, outside of the good teams. I should’ve kept my DuBois pick, but shootout games are outcomes I can’t get mad at missing. Same goes for games like SCA/MCA & Latrobe/FR.
I also realized how I could’ve thrown out the extra 3 D1/12 games to get to get to a more even number. Oh well. I’ll maybe throw my HMs in the WVC in my “state picks” instead for Week 5. I’m foreshadowing because the slate is atrocious this week in that league. 7 Lackawanna, 1 WVC, & Williamsport, & the 1A Subregional are my picks this week. The only good game is a battle for 8/9 that won’t be close.
@ Cavalier
Congratulations on your Preparatory bunch Narrowly escaping
0-4 Delaware Valley 28-25
Not much reason to celebrate too hard
And if not, Scranton, I am quite sure Jersey shore will be ready ! ! !
And whom so ever it is that beats your bunch, I will be exuberantly happy for that team.
I will end it there because I have to filter what I say just to be polite to eastern PA football and to David
@ DISTRICT 2 FOOTBALL
What is your Scranton prediction this week? Your 17-14 Del Val prediction was spot on…Great Job!! You must be at practice every day with the football team!!
Keep hating on them boys…We comin Scranton!
PCL Red 2, Inter-Ac 0, in my two in person games this weekend. I did make it down to Haverford yesterday afternoon. A good call. Just about a perfect day to get out and take in a game. Maybe a tad too warm for mid September football game?? Not complaining, I’ll just think about this game when I’m freezing my tushy off in late November. Anyways, a great atmosphere at Haverford in a unique setting. A shout out to both the Malvern Prep and Haverford student sections. A little different vibe with two all boys student sections. Heavy on the testosterone. Game was closer than the 34-6 final score, as it was only 14-3 at halftime, and 14-6 at the end of the 3rd qtr. LaSalle scored early in the 4th and a couple of more times late in the game. Haverford just couldn’t get their offense kick started against a stingy LaSalle D. Can arguably say that I saw two of the best, if not the best, junior QBs in PA in RC’s Beals and LaSalle’s Sidwar this weekend.
Looking forward to later in the season when the teams swap opponents, with LaSalle/Roman Catholic and Malvern Prep/Haverford games.
Also, an on-line ticketing free weekend!! Actually, no cash needed either!!!