Week 9 Preview

Recap – Week 8

In the “Games to Watch” section, our “Pick ‘em” panel went 3-1 once again, bringing our season record to 23-9. In one of our rare rants, we decided to discuss Father Judge. How can a team that played in the PCL AAAA championship game in 2008, and got off to such a good start in 2009, go into the dumper so quickly with consecutive losses to Roman and Bonner? Forget that. How did the Judge team give up so many points to Bonner? In this young century, Bonner has only scored more than 40 points three times. Two of those times were against Judge. This week, they scored 49, and in 2004 they scored 53 against the Crusaders. The only other time Bonner scored more than 40 was last season, when they put up 48 against Neumann-Goretti. I hope the Judge people aren’t paying too much attention to the North Catholic team, in hopes of getting some of their players should the Falcons not have a team next year. I mean, how do you play Prep close and then lose to Bonner? Really! How does that happen?

Games to Watch – Week 9

Northeast Catholic at Archbishop Wood, Saturday, 10/31, 1:00PM (Wissahickon) – This is the game that was supposed to be last year. The winner of this game wins the PCL AAA division and the top seed in the playoffs. If you have to see one game this week, this is the one to see.

Our Pick: Wood 28 – North Catholic 19

Bok v IMHOTEP (Distict 12 AA Semi-Final), Saturday, 10/31 11:00AM (10th & Bigler) – Bok has been there and done that. Don’t expect this year to be any different. With no disrespect to IMHOTEP, but this isn’t basketball. Bok is and has been the team to beat in the Philly Pub AA division.

Our Pick: Bok 35 – IMHOTEP 6

School of the Future v Del-Val (District 12 A Final), Saturday, 10/31 3:00PM (Gratz) – These two second year programs have come a long way in their short histories. Del-Val dismissed Future in the semi-finals last season. This year, these team get to show their stuff in the District championship game.

Our Pick: Del-Val 40 – Future 6

Bishop McDevitt v Archbishop Carroll (PCL AA semi-final), Saturday, 10/31 12:00PM (Plymouth-Whitemarsh). – On paper, it looks like McDevitt should roll in this one. But, that’s also they way it looked when the two teams met a few weeks back. But, in that game, McDevitt escaped with a 6-0 win. This should be a good game, and a tough one to pick.

Our Pick: McDevitt 19 – Carroll 14

District 12 Playoffs

AAAA

Catholic League – With Bonner’s dismantling of Father Judge, it looks like the Crusaders will miss the playoffs in 2009. For all intents and purposes, the 4 PCL AAAA playoff teams have been set, with Prep, LaSalle, O’Hara and Roman. The only question that remains is what order these teams will finish. That will be determined over the next couple of weeks.

Public League - The regular season is over. The playoff format has changed since last year. We’re guessing that this was due to a winless team making the playoffs last year. Yes, that was a sad day in Philly football history. In 2009, we’ll have the following match ups:

R1 - Northeast (4-3, 3-1)) v B2 – Martin Luther King (3-5, 3-1)

R2 - Washington (5-2, 3-1) v B1 - Southern (4-3, 4-0)

R3 - Bartram (6-2, 2-2) v W2 – Central (6-1, 3-1)

R4 - Frankford (3-5, 2-2) v W1 - Germantown (5-3, 4-0)

AAA

Catholic League - The playoff spots are only secured for three of the top four teams. Currently, Wood and North, who play in week 9 for the division, will finish first and second. Conwell-Egan has secured third place and will play the loser of the North/Wood game this week. Lansdale Catholic will play Neumann-Goretti this week, with the winner playing the winner of the North/Wood game in the first round of the playoffs, and the loser packing it in for the year.

Public League - This division also has one week remaining, and only 2 of the 4 playoff teams have been set. Dobbins and Roxborough have clinched playoff spots, but a couple of pivotal games will be played this week, including Gratz and Penn. We’re not sure of the Pub tie-breakers, so we’ll wait for the outcomes along with everyone else.

AA

Catholic League - The teams and matchups have been set. West Catholic, the division champ, will play Dougherty and McDevitt will host Carroll in first round games. No disrespect to the Cardinal, but West should win this one handily. But, don’t count the Cardinals out. They are playing at Truman, where Conwell-Egan plays. Several of the Dougherty coaches used to coach at Conwell-Egan, so this will be like a home game for them. The McDevitt/Carroll game could be a real good game. McDevitt won a close 6-0 game against Carroll a couple of weeks ago, so this one could go either way.

PCL Semi-Finals

West v Dougherty - Friday, at 7:00PM, at Truman (Fairless Hills)

McDevitt v Carroll – Saturday, 12:00PM, Plymouth-Whitemarsh

Public League – The AAA playoffs began last week in the Pub, with division winner, Bok, beating Franklin for the second week in a row. IMHOTEP also beat Furness for the second week in a row. These two wins have set up a AA Pub championship game between Bok and IMHOTEP, which will be played on Saturday, 11:00AM, at 10th and Bigler.

A

At the A level, (does anyone other than family members really care about the A teams?) it will be Dev-Val vs School of the Future for the District championship. This game will be played on Saturday, at 3:00PM at Gratz. We’re going to estimate a crowd of about 50-75 people for this District championship game.