Guru's Week 11 Playoff Preview and Picks
Posted: November 10th, 2015, 10:58 am
Week 11
Friday:
A
#1 BG hosts #8 CH
The upstart Highlanders are enjoying the fruits of their labor this regular season and for all of their efforts are rewarded with a round one playoff game with the defending State Champions, in other words, a death sentence. BG has reeled off 26 straight wins and they have enough kids with Champioship experience for them to be a heavy favorite. I look for this to be close in the first 10 minutes and for BG to roll up nearly 500 yards on their way to a running clock and the win.
BG ***56
Kilts 8
#2 Mo Valley hosts #7 NC
Mo Valley is 10-0 and they play some tough Defense. Northern Cambria lost to Northern Bedford, who lost to West Branch and Mo Valley smashed West Branch. So what does all of that mean, I don't know but what I do know is that Mo Valley has Mo wins, Mo offense, Mo defense and Mo mentum.
Mo Valley 46
Barnspangler 6
AA
#1 Central hosts #8 Forest Hills
The Dragons played all season to get to this point and they are the better team In this matchup. They also have more horses. However, the Rangers have a few special players AND a coach with a career record of: 351-106-8. I look for the Dragons to score early and often and for the Rangers to hang tough. If Cecere plays the entire game, FH wins. If not, Central heads to the second round.
Dragons 43
Rangers 36
#2 Tyrone hosts #7 Huntingdon
The Eagles had little trouble with Ridge last week. These teams already faced off once this year and Tyrone was victorious. Ridge did uncover some weaknesses in the Tyrone secondary, or their scheme, Friday evening so look for Huntingdon to test the airways. That being said I don't believe that Big Nick Bonsell or his team mates will allow the Eagles to fail.
Tyrone 38
Huntingdon 13
AAA
#1 Clearfield hosts #4 Johnstown
Clearfield will take advantage of their superior teamwork, coachability and regular season successes. If the Trojans expect to have a chance they need to live up to their potential. I believe Jtown has the more athletic players... But this football isn't played on paper!
Clearfield 39
Johnstown 19
#2 Somerset hosts #3 University Prep
The Golden Eagles have the potential to put up big play after big play... But will they? Can they bounce back after their loss to BG or are they ready for hoops and wrestling? I believe the LHAC is a strong conference and that playing tough games (almost every week) prepares them for this game.
Eagles 34
Preppies 27
AAAA
#1 State College hosts #2 Dubois
I can't with tell you who will win this game for sure but what I can tell you is that SC beat Cumberland Valley who beat the #1 team in the state, at the time, Central Dauphin. So what does that mean?
State College 46
Dubois 12
Saturday:
A
#3 Penns Manor hosts #6 Westmont
Westmont boasts not (1) but (2) 1,000yd rushers in an offense without a passing game. Their line is big. Their kicker/punter is fantastic! Although PM is 10-0, I don't believe they have faced any teams like Westmont; who has 6 plays and they run them all very well. This isn't the PM team with Joey "VooDoo" Vodopivec, Danny Ferens and Derek Pavlosky!
Westy 28
PM 21
#4 Portage hosts # 5 Bellwood
This is Portage's 10,000th playoff game, ok maybe not but doesn't it seem like they are here EVERY year? Both head coaches have decades of experience and hundreds of wins. Look for Gouse to get the win at home this week.
Portage 36
Bellwood 28
AA
#3 Juniata hosts #6 Southern Huntingdon
Juniata brings an offense averaging 59.9 points per game, they are big in the trenches and average almost 300yds rushing per game. With the likes of Wagner and Parsons on the field take Juniata.
Juniata 47
SH 12
#4 Ligonier/ Laurel Valley hosts #5 Mount Union
LV has a potent passing combo with Clark to Swartz. Clark has 24 passing TDs and 1,500 TDs passing. Mount Union has 22ints so something is going to have to give. LV averages nearly 500yds per game vs MU's offense, who is around 300yds per game. Since MU doesn't have Jack Boyer or Charlie Bard, like they did in the 80's, I'm taking the Ligonier/Laurel Valley Rams in this one.
Ligonier/Laurel Valley 41
Mount Union 18
_________________________________________________
***FIELD GOAL
A Field Goal is made by kicking the ball from the field of play through the plane of the opponents' goal by a drop kick or a placekick either:
(a) From behind the line on a play from scrimmage; or
(b) During a fair catch kick. See 11-4-3; 3-9; and 10-2-4-a.
A kickoff is neither a play from scrimmage nor a fair catch kick (a fair catch kick can occur only immediately following a kick that was fair-caught). Therefore, kicking the ball through the uprights results merely in a touchback, just like kicking the ball out of any other part of the end zone would.
Friday:
A
#1 BG hosts #8 CH
The upstart Highlanders are enjoying the fruits of their labor this regular season and for all of their efforts are rewarded with a round one playoff game with the defending State Champions, in other words, a death sentence. BG has reeled off 26 straight wins and they have enough kids with Champioship experience for them to be a heavy favorite. I look for this to be close in the first 10 minutes and for BG to roll up nearly 500 yards on their way to a running clock and the win.
BG ***56
Kilts 8
#2 Mo Valley hosts #7 NC
Mo Valley is 10-0 and they play some tough Defense. Northern Cambria lost to Northern Bedford, who lost to West Branch and Mo Valley smashed West Branch. So what does all of that mean, I don't know but what I do know is that Mo Valley has Mo wins, Mo offense, Mo defense and Mo mentum.
Mo Valley 46
Barnspangler 6
AA
#1 Central hosts #8 Forest Hills
The Dragons played all season to get to this point and they are the better team In this matchup. They also have more horses. However, the Rangers have a few special players AND a coach with a career record of: 351-106-8. I look for the Dragons to score early and often and for the Rangers to hang tough. If Cecere plays the entire game, FH wins. If not, Central heads to the second round.
Dragons 43
Rangers 36
#2 Tyrone hosts #7 Huntingdon
The Eagles had little trouble with Ridge last week. These teams already faced off once this year and Tyrone was victorious. Ridge did uncover some weaknesses in the Tyrone secondary, or their scheme, Friday evening so look for Huntingdon to test the airways. That being said I don't believe that Big Nick Bonsell or his team mates will allow the Eagles to fail.
Tyrone 38
Huntingdon 13
AAA
#1 Clearfield hosts #4 Johnstown
Clearfield will take advantage of their superior teamwork, coachability and regular season successes. If the Trojans expect to have a chance they need to live up to their potential. I believe Jtown has the more athletic players... But this football isn't played on paper!
Clearfield 39
Johnstown 19
#2 Somerset hosts #3 University Prep
The Golden Eagles have the potential to put up big play after big play... But will they? Can they bounce back after their loss to BG or are they ready for hoops and wrestling? I believe the LHAC is a strong conference and that playing tough games (almost every week) prepares them for this game.
Eagles 34
Preppies 27
AAAA
#1 State College hosts #2 Dubois
I can't with tell you who will win this game for sure but what I can tell you is that SC beat Cumberland Valley who beat the #1 team in the state, at the time, Central Dauphin. So what does that mean?
State College 46
Dubois 12
Saturday:
A
#3 Penns Manor hosts #6 Westmont
Westmont boasts not (1) but (2) 1,000yd rushers in an offense without a passing game. Their line is big. Their kicker/punter is fantastic! Although PM is 10-0, I don't believe they have faced any teams like Westmont; who has 6 plays and they run them all very well. This isn't the PM team with Joey "VooDoo" Vodopivec, Danny Ferens and Derek Pavlosky!
Westy 28
PM 21
#4 Portage hosts # 5 Bellwood
This is Portage's 10,000th playoff game, ok maybe not but doesn't it seem like they are here EVERY year? Both head coaches have decades of experience and hundreds of wins. Look for Gouse to get the win at home this week.
Portage 36
Bellwood 28
AA
#3 Juniata hosts #6 Southern Huntingdon
Juniata brings an offense averaging 59.9 points per game, they are big in the trenches and average almost 300yds rushing per game. With the likes of Wagner and Parsons on the field take Juniata.
Juniata 47
SH 12
#4 Ligonier/ Laurel Valley hosts #5 Mount Union
LV has a potent passing combo with Clark to Swartz. Clark has 24 passing TDs and 1,500 TDs passing. Mount Union has 22ints so something is going to have to give. LV averages nearly 500yds per game vs MU's offense, who is around 300yds per game. Since MU doesn't have Jack Boyer or Charlie Bard, like they did in the 80's, I'm taking the Ligonier/Laurel Valley Rams in this one.
Ligonier/Laurel Valley 41
Mount Union 18
_________________________________________________
***FIELD GOAL
A Field Goal is made by kicking the ball from the field of play through the plane of the opponents' goal by a drop kick or a placekick either:
(a) From behind the line on a play from scrimmage; or
(b) During a fair catch kick. See 11-4-3; 3-9; and 10-2-4-a.
A kickoff is neither a play from scrimmage nor a fair catch kick (a fair catch kick can occur only immediately following a kick that was fair-caught). Therefore, kicking the ball through the uprights results merely in a touchback, just like kicking the ball out of any other part of the end zone would.