The Big Picture 01 – Week 4 Update

The BIG Picture

BY Paula G.
Ace Sports Reporter

2007 – Week Four Update
September 20, 2007

LANGHORNE: First of all – I’m still here (as in Langhorne)! Although it is true that I’ve been traveling around for some games, I’m back home now (and the match-ups were high school and college too as I not only caught the Georgia Tech-ND tussle in South Bend a few weeks back I also watched my good friend Bruce “Rollie” Rollison and his Mater Dei Monarchs out of Santa Ana, California, tangle with that American Fork, Utah team at the Santa Ana Bowl – that was fun). But my heart really beats for Pennsylvania school boy football so a little closer to home I did get out to Pittsburgh and the “Wolverena” this past Friday night to see the Central Catholic Vikings and the Woodland Hills Wolverines bang heads. The final score? PCC 45 – WH 7 (yes, PCC is looking pretty good but Woody has started 0-4). Plus I’ve also had the pleasure of seeing a few other games around the state as well (including tussles in Coatesville, Langhorne and Abington among others). Still, and with all that said, since I may have been a little sidetracked by it all, the webmaster himself (Bobby Da’ Man) told me the fans needed a “Paula The BIG Picture Fix” – you know, a snapshot of what’s happening around our state. So here it is.

First, let’s start with a look upstate and Up North. It′s pretty simple: Bethlehem Liberty (again) is at the top o’ the heap with the contenders (in no order) being Parkland, Easton, Emmaus, Wyoming Valley West and perhaps Whitehall. The early word is the ‘Canes are looking pretty good and just might be “The Team” up that way. As an aside, after Easton’s loss to Whitehall (and that “escape” against Emmaus) it sure makes you wonder whether the Dawgs are quite up to speed.

Mid-State? Think Altoona, Bishop McDevitt, Cumberland Valley and Harrisburg (it’s hard to call a favorite yet as they’ve each been dinged once and is 3-1 although I hear that Harrisburg is getting some good ink with the rest just a notch off the pace). And a dark horse could be State College. Meanwhile, way out in the Northwest part of the state it’s a one-team race: Erie Cathedral Prep (course you hope they don’t see PCC again in the playoffs as the Vikings already beat them, 49-21.)

District 7? Like this takes any brainpower: Pittsburgh Central Catholic is numero uno. Then the Gateway Gators and North Allegheny Tigers round out numbers 2 and 3 at the moment (especially after the Upper St. Clair Panthers saw their 19 game win streak stopped cold by the Tigers this past Thursday night, 43-19). And as to Gateway, they did lose one in that Ohio versus USA “thing” while they just pulled one out over a 2-2 Norwin, 37-36, on Friday night so it does make you scratch your head (but they do have talent). Some other names? Hmmm – Bethel Park (that’s right, Bethel Park). And at 3-1 McKeesport is still worth watching while a 3-1 USC isn’t finished yet either; however, PCC is looking very solid right now.

Finally, our favorite – District One! Leaving the SOL group aside for the moment, you have to think that Ridley, Downingtown West and East, Conestoga and Coatesville are in the mix. And as to the SOL (beside the National Conference) Souderton and Hatboro-Horsham get your attention, I’d say.

Now getting back to the National Conference, early on it’s hard not to think of the Moleskinners and North Penn along with a fast rising CB South squad. On the bubble? Abington is nothing to sneeze at while Bensalem may just be the surprise of the year at 3-1 so far. Plus before we lower the coffin in the ground, Pennsbury hasn’t breathed its last just yet (and Truman and Pennridge, although both having tough starts, can still inflict some damage).

Anyway, the good news is that there is a lot of football left to be played. And it ain’t over till it′s over; so people – hang on to your hats (regardless of what part of the state, what conference or what team you’re watching closely) and hunker down cause we’ve still got six big weeks of regular season ball to go.

PS: All right then, Bob, I’ve given you my two-cents. And notwithstanding the “cheapness” of my opinion, I’d say that it′s a 100% certainty that at least one of the two teams that will be playing for the 4A title come December is in the group up above. Yup – I’d bet the farm on that call (trying to figure out which one it will be, now that’s the hard part).

Week of September 20, 2007