Rick's Pick Six: Pennridge, Central Bucks South to battle for playoff seed
We're coming down to the stretch in determining the playoff qualifiers - and seedings - for the PIAA District 1 football playoffs. So it's crunch time.
We're coming down to the stretch in determining the playoff qualifiers - and seedings - for the PIAA District 1 football playoffs. So it's crunch time.
On top of that, several Week 9 games will figure heavily in deciding some division and conference titles.
North Penn (8-0 record, 191.25 average), Neshaminy (8-0, 175), Perkiomen Valley (8-0, 167.50), Coatesville (7-1, 153.75), and Ridley (7-1, 153.75) are at the top of the hill in the 16-team Class 6A tournament.
With the PIAA's expansion this year to six classes for football, 16 of the 26 Class 5A squads will qualify for the playoffs.
Springfield-Delco (8-0, 178.75) and Academy Park (8-0, 176.75) are vying for the top spot in the 5A tourney. Marple Newtown (7-1, 160) and Upper Dublin (6-1, 175) should also earn first-round home playoff games.
The front-runners for the four Class 4A playoff bids are Interboro (7-1, 161.25), Pottsgrove (6-2, 147.50), and Upper Perkiomen (4-4, 107.50). It looks as if Pope John Paul (3-5, 81.25) and Pottstown (2-6, 81.25) will vie for the final berth.
One of the most important 6A contests when it comes to playoff positioning is Friday night's Suburban One League Continental Conference between Pennridge (5-3 overall, 2-1 league) and host Central Bucks South (6-2, 3-1) in Warrington.
Pennridge, with an average of 128.75 points, is tied for 11th place in the rankings with 6-2 Garnet Valley; C.B. South (151.25) is sixth.
Pennridge's spread attack is spurred by dual-threat quarterback Jagger Hartshorn. The 6-foot, 190-pounder has rushed 111 times for 955 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has connected on 42 of 90 passes for 764 yards and six scores.
"He's absolutely a very special high school athlete," C.B. South coach Tom Hetrick said of the senior transfer from Forsyth Central (Ga.). "He clearly makes their offense go."
C.B South, which also runs the spread, is keyed by senior halfback Tyler Watson, QB Jack Johns, fullback Nate Norris, handyman Sam Thompson, and receivers Cole Braccio and Casey Sloms.
Watson has carried 108 times for 712 yards and six TDs; Norris and Thompson have combined for 522 rushing yards on 114 attempts; and Braccio has 22 catches for 309 yards and two scores.
Pick Six
1
No. 20 Pennridge at No. 16 Central Bucks South, Friday, 7 p.m.
C.B. South's defense, anchored up front by tackle Noah Collachi and end Pat Fleisch, must keep close tabs on Hartshorn.
Pick: Pennridge, 27-21.
2
No. 24 Germantown Academy (5-1, 1-0 Inter-Ac) at No. 13 Episcopal Academy (6-0, 1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Can QB C.J. McAnally and the Churchmen gain payback for last year's 27-24 loss to GA?
Pick: Episcopal, 16-13.
3
No. 10 Academy Park (8-0, 3-0 Del-Val) at Interboro (6-1, 2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
The visiting Knights have a stellar one-two rushing punch in Teddy Wright and Dazhon Miller.
Pick: Academy Park, 33-12.
4
Garnet Valley (6-2, 5-2 Central) at No. 14 Springfield-Delco (8-0, 7-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Cougars' stout defense, allowing only eight points per game, looks to slow the Jaguars' triple-option attack.
Pick: Garnet Valley, 24-21, in overtime.
5
No. 17 Malvern Prep (3-3, 0-1 Inter-Ac) at No. 8 Haverford School (5-1, 1-0), Saturday, 2 p.m.
The Fords' Malik Twyman, who has carried 130 times for 943 yards and 11 TDs, is likely to be the X-factor at Sabol Field.
Pick: Haverford, 31-17.
6
No. 19 Penn Charter (4-1, 0-1 inter-Ac) at No. 25 Springside Chestnut Hill (4-2, 0-1), Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
Both the Quakers and Blue Devils look to rebound from heartbreaking OT setbacks.
Pick: SCH, 28-23.
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