FROM THE SIDELINES: WITH LARRY SPEGAR
Week Numbers 5, 6 and 7
Due to a Midwestern trip with business in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois, the past 3 weeks are grouped for an update on “Sidelines” action here in Pennsylvania. By the way, for those of you sports fanatics, if you do get to Chicago, I strongly encourage for your recreational and sports pleasure and entertainment, the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bears. For the Cubs, “Wait Till Next Year” is their motto and once again it rings true. Perhaps one of these years it will be “The Year” that the Cubs win it all! Many great sports fans in Chicago and plenty of great action and easy to get around.
For High School Football, we’ll start with A. With just 3 regular season games remaining, RIVERSIDE is clearly the cream of the crop in District 2 A. The Vikings are deserving of their No. 2 State ranking. RIVERSIDE remains undefeated and walloped LAKELAND on Friday night 44-13. Look for the Vikings to continue to impress down the stretch and possibly set up some very exciting November and December action, with possible playoff games with powerhouses, STEELTON HIGHSPIRE and SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.
In AA, DUNMORE rules the roost in District 2. The Bucks, in a tight 1st half, pulled away from SCRANTON PREP 35-14. The Bucks have great experience, strength, speed and leadership ( The Bucks were State Runner-Ups in AA last year). LAKELAND, VALLEY VIEW and several others, including HANOVER may challenge, but look for DUNMORE to repeat in AA competition.
In AAA, ABINGTON HEIGHTS, which bumps down from AAAA competition, appears to be the strength in this competition, but will undoubtedly bump heads with BERWICK in the near future. Since an opening weekend loss to HAZLETON, ABINGTON HEIGHTS has put together 6 consecutive victories and appears headed to playoff competition. The Comets outlasted traditional foe, DELAWARE VALLEY 24-21 this past weekend. BERWICK is also 6-1.
In AAAA competition, HAZLETON AREA was undefeated until this past weekend, when they were stunned by WYOMING VALLEY WEST 24-14. The Spartans are back on track, despite starting out 1-3. HAZLETON will look to rebound and remain strong for the upcoming playoffs in 3 weeks. Remember HAZLETON went as far as the Eastern Conference Finals last year with a tough defeat to PARKLAND. SCRANTON, DELAWARE VALLEY and WALLENPAUPACK are dangerous teams which must be taken seriously as well in the AAAA category.
Good Luck to all teams in the next coming weeks and See You On the Sidelines!!!
