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Post a commentRick O'Brien: Season grows late, pressure grows hot
Week 10 is filled with pressure-packed games.
Contact staff writer Rick O'Brien at 610-313-8019 or robrien@phillynews.com.
It's the cutoff weekend for the PIAA District 1 and subregional playoff tournaments in four classifications, so there are a number of win-or-probably-go-home contests on tap tonight.
To earn one of 16 berths in the Class AAAA playoffs, Glen Mills and Perkiomen Valley, currently tied for 15th place in the rankings with an 81 power-points average, have their backs against the wall in road games against Interboro and Owen J. Roberts, respectively. That's because No. 17 Conestoga (80) and No. 18 Unionville (78) are both favored to win their games.
In a matchup that will figure heavily in the Class AAAA and AAA bracketing, Norristown (tied for No. 7 in AAAA) visits Upper Moreland (No. 7 in AAA). If the Golden Bears lose, they would likely need Downingtown East to beat West Chester Henderson (No. 9 in AAA) to gain a berth in an eight-team playoff field.
Tomorrow, there are seven playoff tilts. The Public League has its Class AAAA and AAA semifinals, and the Catholic League holds its Class AAA semifinals and Class AA final.
Last week: 12-3.
Overall: 99-25 (.798 winning percentage).
Tonight
Norristown (8-1, 4-1) at Upper Moreland (5-3, 3-2), 7. With a hard-fought win over Chris Smallwood and company, the Eagles gain a first-round home playoff game and tie Upper Dublin for the Suburban One League American Conference title. Pick: Norristown, 21-19.Council Rock South (7-2, 4-2) at Council Rock North (6-3, 4-2), 7. North needs this game more than South, so we're siding with the Indians. Pick: North, 27-14.
Tomorrow
Cardinal O'Hara (8-1, 4-1) vs. La Salle (7-1, 4-1), at Plymouth Whitemarsh, 2 p.m. These two will meet again in the Catholic League semifinals. Pick: La Salle, 17-14.Haverford School (7-2, 3-0) at Chestnut Hill Academy (8-0, 3-0), 2:30 p.m. A victory would all but give the Fords their first Inter-Ac League crown since 1971. The Blue Devils need a win here and in their finale against Malvern Prep. Pick: CHA, 28-21.
Public League Class AAAA semifinals
at SouthernFrankford (4-5) vs. Northeast (5-3), 3 p.m. Pick: Frankford, 21-20.
Bartram (7-2) vs. George Washington (6-2), 6 p.m. Pick: Washington, 30-12.
Public League Class AAA semifinals
at Simon GratzMastbaum (2-6) vs. Dobbins (6-2), 3 p.m. Pick: Dobbins, 26-6.
Simon Gratz (5-4) vs. Roxborough (6-3), 6 p.m. Pick: Roxborough, 20-18.
Catholic League Class AA championship
at NortheastBishop McDevitt (7-2) vs. West Catholic (7-2), 7 p.m. Pick: West, 21-14.
Catholic League Class AAA semifinals
at Harry S TrumanLansdale Catholic (2-7) vs. Archbishop Wood (7-2), 7 p.m. Pick: Wood, 24-0.
at Plymouth Whitemarsh
Conwell-Egan (5-4) vs. North Catholic (4-4), 7 p.m. Pick: North, 14-7.
Contact staff writer Rick O'Brien at 610-313-8019 or robrien@phillynews.com.
