Thanksgiving weekend has arrived and along with PIAA playoff action local fans get a special bonus of some great Turkey Day games. In Delaware County Upper Darby and Haverford have been fighting it out on this holiday since 1921. The Royals have a 42-39-6 advantage over the Fords which shows how closely matched these two teams have been over these last eighty eight years. There are several other notable games in the area including North Catholic facing off against Frankford High in what may be the last contest between these schools given the possibility North Catholic may close its doors after this school year. 

The third week of playoff action is underway and once again rain, wind and cold weather is in the forecast. Several upsets in week one may have been caused by the big nor’easter that weekend.  

Last week the predictions ended with a 3-2 call. The Penncrest one point last second loss to eleven seed Downingtown East and an Avon Grove upset win over Downingtown West made for tough prediction week. Ridley, Interboro and North Penn all won as predicted and now face another tough foe in week three of the second season. 

The last three years this future teller has a 148-52 prognostication record and with a 2009 first twelve week record at 46-14 it is hoped we can keep up the pace with playoff calls. 

Once the playoffs begin predicting the outcome is always tough and this year will be no exception.

 One team that continues to beat the playoff odds is the Downingtown East Cougars. The eleventh seed has now upset both Norristown and Penncrest to get the chance to play the Ridley Green Raiders on Friday night. The Green Raiders have breezed to two lopsided wins in the first two playoff rounds. QB Colin Masterson and running backs Shahaid Smith and Jalen Randolph led a high powered Ridley offense last week in an easy win over Unionville. Downingtown East won a shootout over Penncrest 49-48. The Cougars needed every yard running back Drew Harris could gain and needed his two point conversion run with no time remaining to steal a win over the Lions. The problem for Downingtown East this week is the Green Raider defense. Ridley slows the Cougars just enough to advance. 

Prediction:    Ridley  38  Downingtown East  21 

The top seed and number one ranked in Ed Thomas’ Southeast Pennsylvania Top Ten http://www.havenfootball.net/  North Penn Knights will entertain another playoff new comer Avon Grove. The Red Devils have used a Wing-T attack to confuse opposing defenses this season. QB Kyle Kush led the way last week in a win over Downingtown West. However this week the challenge is stopping the passing of Todd Smolinsky and the running of Craig Needhammer. It just won’t happen at North Penn. 

Prediction:    North Penn  31  Avon Grove  14

The rest of the fearless forecast:

 Prediction:      LaSalle  27  George Washington  19 

 Prediction:      Interboro  23  Pottsgrove  21

 Prediction:      Upper  Darby  28  Haverford  13