Bold predictions: Week 4
Now it’s time to get down to business. With a lot of the non-league games over with, Week 4 is the time when section play opens up and rivalries start to boil. This week certainly isn’t short on interesting matchups and could have some surprises on the horizon.
Last week: 16-4
Overall: 41-15
THE GAME: Annville-Cleona (0-3) at Northern Lebanon (0-3)
THE WINNER: Annville-Cleona
THE REASON: Despite neither team tallying a win yet, both the Dutchmen and Vikings are losing their games by a measly average of six points. I’ll give the edge to A-C because of their two-headed monster consisting of quarterback Mitch Rodkey and tailback Quentin Hall. The two players make up most of a Dutchmen offense that is averaging over 150 yards rushing per game.
THE GAME: Berks Catholic (3-0) at Columbia (2-1)
THE WINNER: Berks Catholic
THE REASON: The Crimson Tide hung with Trinity in their 28-22 loss last week but may need even more offense this week against Berks Catholic. Although they haven’t faced fierce defenses, the Saints are averaging 41.3 points per game while only allowing 6.6 points on defense.
THE GAME: Cocalico (3-0) at Conestoga Valley (0-3)
THE WINNER: Cocalico
THE REASON: The Eagles made a statement last week by defeating Governor Mifflin, 59-7. That statement should scare the heck out of the Buckskins who are having issues keeping opponents out of the endzone. So far this year, Conestoga Valley is allowing 41 points per game.
THE GAME: Elizabethtown (1-2) at Manheim Central (3-0)
THE WINNER: Manheim Central
THE REASON: The Barons offense has been a finely-tuned machine up to this point and has scored 52 points in each of their last two games. The Bears however, have struggled since beating Donegal in week one. Elizabethtown has been outscored, 85-21 in the last two weeks.
THE GAME: Ephrata (0-3) at Lebanon (2-1)
THE WINNER: Lebanon
THE REASON: The Cedars are looking for their third win in a row this week against the Mountaineers. Lebanon has scored 40 or more points in the last two weeks while Ephrata has yet to score over 14 in their first three games.
THE GAME: Garden Spot (3-0) at Donegal (1-2)
THE WINNER: Garden Spot
THE REASON: Records don’t mean much in this Section Three rivalry. Both teams have had ups and downs so far but the Spartans are the team that has been able to persevere in all three weeks. One thing that might hinder Garden Spot is the status of center and three-year starter Chris Trostle. The senior injured his shoulder last week against Conestoga Valley and had to leave the game in the fourth quarter.
THE GAME: Hempfield (2-1) at Penn Manor (3-0)
THE WINNER: Penn Manor
THE REASON: This is going to get about as physical as it gets. With both teams having massive offensive/defensive lines, the end result could be determined by the war in the trenches. Any result wouldn’t shock me but I’ll take the home team that just came off a big win against Dallastown.
THE GAME: Lancaster Catholic (0-3) at Manheim Township (2-1)
THE WINNER: Manheim Township
THE REASON: If you would have told me in August that the Crusaders would start the season 0-3 and I would be picking them to go 0-4 in mid-September, I’d call you crazy. However, Lancaster Catholic has been offensively stagnant so far this year and has some real questions at the quarterback position. While the Blue Streaks haven’t exactly lit up the scoreboard this year either, they have found ways to win in the past two weeks and haven’t tasted defeat yet at home
THE GAME: Pequea Valley (3-0) at Elco (0-3)
THE WINNER: Pequea Valley
THE REASON: I haven’t picked against the Braves yet this season and I’m sticking with them this week. This Pequea Valley squad is different than its predecessors and it’s “drive for five” is starting to look more attainable every week.
THE GAME: Warwick (2-1) at Cedar Crest (1-2)
THE WINNER: Warwick
THE REASON: Warwick got the best of Cedar Crest last year with a 24-23 win in Lititz. I expect the Warriors to roll into Lebanon and come out with the same result. Warwick fired up their offense after a lackluster performance in week one and have outscored their opponents, 84-30 in the last two weeks. Meanwhile, the Falcons have spent the last two weeks on the road and have suffered close losses to Lower Dauphin and Hershey.
THE GAME: Wilson (3-0) at J.P. McCaskey (0-3)
THE WINNER: Wilson
THE REASON: Wilson is another team I simply cannot pick against until they lose. I can’t see a Red Tornado defense that is giving up over 34 points per game being able to contain the Bulldogs offense.
THE GAME: Susquehanna Township (2-1) at Palmyra (1-2)
THE WINNER: Susquehanna Township
THE REASON: The Cougars were able to edge Donegal, 31-3- last week but also allowed 244 yards on the ground and 241 yards in the air. Giving up that kind of yardage this week won’t get the job done against a road-tested Indians team.
THE GAME: Lampeter-Strasburg (1-2) at Solanco (0-3)
THE WINNER: Lampeter-Strasburg
THE REASON: The Mules are averaging just four points per game but have tightened up on defense since giving up 42 points to Penn Manor in week one. I can’t see Solanco getting past L-S though. The Pioneers offense played up to its potential last week when it put up 34 points in their win over Red Lion.