Kick Off Weekend Features Rivals

Written by: Joe Stokes on Friday, August 29th, 2008. Follow Joe Stokes on Twitter.

 

How is it possible that the sleepy summer of 2008 is over so quick. Better wake up High School football fans the action starts tonight. The realignment of several leagues has dramatically changed the way this season schedule will look.

 

The Central League adds Garnet Valley and Harriton while Del-Val adds Glenn Mills to the mix.. These changes have moved many long time rivalries to the front of the schedule instead of the usual final game of the regular season.

 

 The Ridley Green Raiders ended their 2007 season on top in Ed Thomas’ Southeastern Pa Top Twenty despite their season ending loss to District Eleven’s Parkland in the AAAA Eastern Final. This year Ridley opens up number 6 in the Southeast rankings and they open defense of their Central League and District One titles with a showdown with long time rivals Springfield. In yet another great season opener Penncrest travels to Strath Haven with the Media Bowl on the line.

 

This writer comes off a 50-17 prediction record for 2006 followed by a 55-19 record in 2007. The toughest week of the year for prognostications is always the opening weekend. This year is no exception. Graduation losses are the biggest factor with coaching and schedule changes close behind.

 

It is now time for the opening week fearless forecast.

 

Prediction:    Strath Haven 20  Penncrest  14

 

The Media Bowl stays with the Panthers but the Lions will be no pushover. Penncrest enters the game with a little more experience than Strath Haven this year. However Panther running back David Alyanakian may be just enough to get the Panthers through this opening game test.

 

Prediction:   Ridley  35  Springfield  7

 

The Central League and District One champions get a fresh start with a new look. Early season scouts report a small but quick Green Raiders squad with new starting quarterback Andre Pidgeon leading the way.

 

Prediction:    Unionville 27  Interboro  21

 

This contest is a tough call. Interboro brings back some great talent with quarterback Jim McMenamin coming back for another Del-Val championship run. However Unionville will be big and deep with talent again this year. Matt Carroll has graduated and his younger brother Greg now runs the offense. Home field is the difference in this call.

 

Here is the rest of this weeks predictions:

 

Prediction:    Cardinal O’Hara  31  Archbishop Carroll  13

 

Prediction:    Gateway  24   Penn Hills  14

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2 Responses to “Kick Off Weekend Features Rivals”

1. joe says:
   August 30th, 2008 at 10:02 pm

   Lake Lehman vs Hanover area is also shaping up to be quite a rivalry. 2 years ago hanover won by a field goal in ot, last year hanover one by less than a td in the closing seconds of the game. Lake Lehman came out on top this year 17 – 14

2. Joshua "too fast" Pollitt says:
   August 30th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

   man gateway killed penn hills…that running back..#32 is supa quick