Week 8 High School football picks: It's still baseball season to me

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

FROM KEITH GROLLER

I know it's Oct. 18. I know the high school football season, at least the regular season, is entering the stretch run.

I know Emmaus has its Halloween parade on Saturday night and once you get to Halloween, then Thanksgiving, Christmas and cold weather are right around the corner.

I know college basketball teams have begun practice for the upcoming season and the high school teams are now exactly one month away from their opening day.

But all that said, it's still baseball season to me. And it's not just because of the unseasonably, but much appreciated, warm weather we've had for most of October.

It's because my favorite team, the St. Louis Cardinals, are still alive in the playoffs.

I've read and heard how people across the nation are sick of the Cardinals. They're sick of hearing about how nice their fans are, they're sick of hearing about the "Cardinal Way" of playing the game, they're sick of hearing about the Cardinals rich history and tradition and legendary players like Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith etc., etc.

It's like the Cardinals have become the Yankees of the Midwest.

Well, to all that I have two words to say -- Too Bad.

The Cardinals do have a rich history, do possess a very kind-hearted, loyal fan base and they have a team built largely through their farm system. While they have Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran, they can't be accused of buying their way to the top. They lose perhaps the game's best hitter in Albert Pujols to free agency and have now made two runs to the NLCS despite being racked with injuries.

Yes, they may also be one of the first teams to blow back-to-back 3-1 NLCS leads and perhaps a lot of America is rooting for that collapse to happen tonight and tomorrow, but so be it.

 I am still going to try to brainwash my grandson -- Ryan Keith Groller -- to root for his grandpop's team.

Let's just say I will be a little distracted tonight as I cover the Becahi-Parkland game. I might try to record the baseball game, avoid hearing any scores and just watch it late tonight.

Usually that doesn't work, however.

My picks didn't exactly work perfectly either last week. I was a so-so 16-6. Now 116-41 on the year.

My personal "Dandy Dozen" had no changes near the top:

1. Easton
2. Parkland
3. Whitehall
4. ES South
5. Catasauqua
6. Emmaus
7. Pennridge
8. Stroudsburg
9. Southern Lehigh
10. Nazareth
11. Becahi
12. Liberty

And now on to this week's picks:

LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE

Nazareth 34, Central Catholic 28 -- I was very impressed with how hard the Vikings competed last week against Whitehall and have no doubt that they'll put up some points on the Blue Eagles. But I don't know if CCHS can stop Nazareth after the Blue Eagles picked up some momentum with that surprising -- at least to me -- win over Bethlehem Catholic. Weave is going with something similar -- 38-34 Blue Eagles, natch.

Easton 28, Liberty 14 -- Battle of the bands. Lots of great music to be heard at BASD. After losing to Emmaus, the Red Rovers have bounced back with two wins over lesser competition. This will be a good test for them to get them ready for Whitehall coming to Cottingham next week. Easton will win the game, but Liberty, as usual, will win the battle of the bands with the bagpipes blowing away the competition.

Parkland 42, Becahi 27 -- This is where I will be. You can follow me @KeithGroller for updates. Trojans seem to be hitting their stride. Golden Hawks still in great position in District 11 3A with Freedom and CCHS coming up next, but would like to get back on winning track after the loss to Nazareth. However, Parkland has too much in all areas.

Whitehall 27, Emmaus 20 -- I agonized over this one. I have seen both of these teams twice and really like both of them. Both are tough, solid teams with some speedy playmakers. I give slight edge to Whitehall because of the home field and the injury to Wyl Miller and because they have a little more experience in big games, but they can't turn the ball over against the Green Hornets and expect to survive.

Freedom 34, Northampton 19 -- It was great to see Patriots basketball coach Joe Stellato decked out in a tux at the Blue Mountain League Hall of Fame banquet on Thursday night. Ever stylish that guy. His time is coming. Northampton played Easton a little tougher than expected last week, and maybe the K-Kids can build off that, but it has been hard to find a lot of positives for either one of these two.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

Stroudsburg 35, ES North 14 -- Mountaineers still have a shot for a subregional berth.

ES South 33, Lehighton 27 --  I nearly went for the upset here. This one might be the game of the night in the MVC. The Cavs might be due for a letdown after the win over PV and the Indians are one of the most improved teams in the entire area. Everybody who talks about them has been impressed. If they get into the District 11 3A playoffs, they have a legit shot at winning the gold.

Dieruff 41, PM West 28 -- The Huskies have been one of the most remarkable stories of the season. Still, they are not good enough to overlook anybody. This is a most winnable game against a Panthers team that has had two weeks of glory, but five weeks of misery. If Dieruff takes care of business, they'll have clinched their first non-losing season since 2002, quite an accomplishment, with many more good things to come.

Pleasant Valley 49, Allen 14 -- PV, much like Stroudsburg, still has a subregional shot. When the Bears play the Mounties on Nov. 1 that's what most likely will be on the line.

Coughlin 34, PM East 28 -- Could be yet another heartbreak in a season full of them for the Cardinals. Even though it has been a couple of weeks, please keep praying for Steven Dienno and Justin Bullock, who are still hospitalized after that horrific car accident.

COLONIAL LEAGUE

Southern Lehigh 27, Saucon Valley 19 -- This is the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley Bowl. It's ironic to me that the Promenade Shops are much closer to Southern Lehigh than they are to Saucon Valley and yet, Saucon Valley is in the title of the fancy complex. No matter. Southern Lehigh can have their district title parade through the Promenade Shops main street if the Spartans pull it off next month

Pen Argyl 14, Northwestern 7 -- Another of several quality matchups in the Colonial League tonight. I always think that the teams who just played Catty should feel more confident and better about themselves the following week. No matter what happens, Josh Snyder belongs in the conversation when it comes to any "Coach of the Year" chatter.

Catasauqua 56, Palmerton 20 -- Here's a question. Were it not for the mercy-rule moving the clock quickly, how many times would the Roughies have scored 70 points or more in the last two seasons? Shoutout to Todd Krevanchi, proud Catty alum, promising basketball PA announcer, and a Cardinals fan. Hope he tweets me "And that's a winner" sometime late tonight.

Bangor 21, Northern Lehigh 7-- Congratulations to Jessica Frew, wife of Becahi boys basketball coach Mike Frew, on the field hockey championship won by the NL Bulldogs. Jessica, who I used to cover in field hockey years ago when she played at Lehighton, can sing. I've heard her. Bet she's singing a happy tune today.

Palisades 28, Notre Dame 14 -- It hasn't been a bad fall for the Ronalds brothers. Kevin Ronalds, the Pirates coach, has had a banner year in Bucks County. His brother, Keith, is part of the Huskies coaching staff that has revitalized the program along with some talented kids like Shakur Lester, Chris Marks, Tyshyn Harmon, Jovon Reyes, etc.

Salisbury 13, Wilson 7 -- Nice to chat with Matt Lippincott this week. He's a former Warriors standout now finishing up a very solid career on the offensive line at Lehigh. You might have missed the story I did on "Lippy" because it was in the Thursday edition of the paper, which many of you did not receive. Lippincott and I also talked about Wilson and how things have changed since he wore blue and gold. Suffice to say, he's not happy about how things are different now.

OTHERS

Jim Thorpe 27, Schuylkill Haven 14 -- Both of these schools burned me in different ways last week. With news that a five-time Olympian, the legendary Teresa Edwards, is coming to the Lehigh Valley on Dec. 4, why not go with the Olympians who have had a nice comeback season -- 1-9 in 2012 to 6-1 this year.

Tamaqua 28, Panther Valley 7 -- Nice to talk with Rebecca Wagner, the former athletic trainer at Tamaqua and several other places. She's the owner of the Pennsylvania Dragons semi-pro football team that plays in Hokey. There's so much football right now that I am sure the Dragons get lost in the shuffle. But she seems to have a lot of good intentions.

Marian 34, Shenandoah Valley 13 -- Make it five straight for the Colts and legendary coach Stan Dakosty. It will get much tougher from here though with Jim Thorpe and Tamaqua looming the next two weeks.

Pius X 48, Pottsville Nativity 20 -- Finally, another game against a District 11 team for the Royals, who have not been able to hold on to leads this season. Even at 3-4, they are very much alive in the Class A playoff chase thanks to strength of schedule. One of the teams they're battling is tonight's opponent, the mighty Hilltoppers.

Souderton 27, Quakertown 20 -- Making this pick based on one thing -- the fact that the Indians beat Pennridge 32-29 two weeks ago.

North Penn 34, Pennridge 20 -- Yes, the Knights have lost three games this season -- all in the first three weeks of the season. But those three losses were to La Salle, St. Joe's Prep and Archbishop Wood which is the equivalent of losing to Alabama, Oregon and Ohio State in college football.

There you go. Seems like the good Friday weather is back. Enjoy the game of your choosing and drive home safely.