West Pac Week 10

[Chiefwapum]

West Pac Week Ten Predictions: YTD 40-5
This week in the West Pac may have some different results then games played earlier in the year. It seems that only a few teams actually play defense in this conference. What has happened to good form tackling and overall team defense? Week ten in the West Pac will feature one game that will punch their playoff ticket.


Ferndale (0-9) @ Conemaugh Valley (1-8) *Season Ends
Ferndale has taken a beating this year, yet they showed up week after week. You have to give them credit for hanging in there and you have to believe things will only get better in the years to come. Conemaugh Valley had a similar year and seems to be on the right path, much like Ferndale. CV is a bit better and I believe they will end the season picking up their second win of the year in a fairly tight game.

Prediction CV 28-7

BlackLick Valley (4-5) @ Windber (5-5) * Season Ends for Blacklick Valley

BL took a beating last week at Berlin and apparently were missing some starters which didn’t help their cause. BLV lost to Windber earlier this year in a lopsided game. BLV looks to have some fire power returning next year and can use this year as a stepping stone. Windber has been a bit inconsistent this year and has already qualified for the post season. They have done a nice job up their keeping their season alive. I look for them to run over BLV this week and move up just a bit in the seedlings for the playoffs.

Prediction Windber 42-7

CT (3-6) @ North Star (3-6) *Season Ends for one of these teams

Here you have two teams that are struggling. One gets a trip to the playoffs with the number 1 or 2 seed looming. Either way a bit of playoff experience for the youngsters on the team that makes it. CT is so one dimensional I find it hard to believe they actually beat anyone this year. North Star at least will bring in a somewhat balanced attack and that will most likely be the difference. I am not saying CT isn’t capable of winning because when these two teams get together anything is possible. I just think NS has the edge and a fairly easy game plan (Put 9-10 in the box and make them beat you with something other than # 23. This year has shown that even if you do that CT will keep the same game plan. In defense of CT not too many teams are actually stuffing their bread and butter so why not keep running the same play over and over and over.

Prediction NS 21-14

Shade (6-3) @ Meyersdale (7-2)

This one should be a good one. I understand Meyersdale shut Shade out 21-0 earlier in the year, but as the old adage goes {teams get better or worse throughout the course of the year}. I think Shade has improved weekly and should give Meyersdale all they can handle. Meyersdale has a solid team with a bunch of big guys. I heard their quarterback left the game early last week and I do not know the status of his return. The problem for Shade is the young man Meyersdale inserted at QB last week is an elusive runner and I think will cause Shade much more problems on defense. The Shade coaches/players seem to be a quick study and learn/improve each week. Being that the game is at Meyersdale the refs will be a factor that the panthers will need to deal with. Unfortunately home field advantage comes with a big plus as far as referring goes. It’s a part of the game everyone needs to deal with and at times can be very costly to the visitors. That’s the way it goes so if you’re on the road officials are just another obstacle you need to overcome.

Prediction Meyersdale 21-20

Berlin (8-1) @ Portage (9-0)

The first time around proved to be entertaining. I am guessing this one will have plenty of fireworks as well. As mentioned above Berlin will need to deal with the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th man in the form of referees. The team that shows up defensively will win this game. I think the pressure will be on Portage just a bit as they try to complete an undefeated season. Berlin on the other hand has little pressure as they already wrapped up (at the very least a 2 seed with home field advantage) throughout their playoff run. I like the way Berlin is playing defense and against probably most people who pick this game I am going to say Berlin wins in a tight game.

Prediction Berlin 31-28


Observation: I have chosen not to respond on the topics concerning referees this year up until this point. I however have attended numerous high school games this year and have seen some really bad officiating. Possibly the worst I have seen in all my years. It appears as mentioned by many others that the refs are getting older less athletic and possibly in need of a quality vision program. My only hope that going forward into the playoffs that the best crews available actually get to ref the playoffs. I can say this much concerning the ref’s—If you’re the visiting team this week and going forward, you are there for a reason. (You Lost)

This time of year brings out some intense discussion so please feel free to comment/discuss any of the above listed games.

[knowitall]

I have heard from a fairly reliable source that one of these teams will not be competing next season. Apparently a co-op agreement has been worked out.

I don't believe it personally and won't until I actually see it.

[peytonsaturday]

I have heard the same.

[Chiefwapum]

guessing on this but, would it be Ferndale or CV. Either one would make good sense. If it is a different team than that it would be shocking

[PortagePride]

Berlin (8-1) @ Portage (9-0)

I am guessing this one will have plenty of fireworks as well. As mentioned above Berlin will need to deal with the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th man in the form of referees.

If you can find me a game where Portage benefited from "Homer" referee's through a game you need to show me the gametape on that one. MOST of the time Portage gets the short end of the stick being the "power" D6-Cambria County team in a predominantly Somerset County Conference. With a LARGE portion of the crews being from the Somerset County Chapter.

[12HankQB]

The late hit and roughing the passer penalties were horrible in the last matchup

[west33]

Kephart beat berlin last game they played. Why berlin kicked to him I don't know. I would key on him and hit him every play like shade did to him. But shade left him open then on a deep td pass? I say if berlins coach plays smart and stops kephart, they have more athletes and will win the rematch. The refs do stink at portage and gives them an advantage. Saw it down there for years. I picked portage last game and was right. Going berlin this game as kephart has 11 guys hitting him. They won't let him beat him this game. Good luck to both teams.

[PLDragons24]

Lol I remember seeing that late hit call on RMG sports and I had to rewind it to see if there was even any contact and indeed his hand did brush up against him. The officiating has been really bad this year. Obviously there is good and bad refs but some of the calls I have seen this year have just been head scratchers.

[PortagePride]

The late hit and roughing the passer penalties were horrible in the last matchup

The late hit was absolutely awful agreed 110%. The roughing the passer would be seen in the eyes of who you were favoring I guess...The QB took at least 2 full steps then got planted after releasing the ball so not a horribly questionable, however not the most vicious looking thing either. The ref threw the flag immediately as I was standing down in that End Zone so he seem pretty confident that It too much too late.

Kephart beat berlin last game they played. Why berlin kicked to him I don't know. I would key on him and hit him every play like shade did to him. But shade left him open then on a deep td pass? I say if berlins coach plays smart and stops kephart, they have more athletes and will win the rematch. The refs do stink at portage and gives them an advantage. Saw it down there for years. I picked portage last game and was right. Going berlin this game as kephart has 11 guys hitting him. They won't let him beat him this game. Good luck to both teams.

Hopefully It didn't take you long to figure out a Gameplan of "Stop Kephart" lol Obviously if you're ANY coach playing against Portage, that should be your #1 priority on Defense. However can you do it without letting Dividock or Bryja beat you is the real question ??? Portage getting ref's "advantage" at home is still incredibly laughable. I understand that most of yinz don't like us so I expect that kind of answer though.

[12HankQB]

I just didn't like those two calls, on film the quarterback didn't look like he got planted. Brushed maybe, but the film didn't show the best view. It was only those two calls that I didn't agree with. Berlin shot themselves in the foot with the roughing the kicker and the two high snaps.

Yea, follow the gaurds and stop the trap