KEITH GROLLER'S WEEK 2 FOOTBALL PICKS

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Can't believe it has already been a week since my son's wedding.

It was a strange feeling last Friday night to be going to a wedding and not a high school football game.

I don't think I've missed an opening night of the high school football season since 1981 when I was still in college and going to classes in Happy Valley.

I was checking scores early in the night, but at some point during the course of the evening; I can't remember exactly when -- maybe it was when I joined my son and the guys in the wedding party in a chorus of Billy Joel's "Piano Man" or maybe it was when I was doing my Michael Jackson imitation on the dance floor or maybe it was when I was posing in the photo booth with my daughter (see photo below) -- I stopped caring about the scores and just enjoyed the festivities.



I got caught up the next morning and was pleasantly surprised to learn I had a good night with the predictions. I wound up going 22-4 overall.

Not a bad start. I believe I got every game involving a LVC team correct, except Harrisburg over Parkland, and was 6-0 in the Colonial League.

I misfired in picking Tamaqua to beat Jim Thorpe, University City to beat Pocono Mt. West and Pius X to beat Pottstown and that's it.

Hopefully, we can keep the momentum going as I get the wedding out of my system and experience a more traditional September weekend. I will be at the Northampton-Liberty game tonight, do a radio show in the morning (AM 1470 from 9-11) and then Villanova-Lehigh tomorrow afternoon.

I will probably fall asleep during the Penn State-Alabama game and as we know from that picture on the beach, I can fall asleep anywhere or during anything.

Don't sleep on these picks:

LVC

Bethlehem Catholic 21, Allen 14 ... Probably the Canaries last chance at a win until the Dieruff game on Nov. 5. Hoping to snag Allen coach Cedric Lloyd for our Morning Call TV show on Monday.

Easton 28, Nazareth 21 ... Both were very impressive last week, but we hear the Red Rovers line is something special again as is QB Pacchioli.

Whitehall 27, Emmaus 14 ... Another terrific matchup. I guess to some Emmaus oldtimers this one should still be on Thanksgiving, but both probably consider Parkland their prime rivals now. Zephs simply have too many offensive weapons. I imagine Chris Polony will be at Goodman Stadium checking out his future team on Saturday afternoon. And considering the story that broke in Philly on Thursday, Polony could be playing for a Villanova team that will play its games in the Big East, much like Darrun Hilliard.

Liberty 20, Northampton 13 ... Can't wait to hear that Grenadier Band. Let's see if they still can create those goose-bumps. It's not football season for me until I hear those bagpipes. I think the K-Kids could pull a surprise here, but old habits die hard and until somebody proves to me that Liberty is another high school program, I won't believe it.

Parkland 56, Dieruff 7 ....Got a tour of the renovated Dieruff gym and the new Mike Meilinger wing this week. AD Tim Geiger was kind enough to provide the tour. They have made some nice improvements. More than upgraded facilities and a fresh coat of paint is needed to cure what is wrong with the Dieruff program, however. I still think an alternative schedule -- independent, MVC etc. -- rather than going through the LVC meatgrinder would be much fairer to the kids, but officials tell me they are going to stay the course and we can expect more lopsided outcomes like this one.

CCHS 34, Freedom 27 ... I know the area will be focused on Penn State-Alabama on Saturday night, but this is another great matchup and deserving of a nice crowd. With the way both teams can score, this one could take awhile, but you still should be home in time to see the end of the PSU game.

COLONIAL LEAGUE

Bangor 42, Palisades 14 ... In their first three games last season, the Slaters totaled 44 points. They might top that in this one alone tonight.

Catasauqua 34, Notre Dame 7 ... A nice diversion from all of the ugliness with the baseball situation.

Southern Lehigh 21, Palmerton 7 .... Spartans assistant coach Mike Feifel has done a spectacular history of Colonial League football that is a must-have once it's available. Solehi is on the way to making its own special history this season.

Northwestern 14, Saucon Valley 7 ... I admit I switched teams about five times in the Groller-Zambelli Challenge on this one. Ultimately, I went with the home field advantage and the Tigers defense.

Northern Lehigh 28, Wilson 21 ... This will be a nice reunion between former Liberty coach Tim Moncman and former Hurricanes assistant Jim Tkach, who is back on the sidelines at Northern Lehigh as a member of Joe Tout's staff. Tkach will be the first to admit that Moncman pretty much saved his life by bringing him to Liberty after the tragedy in his family. I admire both guys and believe Liberty can't be the same without them. This should be a dandy contest. Can't remember the last time I picked against Wilson in a Colonial League game, but I think Cody Remaley can be the difference.

Pen Argyl 49, Salisbury 7 ... Congrats to the newest members of the Pen Argyl Hall of Fame, especially my friend Ted Long who was a great baseball player, but may even be better at running bus trips. The Grollers never have had a complaint on a Long tour bus.

MVC

Delaware Valley 21, ES South 13 ... Del Val is coming off a win over El Toro, Calif., the same team that played Whitehall in a special game about 25 years ago that I covered.

Wallenpaupack 35, ES North 14 ... Got up to Lake Wallenpaupack, ever so briefly, this summer and the place looks as good as ever. Never been to ES North, but I hear it's nice around there, too.

Lehighton 20, Tamaqua 12 ... The Indians racked up 392 yards of offense in loss to Marian last week, so the Indians are capable of moving the ball.

Pleasant Valley 41, Honesdale 7 ... The Bears were overwhelmed by Nazareth last week, but now they get a team that lost 68-6 to Wallenpaupack.

Quakertown 23, Pocono Mt. East 14 ... You wonder how these matchups are set up. Aren't there closer foes each could play? Panthers hung in there fairly well against strong Archbishop Wood team last week, while Cardinals showed some nice flashes against Dieruff. But sometimes success against a team like Dieruff can provide false sense of confidence.

Pocono Mt. West 21, Crestwood 13 ... The Panthers' Terrence Quiteh ran all over University City last week -- 123 yards on 10 carries and two rushing touchdowns and one receiving TD. It won't come as easy this week.

Pottsville 27, Stroudsburg 7 ... Crimson Tide could be Central Catholic's biggest challenger in District 11 3A.

OTHERS

Jim Thorpe 19, Reading Central Catholic 14 ...Olympians coming off impressive win over Tamaqua, and Reading CC has always been more of a basketball power than a football force.

Marian Catholic 27, Schuylkill Haven 18 ... Payback behind Paul Martin for some Haven horror shows in recent years.Speaking of Haven, Zach Barket should get more time in Lehigh's backfield, maybe as early as this Saturday.

North Schuylkill 36, Minersville 0 ...Spartans unlikely to be challenged until November.

Phillipsburg 28, Plainfield 13 ... Chance to make my annual statement that I am glad Bob Stem is still coaching. And I still think he should be coaching on this side of the river. He made Lehigh Valley football a more interesting stage.

Kutztown 7, Pequea Valley 6 ... Didn't get to the Kutztown Folk Festival this year, but I did hit around some golf balls at Sittler's. Not that the practice sessions did my game any good when I got to a real course.

Pennridge 33, Bensalem Twp. 7 ... These Rams are good. My Rams should be better this year. Then again, they can't get much worse.

Upper Perk 42, Upper Dublin 34 ... Upper Perk was involved in a 84-point game last week and Upper Dublin was involved in a 70-point contest. Bet the basketball coaches at each school wish their teams could score like this.

Pius X 35, Saint Joseph by the Sea 14... While it wasn't on my bucket list of things to do before I retire, I did enjoy my trip to Roseto last week once I found the town and the field. Didn't partake, but the food over at the refreshment stand smelled good. Passed Weona Park in Pen Argyl on the way there and that looks like a pretty neat park. Does the carousel still work there? I don't know a thing about Saint Joseph by the Sea except this is definitely the team Bill "The Tuna" Parcells should be running rather than the Dolphins.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/