Week 2 – Games to Watch and Picks

Week 2 – Games to Watch and Picks

In Week 1, I only went 2-2 in my “Games to Watch”, section.  I got the Roman/West and Prep/Washington games right, but I missed on the Frankford/Hatoboro-Horsham game.  I pick the Pioneers to win by 2, in what I figured to be a close game.  But, in the end, it was the Hatters by 1.  Still, not too bad of a pick.  The one that I blew in a big way was the La Salle/North Penn game.  I must have gotten caught up in the North Penn as #1 hype, and went with the Knights, by 12.  But, the Explorers pretty much showed all of SEPA that they haven’t lost a step since their championship year of 2009, as they dismantled the Knights 27-14.



Last Week, Games to Watch : 2-2 .500
Last Week, Overall: 20-9 .690
Overall, Games to Watch: 2-2 .500
Overall Record : 20-9 .690

Week 2 – Games to Watch

Father Judge at Northeast – This game has become an annual neighborhood rivalry, and much more interesting to watch than the Judge/Lincoln Thanksgiving Day game.  This will mark the sixth straight year that these teams have played in the pre-season.  Judge has the edge 3-2 in the series, including wins in each of the last two seasons.  I expect this to be a good game, but I just don’t see Northeast, despite a D1 prospect, having the horses to keep up with Judge.
Pick: Judge 27 – Northeast 14

Bonner at West Catholic (Widener) – In recent years, I wouldn’t pick this as a game to watch, but there’s a lot of expectation around this Bonner team.  Late last year, and spilling into this season, the Friars seem to be trying to get back to the winning form that they had just a few years ago.  Moving down to the AAA class gives Bonner a good shot at being a contender.  But, they’ll have to get past West Catholic, the pre-season consensus top AA team in the state.  West is coming off a tough loss to Roman Catholic in week 1, and Bonner is riding high after taking it to Upper Darby.  I won’t be too surprised if Bonner comes out this game with a win, but I just don’t see it happening.  West has too much talent in the skill positions.
Pick: West Catholic 24 – Bonner 14

Washington at Frankford (Northeast) – Over the years, this has become THE game to see in the Philly Public League.  Frankford used to be top dog in the Pub, but Washington has replaced them in recent years.  This very well could be an early season preview of the Pub AAAA championship.  The way Washington played last week against St Joe Prep, I just don’t see anybody in the Pub beating them.
Pick: Washington 30 – Frankford 13

Archbishop Wood at Chestnut Hill Academy – These two teams have been playing like champions the past couple of years.  Wood has gone deep in the state AAA playoffs the past two seasons, and CHA was co-champs of the Philadelphia Inter-Ac league in 2009.  Wood handled CHA in 2008, but lost an OT game in 2009.  CHA lost their “all world” running back, Ibraheim Campbell to graduation (Northwestern), while Wood picked up all catholic running back, Desmon Peoples from St Joe Prep.  Wood’s tandem of Desmon and and Brandon Peoples combined for 203 yards on 24 carries in their week 1 win against Quakertown.  Wood is just too strong for CHA this year.
Pick: Wood 35 – Chestnut Hill 14

The rest of the Picks for Week 2:
Olney over Edison
Mastbaum over Fels
Overbrook over Lincoln
Bartram over Germantown
IMHOTEP over Comm Tech
Del-Val over FitzSimons
Bok over Prep Charter
Roxborough over Southern
Germantown Academy over Gratz
Truman over Franklin
Cheltenham over McDevitt
Ryan over Wissahickon
Carroll over Conwell-Egan
North Penn over Lansdale Catholic
Central over Furness
O’Hara over Dobbins
Boys’ Latin over Neumann-Goretti
St Joe Prep over St Peter’s Prep
Roman over Malvern
West Philly over Future
La Salle over Bergen Catholic

Unfortunately, I won’t be covering any District 12 games in person this week.  Too many other commitments over the weekend.  Sometimes the schedules collide, and this weekend is one of those weeks.