Playoffs heat up while weather chills                 

 

November 28, 2007

 

By Joe Stokes

 

When the weather outside begins to chill you can be sure that the high school football playoffs will be warming up. The Thanksgiving weekend started off Thursday with warm spring like temperatures but by Friday night District One playoff games were played in the early winter chill.

 

The third week of playoff action found most of the favored teams advancing to the next round after hard fought victories at each level.

 

Malvern Prep fell from number one in Ed Thomas’ Southeastern Pa Top Twenty after number two ranked St Joseph’s Prep Hawks flew to a 33 to 6 Turkey Day feast of the Friars at Villanova Stadium. The Hawks are now number one and will defend their lofty ranking in the Red Division Catholic League championship game against Roman Catholic this Saturday night.

 

This writer comes off a 50-17 prediction record for 2006 and so far in 2007 has a 46-14 record in the last twelve week of prognostications. Last weeks results gave the record quite a boost with a perfect 5-0 push. Ridley, WC Henderson,Garnet Valley, St. Joe’s Prep and Haverford all found a way to win as predicted.

 

The playoffs move to the fourth round this weekend. The AAAA District One Champion will be crowned this Friday night at Ridley. (Comcast CN 8) at 7:30 PM.. The Green Raiders will be challenged by the sleeper of this division, the West Chester Henderson Warriors. This contest will feature the passing of Steve Egee, the running of Andrew Hodges and the disciplined defense of the Green Raiders against the high powered option offense led by quarterback John O’Donnell for the Warriors.

 

Although I have been touting Henderson as the team to beat in this D-1 playoff the Ridley defense has playing at such a high level it is tough to see any team scoring enough to squeek out a victory.

 

Prediction:    Ridley  31  West Chester Henderson  27

 

At the AAA level District One champs Garnet Valley ran for over 400 yards in their victory over Pottsgrove last weekend. Following the lead of quarterback Eric Van Wyk and running back Tim Keyser this offense will be to hot to handle.

 

Prediction:   Garnet Valley  38  West Scranton  21

 

The Catholic League Red Division will be tough to wrestle from defending champ St. Joe Prep.

 

Prediction:    St Joseph Prep  27  Roman Catholic  24

 

Here is the rest of my fearless playoff forecast:

 

Prediction:    Parkland  35  George Washington High  7

 

Prediction:    Dunmore  28  Lansdale Catholic  24