Avoiding the playoff cliff

Written by: Joe Stokes on Wednesday, October 17th, 2012. Follow Joe Stokes on Twitter.

In yet another comparison to our world of politics, our Congress will soon be working on legislation designed to prevent our government from slipping off a fiscal cliff. Local high school football squads will be working hard in the next few weeks to avoid falling off the playoff cliff. Some familiar names come playoff time are at risk of being shut out of a berth this season. North Penn, Souderton, Garnet Valley and Coatesville are just a few of the District One AAAA facing this fate. At the AAA level old reliables Strath Haven, Pottstown and Upper Moreland all have three losses and could face an early end to their season.

There are several games this weekend that will have great impact of the eventual playoff picture. These include North Penn vs Pennridge, Haverford vs Strath Haven, Springfied vs Ridley and Coatesville vs West Chester Henderson.

Week six predictions went perfect as this future teller went 5-0. However week seven was a disaster with a 1-4 prediction debacle. Springfield’s win over Penncrest was the lone correct forecast. While LaSalle, Conestoga, Central Bucks South and West Chester Henderson all lost in hard fought contests.

The last six years the prognostication record stands at 288-114 while going 21-9 for the 2012 season.

This eighth week of the season offers another great set of games for local fans to check out.

One of the great cross-town rivalries will feature Springfield traveling to face the Green Raiders of Ridley. While Ridley has consistently dominated the Cougars this year offers Springfield at least a fighter’s chance of a rare victory. Ridley enters the contest undefeated with possession of the number two playoff slot in the District One AAAA race. The Cougars will be no pushover, they have only one loss this season and a win in this game may offer them their first Central League title since 1994. The Green Raider offense attacks by land and by air. Last Friday they gained 209 rushing yard while passing for 168 yards in a 28-0 win over Lower Merion. Springfield relies on a rugged running attack, Rob Murphy, Isaac Peyton, Mike Dougherty and Aaron Coyne all rushed to pay dirt in an impressive 34-14 win over Penncrest. It may well be the defense that makes the difference in this game. Green Raider defender Nick Eufrasio snatched a third quarter interception to preserve last weekend’s shut out and defense coach Ralph Batty will be sure to have a plan to slow the Cougar running attack.

Ridley  28  Springfield  17

The rest of this week’s fearless forecast:

Pennridge  31  North Penn  27

 Coatesville  27  West Chester Henderson  21

Haverford  35  Strath Haven  20

 Downingtown East  38  Downingtown West  24   

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7 Responses to “Avoiding the playoff cliff”

1. LVCfan says:
   October 19th, 2012 at 3:09 pm

   I will have to agree with you Mark. Parkland is going to be one tough out. If they can navigate through the 2-4-11 sub region they will make a bit of noise.

   the interesting thing with D-11 will be which one of the currently 5-2 teams from the LVC will be left out of districts at 8-2 or 7-3. Whitehall, Parkland, and Nazareth are all sitting at 5-2, and the way the power points are setting up behind Easton, Del Val, Scranton, Stroudsburg, and the unknown Gov. Mifflin, one or two of those teams could eventually be left out. Nazareth is the odd team out now having lost to Parkland and Whitehall, but a win at Easton in the season finale could put them in

2. Szam33 says:
   October 19th, 2012 at 1:53 pm

   And don’t forget Pennridge this weekend Darryl. A game that they could conceivably lose. If the do lose their chances of making the playoffs are VERY SLIM. Shame because the ultimate goal is to win a state championship. With the schedule they play its difficult to even make the playoffs. Fortunately for them they haven’t had any issues until now. But you’re right. Arguably, they have played 5 of the top 10 teams in the east (including tonight). Like I said, as a Ridley guy I don’t “like” NP. But how can you not respect the hell out of them??

   Mark, I’ve been hearing some chatter about parkland too. Their 2 losses were close games against 2 top 10 teams also. Easton and Delaware Valley. Don’t know too much about them other than what I read on here. But like you said, if they are good enough to get through D11 (which will probably mean having to beat both of the teams that beat them) they will still have to beat LaSalle or SJP. Then the D1 champ. That’s a. long road to Hershey.

3. Mark Roberson says:
   October 19th, 2012 at 11:47 am

   This sounds funny because they have 2 losses but Parkland High School from D-11 looks like they have all the tools. They finally seem to understand the spread offense (first year in that offense from a Wing-T). They have a QB who can run or pass, two of the more dynamic runner backs in the Eastern half of PA. Their D has size and talent, and are playing their best football right now.

   Honestly if they stay healthy and reach the playoffs they will be a really tough team to beat. In my opinion there isn’t a team in Eastern PA they cannot defeat.

   That being said, LaSalle and STJP are always so disciplined with size and heaps of talent. Either of them could make a heck of a lot of noise too.

   D-town East and Ridley are mainstays in the playoffs in D-1. Neither has played the toughest of schedules but both are very solid football teams.

4. Darryl says:
   October 19th, 2012 at 11:24 am

   North Penn is easily the holder of the toughest schedule of all schools. Wood, La Salle, St Joes, and a very good CB south team? They played 4 top 20 teams already!

5. Szam33 says:
   October 18th, 2012 at 2:13 pm

   I’m a die hard Ridley fan, but I have to tip my hat to North Penn. Are you kidding with their schedule?? They duck NOBODY. They put their playoff chances on the line every year to play the top teams in the state. They’re definitely one of the top 5-7 teams in D1 and they may not make the playoffs. If they squeeze in look out. I don’t want to see them in the first round!! Although Ridley/NP games are always epic. Nothing to be ashamed of NP.

6. Joe Stokes says:
   October 18th, 2012 at 6:59 am

   The best team I have seen in Southeast Pa is St Joseph Prep. Not an overwhelming or unbeatable team but my guess at this point for a run to the state final at 4 A

7. CLARK31C says:
   October 17th, 2012 at 10:17 pm

   JUST THROWING THIS OUT THERE TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE / FANS THINK . IF YOU HAD TO PICK A TEAM TO GO TO STATES WHICH TEAM WOULD YOU GO WITH ? IN THE 4 A CLASS.