The seasons are changing! Mornings are dark and when the sun eventually decides to poke its head up, there are a myriad of beautiful colors in the trees and forests. Take a short trip anywhere on Interstate 99 and bring your camera and your fascination with you for the sights of Fall.
I love the Fall, mostly of course, because it’s football season, but also because of the changing scenery that I would never want to voluntarily give up for the oneness of other places without our four seasons. That does bring up the one thing I hate about Fall-it means Winter isn’t very far away. Winter would be all right if it never went below 50 degrees, but figure the odds on that.
In the picking parade last week, Bob Miller opened up another one game lead with an 8-2 week, followed by Sam Zema and Kerry Naylor who went 7-3. Special guest Al Lingenfelter and Kerry Webster were both 5-5. Over all Miller (59-11) now opens a seven-game margin over Kerry Naylor (52-18) with the combined guests 51-19, Sam Zema 50-20 and Kerry Webster 48-22.
Thanks Al and good luck as the football season runs its course.
This week, our special guest is Mike Blaska, Tyrone sports enthusiast and Sales Representative for General Mills. Good luck Mike!
Indian Valley at Tyrone: The Eagles have recovered from hitting a speed bump at Philipsburg and are back to operating on all cylinders. This will be the final regular season home game for the number two seeded Eagles, who should run the table against Indian Valley and Bishop Guilfoyle and get at least one home playoff contest and maybe more. Indian Valley is having a down year and even respected coach Gawen Stoker hasn’t been able to pull the Warriors out of their tailspin. Only a 28-7 win over Punsutawney keeps IV from being winless.
The picks: Miller Tyrone 40-7, Kerry Naylor Tyrone 48-0, Kerry Webster Tyrone 35-12, Sam Zema Tyrone 38-10, Mike Blaska Tyrone 41-7.
Bellwood-Antis at Moshannon Valley: Can the Blue Devils rise to the occasion for the third game in a row. Moshannon Valley was flattened by a super-quick, tough Juniata Valley Hornet team that acts more like a hurricane. In the Knights other six games, they were the dominators on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Bellwood-Antis improves every week under John Hayes and the B-A coaching staff and know how to handle pressure with six straight wins, including three of their last four decided by seven points or less.
The picks: Miller Bellwood-Antis 32-14, Kerry Naylor Bellwood-Antis 121-6, Kerry Webster Moshannon Valley 14-6, Sam Zema Moshannon Valley 17-14 (Sam’s John Kerry pick of the week after originally going with B-A), Mike Blaska Bellwood-Antis 20-14.
Penns Valley at Bellefonte: This game was the season opener for both teams last year, resulting in a Penns Valley victory. Valley has lived and died with a running attack (Sometimes the running attack has survived better than the team’s won-lost mark) Bellefonte started out slowly, as they have often done for coach Tom Gravish, but are coming on strong. Don’t expect the same result as last year.
The picks: Miller Bellefonte, Kerry Naylor Bellefonte, Kerry Webster Bellefonte, Sam Zema Bellefonte, Mike Blaska Bellefonte.
Mount Union at Bishop Guilfoyle: This is a battle of ICC Nittany Division foes with the loser likely to occupy the cellar for the duration. The Trojans only win came against a winless Tussey Mountain team. BG (3-4) had a rough start dropping three of their first four games to Chestnut Ridge, Delone Catholic and P-O, but have rebounded to go 2-1 over their last three games, including a shut out loss to Tyrone.
The picks: Miller Bishop Guilfoyle, Kerry Naylor Bishop Guilfoyle, Kerry Webster Bishop Guilfoyle, Sam Zema Bishop Guilfoyle, Mike Blaska Bishop Guilfoyle.
Huntingdon at Bald Eagle Area: The young Bearcats are beginning to resemble the Huntingdon teams of the past few years as they gain in experience. The only league losses are to undefeated Clearfield and Bellefonte in a game that signaled the awakening of the Raiders. Bald Eagle has looked good at times, but unfortunately not for an entire game yet.
The picks: Miller Huntingdon, Kerry Naylor Huntingdon, Kerry Webster Huntingdon, Sam Zema Huntingdon, Mike Blaska Huntingdon.
Northern Bedford at Chestnut Ridge: Two good squads that ran into obstacles along the way in a nice inter-division ICC matchup. Ridge (6-1) was slipped off the undefeated list last week by Bellwood-Antis, 21-14. Northern (5-2) has run over by Juniata Valley and edged by ICC Division leader Claysburg 24-21.
The picks: Miller Chestnut Ridge, Kerry Naylor Chestnut Ridge, Kerry Webster Chestnut Ridge, Sam Zema Chestnut Ridge, Mike Blaska Chestnut Ridge.
Altoona at Harrisburg: This is Altoona’s final Mid-Penn League game of the season and the mountain Lions and coach Phil Riccio are probably glad to get through their first season in that circuit. It has been a tough inauguration. After opening the season with four straight losses, Altoona was able to regroup and league bottom dwellers Chambersburg and Cedar Cliff, before getting manhandled by Bishop McDevitt 23-0 last week. Harrisburg is 4-3 in the Mid-Penn, including a 27-20 defeat to McDevitt.
The picks: (No local sentiment for the Mountain Lions) Miller Harrisburg, Kerry Naylor Harrisburg, Kerry Webster Harrisburg, Sam Zema Harrisburg, Mike Blaska Harrisburg.
Iowa at Penn State: The Nittany Lions should have some renewed vigor this week, with Michael Robinson cleared to play again, although coach Joe Paterno wouldn’t reveal where he will play, referring to Robinson as “one of the greatest players in the country.” Iowa has been up and down, although the Hawkeyes stunned Ohio State 33-7 last week. Iowa has been hit hard by injuries in the backfield with their number five tailback getting the start against the Lions. This is Homecoming Week at Penn State. ESPN will host their “Cold Pizza” program will originate from State College on Friday. The traveling College Football Hall of Fame exhibit will park in State College. Former Penn State and Baltimore Colts running back Lydell Mitchell will be inducted into the Hall this weekend. Ron, The Penn State-Iowa game will be televised on ESPN2 at Noon.
The picks: Miller Iowa 21-17, Kerry Naylor Penn State 24-22, Kerry Webster Iowa 24-13, Sam Zema Iowa 27-17, Mike Blaska (with homecoming and an extra week to prepare) Penn State 23-21.
Rutgers at Pitt: Pitt has control of their own destiny in the Big East. Hosting Rutgers this weekend and traveling to Syracuse on Nov. 6, the Panthers would become bowl-eligible for the fifth straight season under coach Walt Harris and set up a shootout with West Virginia on Thanksgiving Night for the league championship. Both Syracuse and West Virginia are undefeated in the Big East. Rutgers played their best game of the year in a 16-6 loss to temple last week. Pitt came from behind to edge Temple 27-22.
The picks: Miller Pitt 24-14, Kerry Naylor Pitt 17-6, Kerry Webster Rutgers 28-7, Sam Zema Pitt 24-17, Mike Blaska Pitt 23-17.
Eagles at Browns: The undefeated Eagles got a measure of revenge by knocking off Carolina last week, the team that put them out of the playoffs a game short of the Super Bowl last year. However, this year’s Panthers are not the team that pushed the Patriots in the Super Bowl due to injuries to key players and other problems. Saying that, Donovan McNabb is off to the best start of his six-year career and Terrell Owens has been exactly the type of receiver the Eagles wanted, but haven’t had in many moons.
The picks: Miller Eagles 34-17, Kerry Naylor Eagles 36-13, Kerry Webster Eagles 38-14, Sam Zema (going out on a limb) Browns 16-13, Mike Blaska Eagles 31-16.
Sports Notes: Tyrone grad Doug Roseberry has been named one of the captain at Pitt.
Matt Garner (Bellwood-Antis) had a season-high 17 tackles in Juniata College’s 48-17 loss to Albright. Garner ranks first in tacklesd per game (10.0) among Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) leaders and is second in fumbles forced per game (0.50). Garner leads the Eagles with 59 total tackles, including eight for losses and one quarterback sack.
Duane Ehredt Jr. (Bellwood-Antis) leads Juniata in rushing yardage with 235 yards and in rushing TDs with three.
