Morning Call sports reporter Tom Housenick makes his Colonial-Schuylkill League football predictions for Week 6 and previews the action, including a big game between Saucon Valley and Northwestern Lehigh.
(All games at 7 p.m. Friday unless noted)
Blue Mountain (3-2) at Lehighton (2-3) (7 p.m. Thursday): The Eagles and Indians are hanging on to playoff spots in Class 4A and 3A, respectively. Both are coming off lopsided losses. Eagles 28-12.
Pottsville (1-4) at Bangor (4-1): A crucial meeting between 4A playoff contenders. The Slaters need to pile up wins to have a chance to host a semifinal. The Crimson Tide are on the outside looking in and need to string together wins to get into the postseason. Slaters 14-13.
Pen Argyl (3-2) at Minersville (4-1): The Battlin’ Miners have a bulldozer in Luke Stevenosky (1,106 yards, 18 rushing TDs), who is leading the club to the top of the Class A standings. The Green Knights ran their way to a key win last week at Catasauqua, but still have little room for error as the No. 4 team in 2A. They’ll need more of the same after making the 76-mile trek. Miners 21-20.
Wilson (0-5) at Southern Lehigh (5-0): The Warriors’ second-half schedule is brutal starting with the Spartans, who are rolling. Southern Lehigh 42-6.
Saucon Valley (3-2) at Northwestern (5-0): No. 5 Panthers and No. 2 Tigers have some similarities, though Northwestern has been able to string consistent performances together better than most. Tigers 35-21.
Saucon Valley’s Constantine Donahue had painful 2-year journey back to football
Salisbury (0-5) at Northern Lehigh (2-3): The Bulldogs now are scratching and clawing to give themselves a chance to defend their district Class A title. Bulldogs 36-16.
Jim Thorpe (2-3) at Tamaqua (1-4): The No. 6 Olympians and No. 8 Blue Raiders need wins if they have any hopes beyond Week 10. The Olympians have one of the league’s most dynamic receivers in Justin Yescavage. Olympians 21-7.
Pine Grove (1-4) at Palmerton (5-0): Trap game No. 1 for the Blue Bombers, who host North Schuylkill in Week 8. Blue Bombers 43-18.
Notre Dame-GP (3-2) at North Schuylkill (4-1): The Crusaders have started slowly in their two big games to date. They lost both of them. They don’t want to see that happen again after the 71-mile journey to Ashland. The Spartans are a tremendous hurdle to overcome while playing four good quarters. Spartans 35-28.
Catasauqua (3-2) at Schuylkill Haven (4-1): The Rough Riders need to bounce back in a big way after last week’s disappointing showing against Pen Argyl. They have to do so against the No. 1 Hurricanes, who are riding a four-game winning streak. Rough Riders 14-7.
Nativity BVM (3-2) at Williams Valley (3-2): Another important game for two playoff-caliber teams. The Vikings will enjoy not having to travel 80 miles back to Williamstown after a loss like they did last week. Vikings 21-7.
Panther Valley (2-3) at Palisades (1-4): The Panthers played Minersville tough last week but lost. The Pirates were close but lost to Schuylkill Haven. One of them wins a close one this week. Pirates 14-13.
Shenandoah Valley (2-3) at Tri-Valley (3-2): The Bulldogs look to build a winning streak now that their youthful players have a half-season of experience under their belts. Bulldogs 28-6.
Mahanoy Area (1-4) at Marian Catholic (3-2) (7:10 p.m. Saturday): The Bears need to find a bunch of wins to have a chance at a Class A playoff game. The Colts don’t have much wiggle room as the No. 4 seed. Bears 21-12.
Last week: 12-4
This season: 61-17
