Entering final week, 4 unbeatens remain
Four weeks have gone by in the official Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football season and we’re set for the league’s “Rivalry Week” with traditional battles such as Liberty-Freedom, Allen-Dieruff, Whitehall-Northampton, Emmaus-Parkland and Bethlehem Catholic-Central Catholic on display.
These games will unfold during Trickor-Treat weekend. Whowill get the treats and who will be tricked? Who will be dressed as championship contenders and who will be masking themselves as not as good as we think they are?
Here’s how we see the EPC’s 18 teams at the moment:
18. East Stroudsburg North
Last week’s ranking: 18th
Last game: Lost to Pleasant Valley 43-0 Record: 0-4
What’s next: Host East Stroudsburg South Friday night
Comment: The Timberwolves have scored just 17 points in four games
17. Allen
Last week’s ranking: 15th
Last game: Lost to Parkland 42-0 Record: 0-4
What’s next: Play Dieruff Saturday afternoon at J. Birney Crum Stadium. Comment: Canaries haven’t scored in four games, but should be able to score against Dieruff, which hasn’t held an opponent under 47 points in four games.
16. Dieruff
Last week’s ranking: 16th
Last game: Lost to Central Catholic 47-13 Record: 0-4
What’s next: Play Allen Saturday afternoon at J. Birney Crum Stadium. Comment: Dieruff has won six of its last eight games against Allen, but lost to the Canaries last year, 20-7. Allen leads the series overall, 33-30.
15. Pleasant Valley
Last week’s ranking: 17th
Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg North 43-0
Record: 1 -1
What’s next: Play at Stroudsburg Friday night.
Comment: PV got its first win since 2018 and its first under Blaec Saeger with a convincing victory over East Stroudsburg North. Each of the Bears’ last three wins dating back to 2017 have been over North.
14. Pocono Mountain East
Last week’s ranking: 1 4th.
Last game: Lost to East Stroudsburg South 46-0
Record: 1 -2
What’s next: Play at Pocono Mountain West Friday night.
Comment: While the Cardinals were never close to pulling off a major upset, they at least became the first team to keep East Stroudsburg South from scoring 69 points in a game and they will likely get a rematch with the Cavaliers in the District 1 1 5A semifinals.
13. Pocono Mountain West
Last week’s ranking: 13th
Last game: Lost to Stroudsburg 43-21 Record: 2-2
What’s next: Host Pocono Mountain East Friday night.
Comment: The Panthers will be returning to the District 11 6A playoffs for the second straight year. They lost to Nazareth 62-21 in the playoffs last year.
12. Liberty
Last week’s ranking: 12th
Last game: Lost to Nazareth 28-0
Record: 0-4
What’s next: Play Freedom at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.
Comment: The Hurricanes have just 291 yards rushing this season in four games and average just 3.7 yards per carry.
11. Stroudsburg
Last week’s ranking: 1 1 th.
Last game: Beat Pocono Mountain West 43-21.
Record: 3-1 .
What’s next: Host Pleasant Valley Friday night.
Comment: Both Jace Tutty and Ethan Sodl found the end zone twice in the win over Pocono West. The Mounties will return to districts for a 1 0th straight year.
10. Northampton
Last week’s ranking: 9th.
Last game: Lost to Easton 21-14
Record: 1 -3
What’s next: Play at Whitehall Friday night Comment: Respectable losses to Freedom, Nazareth and Easton are not what the Konkrete Kids want, but show progress. May need to beat Whitehall to return to districts.
9. Whitehall
Last week’s ranking: 10th
Last game: Lost to Emmaus 38-28. Record: 2-3
What’s next: Host Northampton Friday night
Comment: The Zephyrs deserve to move up a spot after their spirited effort against Emmaus that may have turned out differently were it not for a controversial interception that many felt wasn’t really a pick.
8. Central Catholic
Last week’s ranking: 8th.
Last game: Beat Dieruff 47-13
Record: 3-2
What’s next: Host Bethlehem Catholic Friday night
Comment: The Vikings don’t own a win over a team with a winning record. But they’ll have a chance to change that against Becahi in a game that will have a large bearing on the District 1 1 4A seeding.
7. Easton
Last week’s ranking: 7th.
Last game: Beat Northampton 21-14 Record: 2-2
What’s next: Play at Nazareth Friday night. Comment: After going six quarters without scoring, the Red Rovers got the offense going against Northampton thanks largely to Nahjee Adams. Now, they’ll face what is arguably the area’s best defense at Nazareth in a potential District 1 1 6A preview.
6. Bethlehem Catholic
Last week’s ranking: 6th.
Last game: Lost to Freedom 45-0
Record: 3-2
What’s next: Play at Central Catholic Friday night.
Comment: Things weren’t going well for Becahi Saturday against Freedom even before quarterback Jared Richardson went out with an injury. Golden Hawks will have to shore up a defense that had trouble with Freedom’s stout offensive line and will face another physical O-line.
5. Freedom
Last week’s ranking: 5th.
Last game: Beat Bethlehem Catholic 45-0 Record: 3-1
What’s next: Play Liberty at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.
Comment: Sophomore Ethan Neidig showed improvement at quarterback in his second start. It helped that Matt Russin had a big day running the ball and the defense and special teams delivered touchdowns.
4. Emmaus
Last week’s ranking: 3rd.
Last game: Beat Whitehall 38-28
Record: 4-0
What’s next: Play at Parkland Friday night Comment: Emmaus drops a spot after a lackluster week of practice contributed to a sloppy effort against Whitehall that forced the Green Hornets to rally in the second half.
3. East Stroudsburg South
Last week’s ranking: 4th.
Last game: Beat Pocono Mountain East 46-0
Record: 3-0
What’s next: Play at East Stroudsburg North
Comment: Cavaliers continue to roll. South eyeing a chance to prove itself in District 1 1 5A where it will face either Southern Lehigh or Whitehall for the title.
2. Parkland
Last week’s ranking: 2nd.
Last game: Beat Allen 42-0
Record: 3-0
What’s next: Host Emmaus Friday night. Comment: Trojans have been on cruise control on their visits to J. Birney Crum Stadium the last two weeks, but will be challenged by Emmaus and its potent offense led by Brandon Camire and a physical Green Hornets defense. It’s the type of game that will get Parkland ready for the District 11 6A tournament.
1. Nazareth
Last week’s ranking: 1 st.
Last game: Beat Liberty 28-0
Record: 5-0
What’s next: Host Easton Friday night. Comment: The Blue Eagles defense, which has allowed just 44 points in five games, has been the story of the season. They’ll be tested by Nahjee Adams and a physical Red Rovers offensive line Friday night. With a win, they’ll secure the No. 1 seed in the upcoming District 11 6A tournament and secure two home games if they can win the first one.