Football lovers dream weekend                          

November 21, 2007

By Joe Stokes

Thanksgiving has arrived and for football fans it is a non-stop action from Thursday morning until late Sunday night. Here in District One we not only have great Turkey Day rivalries but playoff action as well.

Last weeks playoff action provided several surprises. Garnet Valley upset previously undefeated Unionville 13-0 to advance to the AAA District One championship this Friday at Pottsgrove. The victory by the Jaguars avenged a regular season loss and in the process ended a great season for this powerful Unionville squad. In another shocker Downingtown West overcame top seeded Central Bucks South in the AAAA playoffs in a shootout that was not decided until the last play of the contest. These two upsets leaves several teams in the running for District One honors.

Malvern Prep remained number one in Ed Thomas’ Southeastern Pa Top Twenty but number two ranked St Joseph’s Prep will be challenging that position at a Turkey Day showdown with the Friars at Villanova Stadium. While Malvern ends their season with this contest the Hawks will play in the Catholic League Red Division final the following weekend.

This writer comes off a 50-17 prediction record for 2006 and so far in 2007 has a 41-14 record in the last eleven weeks of prognostications. Last weeks results found WC Henderson. Ridley and St Joe’s Prep winning as predicted with Unionville and Central Bucks South falling out of the playoff hunt with unexpected losses.

The playoffs move to the third round this weekend and if fans are not too exhausted from Thanksgiving dinner and whole day of neighborhood games, their dessert could be just as tasty with some great Friday night football.

The final four at Quad A starts with Neshaminy visiting Ridley. The host Green Raiders remain undefeated with a balanced attack and disciplined defense accounting for a 33-14 win over a talented Glenn Mills. The Red Skins pounded North Penn 35-0 and will be tough to slow down in this one. It will once again be a battle of the running backs with Andrew Hodges for Ridley and Jason Ulmer for Neshaminy pounding it out for the right to advance to the D-1 final. Bet on the Green Raider defense to pull this one out

Prediction:    Ridley  24  Neshaminy 21   

In the other Quad A contest look for my playoff sleeper West Chester Henderson to find a way to slow down Downingtown West and advance to next weeks D-1 championship.

Prediction:   West Chester Henderson 28  Downingtown West  24

The District One AAA playoff will be just as entertaining this week.. Garnet Valley will travel to Pottsgrove in the D-1 final. The Jaguars just can’t be stopped in this one.

Prediction:    Garnet Valley  31  Pottsgrove  21

Here is the rest of my fearless Thanksgiving Day forecast:

Prediction:    Haverford  27  Upper Darby  14    

Prediction:    St Joseph Prep  21  Malvern Prep  20