After seven weeks of the season, playoff possibilities are starting to take definite shape for a bunch of teams and of course, Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis, as usual, are right in the thick of things. The undefeated Golden Eagles are at the top of the district seeding in Double-A, and Bellwood-Antis is currently the fourth rated Single-A team. Eight Double-A and 16 Single-A teams will qualify for districts, as long as the Single-A schools get at least four wins.
We all did a pretty good job of selecting winners in the Week 7 poll. Sam Zema nailed the first perfect 10-0 score of the 2006 season. Zema, who has been in and out of the top spot for most of the season is tied after seven weeks with an overall 52-18 mark. I missed the Auburn win over Florida to post a 9-1 card for the week and a 52-18 overall score to tie Zema.
The two Kerrys, Kerry Naylor and Kerry Webster both missed only one game-Naylor picked Penn State to win over Michigan and Webster’s only miss was taking Kansas City to beat the Steelers. Naylor is 50-20 and Webster 49-21 overall. Our guest picker last week, Rich DeLeo missed Auburn and the Steelers to finish a very respectable 8-2, to give the combined guests a 51-19 mark for the 2006 campaign. Thanks for your time and picks, Rich DeLeo!
This week, our guest picker will be Magisterial Judge Fred Miller, a Tyrone graduate and sports enthusiast. Good luck Fred!
Indian Valley at Tyrone: Indian Valley (3-4 overall, 1-3 in the MAFC) has been scoring a lot of points. The trouble is the Warriors, under head coach Gawen Stoker, have also given up a bunch of points. If the Tyrone “D” can control; Indian Valley’s running attack led by Nam Shartzer, it will be over before halftime. Look for another big night for Golden, Schopp, Franco, Gillmen and the Eagle offense.
The picks: Miller Tyrone 42-7, Kerry Webster Tyrone 28-12, Kerry Naylor Tyrone 45-12, Sam Zema Tyrone 33-13, Fred Miller Tyrone 35-7.
Bellwood-Antis at Moshannon Valley: Moshannon Valley is learning a new system under Tyrone grad Murray Fetzer and is improving every week, with two wins and taking Juniata Valley into overtime last week before running out of steam, in the last three weeks. Blue Devils spread out their offense last week against Chestnut Ridge and relied on their usual tough defense. B-A needs to do more of the same for the rest of the season and playoffs if they intend to go far.
The picks: Miller Bellwood-Antis 38-14, Kerry Webster Bellwood-Antis 14-7, Kerry Naylor Bellwood-Antis 27-14, Sam Zema Bellwood-Antis 35-14, Fred Miller Bellwood-Antis 42-13.
Penns Valley at Bellefonte: Penns Valley (4-3) has been tough when they are able to run the football effectively, Chris Korn is over 1,000 yards rushing, but the Rams have only a minimal passing attack. Bellefonte (3-4) has been moving the ball on underclassman quarterback Ryan Poorman’s arm. Comparing the only common opponent, P-O beat Bellefonte 36-19, in week 2, and shut out Penns Valley 30-0, a week later.
The picks: Miller Bellefonte, Kerry Webster Bellefonte, Kerry Naylor Penns Valley, Sam Zema Bellefonte, Fred Miller Bellefonte.
Bishop Guilfoyle at Mount Union: BG (2-5) seeks to regroup after getting hammered by Tyrone 42-0, the only game of the season that the Marauders have not been in for at least for two quarters. Mount Union (1-6) has only a win against Mo Valley and has just 20-something players on their roster when everyone is healthy. This should be a week for BG to gain some confidence and get a “W” in the win column.
The picks: Miller Bishop Guilfoyle, Kerry Webster Bishop Guilfoyle, Kerry Naylor Bishop Guilfoyle, Sam Zema Bishop Guilfoyle, Fred Miller Bishop Guilfoyle.
Bedford at Johnstown: Bedford (5-2) has won three in a row, while Johnstown (6-1) got hammered 30-0 by Bishop McCort for their first loss last week. Bedford opened the season with a 25-24 double overtime win over Bishop McCort. Both teams smashed Somerset (Bedford 41-0, Johnstown 47-19). Johnstown beat Central Cambria 46-27, while Bedford won only 7-0. Johnstown handed Penn Cambria their only loss 14-6, while Bedford lost to PC 48-20.
The picks: Miller Johnstown, Kerry Webster Johnstown, Kerry Naylor Johnstown, Sam Zema Johnstown, Fred Miller Johnstown.
Bishop McDevitt at Altoona: McDevitt (5-2) is not the team they were in 2005, when with LaShawn McCoy they were No. 1 in the state in Quad-A, but are not near the bottom either. Altoona (4-3) has been exciting in 2006 after a couple down years in the District 3-6 Mid-Penn Conference, featuring the double-edged running attack of A. J. Alexander and Reggie Mencer. Both have close losses to Central Dauphin (Altoona 17-14 in overtime, McDevitt 12-10) in the last two weeks.
The picks: Miller Bishop McDevitt, Kerry Webster Altoona, Kerry Naylor Bishop McDevitt, Sam Zema Altoona, Fred Miller Bishop McDevitt.
Texas at Nebraska: No. 6 ranked Texas (6-1) has only a 24-7 loss to No. 1 Ohio State, but must face four Big 12 South opponents in a row after this week. Colt McCoy is at QB instead of Vince Young, but the freshman has matured quickly for the Longhorns. No. 21 Nebraska (6-1, with only a 28-10 loss to USC) has three straight wins in the Big 12 North, and has the benefit of not having Oklahoma on their schedule in 2006.
The picks: Miller Texas, Kerry Webster Texas, Kerry Naylor Texas, Sam Zema Texas, Fred Miller Texas.
Rutgers at Pitt: Looking at the records, Pitt (5-1) could have their hands full this week against undefeated Rutgers (6-0). On closer inspection, the Scarlet Knights mark is impressive, but all their tough games come in the second half of the season, beginning this week and including Louisville and West Virginia, currently both also undefeated. Pitt has been tearing up foes with Tyler Palko passing accuracy, and Johnstown grad LaRod Stevens-Howling giving the Panthers the running game, they have sorely lacked.
The picks: Miller Pitt 33-7, Kerry Webster Pitt 24-14, Kerry Naylor Rutgers 28-21, Sam Zema Pitt 33-27, Fred Miller Rutgers 24-23.
Illinois at Penn State: The big question is not who will win, or by how many, but who will be under center for the Nittany Lions? Third string QM Paul Ciaciolo has been taking snaps with the first team in practice and State College product Kevin Suhey has stepped in as the backup. Anthony Morelli and Brian Clark both suffered concussions against Michigan and neither had been cleared to play as of midweek. Illinois has a 23-20 win over Michigan State, but the Spartans have fallen apart after the Notre Dame loss. This should not be as big as Penn State’s 63-10 win in 2005, but the Lions defense should hold the Fighting Illini in check, although Illinois quarterback Isiah “Juice” Williams leads all Big 10 QBs in rushing with 306 yards.
The picks: Miller Penn State 33-10, Kerry Webster Penn State 21-14, Kerry Naylor Penn State 34-13, Sam Zema Penn State 27-10, Fred Miller Penn State 31-10.
Steelers at Atlanta: The Steelers finally got everything together against Kansas City, who proved to be good medicine for Big Ben and company. Now Pittsburgh needs to maintain that momentum against the Falcons on the road. Atlanta is the NFL’s top rushing team, can the Steelers defense tame the Falcons and turn the tables with a rushing game of their own? The Giants outrushed Atlanta for a win last week. The Steelers will need another game from Ben Roethlisberger like he played against the Chiefs. Time of possession could be the best defense the Steelers have against Atlanta.
The picks: Miller Steelers 27-22, Kerry Webster Steelers 24-20, Kerry Naylor Steelers 27-17, Sam Zema Steelers 34-33 (No OT, like the 2002 game when these two tied 34-34), Fred Miller Steelers 24-14.
