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Media picks Blue Mountain, Schuylkill Haven Preseason SFL Favorites

Written by: David Mika on Wednesday, August 10th, 2016. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Eagles chosen to win Division I; Hurricanes tabbed as DII champs

ORWIGSBURG, Pa., August 10, 2016: There will be two opportunities to earn hardware for former Anthracite Football League members this season as the league falls under the umbrella of the Schuylkill League and splits in two divisions with the addition of Pottsville. In voting completed by media covering the Schuylkill League Football, Blue Mountain was selected as the favorite to capture Division I and Schuylkill Haven was the pick to win Division II at Wednesday’s Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Media Day at Schuylkill Country Club.

Twenty media members that cover the 12 schools in the Schuylkill League took part in the poll, with teams ranked 1-6 in projected order of finish and points awarded 6 to 1 based on that ranking in each division.

The Eagles, who went 8-1 in league play last season and reached the District 11 Class AA semifinals, collected 10 of 20 first-place votes and 107 points overall. Blue Mountain was followed by North Schuylkill, which grabbed two first-place votes and had 85 points overall.

Following Blue Mountain and North Schuylkill were Pottsville (66), Lehighton (63) and Jim Thorpe (62), and Tamaqua (36).

Schuylkill Haven (118.5) was selected the favorite to capture the Division II title with 18.5 first-place votes. Marian (100.5) took the other 1.5 first-place vote and was picked second. The Hurricanes and Colts are followed by Mahanoy Area (66), Minersville (50), Panther Valley (48) and Shenandoah Valley (37).

The 2016 high school football season kicks off Friday, August 26.

2016 Schuylkill League Football Preseason Media Poll

(Teams receive 6-1 points in descending order; first-place votes in parentheses)

DIVISION I