Emerging Teams

We are officially at the fifth week of the high school football season. Which means we are at the halfway point and several teams are looking to emerge as the favorites in their classification.  6A and 5A are up in the air. 4A has a few contenders and some could still peak at the halfway point. 3A is clearly Scranton Prep's to lose but they almost had a "hiccup" last week against Dallas, it was the first time the Cavaliers gave up points last week, giving up 17. Several teams are looking to compete for a playoff spot like Western Wayne, Nanticoke, Meyers and Lake-Lehman and one team will be left out of the big dance. In 2A, Dunmore looks like the prohibitive favorite after knocking off Lakeland in the third week of the season. Single-A might be the most interesting. Three of the four teams are contending to be in the District 2 Single-A Championship. Lackawanna Trail, Old Forge and Northwest are looking to compete for the two spots. Northwest might be 1-3 but their schedule has been tough overall but with one more loss, their chances of making the playoffs could be very unlikely. With all that being said, here are the games this week.

Abington Heights at Valley View
Time: Fri 7 PM

Abington Heights is coming off a loss to Hazleton Area and Valley View is coming off a victory over Pittston Area. Comets QB George Tinsley has thrown for 390 yards and five touchdowns. Cougars QB Chandler Fuller has been a great dual threat for the Cougars. He's thrown for 187 yards and three touchdowns. He's rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

Prediction: Valley View

Selinsgrove at Berwick
Time: Fri 7 PM

Selinsgrove is coming off a shutout victory over Shamokin. Berwick is coming off a blowout victory over Crestwood. Seals QB Logan Leiby has been incredible through four games. He's thrown 1,215 yards and 13 touchdowns. Bulldogs QB Alex Force has been great replacing starter Jared Marshman. He's thrown for 487 yards and four touchdowns.

Prediction: Berwick

Honesdale at Coughlin
Time: Fri 7 PM

Honesdale is coming off a loss to Wallenpaupack and Coughlin is coming off their second straight victory and they knocked off Wyoming Area. The Hornets' Andy Carroll has rushed for 523 yards and four touchdowns and a 56 yard touchdown catch. Coughlin's Jake Cole has been great in the last two games. He's rushed for 473 yards and five touchdowns on the season.

Prediction: Coughlin

Crestwood at Pottsville
Time: Fri 7 PM

Crestwood is coming off their second straight loss and Pottsville is coming off a blowout loss to Harrisburg. Crestwood wideout Brandon Brozena has been great, he's caught 14 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown. Pottsville's Ian Murhon has rushed for 292 yards and four touchdowns.

Prediction: Pottsville

Dallas at Valley West
Time: Fri 7 PM

Dallas is coming off a loss to Scranton Prep and Valley West is coming off their first win of the season over Williamsport. Dallas QB Michael Starbuck has thrown for 355 yards and two touchdowns. He also has a rushing touchdown. The Spartans' Zach Davies has rushed for 206 yards and six touchdowns.

Prediction: Valley West

North Pocono at Delaware Valley
Time: Fri 7 PM

North Pocono is coming off their first loss of the year to Scranton. Delaware Valley is coming off a blowout victory over West Scranton to stay unbeaten. The Trojans' JC Gaughan has been great. He's rushed for 374 yards and six touchdowns and he's caught six passes for 170 yards and a touchdown. The Warriors' Dylan Kelly has caught 15 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. He's also intercepted three passes and returned one of them for a touchdown.

Prediction: Delaware Valley

Holy Cross at Dunmore
Time: Fri 7 PM

Holy Cross is looking for their first win of the season and Dunmore is coming off a victory over Riverside to stay unbeaten. Holy Cross running back Jason Kopf has rushed for 176 yards. Bucks QB Gavin Darcy has been great. He's thrown for 379 yards and nine touchdowns. Every week, it seems the Bucks have another weapon emerge and do very well.

Prediction: Dunmore

GAR at Pittston Area
Time: Fri 7 PM

GAR is coming off a loss to Lake-Lehman and Pittston Area is coming off a loss to Valley View. Grenadiers' wideout Malachai Williams has six catches for 151 yards and a touchdown. Patriots RB Keemar Woodruff has rushed for 239 yards and two touchdowns.

Prediction: Pittston Area

Hanover Area at Lake-Lehman
Time: Fri 7 PM

Hanover Area is coming off a loss to Mid Valley and Lake-Lehman is coming off a win over GAR. The Hawkeyes' Sean Coleman has been an all-around player. He's caught 15 passes for 139 yards and he's rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown. The Black Knights' Trey Borger has rushed for 415 yards and four touchdowns.

Prediction: Lake-Lehman

Hazleton Area at Wallenpaupack
Time: Fri 7 PM

The Cougars are coming off a win over Abington Heights. The Buckhorns are coming off a loss to Honesdale. Cougars QB Sparky Wolk has thrown for 812 yards and eight touchdowns. He's also rushed for a touchdown. Joe Ingulli of the Buckhorns has been great. He's rushed for 482 yards and five touchdowns. He also has seven catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Prediction: Wallenpaupack

Lakeland at Lackawanna Trail
Time: Fri 7 PM

The Chiefs are coming off a loss to Carbondale and Lackawanna Trail is coming off a win over Northwest. Lakeland freshman Giovanni Spataro has rushed for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Lions wideout Noah Coleman has caught five passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns.

Prediction: Lackawanna Trail

Old Forge at Mid Valley
Time: Fri 7 PM

Old Forge is coming off a victory over previously unbeaten Susquehanna. Mid Valley is coming off a road win over Hanover Area. Old Forge quarterback Dante Lucarelli has thrown for 561 yards and nine touchdowns while throwing no interceptions. Spartans RB Joe Chylak has rushed for 573 yards and nine touchdowns.

Prediction: Old Forge

Riverside at Montrose
Time: Fri 7 PM

Riverside is coming off a loss to Dunmore and Montrose is coming off a victory over Holy Cross. Vikings QB Brayden Thiel has thrown for 343 yards and two touchdowns. Meteors RB John Herman has rushed for 291 yards and three touchdowns. He also has two catches for 31 yards and a touchdown.

Prediction: Riverside

Northwest at Nanticoke
Time: Fri 7 PM

Northwest is coming off a loss to Lackawanna Trail and Nanticoke is coming off their first loss of the season to Meyers. Rangers RB Jake Anderson has rushed for 322 yards and two touchdowns. He also has four catches for 56 yards. Nanticoke RB Eric Jeffries has rushed for 745 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.

Prediction: Northwest

Scranton at West Scranton
Time: Fri 7 PM

The Battle of the Bell!! Scranton is coming off a win to North Pocono and West Scranton is coming off a loss to Delaware Valley. Scranton's Ky'Ron Harbin has 247 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He also has nine catches for 224 yards and three touchdowns. Invaders wideout Shayne Merrifield has 13 catches for 191 yards and a touchdown. This game looks like a lopsided victory but with a rivalry game, it could be interesting but...

Prediction: Scranton

Western Wayne at Tunkhannock
Time: Fri 7 PM

Western Wayne is coming off a victory over Holy Redeemer. Tunkhannock is coming off their first win over Wylausing. Western Wayne RB Kobe Sauter has rushed for 463 yards and six touchdowns. He also has a 40 yard touchdown catch. Tunkhannock RB Logan Cywinski has been great for the Tigers despite their 1-3 start. He's rushed for 696 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also has three catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Carbondale at Susquehanna
Time: Sat 1 PM

Carbondale is coming off a victory over Lakeland and Susquehanna is coming off their first loss to Old Forge. Chargers RB Nick Vadella has rushed for 351 yards and four touchdowns. Sabers RB Sam Cosmello has rushed for 263 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has three catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.

Meyers at Holy Redeemer
Time: Sat 1 PM

Meyers is coming off a victory over previously unbeaten Nanticoke. Holy Redeemer is coming off a loss to Western Wayne. Mohawks QB Janssen Wilborn is fantastic. He's thrown for 586 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 440 yards and six touchdowns. The Royals James Cunningham has rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown.

Prediction: Meyers

Wyoming Area at Scranton Prep
Time: Sat 1:30 PM

Wyoming Area is coming off a loss to Coughlin and Scranton  Prep stayed unbeaten by knocking off Dallas. Warriors wideout Marc Minichello has 23 catches for 193 yards and three touchdowns. He also has 78 yards rushing and has a touchdown pass. Matt Gilmartin has rushed for 627 yards and a walloping 13 touchdowns this season.

Prediction: Scranton Prep

Lycoming College at King's
Time: Sat 1 PM

Lycoming College is coming off a loss to Albright and King's is coming off a win over Lebanon Valley. Lycoming College receiver Nick Costello has 12 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. King's QB Zach Whitehead has thrown for 894 yards and three touchdowns and has rushed for 184 yards and six touchdowns.

Prediction: King's

Wilkes at Misericordia
Time: Sat 1 PM

Wilkes is coming off a loss to Delaware Valley and Misericordia is coming off a loss to Widener. Wilkes Tight end Garrett Armstrong has 18 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. Misericordia QB Brady Williams has thrown for 431 yards and four touchdowns. He's also rushed for 175 yards.

Cheyney at Bloomsburg
Time: Sat 2 PM

Cheyney is coming off a loss to IUP. Bloomsburg is coming off a win over Gannon. Cheyney QB Dominick Trautz has thrown for 622 yards and eight touchdowns. Huskies QB Chris Palubinsky has thrown for 646 yards and four touchdowns.

Prediction: Bloomsburg

Iowa at Penn State
Time: Sat 7:30 PM

Iowa is coming off a win over North Texas and are undefeated at 3-0. Penn State is coming off a victory over Georgia State and are also 3-0 on the season. Hawkeyes QB Nate Stanley has thrown for 655 yards and 10 touchdowns. Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki has 12 catches for 123 yards and four touchdowns

Prediction: Penn State