November is here and despite a few really nice weather days, thoughts begin to turn toward watching sports indoors.
Last week a few schools who didn’t make the playoffs or that didn’t start yet were completing the regular season. First round playoff games pitting top seeds and number two seeds against mostly inferior opposition resulted in easy picks and easier wins in most cases. Now with the semifinals this week in Class-A and Class-AA, competition should be fast and furious. With several teams meeting for a second time, it also becomes harder on that level as well, especially when the first game was close. Five of our seven high school playoff games are rematches from during the regular season.
Last week our guest picker was WTAJ Sports Editor and well-known Tyrone favorite Kelly Goodman. Once again thanks a million Kelly!
This week we bring aboard new Daily Herald staff writer Sam Zema, as our guest picker. Good luck Sam!
For the second week in a row, we had a perfect card handed in. Kerry Webster became the third person this year to get all 10 picks correct, including the Curwensville victory over Bellwood-Antis, which was a stumbling block for everybody else. John Harlow and Bob Miller both missed just the Tide win over the Blue Devils to finish 9-1. Chris Lash was 8-2 and guest Kelly Goodman and Kerry Naylor each was 7-3.
Overall Harlow (80-20) maintains a two game margin over the combined guests (78-22) and a three-game spread over Lash (77-23). Miller has a 75-25 mark, while Webster’s perfecto moves him (69-31) a game up on Kerry Naylor (68-32) as the two continue the fight to stay out of the cellar.
Philipsburg-Osceola at Tyrone: This Class-AA semifinal contest is the first of three rematches scheduled for this weekend. The top seeded Golden Eagles were able to contain P-O running back Adam White in the first contest, a 24-7 Tyrone victory in week seven. The Eagles’ defense led by Terry Tate, hounded White, preventing him from breaking free and limiting the Mountie junior to half his normal rushing yards. On offense, it was business as usual for Brice Mertiff, who rushed for 145 yards and scored twice. No game is ever the same as one before, but Tyrone should have the firepower to continue their quest.
The picks: Miller Tyrone 28-7, John Harlow Tyrone 21-17, Kerry Naylor Tyrone 35-8, Kerry Webster (a P-O grad) Philipsburg-Osceola 24-6, Chris Lash Tyrone 28-10, Sam Zema Tyrone 27-14.
Central Mountain at Altoona: Top seed Altoona had to rally in the second half on Oct. 3 to stop Central Mountain 20-10. This Class-AAAA rematch is what Mountain Lions coach Phil Riccio has been waiting for after being so frustrated he made his squad remove the “A” decals from their helmets at halftime in the first game. If Altoona can rise to the occasion and play as well as they did in the second half of that game, pencil them in for next week’s final. Central Mountain can look at the first half of that contest and get incentive for an upset however.
The picks: Miller Altoona, John Harlow Altoona, Kerry Naylor Altoona, Kerry Webster Altoona, Chris Lash Altoona, Sam Zema Altoona.
Hollidaysburg at State College: This game features the other half of the Quad-A playoffs. This class is a tough one to figure out. Hollidaysburg defeated State College on the same night Altoona had to rally from a 10-3 deficit to Central Mountain. Altoona defeated Hollidaysburg in the season opener, then lost to State College in week three. The Tigers jumped out in front of State 21-0 in the first half on Oct 3, then held on to win 21-14. It would seem like any one of Altoona, Hollidaysburg or State College could walk away next week with the district title. But don’t sell Central Mountain short if they can play four good quarters.
The picks: Miller Hollidaysburg, John Harlow State College, Kerry Naylor State College, Kerry Webster State College, Chris Lash Hollidaysburg, Sam Zema Hollidaysburg.
Bishop Guilfoyle at Bishop Carroll: No, this is not the diocese championship, although it could double as that. The Class-A semifinal pits a program which has been little-less than phenomenal in recent years in Bishop Carroll against a program led by long-time coach Tom Irwin that has risen on the backs of its two fine running backs, Josh DeStefano and Matt Georgiana in the last two years and been molded around them. Keep in mind that many of undefeated Carroll’s wins have been over teams a class or more above them. BG lost to Double-A Tyrone and Triple-A Huntingdon in their attempts to jump up in class. This game has been moved to Portage.
The picks; Miller Bishop Carroll, John Harlow Bishop Carroll, Kerry Naylor Bishop Carroll, Kerry Webster Bishop Guilfoyle, Chris Lash Bishop Carroll, Sam Zema Bishop Carroll.
Johnstown at Huntingdon: This is a Triple-A semifinal playoff. Locked into the Laurel Highlands conference, Johnstown has a very respectable 9-1 mark, but played down in class for most of the season. Huntingdon has played a mostly Class-AAA schedule and when they have moved down, such as against Tyrone, it has been against superior competition. Johnstown’s one loss was a 7-6 decision to Bishop Carroll. In any close contest, Huntingdon’s multitalented Geoff Kozak is worth his weight in gold, or maybe the weight of several of his offensive linemen.
The picks: Miller Huntingdon, John Harlow Johnstown, Kerry Naylor Huntingdon, Kerry Webster Johnstown, Chris Lash Johnstown, Sam Zema Johnstown.
Forest Hills at Central Cambria: This is a Class-AA semifinal game. Forest Hills handed Central Cambria, the number two seed in Class-AA, their only loss during the regular season 15-12 in week 6. Forest Hills, the number three seed, uncharacteristically lost their first two games to Johnstown 12-0 and Bishop Carroll 28-14 then have won eight in a row, including a 19-7 win over Bishop McCort in the first round of playoffs last week. Central Cambria rolled over Bedford 40-0 in the first playoff round.
The picks: Miller Forest Hills, John Harlow Forest Hills, Kerry Naylor Central Cambria, Kerry Webster Forest Hills, Chris Lash Forest Hills, Sam Zema Forest Hills.
Northern Cambria at Blairsville: This is a Single-A semifinal game. Blairsville has regrouped after a 20-0 loss in their season opener against Homer Center to win to post nine straight wins, including a 24-20 win over Northern Cambria on Oct. 10, that is the lone loss for the Colts. Blairsville led 17-7 at the half in that one.
The picks: Miller Blairsville, John Harlow Blairsville, Kerry Naylor Northern Cambria, Kerry Webster Blairsville, Chris Lash Blairsville, Sam Zema Blairsville.
Virginia Tech at Pitt: Can any team stop the Rod Rutherford-Larry Fitzgerald juggernaut. If the Panthers can continue to win despite an absence of a running game, more and more emphasis must be placed on the passing skills of Rutherford and receiving skills of Fitzgerald and the rest of the receiving corps. Playing before a packed home stadium won’t hurt either. All the Panthers have to do to claim the Big East title is win out.
The picks: Miller Pitt 33-24, John Harlow 35-31, Kerry Naylor Virginia Tech 26-18, Kerry Webster Virginia Tech 35-7, Chris Lash Virginia Tech 36-24, Sam Zema Pitt 31-17.
Penn State at Northwestern: Penn State is a four-point favorite for this weeks’s contest, the first time that has occurred since the Kent State game in late Sept. With the season State is having, there are more questions about how long Joe Paterno is going to coach than about the Nittany Lions. The Lions played well last week, but still came out on the short end against Ohio State, which at least for a week seemed beatable. Northwestern had a two-game win streak snapped against Purdue after beating Indiana and Wisconsin. PSU lost to Wisconsin and Purdue and plays Indiana next week.
The picks: Miller Penn State 20-14, John Harlow Penn State 28-27, Kerry Naylor Penn State 23-10, Kerry Webster Northwestern 21-7, Chris Lash Penn State 21-20, Sam Zema Penn State 17-14.
Arizona at Steelers: If the Steelers (2-6) are going to turn the ship around and get going in 2003, there will be no better time than this week against the Cardinals. Pittsburgh has outscored Arizona by 33 points and has the top-ranked defense in the AFC. The Steelers need a solid performance from Tommy Maddox and the Steelers’ offensive line if there is to be enough time to showcase what is considered one of pro football’s top receiving units, when they get a chance to show it.
The picks: Miller Steelers 30-24, John Harlow Steelers 3-2, Kerry Naylor Steelers 24-17, Kerry Webster Steelers 21-14, Chris Lash Steelers 20-17, Sam Zema Steelers 28-17.
