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Media picks Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven Preseason SFL Favorites

Written by: David Mika on Wednesday, August 9th, 2017. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Crimson Tide chosen to win Division I; Hurricanes tabbed as DII champs

ORWIGSBURG, Pa., August 9, 2017: In voting completed by media covering the Schuylkill League Football, Pottsville was selected as the favorite to repeat as Division I champion and Schuylkill Haven was the pick to win back-to-back Division II titles at Wednesday’s Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Media Day at Schuylkill Country Club.

Sixteen 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 Crimson Tide, who went 6-0 in league play last season and reached the District 11 Class AAAA semifinals, collected 5 of 16 first-place votes and 68 points overall. Pottsville was followed by Tamaqua, which grabbed two first-place votes and had 63 points overall.

Following Pottsville and Tamaqua were Blue Mountain (57, 2 first-place votes), North Schuylkill (56, 2) and Jim Thorpe (56, 4), which tied for fourth, and Lehighton (36, 1).

Defending District 11 Class AA champion Schuylkill Haven (91) was selected the favorite to capture the Division II title with 13 first-place votes. Marian (77) took the other 3 first-place vote and was picked second. The Hurricanes and Colts are followed by Minersville (56), Mahanoy Area (55), Panther Valley (37) and Shenandoah Valley (20).

The 2016 high school football season kicks off Friday, August 25.

2017 Schuylkill League Football Preseason Media Poll

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

DIVISION I