A Look at the Pub Non-League Schedules

The initial version of the Pub schedule has been released. We call it the “initial release” because it usually changes before the season begins. It appears as though the new alignment in this league has cut down drastically on the pre-season games that have become so prevalent over the past decade. Some of these non-league match ups have been pretty good, while others have been disasters. We’ll focus on just a handful of teams and critique their decisions for non-league games. And, before anyone sends me an email, I know that some teams, due to league scheduling and availability of opponents, sometimes schedule games that are not as desirable as I would like.


Three Divisions, Three Starts
In the Pub, the AA division comes out of the blocks with league games in week 1. The only exception is Bok, who will play AAAA neighborhood rival, Southern in week 1. Because of the wacky nature of the AA playoffs, especially after the league championships (remember West Catholic and McDevitt playing 3 of four weeks last year?), their season needs to wrap before week 8. But, due to the odd number of teams in this division, each team will either get a week off during the season, or play a non-league game. The AAAA divisions (Gold and Silver) will get one preseason non-league game, and also due to an odd number of teams (7 in each division), each team will either rest up or play a non-league game during the season. In the AAA division, the regular season will not begin until week 3. This is the only division with an even number of teams (8). Also, the AAA playoffs start a week or two later than both AAAA and AA.


Now, let’s take a look at some of the schedules of the Pub teams. We won’t comment much on the regular season games, as the individual teams have no real say in which they play once the divisions are set. But, as we look at some of the non-league games, we’ll point out who hit a homerun and who laid an egg.


Washington – The Eagles sandwich five of their six regular season games between two tough non-league games. In week 1, the Eagles will host perennial PCL power, St Joe Prep. Now this is the type of game I want to watch during Labor Day weekend. Both teams figure to be in the hunt late in the year in their respective leagues, and it even could be a preview of the City Title game. In week 7, the Eagles will host Wilmington’s Salesianum. The Sallies are one of the top teams in Delaware every year, and this could be a good warm-up for the Eagles as they finish the regular season and head to the playoffs.
Non-League Schedule Grade A+

Frankford – The Pioneers, one of the usual suspects in the Pub playoffs for like….ever, like Washington, look for tough, but comparable opponents in their non-league matchups. This year, the Pioneers will once again play Hatboro-Horsham in week 1. The Hatters are coached by Frankford grad, Dave Sanderson. The Pioneers can definitely hang with this team. In the past two years, each team has handed the other a 7 point loss. In week 3, the Pioneers will travel up to Bucks County to take on Pennsbury. These two teams have played each other the past 5 seasons, with Pennsbury winning each year. But, the margin of victory has shrunk from the 20’s, down to about a touchdown or two. Very good game for Frankford.
Non-League Schedule Grade – A

Northeast – This team is the most hard luck team in the Pub. They are usually on the doorstep, but they are usually overshadowed by Washington or Frankford. But, if you’re going to be number three; those are two good teams to be behind. The Vikings will open with two non-league games. Week 1, the Vikings host Norristown, followed by the annual “neighborhood bowl” against Father Judge. This will be the sixth straight year the Vikings will play Judge in week 2. In the previous five games, Judge has won three, with the Vikings winning in 2005 and 2008. This will be the fifth straight year that the Vikings are playing Norristown to open their campaign. Norristown has won the previous four, but all have been decent games. These are very good selections for preseason games.
Non-League Schedule Grade – A

Germantown – We’re including Germantown in this list because when we first looked at their schedule, we thought that they finally received, and actually read, my memo from last season. The memo stated “Stop the Insanity”. The insanity that we’re talking about is the fact that Germantown has been scheduling games way out of their league, and we’re not just talking distance. Since the 2006 season, Germantown has played non-league, non-pub teams 12 times. They have been beaten each of those 12 games. No, check that. They have been brutalized each of those 12 games. The closest they came to actually winning a non-league, non-pub team, was in 2007, when they fell to the hapless Cardinals of Dougherty, by a score of 28-8. In those 12 games, Germantown has averaged less than 4 points per game, while giving up, on average, over 44 ppg. Their average margin of loss has been a little over 40 points per game, with their worst shellacking coming in 2008, when they were crushed, 52-0 to Emmaus. So, back to the “memo”. You see, at first glance, we thought Germantown limited their pre-season, non-league, non-pub games because they finally got a clue. The reality of the situation is that some of those games were cut out due to the limited number of non-league games that can be played this year, mainly due to the latest pub alignment. In week 1, the Bears will play the “Ant” to the Emmaus “Rubber Tree Plant.” The only problem is that that this ant can’t move that rubber tree plant. I wonder if the geniuses at Germantown know this. If not, I’m telling them now. STOP THE INSANITY!!!
Non-League Schedule Grade – C- (they get points for scheduling McDevitt in week 4. Now, that’s a good game to put on the schedule. At least you may have a shot…..a slim one, but definitely a shot.)

Delaware Valley – This team, moving up to the AA class after a brief playoff appearance in the state playoffs. The last time we saw this team, they were getting beaten 26-14 by that “powerhouse” (note sarcasm) of District 1, St Pius X, in the first round of the District 1/12 sub-regional game. Now that they have moved up to AA, we’re guessing that someone at Del-Val had a few too many to drink, and now they have some serious beer muscles. You see, the Del-Val team will play Central Dauphin, who is a real AAAA powerhouse from Harrisburg. Really? You betcha! This is their only non-league game, and they waste it on a game where they will most likely get smoked. You have to wonder if the powers to be at Del-Val drink at the same bar, or at least the same brand Kool-Aid, as the good folks at Germantown.
Non-League Game Grade - F


Next, we’ll take a look at the Philadelphia Catholic League non-league match ups. I’m sure there are some teams who schedule well, while other are just looking for an easy win. We’ll let you know which is which in a couple of weeks.