The 2013 high school football season comes to an end this weekend and four teams will head home with a title. The heat of Summer training, cool winds of Autumn and the cold bite of Winter has not slowed the final eight teams in Hershey this Friday & Saturday. Those playing Friday will face cold but dry condition while a snow event is possible for Saturday.
It is now time to dive right in with predictions for all four games.
Playoff week five predictions went reasonably well with four of the five teams winning as predicted. Archbishop Wood, St Joe’s Prep, Pittsburgh Central Catholic and Imhotep Charter advanced as predicted while Erie Cathedral Prep lost to Bishop McDevitt to account for the only failed prophecy.
The last seven years the prognostication record stands at 363-153 while going 46-25 for this season and 17-8 this post season.
The top game in the AAAA this weekend is the showdown between District Twelve title holders St. Joe Prep Hawks vs WPIAL champs Pittsburgh Central Catholic Saturday afternoon. This contest will be an all-out slugfest. The Hawks are led by QB Chris Martin and he seems ready to go all out after returning from an injury last week with a win over Neshaminy. The Vikings pounded Lower Dauphin last week 45-0 to advance to Hershey. Linebacker Niko Thorpe leads a hard working defense that must be ready for that big time Prep passing attack. Stormy weather is predicted and this may help Central’s defense.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic 31 St. Joe’s Prep 28
The next playoff showdown to watch involves District Twelve AAA champion Archbishop Wood facing off against Bishop McDevitt on Friday night. Wood QB Tom Garlick led a talented team that won an impressive victory over Berwick last Friday. Both teams are loaded with speed but Wood will find a way to pull this one out for the east.
Archbishop Wood 42 Bishop McDevitt 31
Imhotep Charter fought through a tough schedule and will be ready for anything South Fayette can throw at them.
Imhotep Charter 34 South Fayette 24
This is the toughest call of all four games. Might come down to the final possession.
Old Forge 27 North Catholic 23
