10-5 weeks just isn't going to get it done
Heading in to last week's first round of post-season play, I felt pretty confident that I'd be able to pick up a game or two on some of those sitting right in front of me in the Grid Picks race.
Even though I tied the four guys up front with a 10-5 week, it's not good enough if I want to at least try to finish in the top half of the standings.
I underestimated a Northwestern Lehigh team that never quits until the end. Then there was Liberty and Tim Moncman's crew that surprised the heck out of me with the way they lost to East Stroudsburg South. I wavered back and forth on the Schuylkill Haven-Pius X game and at the last minute went with Haven. Bad move.
And how could Tri-Valley, a team that was blown out by Williams Valley earlier in the season blow out the Vikings this time around?
I also flipped the coin the wrong way on the Whitehall-Wyoming Valley West winner.
Congrats goes out to the big winner last week in Bob Ford, who went 13-2 and moved just three games behind leader Shawn McFarland.
Mike Haines, TJ Engle and Emmett McCall weren't far behind with 12-3 records.
Now it's time to get to this week's selections to see if I can make any ground:
PANTHER VALLEY AT NORTH SCHUYLKILL - Moving the game to Pottsville because of bad field conditions at North Schuylkill takes a home game away from the Spartans, who have played probably their worst games of the season the past two weeks despite staying unbeaten. They're ripe for the pickin' ... Panther Valley, 18-14.
CATASAUQUA AT NORTHERN LEHIGH - Bulldogs want to avenge regular season loss to Roughies badly. Keep turnovers at a minimum and get Cody Remaley loose and it's a done deal ... Northern Lehigh, 14-7.
HAZLETON AT EASTON - Cougars were big winners last week, but the Red Rovers are back in a smooth groove ... Easton, 28-14.
PARKLAND AT EAST STROUDSBURG SOUTH - Trojans could very well win this one, but how can you pick against the Cavaliers after what they did to Liberty last week ... ES South, 21-14.
WILSON AT ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC - All year long the Warrior faithful have been talking state championship. Welcome to the Lehigh Valley Conference and the Vikings this week ... Central Catholic, 35-28.
TRI-VALLEY AT PIUS X - Both of these teams burned me last week so I should pick a tie, but won't ... Tri-Valley, 27-18.
WHITEHALL AT EMMAUS - When the two teams met about a month ago, the Zephyrs pulled out a two-point win. Not this time ... Emmaus, 26-20.
MUNCY AT SHENANDOAH VALLEY - The Devils get the home field here and the thoughts of an Eastern Conference crown makes this one special ... Shenandoah Valley, 21-7.
HANOVER AT MOUNT CARMEL - Even though it hasn't been one of their better years, how can you go against the Tornadoes in late November? ... Mount Carmel, 14-0.
DALLAS AT ABINGTON HEIGHTS - Can't pick a high school team or a pro team with the name Dallas ... Abington Heights, 26-14.
LAKELAND AT DUNMORE - Two schools with good football traditions but I like the Bucks here ... Dunmore, 21-14.
LEWISBURG AT TOWANDA - I almost liked Lewisburg here, but the ol' crystal ball told me to take ... Towanda, 7-6.
LOYALSOCK AT HUGHESVILLE - I know I'm going against my better judgement, but you have to pick an upset somewhere along the line ... Hughesville, 28-27.
SOUTHERN COLUMBIA AT LINE MOUNTAIN - You always seem to find the Tigers in Hershey in the state finals. Not the Tigers of old, but they'll win anyway ... Southern Columbia, 14-7.
