HS football picks: Our four will score, but will it be enough?

FROM KEITH GROLLER

What a year for offense in area high school football.

Can't remember our teams ever putting up the kind of numbers they are putting up this season.

Duke Helm, the District 11 statistician, compiles a weekly list of numbers, facts and trivia questions which he sends out to the media.

He has been extremely busy this year alerting us to new records being set every week.

And he'll have more updating to do do since many of the top players are still alive in state quarterfinal games this weekend.

Look at these numbers. Amazing.

Running Backs

Dylan Evans, Pen Argyl, 1,948 yards rushing and 30 TDs -- Career, 4,283 yards and 78 TDs,

Colin McDermott, CCHS, 1,347 yards rushing and 24 TDs -- Career, 3,014 yards and 41 TDs.

Even CCHS QB Brendan Nosovitch has stunning rushing numbers: 3,628 yards and 59 TDs in his career, with 852 yards and 14 TDs coming this year.

Quarterbacks

Central's Nosovitch 3,219 yards passing and 33 TDs this year -- Career 8,659 yards and 100 TDs.

Pius X's A.J. Long 3,367 yards passing and 43 TDs this year -- Career 6,219 yards and 71 TDs and he is only a SOPHOMORE!!!!!!!!

Nazareth's Daniel Harding 3,448 yards passing and 30 TDs -- Career 5,240 yards and 50 TDs.

Receivers

Central's Kevin Gulyas, 108 catches, 1777 yards and 24 TDs -- Career 233 catches, 3,947 yards, 51 TDs.

Pius X's Matt Camilletti, 53 catches, 712 yards and 6 TDs -- Career 178 catches, 2,571 yards, 23 TDs.

Nazareth's Adam Bridgeforth, 75 catches, 1,135 yards and 8 TDs -- Career 99 catches, 1,451 yards, 14 TDs.

Central's Jalen Snyder-Scipio, 87 catches, 1,372 yards and 14 TDs -- Career 87 catches, 1,372 yards, 14 TDs.

Pius X's DuBois Ross, 44 catches, 1,017 yards, 18 TDs -- Career 69 catches, 1,354 yards, 22 TDs.

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As for the picks, there's no doubt in my mind that our four teams will score points and each should break the 30-point mark. Central, I wouldn't doubt, will put up at least 50, maybe 60 -- again.

But the question in each game is can the local team's defense play well enough to record a victory?

I was 4-0 with my playoff picks last week to improve to 195-51 on the season, a 79.2 percent success rate.

Here we go.

CLASS 4A

Nazareth 34, La Salle 27 -- Expect this one to be a shootout with the versatility of Nazareth's offense being the key. It may take some turnovers by the Eagles defense to hold down La Salle, but after two years of La Salle eliminating our District 11 champion, the tide is about to turn as long as Nazareth is not content with just winning the league and district titles. Weave is going 45-33, Blue Eagles, of course.

CLASS 3A

Central Catholic 55, Shamokin 21 -- Hopefully, the Vikings learned last week that the road to Hershey is going to have a few potholes in it this year and they very nearly suffered a flat tire against a better than expected Valley View team last week. Valley View did CCHS a favor every time they threw the ball last week because the Vikings never proved they could consistently stop the run. Hopefully, major adjustments have been made.I expect Nosovitch and Gulyas to have another huge night and then we'll all get set for the rematch we've been waiting for,

CLASS 2A

Pen Argyl 34, West Catholic 27 -- I keep hearing West Catholic is not as good as they have been, but the Burrs are pretty darn good. The Green Knights have been up to every challenge they have faced all season and I just have a hunch they will be up to one more. It's going to take a few breaks to go Pen Argyl's way.

CLASS A

Southern Columbia 37, Pius X 30 -- I hope I am wrong with this one because I like Phil Stambaugh's confidence and creativity. He will have his team prepared extremely well. But the Tigers are the Yankees of PIAA football. In the clutch, you just expect them to find a way. I don't think Southern Columbia has seen the speed of the Royals, but this is still a sport about strength and power and the Tigers running game is going to be very tough to stop. Should be another fantastic atmosphere at Nazareth. I expect the entire towns of Roseto and Catawissa to be there.

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