ICC Week 2 Preview

[rainmaker]

5-1 last week...

Everett @ Bellwood
Last week the Warriors ran into one of the best two teams in the northern division of the ICC. This week they run into the other one of the two best, Bellwood. The Blue Devils lost to rival Tyrone in week one, but that's ok. They are still one of the best A schools in the area. The Warriors run into another buzzsaw as the make the trip north. In year's past Everett has had the team to put a scare into Bellwood, not this year.

Bellwood 40 - Everett 0

Southern Huntingdon @ Juniata Valley
Well, I'm starting to think that Southern could be better than a lot of people predicted them to be. Their option offense seems to be working and the have the skill kids to make it go. Their weakness is their line and stopping the running game from what I've heard. Valley is too good for Southern. This could be a fun game to watch if the Southern offense gets going. I'll say JV gets another 200 yard rushing performance and wins to move to 2-0.

Juniata Valley 26 - Southern Huntingdon 18


Tussey Mountain @ Claysburg
If CK wins this one, they have a shot to win 4 or 5 games. If they lose, things could go downhill in a hurry as they have Bellwood, JV, and NBC in their next three games. Claysburg surprised me week one. I thought that Williamsburg would be much improved. Maybe they are. Maybe CK is just a pretty good football team? I think they'll get their second win here over a Titan team that is missing too many pieces of the puzzle. James Dodson and Tyler Ickes have a second straight big week and move the Bulldogs to 2-0. Then they drop to 2-3 and hope to rebound vs. WB, Mo Valley, and Everett later in the year.

Claysburg 27 - Tussey 14


Williamsburg @ Mo Valley
I thought Williamsburg would be better than they showed week one. The Blue Pirates now have to travel to Houtzdale to take on the Black Knights who are used to being one of the better teams in the ICC. Last weekend, NBC beat up on them for three quarters but they are one of the league favorites. Mo Valley scored 13 points in the first quarter against them. That's enough for me to pick Mo Valley at home in this one. Trent Lee will throw for 100 yards, but it won't be enough.

Mo Valley 27 - Williamsburg 12


West Branch @ Mount Union
West Branch has some experience back from last year and played Southern better than I thought they would. Mount Union lost a lot of talent from last year's team but they've been pretty good in junior high the last few years. Neither team wants to go 0-2 here to start the season. This is a big, big game for a West Branch team that has struggled the last few years. This game could make or break their season. Are they going to be another 1 win team or can they start moving up to the 3 win range? This might sound silly, but it would be a nice jump. In the north, they won't beat Bellwood, Glendale, or JV. They can maybe beat Eve, CK, and Williamsburg. I don't see them winning any other games. All that said, I think they put up a great effort but they still aren't quite there. We see that they are improving though

Mount Union 20 - West Branch 16

Glendale @ Northern Bedford Game of the Week
Both teams are 1-0 and both teams expect to win a lot of games this year. Combined, these teams threw 7 touchdown passes in week 1. Both of these teams are veteran ball clubs with lots of returning talent back from last year's teams. Glendale is led by senior quarterback, Tyler Jenny. He threw for 200 yards and four touchdowns last week against Everett and was six for ten. Putting up those numbers in that few attempts is unreal! Northern started out slow and got behind 13-2. If that happens this week, say goodnight Panthers. From the second quarter on, the Altoona Mirror said the Northern had over 300 yards of offense and allowed (-4). They are going to need a stellar performance on both sides of the ball to beat this Viking team. Give me Northern at home. I'm guessing Albright is healthy again after seeing him carry 11 times against Mo Valley and that will be huge for NB.

Northern Bedford 20 - Glendale 13

[rainmaker]

So nobody likes or cares about the ICC on this site :?:

Anybody else have any picks or thoughts on any of these games???

[davesandstorm]

I agree with all of your picks, but I have Glendale over Northern Bedford in the GOTW.

[theAce3215]

If NB shuts down Jenny there is no doubt they will win this game. If Jenny is given time to throw its a Glendale victory.

[S Cube]

Everett at Bellwood

Just as rainmaker brought to our attention, Everett has managed to put some scares into Bellwood in recent years. I may also be with rainmaker in saying that Bellwood may not be the best team in the ICC when it's all said and done. I think this team is lacking in overall talent this year. I don't see a lot of playmakers on offense or many tough kids on the lines. Still, they will finish up the regular season 7-2 or 6-3 at worst. Everett will be looking to find something or someone to help out their pop gun offense. The Blue Devils rebound and win this one in a big way.
Bellwood 34 Everett 6


Southern Huntingdon at Juniata Valley

This game could end up being the best game in the ICC this week. Juniata Valley is coming of a blowout win over Tussey Mountain and appears to have a handful of guys who can run the ball. Playmaking Southern Quarterback Danial Goshorn had an up and down game last week against West Branch. He had nice passing and rushing stats, but 3 int's killed a few drives. If he can't take care of the ball this week JV will control the clock and win easily.
Juniata Valley 20 Southern Huntingdon 14


Tussey Mountain at Claysburg

Interesting match up that could determine the direction each team heads this fall. Rainmaker, I don't think 4-5 wins is realistic for CK, but a win this week and 3-4 is a possibly. After this the only teams the Bulldogs have a chance against would be West Branch and Everett IMO. If Tussey can find a way to win this one I could see them winning 4 or 5 though. The Helsel kids are nice athletes and produced well against Williamsburg and Dodson had a nice game behind center for Claysburg last week. That group plus Ickes could toarch a Tussey team that appears to have a paper thin run defense. Despite taking a licking from JV last week, Tussey put up some decent numbers and showed some promise offensively. Vinnie Coy (who was at NB 2 years ago, too bad he's not there now) has potential to put up some big numbers against this Bulldog defense. Chris Foore is also a talented run/pass threat. I think Tussey is the better team, but Claysburg is at home and coming off a better performance. Should be a lot of points put on the board in Bulls Crick.
Claysburg 36 Tussey 30


Williamsburg at Mo Valley

Well S Cube made his first trip to the new field at Houtzdale and came away a little disappointed. What a drastic change from the old field which was tucked right in town. This one looked like it was plopped right in the middle of a corn field. Anyway, the Knights showed some offensive talent early on against NB last week before going backwards after the 1st quarter. Consistency is the big thing for Mo Valley and it shouldn't be hard to find this week against Williamsburg. The real question is when will Williamsburg merge with Central or Juniata Valley?
Mo Valley 27 Williamsburg 8


West Branch at Mount Union

These are the two teams which I probably know the least about in the conference. Two things i do know, West Branch is improving and Mount Union is rebuilding. Kai House is a horse in the Trojan backfield and should help MU control the clock. West Branch played better than I expected last week against Southern and should be in position to win this one at the end. However I'll take Mount Union in this one as West Branch searches to ways to win games.
Mount Union 14 West Branch 7


Game of the Week
Glendale at Northern Bedford

This one is really being hyped up as these two squads look for breakout seasons. In reality though, this game doesn't have much riding on it other than pride as these two are in different divisions and districts.

What we know about Glendale:
Tyler Jenny is arguably the best QB in the conference and maybe 6A.
Jenny has 3 top notch targets in Westover, Cree, and Ferrell
The O and D lines have nice size and can plug things up before they start.
The secondary is talented and experienced.

What we know about Northern Bedford:
Potential to have a very balanced offense with Albright, Fluke, and Matt and Willie Sollenberger.
Also should be strong on the O and D lines.
Solid run defense.

What we don't know is if Glendale's run defense will be able to hold down Northern's running game and if NB's secondary can slow up the Viking's passing attack. If the Panthers can run the ball and control the clock they should come out on top. But if the Glendale defense can stop the run and keep the ball in Tyler Jenny's hands then this won't be much of a contest. In my fearless forecast I picked Glendale so I'll stick by my guns, hopefully I'm wrong:P
Glendale 23 NB 20

[life hunts]

S Cube....

Big game at home in the Huntsman stadium...

Got to go with the alumni team...

NBC by three in a nail biter. Solid line play will dictate the winner of this game....as with most high school games.