PROTIME PREDICTIONS BY PHIL MYERS
Last week Protime got to thinking about some weird occurrences that has been happening to him. Protime vividly remembers ‘The Twilight Zone’ and Rod Serling’s opening, “There’s a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man…a dimension that is as vast as space and as timeless as infinity…” It all began back in week 3 when Protime picked against the Ferndale Yellow Jackets and Ferndale won. Protime ran over a nest of ground bees with his lawnmower a few days later and got stung by the bees. They resembled yellow jackets.
After that, Protime picked Chestnut Ridge to beat the BEA Bald Eagles. A day later there was a tremendous amount of bird dropping on his car. It had to come from a very, very large bird. A few weeks passed when a bulldog he’d never seen before chased him on his walk. Yep, he’d picked Grove City to beat the Meadville Bulldogs the day before. Recently, his roof leaked after a hurricane like storm, and yes, Protime had gone against the New Castle Hurricanes when they played Ringgold. Two weeks ago Protime lost some money and you guessed it, he picked the Williamsport Millionaires to lose to St. College.
Now it makes sense when a neighbor told him a bear had been wondering around the neighborhood early one morning looking for something (or someone), Protime had picked Aliquippa to beat the Clairton Bears!! Oh boy, Protime better be careful who he picks from now on. After going 18-5 and standing at 234-80 (.745) for the year, the Fearless Forecaster will now unveil the semi-final winners.
Bishop Guilfoyle 13-0 vs. Steelton-Highspire 6-7 – On paper this game is a mismatch, but Steelton has been doing quite well since they have been playing schools their size instead of the larger schools on their schedule. The Steamrollers have a 1,000 yard rusher in Jarvai Flowers. They also have a very dangerous deep threat in Lathaniel Webster Spencer who caught the game winning TD pass from QB Malachai Young against Williams Valley last week. Guilfoyle puts their 45 game win streak on the line. Josh Trybus has 1,376 yards and 19 TDs passing, while Andrew Irwin has 1,403 yards and 28 TDs running the ball. Add to that an offensive line with over 100 pancake blocks and a kicker (Kolton McGhee) who has made 66 of 68 extra points plus 9 field goals and you have a potent offense. In addition, the Marauders’ take pride in a defense that has only allowed 91 points this year. Protime’s taking Guilfoyle 31-12.
Clairton 13-0 vs. Farrell 10-3 – Clairton’s Lamont Wade dominates games, not only offensively, but defensively too. He’s returned a hand full of picks for TDs to go along with averaging 14 yards per carry and 32 TDs when running the pigskin. Da Bears have permitted 86 points to date with a fast, smothering defense. Farrell’s Kyi Wright is developing into a good quarterback and has vastly improved since game one. He has tossed the agate for 1,227 yards and 17 scores. His favorite receiver is Brandon Chambers. Braxton Chapman is the Steelers leading back with over 1,400 yards and one of their better defenders too. He may not play and that would spell extra trouble for the D-10 representative. But play or not, Protime has the Bears beating the Steelers 26-7 just like in 1936 (think NFL).
Ligonier Valley 14-0 vs. Southern Columbia 14-0 – Ligonier has definitely not seen the likes of a Southern Columbia, nor has SoCol seen a team like LigVal all year. This is a must see for you folks out BEA way. SCA has an extremely young team with the top RB, top WR, and top 2 tacklers all being freshmen!! Soph. QB Stone Hollenbach has 1,877 yards passing with 22 TDs. RB Gaige Garcia has amassed 1,756 ground yards and 29 TDs. Hunter Thomas chips in with 1,190 yards & 20 touchdowns. WR Julian Fleming has caught 31 passes for 883 yards and 12 TDs. Teagan Wilk and Cal Haladay both have over 100 takedowns on defense. The Tigers have won 30 straight and are coached by the legendary Jim Roth who has 395 career wins. For the Rams of Ligonier Valley it all centers, offensively, around Collin Smith, the WVU recruit. He is a one man wrecking crew, throwing for 2,801 yards and 41 TDs, and running for another 19 scores. His two favorite targets are Aaron Tutino (52-1,075-17) and Jack Daugherty (43-736-12). The Rams play great ‘D’ too and are led by Elijah Parrish’s 143 tackles. Kobe Short can kick with the best as evidenced by his 57 PATs and 4 FGs. Protime had to break out the crystal ball for this one…….and it says…….Ligonier Valley 29 Southern Columbia 28.
Steel Valley 13-0 vs. Wilmington 12-1 – Protime thinks AA has the best matchups and possibly the best games. In fact, the records of the 4 remaining teams are an amazing 53-1. The Ironmen own 2 of the better athletes in PA in DeWayne Murray and Paris Ford (Pitt recruit). Murray has rushed for 1,901 yards plus 43 scores and ATH Ford is their top receiver who has scored touchdowns offensively, defensively, and on special teams. QB Ryan Harper has 1,614 yards and 30 TDs passing. The Greyhounds’ coach Terry Verrelli got his 300th win last week against Kane. His offense is led by QB Reese Bender, RBs Spencer DeMedal, Cam Marett, and Kyle Slicker plus his grandson Bryson Verrelli at WR. DeMedal has a total of 23 TDs. Kicker Jacob Winters can be a threat also. Steel Valley has outscored opponents 708-101, while Wilmington scores less (566), their defense is comparable, giving up 115. The crystal ball says Steel Valley is victorious 28-24.
Beaver Falls 11-1 vs. Central 12-1 – The Tigers have four running backs with at least 73 carries and at least 569 yards, with the leader being Malik Shepherd. Austin French is the more than capable QB. Michigan recruit, Donovan Jeter is the anchor that holds on the defense that has limited some pretty good opposing players. The Scarlet Dragons have Alex Hoenstine, the type of player most other teams would love to have. He has garnered 2,378 yards rushing so far and a total of 48 TDs. He has also thrown for 4 scores and is even more dangerous when in the ‘Wildcat’. It really helps when his offensive line has 247 pancake blocks! Ben Kurtz and Jared Smith lead Central’s defense that has only allowed 107 points thus far. A Protime coin flip reveals that Beaver Falls comes out the victor from the Dragon’s dark domain, 26-24.
Middletown 13-0 vs. Notre Dame 12-2 – The AAA class is the only class that guarantees 2 state finalists who have never been there before. This should be a good one between a couple teams with explosive offenses. The Blue Raiders of Middletown boast QB Chase Snavely and his 1,995 yards passing/20 TDs. His top receiver, Tyreer Mills, grabbed 12 of those TD tosses. As much as they are impressive passing, the Blue Raiders also boast of a solid running game too. RBs Jalen Thompson (1,447 yds/17 TDs) and Brady Fox (1,301 yds/21 TDs) pave the way. For the Crusaders of Notre Dame, QB Cole Defranco has been phenomenal with 2,888 yards and 25 TDs. WRs Jalen Simpson and Jon Moran have pulled in 123 passes for 1,548 yards between them. But the Crusaders can run too as evidenced by Mitch Daniel’s 1,029 yards and 21 TDs (26 total). ND has 3 individuals with over 100 tackles; Christian Candelaria, EJ Medina, and Mikey Degaetano. Middletown gets the nod from Protime, 31-26.
Erie Cathedral Prep 12-0 vs. Berks Catholic 12-1 – This is Protime’s Game of the Week! A healthy Joe Mischler has spelled trouble for all of Prep’s opponents this year. He has thrown for 2,547 yards and 35 touchdowns. WR Tyler Oedekoven caught 14 of those TD passes. The Ramblers have a balanced running game with Billy Lucas and Matt Lupo. Anthony Lupo has booted 61 of 64 PATs and 3 FGs. Defensively, Matt Bauer and Jerry Roberts have a nose for the ball carrier. The Berks Catholic Saints run their offense behind a pretty big line. RBs Brandon George and Marcus Wilson both have over 900 yards to their credit. QB Terrance Derr is an effective passer with 1,273 yards. The Saints placekicker, Alex Gundersen, has made 57 of 60 PATs. On defense Berks has a couple of good ones in Luis Garcia and Brandon George. It’s hard to go against Prep though. They are battle tested and eyeing a rematch with Imhotep. Ramblers win 38-28.
Imhotep 12-0 vs. Bethlehem Catholic 11-3 – Speaking of Imhotep, the Panthers are riding a 28 game win streak into their match with Becahi. QB Nasir Boykin has been lights out with 20 TD passes and only one pick. He will also beat you with his scrambling ability. With their big line, Imhotep can play smash mouth football with the best of them. The beneficiaries are RBs Imir Lewis, Chris Wells, and Isheem Young. The Golden Hawks like to go up tempo. QB Javon Clements has 1,626 yards and 19 TDs. Three of his wide receivers have accumulated a total of over 1,500 yards and 19 TDs. They are Nick Petros, Karim Powell, and Daizhun Rhodes. RB Randy Terry has burned the turf for 1,660 yards. Protime envisions an Imhotep-Cathedral Prep re-match, therefore it’ll be Tep 33 Becahi 22.
West Allegheny 13-0 vs. Harrisburg 10-3 – Here’s a very interesting contest. West A. survived McKeesport’s power and bid to pull an upset a couple weeks ago. Then they easily dealt with Meadville’s speed. Harrisburg is a different animal though. They have speed and power. With Penn St. recruit Micah Parsons transferring in, Harrisburg has clobbered their past five foes. Cougars’ QB Yahmir Wilkerson (1,887 yds/24 TDs) tossed 6 TD passes last week against Manheim Central in the D-3 final. WR Shaquon Anderson-Butts is very dangerous and is a favorite target of Wilkerson’s. On the other side of the ball, Parsons and Damion Barber (Penn St.) bookend the ‘D’ line and are 2 of the best in the state. For the Indians, QB Nick Ross has shown he can be cool when the chips are on the line. Ross has almost 2,400 yards and 18 TDs to his credit. Brandon Lipford is his favorite receiver. Kenny White has run for 1,139 markers and 19 scores. Kicker, D.J. Opsatnik has hit 13 field goals and can be a difference maker. Matt Holmes is a stalwart on the stingy West A. defense. In a close one West Allegheny’s Coach Bob Palko gets his 201st win, 24-21.
Archbishop Wood 9-2 vs. Academy Park 13-1 – The big question is can Academy Park hang with Wood? They are primarily a running team with Dazhon Miller (1,605 yds/21 TDs) and Teddy Wright (1,231 yds/12 TDs) getting the bulk of the work. On defense, the Knights have Azeez Badmus and Wright bringing down the majority of opposing ball carriers. The Wood Vikings lost their first two games to a couple of fairly good teams in Bergen Catholic, NJ and St. Joes Prep. Since then no one has gotten closer than 16 points. Soph. QB Jack Colyar has 1,760 yards and 19 TD tosses. WR/DB and Univ. of Georgia recruit, Mark Webb, leads a good corps of receivers. RB Shawn Thompson has 1,153 rushing yards and Temple recruit Raheem Blackshear has almost 1,300 yards running and catching the agate. Dan Zanine has kicked 7 field goals. Wood triumphs 34-21.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic 13-1 vs. Wilson West Lawn 12-1 – PCC has so many D-1 athletes that it would take a column to name them all. Their offense and defense averages about 6’3” 290 on the line. The Viking linebackers average 6’2” 225. They have plenty of team speed and hit very hard on both sides of the ball. Tim Terry and David Adams head the tackle list on defense. Some of the offensive stars are QB Troy Fisher (1,611 yds/20 TDs), RB J.J. Younger (1,558 yds/26 TDs), and WR Justice Evans (1,022 yds/16 TDs). For the underdog WWL Bulldogs, Ignacion Reynoso leads the ground game with 1,613 yards and 24 scores. What appears to give Central Catholic problems is a quality quarterback and Wilson has one in Connor Uhrig who has thrown for 1,762 yards and 18 TDs. Jusin Weller is the top wideout of a group that Uhrig keeps happy by spreading his throws about. Nick Borelli has deadly kicking the extra points with 58 of 61 going through the uprights. Leo Quigley & Foday Jalloh will be busy on defense as PCC wins 38-14.
St. Joes Prep 12-0 vs. North Penn 14-0 – In the eastern half of the state, this is the game of the year. Each team has been pretty much dominating adversaries all year. Georgia recruit, D’Andre Swift had 318 yards on 17 totes last week for St. Joes. He has 1,135 yards and 18 scores for the year which has been abbreviated by injury. D’Andre also has caught 19 passes for 391 yards and 5 more TDs. Terrance Greene is the Hawks leading WR with 38 catches and 8 TDs. North Penn possesses one of the best statistical QBs in the state. Reece Udinski has pitched the pigskin for 3,814 yards including 36 touchdowns. He set a school record with 440 yards last week against Garnet Valley. The Knight wide receivers have some hefty numbers. Ricky Johns has garnered 55 catches for 1,220 yards and 8 TDs, while Justis Henley has pulled down 47 passes for 853 yards and 7 scores. RB Nick Dillon has 24 TDs. North Penn presents some unique problems for St. Joes defense with their potent offense, but the Hawks will be victorious in a wild, high scoring affair. Protime’s crystal ball calls it 45-42.
