Week 8 high school football picks: TV cameras back in Easton

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER For all of the Phillies fans who get annoyed with my Cardinals comments and think I am rubbing it in when I talk about my favorite team on this blog, especially in the month of October, I promise to keep this a Cardinals-free (except for Pocono Mt. East) posting on the high school football picks after this first sentence. Hey at least, the Phillies fans can gain satisfaction from the fact that the Yankees got swept. That's something, right? As for the high school scene, note that tonight the Liberty-Easton game will be broadcast live from Cottingham Stadium on Service Electric TV2. There were reports, obviously unfounded, that Service Electric and RCN had a pact not to do any Easton games because at Cottingham since Easton raised the fees for the cable companies doing home Easton games. My friend and Groller-Zambelli Challenge rival, Mike Zambelli, said that Service Electric never said it wouldn't do Red Rovers games. So, there they are, doing the Red Rovers and Hurricanes tonight, and you can bet they'll be back in two weeks for the regular season finale between Easton and Nazareth at Cottingham. As for my predictions, I was 20-3 last week, bringing the season mark to 125-33, a 79.1 percentage. Here are the Week 8 selections: LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE Easton 34, Liberty 21 --- The Red Rovers will miss Shane Simpson, but still should have enough fire power to calm the Hurricanes. Nazareth 49, CCHS 28-- This is where I will be. Assuming everything is in order, you can follow me on Twitter @KeithGroller. I hear Brendan Nosovitch and Kevin Gulyas will be in the house for this one. Wonder if Rob Melosky would notice if John Cupples would sneak them into their old CCHS uniforms. The Weave is picking his boys, 42-22. Northampton 28, Freedom 21 -- Just a feeling more than sound reasoning on this one. Whitehall 27, Emmaus 20-- As you learned elsewhere on Groller's Corner, this is the Moussa Bowl. Lots of ties between the two staffs here. I may be alone, but I still wish this one was played on Thanksgiving. Parkland 40, Becahi 14-- I better tread lightly here with the Golden Hawks. I've learned one my daughter's fifth-grade teachers is a Golden Hawks assistant. Don't want her having to repeat fifth grade, but at the same time, it's hard to fathom a Becahi upset here. MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE Pleasant Valley 35, Allen 13 -- The second win will have to wait for the Canaries. Stroudsburg 21, ES North 14-- The Mounties will return to the District 2-4-11 subregional, or whatever it is called. You know, the games bridge the regular season to the state playoffs. PM West 49, Dieruff 14-- Expect big passing numbers for Jeff Krisiak, who hasn't posted a truly big night since the season opener against Becahi. McMaster being done for the season won't impact the Panthers here. They still have enough pass-catching threats to torment the Huskies. ES South 42, Lehighton 7 -- Still, the Indians' Jacen Nalesnik is a special player, one of the best in this league and in the area. PM East 28, Coughlin 21 -- The Cardinals have had some very disappointing losses this season. Yet, the goal from Day One was to get back into the postseason for the second straight and that's still possible with a win here. COLONIAL LEAGUE Bangor 28, Northern Lehigh 14 -- Caught a glimpse of the Bangor Halloween Parade on Service Electric TV2 the other floats. Nothing better than having the golden voice of Mike Mittman describing floats and girl scout troops. Oh, one other thing: In Scags I trust. Catasauqua 42, Palmerton 7 -- Enjoyed my trip to Northampton last week to talk to Kevin Foley's class at Catasauqua High.. I am glad I didn't jinx the Rough Riders. No jinx could probably help the Bombers in this one. Palisades 27, Notre Dame 17 -- Glad to see one of the true good guys in local sports, Kevin Ronalds, enjoy some success in his return to the head coaching ranks. Southern Lehigh 27, Saucon Valley 20 -- After taking most of September off, it looks like the strong Spartans who were expected in August have shown up in October. Softer schedule has helped, too. Wilson 33, Salisbury 7-- Warriors alum Matt Lippincott, a starter on Lehigh's offensive line, is one of the nicest kids you'd ever want to meet. Very proud of his Wilson heritage, too. Pen Argyl 34, Northwestern 7 --An October Saturday afternoon at a Pen Argyl home game is still one of the Valley's most unheralded treasures. OTHERS Schuylkill Haven 34, Jim Thorpe 21 -- The Olympians gave me one of my three wrong last week by beating Mahanoy Area 41-12. Don't think they can do it. Tamaqua 42, Panther Valley 13 -- The Raiders are on a collision course with Catty for the District 11 2A title, the "Aqua Bowl." Marian Catholic 42, Shenandoah Valley 35 -- These teams, a combined 11-3, could deliver the highest-scoring game of the night. Souderton 34, Quakertown 13 -- The first Thanksgiving Day game I ever covered for The Morning Call was Souderton-Upper Perk in 1981. All I can remember about it is that it was cold and I sat in the stands because there no room in the press box and the sidelines were kind of crowded, too, with all of the suburban Philly media. North Penn 34, Pennridge 28 -- North Penn has three losses this season, which for the Knights is like a decade's worth of losses. Can't believe they will fall to 4-4. They are playing with a sense of desperation. Pius X 42, Pottsville Nativity 6 -- Nativity would fare much better if this was girls basketball. The Golden Girls have an outstanding legacy. The Royals will run the table, but it's too late for a return to the district and state playoffs. Enjoy the weekend everybody!