Week 10 High School Football Picks: Forget the winners; just figuring out game times is tough enough

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER This is supposed to be the most special week of the high school football season -- rivalry week. It's generally the week of pep rallies, bonfires, special team dinners etc. But a lot of the passion, pageantry and drama has been stripped from the scene as coaches and athletic directors have had to deal with scrambling schedules and everyone -- players and parents included -- have had to worry about receiving life's basic needs such as a warm house and hot food. High school sports, like the collegiate and professional versions, offer fantastic theater and a great diversion from our everyday strife. However, as we all were reminded this week, high school sports are just games. They're important building blocks, no doubt, and teach us life lessons more thoroughly than any classroom textbook. And for many, they lay the foundation of our lives and for the select few, athletics can pave the way to college educations. Still Hurricane Sandy reminded us that who wins the Lehigh Valley Conference title or who plays quarterback for the Eagles is not quite as important as getting your lights and heat turned back on. That being said, the games will go on; maybe not as scheduled, but they will go on. It should be interesting to see how they unfold and who, literally, weathered the storm better than others. I wonder how the teams passed the time. In a dark house here on Groller's Corner on Monday and Tuesday nights, my daughter and wife and me tried to pass the time by telling stories. When it was my turn, however, I couldn't think of one to tell. That's right, a guy who writes more than 550 stories for print each year and probably a couple hundred more here on this blog, couldn't think of a single story to tell that would interest my wife and daughter. I thought about the story of David Freese and the 2011 Cardinals, but I didn't think it would hold their interest. I was tempted to tell the tale of the 1999 St. Louis Rams and how Kurt Warner came from the grocery store to lead the Rams to their only Super Bowl crown, but figured that would only draw yawns as well. Instead, I asked the others for their favorite summer vacation memories, many of which unfolded in the areas most ravaged by Hurricane Sandy. Yep, that's the best I could do. I hope that the Jersey and Delmarva shorelines that me and my family have loved for the past 30 years will bounce back. What they're dealing with down there is far more pressure than anything that will transpire on an area football field this weekend. ************ Now, on to the picks. Went 18-4 last week to boost the overall record to 160-42 (79.2 percent). LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE Parkland 28, Emmaus 14 -- Saturday's 3 p.m. game is the battle of Cedar Crest Boulevard. It's Trick-Or-Treat Night in Emmaus and you never know what the Green Hornets will come disguised as. There have been weeks when they look like title contenders and other weeks when they have looked like complete pretenders. Emmaus will battle, but the Trojans won't be denied their piece of the LVC crown. Central Catholic 34, Becahi 14 -- It's the most wonderful time of the year for the Vikings, who always seem to flourish in November, especially during the district and state playoffs. Freedom 28, Liberty 21 -- Always one of the toughest games to pick. Give the Hurricanes credit for not giving up entirely on what had been a disappointing season. According to District 11 stat guru Duke Helm, KJ Williams needs 6 catches and 11 yards to break the single season records at Liberty which were held for 29 and 45 years, respectively. Bob Mann had 58 catches in 1983 and Joe Donaher had 860 yards in 1967. Whitehall 35, Northampton 13 -- Could the Zephyrs be headed for a District 11 4A rematch with rival Parkland? After Saturday night, the K-Kids might have a long time to wait until Thanksgiving morning. Easton 28, Nazareth 14 -- This one has lost some lustre in the past couple of weeks, but the district title rematch should still be a dandy. Maybe Easton's ground game will get everyone home in town to catch the last three quarters of the Philly Eagles-Saints game on Monday night. Despite the Blue Eagles' two-game skid, my man "The "Weave" is sticking with his boys, 42-21. MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE Pleasant Valley 21, Stroudsburg 17 -- This is where I will be tonight, a rare visit to Monroe County, which was just as damaged as the Lehigh Valley. Might be working from the Perkins off Route 80 right after the game.Should be a huge crowd there since the rest of the MVC is off. A very even matchup between two teams that could surprise in the upcoming district tournament. ES South 28, ES North 21 -- The Timberwolves led Pleasant Valley 21-6 at halftime, but let them off the hook. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, stormed back over the final 16 minutes to beat Hazleton. So, South has the momentum coming into this Monday nighter, but no one can really get a handle on where these teams are headed. PM East 35, PM West 28 -- Both teams have been hurt by injuries, but frankly the Cardinals' five-game slide is still very unexpected. West's Krisiak and East's Fardella will put on a quarterback show on Monday night. Lehighton 21, Jim Thorpe 14 -- Even though the Indians have managed just two wins, Tom McCarroll has done a nice job and laid the foundation for more success to come, especially when Lehighton exits the MVC in two years. COLONIAL LEAGUE Southern Lehigh 41, Salisbury 13 -- Spartans should have no problem winning seventh straight and prepping for rematch with Bangor in districts. Slaters won the first meeting 41-14 on Sept. 14 by the way. Catasauqua 49, Northwestern 14 -- Roughies roll continues and don't expect it to stop in districts either. Palisades 33, Saucon Valley 20 -- This wouldn't be the first time a Kevin Ronalds-coached team won seven games in a season. His 2002 Allen squad went 7-5, but this one may be even more impressive since Pirates were coming off 2-8 and 1-9 seasons. Northern Lehigh 42, Palmerton 7 -- What a difference a week makes for the Bulldogs, who probably don't want to see Catty again. Pen Argyl 28, Bangor 20 -- Green Knights may be extra inspired to win this one for Angela Pessina, a Pen Argyl Spanish teacher who lost her life in an accident on Route 22 last weekend. Pessina was just 29. Wilson 40, Notre Dame 20 -- Season ends on a three-game win streak for the Warriors, who are once again putting up big numbers on offense like they did in the D.J. Lenahan/Tyler Smith days. OTHERS Tamaqua 22, Marian Catholic 16 -- Quite possibly the best matchup of the weekend in District 11. If nothing else, this one should get both teams ready for districts and we'll find out just how good the unbeaten Raiders are as that potential big one with Catty for 2A gold draws closer. Panther Valley 21, Minersville 20 -- Wonder how the folks at Kelly's Irish Pub in Lansford are doing. Hope they got through the storm in good shape. If you could be stranded in any spot in that area, I can't think of a better place than Kelly's. Pennridge 35, Hatboro-Horsham 7 -- Might the Rams have to deal with one of those Easton situations in three weeks where they have a Thanksgiving morning game followed by a district game two days later? CB East 21, Quakertown 14 -- Panthers haven't won since crushing Upper Perk 51-20 in the opener. Pius X 55, Columbia-Montour 0 -- After two straight 55-0 wins, why not another one for the Royals, who have tried their best to salvage a season that was torn apart before it ever began. Stay safe everybody, and may the power be with you or at least be restored very soon.