By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
When the week started, predicting when the next round of playoff games would be played might have been more difficult than picking the winners of those games.
The question for some is whether they could trust weather forecasters as much as those predicting football winners.
With an eye on a dismal Friday forecast, the District 2 Class 5A and 2A championship games and the District 1-2 Class A Subregional final will give this weekend a head start with Thursday night games. The remaining teams in District 11 from a Class 6A Subregional that used to include District 2 teams will also play Thursday night.
One half of the District 2 Class 4A semifinal bracket – Dallas at Valley View – and the District 2 Class 3A title game will wait until Saturday night.
As of Thursday morning, only the Berwick-at-Crestwood game was holding out hope to potentially be played as originally scheduled on Friday.
We will know soon enough if that was a wise holdout, hoping for an incorrect forecast.
Now, it’s time to predict what to expect on the field. This week’s selections, with home teams in bold italics:
DISTRICT 1-2 CLASS A
District 2 has dominated this matchup in the years when it has served as a transition from district into state play. Dominated might not be the right word this time, but expect Lackawanna Trail to advance, giving District 2 six football teams still active a week from now.
Lackawanna Trail 20, Jenkintown 10
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 2A
When Dunmore hosted Lakeland in the regular season, the Bucks defense actually contained the explosive Chiefs offense for a while early. Then, the Chiefs broke loose for 48 points in less than 17 minutes on the way to a 55-14 rout that they had a chance to make even worse before politely declining to do so. Can Dunmore improve upon that performance? Absolutely. Can the Bucks make up enough ground to reverse the outcome? Not likely.
Lakeland 51, Dunmore 17
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 3A
It would be easy to point out, again, who Scranton Prep and Western Wayne will not have on the field for the championship game. Both teams have shown to be more than their star running backs while setting up what could be the best game of the weekend, all with a district championship and state tournament berth at stake.
Western Wayne 26, Scranton Prep 21
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 4A
If the Scranton Prep-at-Western Wayne game is not the best of the weekend, then the semifinal sending Dallas to Valley View could be. Both match No. 3 teams vs. No. 2 teams, in this case the Big Schools, in the Gaughan Auto Store Super Six Power Rankings compiled by our partners at NEPAFootball.com. As for the game that might still be played on Friday night, Crestwood has what should be a weather-proof offense. Whether they play in the rain or just on wet turf, expect the Comets to provide proof that they belong hosting the district championship game.
Crestwood 41, Berwick 18
Valley View 33, Dallas 24
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 5A
Delaware Valley and Scranton each had some downs during the second half of the regular season before storming through the district semifinals by a total of 83-7. One of the tougher ones to predict, this championship game also has the potential to be a close matchup.
Delaware Valley 27, Scranton 22
DISTRICT 2-4-11 CLASS 6A SUBREGIONAL
This tournament has evolved into a District 11 semifinal round.
Emmaus 27, Bethlehem Freedom 21
Northampton 25, Parkland 24
KEEPING SCORE
After a long season that included more time trying to come from behind than trying to protect a lead, I finally opened up some breathing room in our friendly competition with Rick Notari of The Rick’s Picks on NEPAFootball.com. Last week’s predictions were 15-3 (83.3 percent), making my postseason record 29-6 (82.9 percent) and my season record 158-37 (81.0 percent). When Rick went 13-5 (72.2 percent), that allowed me to gain two games and open up a three-game season lead over his record of 155-40 (79.5 percent). See where Rick and I differ and read what Rick has to say in this week’s predictions at: 2022 The Rick’s Picks – Week 12 | NEPA Football.
