The Real Season Begins

September 5, 2007

By Joe Stokes

The 2007 season got underway last Friday for many District One teams. After the long hot August practices and scrimmages it must be exhilarating for area football squads to get out in front of their fans for the games that will determine playoff fate in November.

The preseason favorites will face great challenges to remain on top. St Joseph Prep ranked number one in Ed Thomas’ Southeastern Pa Top Twenty already found this out with an opening day set back to North Penn. The new top dog Cardinal O’Hara faces that same North Penn squad this Friday. This showdown between the two top rated teams will go a long way to see how this season will pan out for these schools.

This writer comes off a 50-17 prediction record for 2006 and with a little bit of football knowledge and a lot of luck will attempt to improve on those numbers this year.

North Penn’s defense showed up last week holding St Joe Prep to just one score while O’Hara’s offense rode the arm of quarterback Tom Savage to 32-7 romp over Bishop Shanahan. If its good offense against good defense I place my bet on defense.

Prediction:   North Penn  21   Cardinal O’Hara 17

In the big Central League opener Strath Haven hosts defending champion Ridley. This is always a hard fought contest and with the Panther offense exploding last week in it 42-8 victory over Sun Valley it will be tough for the young Green Raiders to stop this week.

Prediction:   Strath Haven  28   Ridley 21

Here is the rest of my fearless forecast:

Prediction:   Garnet Valley  47  Academy Park 14

Prediction:   Conestoga 35  Penncrest 17

Prediction:   Neshaminy  31  Hatboro Horsham 21