The long hot, then stormy summer is fading away and what better way to welcome Autumn than a full dose of high school football. The Labor Day weekend is full of action and with flood water from last week’s battle with Hurricane Irene no longer a problem, let the games begin.
The first game of any season offers new hope for every team and this year appears to offer a wide open race to the top. This week will give us early evidence of what schools will making a championship run in October.
Any attempt to predict opening game results is full of deep potholes. How will new coaches and players adapt? Will returning players lead the way to more victories? Off season conditioning and injuries are always a concern but we will attempt to break down five games each week and guess, I mean predict some well reasoned outcomes.
The last five years, this future teller has a 214-79 prognostication record while going 57-17 for the 2010 season.
So here we go. Will be watching Malvern Prep @ Ridley tonight. This contest features a veteran Malvern squad while Ridley must rebuild with many key lineman and skilled position players graduating last season. Running back Pat Randolph will be back but questions in the passing game and defense have yet to be answered. Always tough to go against Ridley but an early season loss would not prevent another great season for the Green Raiders. Malvern just a little more ready on day one.
Malvern Prep 27 Ridley 19
Another great matchup in Delaware County has Interboro traveling to Springfield. The Cougars have a new coach Tom Kline but a veteran QB Ryan Strain. The Interboro Bucs have a veteran coach Steve Lennox and a returning QB Josh Breen. The Cougar signal caller ranked second in Delaware County last year with 1379 passing yards and will only get better this season. The Bucs are a great test with a tradition for winning year in and year out. If the Cougar defense can hold to the line this should be a good start for Springfield.
Springfield 30 Interboro 21
The rest of this week’s fearless forecast:
North Penn 24 LaSalle 16
Allentown Central Catholic 35 Downingtown East 14
Souderton 27 Neshaminy 21
