The Second Season Begins                                   

November 7, 2007

By Joe Stokes

It is hard to believe the regular 2007 football season is all but over. Except for a few Thanksgiving Day games most non-playoff teams have seen their last game of the year. This season has yet to find a clearly dominant team in District One, as we enter the playoffs there is no less than eight teams in the AAAA level and four teams at AAA that could easily win the District championship.

The last big weekend of the season offered no great surprises as most of the favorites solidified their playoff positions. Central Bucks South followed the lead of their star running back Eric Reynolds to defeat North Penn 41-27 and by doing so assured themselves of the top seed in the Quad A playoff selection.  

Malvern Prep remained number one in Ed Thomas’ Southeastern Pa Top Twenty after defeating Penn Charter 43-21 and remaining undefeated this season. St. Joe Prep stayed at the two spot by beating Catholic League rival Roman Catholic 36-7.

This writer comes off a 50-17 prediction record for 2006 and so far in 2007 has a 35-10 record in the last nine weeks of prognostications. All last week’s predictions came through with CB South, Conestoga, Unionville, WC Henderson and St. Joseph Prep all winning critical contests that propelled them into better playoff positions

This weekend has too many great games to count. West Chester Henderson just might be the sleeper of the AAAA post season. The only blemish on this season was a one point setback to Malvern Prep. Henderson is led by quarterback John O’Donnell who is a dual run and pass threat to even the best defense. Their opponent Conestoga lost to Strath Haven and struggled against Marple Newtown in the last two games. They can not afford anything but a great game to have any chance of an upset.

Prediction:    West Chester Henderson  35  Conestoga  14    

Another great game to watch is a first round neighborhood fight between second seed Ridley against fifteenth seed Interboro. These teams usually face off on Thanksgiving and no one should assume that the Bucs will lay down to the undefeated Green Raiders.

Look for running back Andrew Hodges to be the difference by a hair.

Prediction:    Ridley  24  Interboro  20

The District One AAA playoff will be just as entertaining this year.. Garnet Valley will travel to Strath Haven in the opening round. Fullback Carl Ballard will get the call to carry the Panthers to the second round. This is a tough call but here goes an educated guess.

Prediction:    Strath Haven  21  Garnet Valley  17

Here is the rest of my fearless forecast:

Prediction:    Souderton  24  Downingtown East  14

Prediction:    North Penn  31  Wissahickon  10