PETE’S PICKS: Oxford (2-0) faces toughest test as Owen J. Roberts comes calling
Week 3 got started a day early as Phoenixville topped Kennett in a competitive nonleague matchup.
Friday night, we have a full slate of games, including Coatesville entertaining Cumberland Valley. A Red Raider win would give Coatesville its 700th all-time win and Coatesviille will become the only District 1 team to achieve that lofty feat.
Saturday night sees one ofthe top teams in District 1, Neshaminy, head to Kottmeyer Stadium to take on another of those top teams, the 2-0 Downingtown West Whippets.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Owen J. Roberts at Oxford
Owen J. Roberts brings a 2-0 record down to Oxford to take on the 2-0 Hornets, who have put up some impressive offensive numbers the first two weeks of the season in road wins against West Chester Henderson and Interboro.
Oxford has scored 80 points in its two wins and the Hornets piled up 511 yards of total offense last week against Interboro. But, Oxford head coach Michael Means is very wary of the talented Wildcats coming to visit.
“We are off to a good start but really we need to clean up some stuff and continue to improve,” Means said. “We still haven’t played a complete four quarters yet and we made a lot of mistakes Friday night against Interboro. And Owen J. Roberts is a well-coached group with a really strong defense that will give us multiple looks. They have picked up where they left off last year and they play an attacking style on both sides of the ball.
“It is really going to be a good test for our team and we need to play better than we have the past two weeks to have a shot in this game.”
This will, by far, be the best team Oxford has played so far this season, and most people would pick Owen J. Roberts here. But I think Means is doing one of the best coaching jobs in the area and I like Oxford.
Pick: Oxford 28, Owen J. Roberts 24.
Cumberland Valley at Coatesville
Cumberland Valley has defeated Coatesville each of the last seasons, but this is not the same Eagles defense. Cumberland Valley gave up 512 yards of total offense in a Week 1 loss to Bishop McDevitt. With all the weapons Coatesville has, this could happen again. Wide receiver Dapree Bryant already has nine catches and junior quarterback Ricky Ortega has passed for 413 yards and five touchdowns on 20 of 31 passing. Throw in the area’s best running back in Aaron Young and this may get out of hand.
Pick: Coatesville 42, Cumberland Valley 21.
Roman Catholic at Downingtown East
Year in and year out, the Cahillites play the toughest schedule in Pennsylvania. Roman has some very athletic players, especially in the backfield, but Downingtown East should control the line of scrimmage like it did against Perkiomen Valley.
Pick: Downingtown East 34, Roman Catholic 16.
West Chester Rustin at West Chester East
Both squads are undefeated, with the Vikings only giving up seven points in their two wins while West Chester Rustin shut out West Chester Henderson, 48-0, in the Golden Knights’ opener. Rustin piled up 520 yards of total offense against Henderson, but this will be a lot tougher.
Pick: West Chester Rustin 24, West Chester East 21.
Glen Mills at West Chester Henderson
Henderson has scored just seven points in two games and the Warriors are struggling to find a groove offensively. Glen Mills has virtually no passing attack but they can run the football. Upset special.
Pick: West Chester Henderson 14, Glen Mills 13.
Bishop Shanahan at Daniel Boone
Bishop Shanahan has taken care of business against two Philadelphia teams, but now the waters get deeper. Daniel Boone is improved under former Reading High coach head Rob Flowers, who has taken over the reins of the Blazers.
Pick: Bishop Shanahan 28, Danile Boone 21.
Unionville at Avon Grove
Unionville only managed 140 yards of total offense in a 42-3 loss to Garnet Valley in Week 1, and the Indians stepped it up to 232 total yards in their loss to Academy Park. Avon Grove was no match for Harry S. Truman last week, but this will be a close game.
Pick: Unionville 21, Avon Grove 14.
Academy Park at Great Valley
Another Del Val League entrant for the host Patriots. Last week Great Valley dropped a tough 20-14 decision to Chester on the road, which is actually not as bad a loss as it may look, considering the week before Chester played a really good Haverford team very tough. But, Academy Park is a very tough, physical team and I like the visitors here.
Pick: Academy Park 23, Great Valley 21.
Saturday’s games
Neshaminy at Downingtown West
Two of arguably top five or six Class 6A schools, Neshaminy and Downingtown West get going at each other Saturday night at Kottmeyer Stadium. The Whippets have looked very good in going 2-0 against two good teams, Perkiomen Valley and Central Bucks South, while the Redskins are 1-1, dropping an overtime game to North Penn and rolling over Pennridge. Downingtown West head coach Mike Milano talked about what a challenge the visitors will be for his squad.
“As usual, Neshaminy is a big and physical football team,” Milano said. “They lost to North Penn in overtime where they scored first and went for the two-point conversion that failed and they beat a good Pennridge team last week.
“Last year, we beat them at their place for their only regular season loss. They will be very motivated to come here and return the favor. They have a very good junior quarterback like us and he can beat you passing and with his feet. They are very well balanced with the ball, able to run and pass very well from multiple sets.
“Senior WR/RB/LB Oleh Manzik is one of the better players in the area and a difference maker on both sides of the ball. This will be our fifth game in what has become a very competitive series over five years. A win this week will require our best effort to date.”
Neshamniy is always very good and this edition may be the best squad in a few years. Downingtown West will count on junior quarterback Will Howard, who has passed for 361 yards and six touchdowns on 27 of 36 passing in the first two Whippet victories. Dan Byrnes is one of the better receivers in the district and already this season Byrnes has eight catches for 147 yards and a touchdown. The Whippet defense gained confidence by shutting out CB South last week, and I think Howard has a another big game and the West defense holds the Redskins enough.
Pick: Downingtown West 31, Neshaminy 21.
La Salle at Malvern Prep
Malvern looked great in a 49-17 runaway over Roman Catholic last week. The Friars only allowed Roman 130 yards of total offense. La Salle is 0-2 for the first time in a very long time, losing to Imhotep Charter and North Penn. Explorers go to 0-3 this week.
Pick: Malvern Prep 34, LaSalle 21.
Conestoga at Upper Darby
Conestoga is 0-2 and last week in a loss to Haverford, the Pioneers only were able to throw the ball for 27 yards. Upper Darby is not the most disciplined team around but I still like the host Royals.
Pick: Upper Darby 28, Conestoga 17.
