The top teams in the AAAA District One playoff race continue to win each week as the regular season comes to a close. Downingtown East, Downingtown West, Quakertown, Upper Dublin, Perkiomen Valley and Spring-Ford are all undefeated with just two games left to play. Unionville with a 6-2 record sits in the sixth playoff slot with the benefit of a strong schedule. The real struggle maybe for those teams on the edge of the top sixteen. Pennsbury, Neshaminy, Garnet Valley, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Council Rock North and South all need to keep winning to advance to post season play.
The competition for playoff slots is fierce at the AAA level as well. Only eight teams extend their season in this group. Academy Park, Upper Moreland, Pottstown, Interboro, Marple Newtown and Great Valley lead the pack. Pottsgrove and Springfield hold the last two post season slots but just by a sliver.
This will mark the tenth season this writer has attempted to forecast the five toughest games each week. The last nine years the prognostication record stands at 442-186 while going 25-10 this season.
Last week found pay dirt for the prognostications going 5-0. This followed another 5-0 the previous weekend. Downingtown East, Garnet Valley, Quakertown, North Penn and Spring-Ford all pulled through as predicted.
Working toward a prediction three-peat…
Haverford @ Ridley
This is a tough week for finding competitive games involving the top rated teams in District One. The next tier does offer some interesting contests. The Haverford Fords visit the Ridley Green Raiders in a Central League showdown. The Fords sit in 8th playoff slot with a 7-1 record. The Green Raiders are ranked 21st and will need to win their final two regular season games to keep any post season hopes alive. Haverford QB Jack Donaghy has been red hot becoming his school’s all-time passing leader at 4,073 yards. Donaghy passed former Ford QB Steve Joachim who went on to play at Penn State & Temple in the 1970’s. Haverford pushed passed Radnor 24-12 last Friday night to solidify its post season ranking. The Ridley Green Raiders were one of the few teams to beat Joachim’s Fords in the late 1960’s. Ridley will be ready after an impressive 33-7 victory over Penncrest last weekend. Running back Malik Young ran for 117 yards and four TD’s to seal the win. Will history repeat itself and allow Ridley to humble another great Haverford quarterback ? The odds are against it this season.
Haverford 27 Ridley 24
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Council Rock North @ Quakertown
This contest features the Council Rock North Indians a team on the very edge of elimination against the Quakertown Panthers an undefeated squad in solid post season position. Can a desperate away team overcome the odds against them ? The Indians look ready to give it a try. Fresh off a 33-15 win over Central Bucks West, Council Rock North will need an equally inspired defensive effort led by linebacker Colin Drotar to accomplish an upset. The Panthers QB Tom Garlick is a dual threat that will disrupt any defensive effort. Quakertown’s offense ruled the night last Friday with a 35-14 win over Council Rock South. Difficult to see how North would avoid a similar fate
Quakertown 31 Council Rock North 20
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Neshaminy @ North Penn
This is always a Suburban One slugfest but with both teams in the middle of the playoff pack a win is essential. Giving the home team advantage in this game.
North Penn 28 Neshaminy 16
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The rest of the fearless forecast
Bishop Shanahan 26 Coatesville 24
LaSalle 31 Father Judge 28
