High school football Week 1 picks: Dreamin' of winning selections

FROM KEITH GROLLER

I think my 8-year-old daughter, Aimee, has a future as a photographer for one of those supermarket tabloids. Or at the very least she might be good at taking mug shots at the police station.

She has a knack of getting pictures that are not very flattering of people, especially her father.

While I snoozed on the beach while waiting for the sun to come out last week, she snagged the family camera and took this gem below.

My older kids put her up to it and happily suggested I allow Groller's Corner readers to see it. They thought you'd get a kick out of it. So, I am trusting their instincts on this one.

It's a shame that it's not a video as well because I am told there was some pretty serious snoring going on when this shot was taken. I find that hard to believe, but that's what they said.

Anyway, I was dreaming of making some great picks in this high school football season.


I could use a bounce-back year after a tough go in the first Groller-Zambelli Challenge last year.

After doing the Colonial League preview, I believe that circuit will be very interesting this fall and having followed the LVC for years, I know that it's going to be another entertaining, competitive season up and down Route 22.

This week is always the hardest because you have no idea what teams really have until they start playing.

And then you have all of these non-league matchups involving out-of-the-area teams to make it more of a challenge.

Every week is hard to handicap around here, but especially this one. But we'll give it a shot, hoping for at least an 80 percent rate of success.

And by the way, I will be missing my first opening night of high school football since I at Penn State in the fall of 1981. My son, Chris, is getting married. Chances are there will be a few unflattering photos to come out of this night as well.

Here we go:

Colonial League

Bangor 21, Saucon Valley 14 ... Frank Scagliotta was really upbeat when I talked to him about his team during the preseason. The Slaters have some size up front and they have Scott LaValva.

Southern Lehigh 20, Catasauqua 13 ... Smillie will make Spartans fans smile.

Northern Lehigh 49, Notre Dame 0 ... My man Jim Tkach, back on the Bulldogs sideline as an assistant, couldn't have liked that Pitt result against Utah.

Northwestern 34, Salisbury 6 ... Wonder what Bob Mitchell will be doing tonight? It has to be strange for him, after 28 years, to have a free Friday night in September.

Pen Argyl 28, Palisades 21 ... Best Colonial League game of the night. Someone I know said that the Pirates' Josh Parris could be the CL's player of the year. Meanwhile, Green Knights have a chance to be the league's top turnaround team.

Wilson 47, Palmerton 13 ... New Warriors defensive coordinator Tim Moncman will still want to check out the Liberty-Glen Mills score at BASD before the night is through.

LVC/MVC and other nonleague games

Freedom 28, ES South 21... Chris Berman always talks about the Jacksonville Jags as being a "Yeah, but." team. They're good, but just not good enough when it matters most. The Patriots are kind of like that in both football and boys basketball in the LVC. Maybe that will change this year.

Liberty 21, Glen Mills 14 ... Hard to gauge the Battlin' Bulls because the progam is in constant flux with kids always coming and going to this school for troubled youth. Speaking of going, we're told several kids left the Hurricanes program and have resurfaced at other schools.

Whitehall 41, Blue Mountain 14 ... The Zephyrs have won three straight openers under Tony Trisciani, and the feeling is the 3A Eagles will be overmatched by Chris Polony and Co.

Easton 14, Pennsbury 7 ... I remember the days when these two used to play all of the tme in the late 60s and early 70s. In fact, the Falcons are one of the few teams to have an all-time winning record vs. the Red Rovers, going 9-3-1.

Emmaus 40, Germantown 7 ... Green Hornets are another of those "Yeah, but" teams. They were just 6-6 last year, but five of the six losses were by eight points or less. Maybe those youthful mistakes of a year ago will be corrected, but Emmaus needs to replicate the toughness that guys like Tate Klidonas, Joey Myers and Ty Souders provided last year.

Pocono Mountain East 22, Dieruff 13 ... Steve Esack's award-winning series in The Morning Call generated considerable interest in Huskyland late last year. A win here would cause even more of a stir.

Northampton 35, Stroudsburg 14 ... Fred Ross, entering his 41st season with the Mounties, is the Joe Paterno of District 11 football. But the K-Kids offer a bigger opening challenge than Youngstown State.

Parkland 34, Harrisburg 13 ... Look for the Trojans' Rob Dvoracek to emerge as one of the LVC's top rushers and toughest kids. If a QB emerges, Parkland will be back in the playoff hunt.

Boyertown 21, Allen 13 ... We hear nothing but good things about Cedric Lloyd and his impact with the Canary kids. If the kids don't believe in him yet, a win here would solidify their relationship in a hurry.

Central Catholic 34, Downingtown East 21 ... A great test for the Vikings and a defense still adjusting to life without Connor Faust.

Ursuline (Ohio) 35, Becahi 13 ... Ursuline delivered a 44-21 thumping on Hawks in 2008, and there's little evidence to suggest a different outcome here. Either way, I wish my friend Mike Grasso success in his new role in running the athletic department.

Nazareth 28, Pleasant Valley 20 ... My good pal Andy "The Weave" Weaver will be taking the tickets once Nazareth plays at Leh Stadium and another productive offense will sell them in Eagle Country. Hope Chuck Dibilio, one of the great kids in local sports, is back in action soon, if not in this one.

ES North 20, Valley View 12 ... Although overshadowed by the other school in the same district, Chuck Dailey has done a solid job with the T-Wolves.

Marian 21, Lehighton 14 ... These two were a combined 4-16 last year. Can't believe the Colts will be down again.

Tamaqua 34, Jim Thorpe 20 ... A 28-27 win over Olympians in Week 1 was the catalyst to an 8-3 season for Blue Raiders a year ago.

Pius X 35. Pottstown 20 ... Haven't been to Roseto in years, but want to see Stambaugh Era debut in the Slate Belt. ... at least I think that's where Roseto is located.

SMATTERING OF OTHER GAMES

University City 20, Pocono Mt. West 14 ... Would make a better basketball game.

Archbishop Wood 28, Quakertown 14 ... Wood and CCHS could be on a collision course in PIAA 3A.

North Schuylkill 27, Shenadoah Valley 7 ... Spartans may be District 11's best in 2A, again.

Upper Perk 26, Muhlenberg 13 ... QB Casey Perlstein makes the Indians go. His mom, the former Wendy Follweiler, was an outstanding softball player at Allen years ago.

There you go. Dreamin' of a 26-0 start to the season. Enjoy your opening night.


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