The biggest question for this week’s football games might be how many will survive Hurricane Isabel? Several of the high school games as well as some college games and some of the activities normally scheduled for the NASCAR weekend at Dover. Some high schools have decided to delay their games a day until Saturday.
Everybody must have been out really polishing their crystal balls for last week. Four of the six pickers, including guest picker Cary Simpson missed only one game, easily the best showing of the young season by the panel.
Kerry Webster, who missed only the Bellwood-Antis-Everett contest, used his 9-1 mark to tie Daily Herald General Manager Chris Lash for the overall lead. Lash, who went 7-3, and Webster are 25-5. The guest pickers, who won last year’s poll, are just one game back at 24-5, thanks in part to Simpson’s effort. John Harlow improved to 23-7 with his 9-1 week. Sports Editor Bob Miller used his 9-1 to move out of the cellar for the first time, with a 22-8 mark overall, while Kerry Naylor now occupies the basement going 6-4 for a 20-10 slate overall after three weeks of picking and choosing.
This week our guest picker is a return from last year. Eleanor Feltenberger. Eleanor missed just one of 10 picks during week Eight during the 2002 season. Welcome back and lots of luck, Eleanor.
Bellefonte at Tyrone: Bellefonte has been known for defense under coach Ron Gravish, but are young and inexperienced this year. The Red Raiders yielded 500-plus yards rushing in their opening loss to Penns Valley, then gave up almost 300 more in game two. Tyrone has it’s running game in mid-season form with junior teammates Brice Mertiff (391 yards) and Ben Gummo (184). If the game is pelted by Isabel, and the outcome comes down to who can run the football, that would only be even more in the Golden Eagles favor.
The picks: Miller Tyrone 32-7, Harlow Tyrone 27-0, Kerry Naylor Tyrone 36-6, Kerry Webster Tyrone 28-7, Chris Lash Tyrone 28-7, Eleanor Feltenberger Tyrone 27-14.
Mount Union at Bellwood-Antis: Bellwood-Antis had undefeated Everett on the ropes and let them off. The young and inexperienced Blue Devils get Mount Union for the final game of a four-game homestand to begin the 2003 season. Mount Union, 0-2 after a season opening massacre (44-0) was outgunned by Chestnut Ridge (33-20) and hammered by Moshannon Valley (28-0) The Trojans have just 20 players on their roster. B-A must get something going on the ground if they are to accomplish anything this year. The key will be the lineplay for both teams on offense and defense.
The picks: Miller Bellwood-Antis 25-14, John Harlow Bellwood-Antis 21-10, Kerry Naylor Mount Union 21-14, Kerry Webster Bellwood-Antis 35-6, Chris Lash Bellwood-Antis 16-14, Eleanor Feltenberger Bellwood-Antis 21-18.
Bald Eagle Area at Indian Valley: BEA (2-1) jumped out to a 2-0 start before dropping a close 17-12 decision to Sharpsville last week. Indian Valley (1-2) is playing their first Big 8 opponent after testing the non-conference waters. Warrior head coach Gawen Stoker will have his Indian Valley squad ready, you get bet on that. Bald Eagle Area hasn’t had a good season since Stoker left to coach in the WPIAL before coming back to District VI three years ago.
The picks: Miller Indian Valley, John Harlow Indian Valley, Kerry Naylor Bald Eagle Area, Kerry Webster Indian Valley, Chris Lash Bald Eagle Area, Eleanor Feltenberger Indian Valley.
Southern Huntingdon at Williamsburg: Southern Huntingdon has won two straight after a season opening loss to still undefeated Moshannon Valley. The Rockets can’t afford to look past Williamsburg to next week’s foe-Bellwood-Antis. Wiliamsburg won their first two games of the year first time they have won two in a row since Sept. 1999. Blue Pirates are averaging 262 yards rushing per game.
The picks: Miller Southern Huntingdon, John Harlow Southern Huntingdon, Kerry Naylor Southern Huntingdon, Kerry Webster Southern Huntingdon, Chris Lash Southern Huntingdon, Eleanor Feltenberger Southern Huntingdon.
Allegheny-Clarion Valley at Bishop Guilfoyle: A quick pickup when Columbia (not the number one ranked Class A powerhouse Southern Columbia) dropped out to play a game closer to home. A-C Valley (0-3) was shelled 22-0 and 27-7 in their first two games, before losing a 38-34 shootout last week against West Shamokin. Bishop Guilfoyle, ranked as a team to watch by PA Football News, has continued to ride their two stud running backs, Josh Destefano and Matt Georgiana to a dozen straight victories over the ;last two seasons, including three this year. The BG defense has shutout the opposition in 11 of 12 quarters this year and recorded back-to-back shutouts in their last two games.
The picks: Miller Bishop Guilfoyle, John Harlow Bishop Guilfoyle, Kerry Naylor Bishop Guilfoyle, Kerry Webster Bishop Guilfoyle, Chris Bishop Guilfoyle, Eleanor Feltenberger Bishop Guilfoyle.
Penns Valley at Chestnut Ridge: Both teams have lost to undefeated BG- Penns Valley 19-0 in week two, Ridge 20-14 in the season opener. Chestnut Ridge has hammered Mount Union (33-0) and Claysburg. The Rams upset Bellefonte (32-20) and was edged by undefeated Philipsburg-Osceola last week 16-14.
The picks: Miller Penns Valley, John Harlow Chestnut Ridge, Kerry Naylor Penns Valley, Kerry Webster Penns Valley, Chris Lash Penns Valley, Eleanor Feltenberger Penns Valley.
Huntingdon at Philipsburg-Osceola: Philipsburg-Osceola is undefeated, while Huntingdon has squeaked through a pair of close wins. Both have played Bellefonte. P-O struggled 17-14 in week two, while Huntingdon shut the Red Raiders out 27-0 last week. Any team with Huntingdon’s Geoff Kozak is a team worth betting on. He finds a way to beat you.
The picks: Miller Huntingdon, John Harlow Huntingdon, Kerry Naylor, Huntingdon, Kerry Webster Philipsburg-Osceola, Chris Lash Huntingdon, Eleanor Feltenberger Huntingdon.
Pitt at Toledo: Pitt continues its soft first portion of the schedule with the short trip to Toledo (not the one in Spain where the famous swords come from). Rod Rutherford and his offensive mates should have another picnic in the park. Hopefully Doug Roseberry will see some action in this one. If this seems like a repeat request. It is. If it doesn’t sound familiar, refer to this column last Thursday!
The picks: Miller Pitt 48-7, John Harlow Pitt 24-10, Kerry Naylor Pitt 28-24, Kerry Webster Pitt 48-14, Chris Lash Pitt 36-6, Eleanor Feltenberger Pitt 28-14.
Kent State at Penn State: After giving up 370 yards rushing last week, can the Nittany Lion defense stop a quarterback who runs first and passes when necessary? Will JoPa decide on a quarterback and give him the ball 20-25 times a game. Will the Penn State offensive line jell to form a productive unit that can help a defensive unit that despite the yardage Nebraska got last week, hasn’t been that bad? Maybe Kent State will be just the right medicine before State begins their Big 10 schedule.
The picks: Miller Penn State 30-14, John Harlow Penn State 10-7, Kerry Naylor Penn State 31-10, Kerry Webster Penn State 24-12, Chris Lash Penn State 28-10, Eleanor Feltenberger Penn State 21-7.
Steelers at Cincinnati: Pittsburgh has been running less and passing more in a turnaround from the old run-Cowher-run atmosphere at Heinz Field and Three Rivers Satdium before that. Thank Tommy-gun Tom Maddox and the best receiving corps (Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress, Antuaan Randle El, Jay Remiersma et al) in pro football. The Steeler defense must do something to contain Jon Kitna, who looked like an All-Pro quarterback last year against the Pittsburgh defense.
The picks: Miller Steelers 35-20, John Harlow Steeles 24-10, Kerry Naylor Steelers 34-17, Kerry Webster Steelers 35-18, Chris Lash Steelers 28-21, Eleanor Feltenberger Steelers 17-13.
Good Sports: At IUP, Tyrone grad Tyler Mertiff may get into the action sooner than expected. Tyler suufered a foot bruise in training camp and the coaches were thinking of red shirting him this year. Now, the foot is better and Tyler could be in action before the year is out as the backup quarterback. IUP plays at New Haven in West Haven Conn. on Saturday.
B-A grad Matt Garner has been a terror on defense at Juniata College. From his strong safety position, Garner has been a strong run supporter, with a team-best 27 tackles, a pass defended and a fumble recovery. Juniata College hosts MAC opponent Delaware Valley on Saturday. B-A grad Duane Ehredt has seen action on special teams for the Eagles.
Dan Grazier is on the second defensive unit at inside linebacker at Westminster, which hosts Mansfield University on Saturday. Reportedly the Titan coaches are very happy with Grazier’s progress, although the only freshman to see action in their first game at Walsh University was a placekicker.
