Coaches tab North Schuylkill, Schuylkill Haven SFL Favorites

Spartans favored to win Division I; Hurricanes given nod as DII champs

ORWIGSBURG, Pa., August 8, 2018:  Schuylkill League Football coaches selected North Schuylkill and defending champion Schuylkill Haven as division favorites for Schuylkill Football League this season, which officially kicks off Friday, August 24. In voting completed by the league’s coaches, North Schuylkill (4 first-place votes, 32 points) was selected as the favorite to capture Division I and Schuylkill Haven (4 first-place votes, 29 points) (note only four Division II coaches submitted ballots) was the pick to win Division II at Wednesday’s Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Media Day at Schuylkill Country Club.

Coaches ranked teams in the division in which their teams play 1-6 in projected order of finish and points awarded 6 to 1 based on that ranking in each division.

North Schuylkill was followed by Tamaqua (26), Jim Thorpe (25), with one first-place vote, Pottsville (19), with one first-place vote, Blue Mountain (14) and Lehighton (10).

Following Schuylkill Haven were Mahanoy Area (22), Minersville (20), Panther Valley (13, 1 first-place vote), Marian (12) and Shenandoah Valley (9) in Division II.

2018 Schuylkill League Football Preseason Coaches Poll

(Teams receive 6-1 points in descending order; first-place votes in parentheses)

DIVISION I

1. North Schuylkill (4) 32
2. Tamaqua 26
3. Jim Thorpe (1) 25
4. Pottsville (1) 19
5. Blue Mountain 14
6. Lehighton 10

DIVISION II

1. Schuylkill Haven (4) 29
2. Mahanoy Area 22
3. Minersville 20
4. Panther Valley (1) 13
5. Marian 12
6. Shenandoah Valley 9