Week 5 High School Football Picks: Where's Amy Adams when I need her?

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER I don't go to the movies much anymore. Too expensive, especially since I have to have snacks. Too time-consuming, and at least half the time I fall asleep. Plus, I have HBO and Showtime and figure I can wait to see them in my own living room albeit six or nine months later. But because we had a theater gift card, the other night my wife and I saw "Trouble With The Curve," the baseball-oriented movie with Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake and John Goodman. CA.0827.trouble.with.the.curve.006.jpg_MCBroadsheet_09-07-2012_ The plot was weak and easily figured out. The characters were the kind we've seen a thousand times before and the baseball scenes were not real realistic, except for the obnoxious, money-driven phenom Eastwood, Adams and Timberlake went to North Carolina to scout. Yet, this was a movie that my wife and I both enjoyed. I don't know why she enjoyed it (maybe Timberlake), but I can tell you I enjoyed it because of Amy Adams. She comes across as a dream girl for the sports fan -- able to fire back baseball trivia question answers with the quickness of an Aroldis Chapman fastball. The trivia questions, the foundation of the romance between Adams and Timberlake, that I remember were easy: Who is the only player to win the MVP award in both leagues? Who hit the three-run, pinch-hit home run that tied Game 6 of the 1975 World Series and set the stage for Carlton Fisk's famous foul-pole shot later? Who were the three Dodgers pitchers that gave up Reggie Jackson's three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series? Those answers are, of course, Frank Robinson; Bernie Carbo and Burt Hooton, Elias Sosa and Charlie Hough. Adams, gaining her wisdom and toughness from her father (Eastwood), was able to judge the potential of a player just by sound and when she heard the pop of the glove created by the warmup tosses of pitching prospect Rigoberto Sanchez, yet another cliche in a movie filled with them, she immediately put on the catching gear and decided to test his fastball and curve herself. Very impressive lady. Certainly, a baseball fan's dream come true. Ahh, but she only exists in the minds of Hollywood movie-makers. I could use a real-life Adams to help with the high school football picks. I was 18-3 last week and still a pedestrian 71-19 (78.8 percent) for the season. Here we go with our Week 5 selections: LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE Nazareth 35, Freedom 28 -- Was torn on this one because it's obvious that the Patriots are playing better football after losing to East Stroudsburg South and Whitehall in the first three weeks. But if Whitehall can put 42 on the Pates, I figure the Blue Eagles can score at least 35. Andy "The Weave" Weaver is going with his boys, 38-28. Northampton 28, CCHS 21 -- Another one that had me somewhat torn. I have covered CCHS the past two weeks and I don't think this is a bad football team. Just need more consistency and someone offensively to take the pressure off Colin McDermott. I will go with the Konkrete Kids, but expect this one to be very close and decided late. Parkland 14, Whitehall 13 -- Yet another terrific LVC matchup and perhaps the game of the night. It has become, perhaps, the LVC's best rivalry. Starting 0-2, Parkland has to play with a sense of urgency every week. I just give the Trojans the slightest of edges based on their defense. I don't care who they played, the fact that Parkland posted back-to-back LVC shutouts is impressive. Easton 21, Emmaus 7 -- This is always a special homecoming for Green Hornets coach Joe Bottiglieri. This one might be closer than you'd expect, but Shane Simpson can't be contained all night. Liberty 42, Becahi 7 -- This used to be one of the biggest games of the year. If Liberty had only beaten Becahi a few times in the 1980s and early '90s, we would have never had to go through the breakup of the East Penn Conference. Now the tables are turned and no one at Liberty (or Freedom, for that matter) is screaming about alleged recruiting. MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE Stroudsburg 42, Allen 14 -- Another long night for the Canaries, who are at least getting some big plays from quarterback Alvin Lara. Dieruff 26, Lehighton 21 -- Evenly matched game. Huskies have a few more offensive weapons, the Indians have Jacen Nalesnik and a better defense. East Stroudsburg South 28, Pocono Mountain East 21 -- Cardinals have more offensive weapons. Cavs have more size and depth. Pocono Mountain East must clean up the penalties. If it does, it can be as good as anyone in this league. East Stroudsburg North 41, Pocono Mountain West 14 -- Lack of line play hurting the Panthers, who still have an outstanding quarterback and receivers, but haven't been able to showcase them since that Week 1 win over Bethlehem Catholic. Wyomissing 42, Pleasant Valley 20 -- I have great respect for Jim Terwilliger and the Bears, but Wyomissing is one of the best teams in the state regardless of classification. COLONIAL LEAGUE Notre Dame 20, Northwestern 14 -- Crusaders haven't won since Week 1 win over Palmerton, but have been playing everybody tough. Bangor 28, Wilson 14 -- Four simple words yet again: In Scags I trust. Pen Argyl 23, Southern Lehigh 14 -- This may have been chosen as the Colonial League's Game of the Year back in August. Spartans' 0-3 start took some luster off it, but with a strong kick here they could get back into the District 11 3A playoff hunt. Still, until proven otherwise, you go with the proven team and that's Pen Argyl. Palisades 34, Palmerton 7 -- Sometimes you wonder how these two are in the same league. A backyard rivalry it is not. Hope the Bombers at least packed a snack for what has to be an hour and 20-minute trip, minimum. Northern Lehigh 28, Salisbury 6 -- This will be a better boys basketball game in the winter. Catasauqua 34, Saucon Valley 13 -- Roughies offense has been as good as anyone's in local football through the season's first month. OTHERS Panther Valley 41, Schuylkill Haven 34 -- Panthers play very entertaining games. Three of their first four have featured a minimum of 72 points scored. Jim Thorpe 33, Shenandoah Valley 27 -- The Olympians scored 48 points against Panther Valley and still lost last week. Tamaqua 21, Annville-Cleona 13-- Lebanon Valley has the Flyin' Dutchmen and nearby Annville-Cleona has the Little Dutchmen. You know as the folksy saying goes: "If you're not Dutch, you're not much." I'll still take the Blue Raiders. Marian Catholic 34, North Schuylkill 22 -- A quality battle of teams that are a combined 7-1. Looks to me like the Colts are back. Pennridge 27, CB West 14 -- We know that Mike Pettine, Jr., is the defensive coordinator for the Jets. Wonder how his legendary father is doing? Our District 11 teams could never seem to beat him, but our teams were not alone. North Penn 42, Quakertown 7 -- Despite a 2-2 start, North Penn was good enough to beat Archbishop Wood 24-10 on Sept 8. This Wood team may not be as good as last year's all-world Wood team, but NP's win showed me that they're still pretty darn good. Pius X 33, Bucktail 20 -- Love the attitude of Phil Stambaugh who is not looking back at either the players he lost, or his team's 0-4 start. Enjoy the games everybody.