KEITH GROLLER'S FOOTBALL PICKS

FROM KEITH GROLLER

I had a chance to talk with Karen Coleman earlier this week. She is not only one of my former teachers at Dieruff, but also has been the caretaker of the Siberian huskies Dieruff has had for mascots for the past 34 years.

Karen, who I knew as Miss Benckert, retired as a teacher several years ago.

She's a wonderful lady, always upbeat. She was beloved by students and I remember actually paying attention in her social studies class some 31-34 years ago, which says something, because I wasn't paying attention to much except sports and girls -- and not necessarily in that order -- back then.

Anyway, Karen was down when I talked to her. Can't blame her.

Kiska IV, the husky mascot Karen had taken care of for nearly 14 years died last week.

Kiska had all kinds of health issues and evidently died in her sleep.

Even when you expect it, the loss of a pet can be devastating and Karen had been encouraged by Kiska's health in the days before she died.

Karen loves all of her dogs, but you can tell she had special affection for this Kiska.

She said how wonderfully Kiska always behaved, and how much she loved kids and being at those football games. Kiska, despite bad health issues, was at a game earlier this season and it picked up her spirits.

Kiska IV was purchased by Karen and her late husband, Ron, on the same day that Kiska III died in Apirl of 1997.

I've been told that the entire school was saddened by Kiska's passing and a moment of silence was held at the Dieruff football game last week.

People who never had pets can't understand this emotion.

But these animals are truly part of the family and losing them hurts just as much as losing any family member. I speak from personal experience on that because our house hasn't been the same since losing Punkin, our Chocolate lab, last November.

Kiska wasn't loved by just one family, but an entire school. No matter whether Dieruff football team's won or lost over the years, seeing that dog on the field made it feel as though all was right with the world.

"Unless you went to Dieruff you probably can never understand 'Husky Pride,' " Karen said the other night.

And perhaps you can never understand how much seeing Kiska meant to Dieruff students.

There was never a better symbol for a school's inner strength, resiliency and power than Kiska. She will be missed.

But Karen told me that the search was already on for Kiska V. She promised me a full report when V arrives. Can't wait, and I bet neither can hundreds of Dieruff kids.

As for the picks, I was 20-4 last week which makes me 98-31 (76 percent) on the season.

LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE

Nazareth 49, Becahi 13 -- My man the Weave is going with a prediction of 28-7 Blue Eagles; I think their offense will really pour it on and they will take out last week's frustrations on the Golden Hawks.

Freedom 28, Northampton 20 -- Both of these teams are capable of making a run, but the Pates and Eddie Elliott run it a little better.

Easton 49, Dieruff 0 -- I have great empathy and admiration for the Husky kids who keep working hard every week, but I wonder how much longer the ASD administration is just going to stand by and watch these kids deal with complete mismatches week in, week out. Isn't it time to do something, and I'm not talking about changing coaches again?

Parkland 42, Allen 14 --- See above.

Emmaus 20, Liberty 14 -- In terms of competitiveness, this may be the best LVC game of the weekend. Just can't go against the Hornets' ball-hawking defense.

CCHS 35, Whitehall 21 -- Both coming off exciting wins. Zephs showed me a lot of defensive grit at Easton after Pacchioli picked them apart early, but I just don't know if they have the firepower to go toe-to-toe with the Vikings. Should be a special atmosphere at J. Birney Crum Stadium, and one of the best crowds there outside of the fireworks and drum & bugle competitions.

COLONIAL LEAGUE

Southern Lehigh 41, Notre Dame 14 -- Spartans assistant Mike Feifel really has a terrific book on Colonial League football history. If you care about this league, it's a must-have. Hoping to get Feifel for our Morning Call TV show this week.

Saucon Valley 28, Salisbury 7 -- The Panthers have four of top seven receivers in the run-happy Colonial League and the No. 3 ranked quarterback, and yet they have no wins. That has to change here.

Bangor 21, Catasauqua 14 -- Both are 4-1, but Slaters have played tougher schedule and have proven they can win in a variety of wins -- like with defense as they proved last week in shutting out Wilson.

Northwestern 28, Palmerton 14 -- A shoutout to my main man in P-town, the legendary Ed Hedes. Haven't seen him since the food line in the Coca-Cola Park pressbox. Ed knows I love Palmerton. Tony Choy can vouch for that as well. I am happy the Blue Bombers have tripled their 2009 win total. But they did it against three teams with 0-5 records. Things get tougher tonight.

Wilson 35, Palisades 7 -- Wonder if Tim Moncman, now at Wilson, misses Liberty. Wonder if ex-Palisades coach Brian Gilbert, now at Whitehall, misses Kintnersville. Both seemed to know when it was time to go.

Northern Lehigh 21, Pen Argyl 20 -- This is the GAME OF THE NIGHT and if I wasn't at the Phillies, I think I would have loved to join Colonial League beat writer Tom Housenick at this one. Should be a special atmoshere with a few of the most special players in recent CL history on display. At many venues tonight, I am sure the Phillies will cut into the crowd. That won' t be the case in Slatington.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

East Stroudsburg South 40, Lehighton 13 -- Don't look now, but the Cavs are headed back to the District 11 4A playoff bracket.

Pleasant Valley 28, Pocono Mountain West 14 -- The Bears, who have looked good since getting mauled by Nazareth in Week 1, might crack the bracket as well.

Pocono Mountain East 42, ES North 20 -- I'd like to write more about high-scoring East, but their nickname reminds me of the baseball Cardinals, who put me into depression when I think they should be in Philly this week and not the Reds.

Stroudsburg 27, Wilkes-Barre Coughlin 14 -- This one's for Fred.

OTHERS

Panther Valley 20, Marian Catholic 12 -- Ok, so I might have been a bit harsh in going with North Schuylkill 73-0 over Marian last week. It was only 48-2. I like and respect Stan Dakosty, but this still isn't one of the Colts better teams; not by a longshot.

Jim Thorpe 35, Minersville 18 -- I saw the HBO feature on the quest to take Jim Thorpe's body out of Jim Thorpe and re-bury it in Oklahoma. I don't know about all of the Indian traditions and culture, but no one could honor his memory better than the way the folks in Carbon County have done it for decades. Let him stay.

Blue Mountain 28, Kutztown 0 -- Just mentioning Blue Mountain gives me another chance for a Larry O'Rourke shoutout. Wonder if he agrees with his friend Nick Fierro that Andy Reid must go as Eagles coach. If he left, what would the radio commentators have to talk about on a fall Monday morning?

Owen J. Roberts 33, Upper Perk 20 -- This OJ is 3-2. And that has me wondering how the Juice is doing behind bars these days. In the history of humanity I wonder if anyone ever threw away as much as he did. Obviously, his crimes were far worse than Reggie Bush's and yet I wonder if anyone ever asked him for his Heisman back.

CB South 21, Quakertown 18 -- Everybody's picking South, but I wonder if some mixed them up with 5-0 Council Rock South. Too many directions down there in District 1 with some of these three-name schools.

Penridge 20, Council Bucks East 14 -- How about them Rams? No, not Pennridge. The guys in St. Louis! Two wins in a row! I even got out my Rams jacket this week. It goes back into mothballs if they lose to Detroit.

Phillipsburg 34, Montgomery 14 -- You know the rule on Groller's Corner -- never pick against Bob Stem. Montgomery sounds like a mall, a country music group or a city in Alabama and not a tough New Jersey football team.

North Schuylkill 48, Tamaqua 13 -- Spartans couldn't deliver on my 73-0 prediction last week, so we've lowered the bar for them this week.

Pius X 55, Our Lady of Lourdes 14 -- Good to talk with Phil Stambaugh earlier this week. Quarterback A.J. Long is on his way to quite a career. I am sure some people in Bethlehem won't be happy with that since A.J. attended school in BASD last year, but those same folks should stay quiet considering all of the movement that has been going on in the Christmas City in recent years.

That's it. Looks like a beautiful weekend, which should mean big crowds. Enjoy the games.

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