Football predictions for Southeastern Pa.
OK, so the Bucks County Brawl doesn't have its usual Week 10 luster.
OK, so the Bucks County Brawl doesn't have its usual Week 10 luster.
While Neshaminy has locked up a berth in the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA tournament and can likely forge a three-way tie atop the Suburban One League National Conference standings, Pennsbury has little chance of returning to the playoffs for a third straight year.
But the Falcons would like nothing more than to close a subpar campaign with an upset win over the Redskins Friday (7 p.m.) at Harry E. Franks Stadium in Langhorne.
Neshaminy has revenge in mind after losing to Pennsbury, 27-20, in overtime in last year's regular-season finale. The victory at Falcon Field gave Galen Snyder's squad its first National Conference title since 1993.
In the 2008 regular-season finale, Mark Schmidt's Redskins, with the aid of three turnovers, scored all their points in the second quarter and triumphed, 16-13, to claim the National Conference championship.
Neshaminy, tied for fourth in the Class AAAA playoff-point standings with North Penn, enters with an 8-1 overall record and a 5-1 conference mark. Pennsbury, which would need a win and major help to sneak into the playoffs, is 5-4 and 3-3.
The Falcons lead the emotionally charged series, 36-35-7.
Pick: Neshaminy, 23-7.
Last week: 9-6. Overall: 88-46.
Catholic League Class AAAA semifinals
At Harry S Truman.
Father Judge (7-2, 2-2) vs. No. 1 La Salle (8-1, 4-0), 7 p.m. Friday. The Crusaders will need big efforts from running backs Raul Quinones and Nick Myers to reverse a 42-14 loss in Week 7. Pick: La Salle, 35-14.
Roman Catholic (6-3, 2-2) vs. St. Joseph's Prep (4-5, 2-2), 7 p.m. Saturday. The Prep surprisingly rolled over the Cahillites, 31-15, in the regular season. Roman's defense, too often burned by big plays, needs to buckle down. Pick: Roman, 23-21.
Public League Class AAAA Semifinal
At Northeast.
Fels (7-2, 6-0) vs. Northeast (6-2, 6-0), 2 p.m. Saturday. Deion Barnes and the red-hot Vikings have won six in a row, including a Gold Division-clinching win over George Washington two weeks ago, by a combined 132-47. Pick: Northeast, 28-13.
Public League Class AAA Semifinals
Saturday at Simon Gratz.
Martin Luther King (3-5, 3-4) vs. Dobbins (8-1, 7-0), 2 p.m. Terrance Stafford, a rugged-as-anything running back and linebacker for Dobbins, will be a handful for Curtis Witherspoon and King. Pick: Dobbins, 23-0.
Roxborough (6-3, 4-3) vs. Simon Gratz (8-1, 6-1), 6 p.m. Gratz took Round 1 by a 34-20 decision. Key for the Indians is slowing down 800-yard rusher Spencer Moses. Pick: Gratz, 20-12.
Regular Season
West Chester Henderson (6-3, 3-2) at No. 5 Downingtown East (8-1, 5-0), 7 p.m. Friday. Henderson likely needs an upset win to earn a berth in the district playoffs. East is trying for an outright Ches-Mont League National Conference title. Pick: East, 33-21.
Springfield, Delco (7-2, 7-1) at Strath Haven (8-1, 8-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday. It's a Class AAA and Central League showdown in Wallingford. It's Springfield tailback Matt Craig vs. Haven fullback Thurman Fortune. Pick: Strath Haven, 21-16.
Other games to watch:
Catholic League Class AA final: Bishop McDevitt (5-4, 3-1) vs. No. 8 West Catholic (7-2, 4-0), at Plymouth Whitemarsh, 7 p.m. Saturday. Pick: West, 47-14.
Catholic League Class AAA semifinal: Monsignor Bonner (5-4, 1-2) vs. No. 6 Cardinal O'Hara (8-1, 2-1), at Widener, 6 p.m. Saturday. Pick: O'Hara, 30-7.
Penn Wood (8-1, 4-0) at Chester (4-5, 1-3), 2 p.m. Saturday. Pick: Penn Wood, 26-20.
Chestnut Hill Academy (4-4, 3-0) at Haverford School (3-6, 3-0), 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Pick: CHA, 21-14.