Colts face off with 'Canes
Marian at Schuylkill Haven
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Marian 1-0 (0-0 Anthracite Football League); Schuylkill Haven 1-0 (0-0 Anthracite Football League)
LAST WEEKS RESULTS: Marian def. Lehighton 32-27; Schuylkill Haven def. Tri-Valley 34-6
MARIAN'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB Paul Martin (30-245 rush, 3 TD), RB/DB Dylan Quirk (6-29 rush, TD, 44-yd fumble recov. TD), OL/DL Brendan McGowan
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB Brandon Cooper (30-261 rush, 4TD), QB Ryan Fink (11-79 rush), RB Jake Naus (10-60 rush, TD)
KEYS TO THE GAME: Marian needs to be better at balancing their offensive attack and continue to play physical football. The Colts rushing game was successful in game one but it's passing game was not and Marian's ability to throw the ball effectively will definitely have an impact against the Hurricanes.
FAST FACTS: Between Marian and Schuylkill Haven last week the teams racked up a combined 787 yards rushing with Marian rushing for 345 yards and Haven rushing for 442.
QUOTABLE: "We need be to be a bit more polished on offense and pass the ball a lot better this week. We left some plays out on the field at different points in the game and we also need to continue to play physical." Marian Head Coach Stan Dakosty
Honesdale at Pleasant Valley
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Honesdale 0-1 (0-1 Lackawanna Football Conference, Division 2); Pleasant Valley 0-1 (0-0 Mountain Valley Conference)
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Wallenpaupack def. Honesdale, 47-2; Nazareth def. Pleasant Valley, 61-20
HONESDALE'S IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Kevin Miller (5-10-115 pass), QB Tim Hart (6-9-54 pass), RB Nick Hesseling (4-15 rush), Maleik Torres (4-17 rec)
PLEASANT VALLEY'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB Rob Getz (8-18 rush, 4-46 rec, Rec TD, KR TD), QB Troy Verway (12-22-103 pass, 2 Pass TD), WR Corey Campbell (4-41 rec, Rec TD)
KEYS TO THE GAME: Pleasant Valley didn't do much of anything well last week and will be looking to make improvements this week against Honesdale. The Bears started to get things rolling offensively in the fourth quarter against Nazareth, but by then it was far too late. Head coach Jim Terwilliger is hoping starter Troy Verway can keep the momentum going as he looks to start just the second game of his career. The Bears may try to air it out down the field a little more this week, as the Hornets are small in the secondary and surrendered three touchdowns last week. Tailback Rob Getz figures to see more than eight carries as well.
Defensively, Pleasant Valley looks to apply some pressure with its line. Last week the Bears' line was either knocked back or sealed at the line of scrimmage and allowed over 200 yards rushing. They should be able to do this since Honesdale lacks size up front. Terwilliger would also like to see his defense not give up so many big plays. Last week the Bears gave up four touchdowns of 40-or-more yards and did not put up much of a fight. This week Terwilliger is hoping his defensive unit can put an end to some drives quickly. Either that or allow the Hornets only small chunks of yards and make them work their way down the field.
FAST FACTS: Honesdale's only points last week came on a sack safety in the fourth quarter from James Blockberger. With that, the Hornets fell to 3-28 since 2008. Honesdale managed just 26 yards on 26 carries its Week One loss to Wallenpaupack as three different runners went for negative yards. Pleasant Valley is 3-0 vs. Honesdale since the two teams starting playing each other in 2008. The Bears have outscored the Hornets 121-13 in those three contests, including 55-0 last year. Pleasant Valley will once again be without starting quarterback Brandon Leap. Leap, who is a sophomore waiting to make his first-career start, broke his hand toward the end of a scrimmage two weeks ago and may be out for another week or two.
QUOTABLE: "We got punched in the mouth pretty hard last week, but last week is over. I am looking to see how well this group responds after a game like that. This is a young team and how we respond will go a long way in determining what kind of team we will be down the road. This is a new week with a new focus and a new determination." Pleasant Valley's Jim Terwilliger
Line Mountain at Jim Thorpe
(Panther Valley Stadium)
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Line Mountain 0-1 (0-0 Twin Valley Conference); Jim Thorpe 0-1 (0-1 Anthracite Football League)
LAST WEEKS RESULTS: So. Columbia def. Line Mountain, 42-25; Tamaqua def. Jim Thorpe, 34-13
LINE MOUNTAIN IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Marty Beninsky (9-19-94 pass, 19-99 rush, Pass TD) RB Kyle Troutman (9-110 rush, 2 Rush TD)
JIM THORPE IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Pat Duvigneau (9-19-2-98 pass, 2 Pass TD, 5-37 rush), RB Deonte St. Hill (12-60 rush) WR Khaaliq Lynch (4-32 receiving, Rec TD) WR P.J. Johnson (1-44 receiving, Rec TD)
KEYS TO THE GAME: Jim Thorpe needs to get back to playing physical football in order to compete with the vaunted Line Mountain squad. The Olympians need to do a better job of stopping the run on defense and offensively need to stay consistent throughout the ball game.
FAST FACTS: This is the first ever meeting between the two schools and Line Mountain is coming into the game with a chip on their shoulder after a tough loss to perennial powerhouse Southern Columbia. Thorpe needs to bounce back after a 34-13 loss to Tamaqua.
QUOTABLE: "When it comes down to it we just need to do a better job of playing physical football in all phases of the game. We need to tackle better, block better, and make less mistakes on the field." Jim Thorpe Head Coach Mark Rosenberger
Southern Lehigh at Palmerton
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Southern Lehigh 0-1 (0-1 Colonial League); Palmerton 1-0 (1-0 Colonial League)
LAST WEEKS RESULTS: Northern Lehigh def. Southern Lehigh, 21-7; Palmerton def. Notre Dame GP
SOUTHERN LEHIGH IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Ty Edmond (11-24-139 pass, TD), RB Jake Melusky (17-78 rush) RB Schmidt (6-47 rush)
PALMERTON IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Cody Grohotolski (15-50 rush, 2 TD) RB Alex Vignone (12-26 rush, TD, 1-37 receiving) RB Aaron Cook (6-16 rush)
KEYS TO THE GAME: The Bombers need to execute their assignments and play disciplined football for 48 minutes against the Spartans. On the offensive side of the football Palmerton needs to make sure they take care of the ball. Defensively, the Bombers need to read their keys in order to mount a strong defensive front against Southern Lehigh's very good wing-T team offense.
FAST FACTS: Southern Lehigh has beaten the Bombers the past two seasons and are looking to get a "W" after a 21-7 loss to Northern Lehigh last week. Palmerton who won their first road game of the season at Notre Dame GP will try and slow down the Spartans potent wing-T offense.
QUOTABLE: "I am very proud of our effort and heart our team displayed last week versus Notre Dame. However, this is a new week and we must continue to work on and fix our correctable mistakes that have been plaguing us at times this season. Southern Lehigh is a very tough team. They are well coached by Coach John Toman and are very good at running their wing-T offense." Palmerton Head Coach Chris Walkowiak
Wilson at Northern Lehigh
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Wilson 0-1 (0-1 Colonial League); Northern Lehigh 1-0 (1-0 Colonial League)
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Catasauqua def. Wilson, 27-0; Northern Lehigh def. Southern Lehigh, 21-7
NORTHERN LEHIGH'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB/LB Kirk Bender (11-90 rush, Rush TD; 13 tackles), RB Trevor Yashur (17-85 rush, Rush TD), QB Dylan Hofmann (9-50 rush, 3-7-32 pass), WR David Getz (1-1-64 pass, Pass TD), DB Danny Marsh (INT, Sack), TE/DL Caleb Johnson, OL/DL Kyle Greenawald.
WILSON'S IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Ryan Dailey (10-21-137 pass), RB/LB Trey Robinson (12-80 rush, 3-30 rec, 11 tackles), WR Sam Healey (3-42 rec).
KEYS TO GAME: Northern Lehigh head coach Joe Tout feels the biggest key to victory against Wilson will be to eliminate the mental breakdowns and bad decisions from week one. The Bulldogs must rid the offense of turnovers. Tout also feels that if the Bulldogs don't give up big plays to the Warriors then they should be fine in improving to 2-0. The 'Dawgs grabbed an early lead last week and maintained the lead for the remainder of the contest, and Tout would like to accomplish the same feat this week. Northern Lehigh's pride in '11 is its defense and is what seperates this year's squad from previous teams.
FAST FACTS: Wilson was held scoreless by Catasauqua last week and is desperately looking for its first score of the new season. The Warriors had 275 total yards of offense, but failed to score. 180 of their 275 total yards were from passing. Robinson spear-heads a strong secondary on defense. Northern Lehigh comes in with a win under its belt and knowledge of a 52-36 defeat over Wilson last season. In last year's game, the locals trailed 30-21 at the half before outscoring their opponents 31-6 in the second. Cody Remaley rushed for 259 yards and three TDs in the game to set the CL single-season rushing record. In Week One, The Bulldogs utilized a trick receiver passing play to start the game and scored, setting the tone.
QUOTABLE: "Our focus, this week, is to limit the mistakes that we had in the first week. We fumbled and had miscues. We didn't play badly last week, but that's our total focus in order to improve. We were a little sloppy at times." Northern Lehigh's Joe Tout.
Northwestern at Saucon Valley
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Northwestern 1-0 (1-0 Colonial League); Saucon Valley 1-0 (1-0 Colonial League)
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Northwestern def. Palisades, 47-9; Pen Argyl def. Saucon Valley, 43-15
NORTHWESTERN'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB/QB/LB Ty Cunningham (16-102 rush, 3 TDs; 2-2-88 passing, 1 TD; 11 tackles), RB Payton Bachman (6-41 rush; 2-37 receiving, 1 TD), QB/WR Ben Snyder (7-19 rush; 2-12-47 pass); WR Andrew Deutsch (1-75 receiving, 1 TD), OL/DL Douglas Saks.
SAUCON VALLEY'S IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Christian Kennedy (3-10-14 pass), RB Nick Binczak (6-6 rush), Chris Mamay 4-33 rush; 1 TD), Matt Laub (10-32 rush).
KEYS TO THE GAME: The Tigers are looking to control the line of scrimmage and spread the field, getting the ball in the hands of their many playmakers. Cunningham, Bachman, Snyder, Deutsch, as well as receiver Mason Schuler lead Northwestern's long list of dangerous skill players. The Tigers offensive line, which features five senior first-year starters, played well last week and could be a team strength this season. Saucon Valley is looking to generate some offense against a first-team defense. The Panthers were down 43-0 at halftime last week and faced Pen Argyl's JV team in the second half.
FAST FACTS: Northwestern completed 6 of 14 passes last week. This week the Tigers are looking for improvement in the passing game. Even in their spread offense, the Tigers are still trying to get defenders out of the box to loosen things up for the running game. Northwetsern came back from a 9-0 deficit in last week's game, scoring 47 straight points in the final three quarters. The Tigers are 4-1 in their last five meetings with the Panthers, including shut outs in 2009 (27-0) and 2007 (28-0).
QUOTABLE: "I hate facing a team that just got manhandled. They went up against a buzz saw last week. Their coaches are going to have them ready to play on Friday night. Saucon Valley can still be a good team," Northwestern's Tom Linette.
Panther Valley at Schuylkill Valley
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Panther Valley 0-1 (0-1 Anthracite Football League); Schuylkill Valley 1-0 (0-0 Inter-Berks County League Section 2)
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Mahanoy def. Panther Valley 33-12; Schuylkill Valley def. Cocalico 49-21
PANTHER VALLEY'S IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Nick McArdle (12-59 rush), RB Tyler Smith (9-60 rush)
SCHUYLKILL VALLEY'S IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Kyle Beissel (9-18-152, 78 yds rushing, 2 TD), RB Ryan Matthews (106 yds rushing, 2 TD)
KEYS TO THE GAME: The Panthers need to figure out a way to solidify their defensive front against Schuylkill Valley in order to compete for the win. PV also needs to pick up their physical presence on the field.
FAST FACTS: The Panthers gave up 394 yards rushing last week in a 33-12 loss to up-start Mahanoy. It doesn't get any easier this week with opponent Schuylkill Valley, who ran for 501 yards last week against Cocalico.
QUOTABLE: "We need to play a little harder and a little longer than we did last week and take care of the football. We need guys to fill in the holes on defense and our linebackers need to step up and hit somebody." Panther Valley Head Coach Lon Hazlet
