Update -
There is still another game to go on Saturday. - Williams Valley Vikings vs Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes.
PIAA District XI 1A Champiosnhip
Friday, November 1oth 7pm at Blue Mountain HS
Marian Catholic Colts (7-4) vs Minersville Battlin' Miners (9-2)
These two teams battled it out back in week 2 of the regular season that had Miners outgun the Colts 41-39. RB Luke Stevenosky led the way with 316 yards rushing and scoring four touchdowns in that game.
Marian was led by QB Bruce Hopeck who tossed for 220 yards and thew for for three touchdowns, two of which, went to WR Jesse Rodino.
Last week Marian knocked off Tri-Valley 14-6. Hopeck went 11 for 18 passing for 159 yards and two scores. RB Rory Dixon picked up 88 yards on the ground.
Minersville, in the meantime, went into extra time to hold off Nativity BVM 19-16. QB Dante Carr totaling 227 yards passing and two touchdowns,.
The winner of this game will advance to face the winner of the Lackawanna Trail vs Morrisville game next week.
Prediction: Expect another close shootout with Minersville advancing if they do not turn the ball over and limit their penalties 31-28.
PIAA District XI 2A Championship
Saturday, November 11th 6pm
North Schuylkill HS
Williams Valley Vikings (9-2) vs Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes (9-2)
This game will be a re-match of one played previously on September 8th which was won by Schuylkill Haven 24-21. The Hurricanes ran for 306 yards compared to 172 for the Vikings.
The Vikings have won six consecutive games coming into this championship game. RB Alex Achenbach has ran for 2,633 yards on the season and found the end zone 28 times. He also holds then school record for most yards with 6,594 and 80 touchdowns, which is also a school-record. Wiliiams Valley is seeking their 7th 1A district title.
Schuylkill Haven also has two horses carrying the load this year: Aiden Myers and Niko Caresita. Myers has gained 1,117 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns while Caresita has 1.083 yards and 16 times he crossed the goal line. The Hurricanes are looking for their first district gold since 2017.
Achenbach ran for 295 yards last week and scored three times in a 34-20 win over Catasauqua for Williams Valley. Myers and Caresita combined for 330 yards and six touchdowns, three apiece in a 71-12 thumping over Executive Education Charter.
PREDICTION: This should be a very competitive game and could go either waybut going to call it for the Hurricanes 27-24.
The winner will advance to play District 2 champion either Riverside or Dunmore next weekend.
PIAA District XI 3A Semi-Final
Friday, November 10th 7pm
Notre Dame Green Pond Crusaders (8-3) at Northwestern Lehgh Tigers (11-0)
These two storied programs met last year in this same round with the Tigers prevailing 35-34 in an instant classic. Both teams come in scoring 45 points/game. The Tigers defense though has only given up 8 points/game while the Crusaders give up 20.
Pennsylvania Football News has Northwestern ranked 6th in the state in the 3A Classification. NDGP is un-ranked coming into the game.
The Crusaders are led by QB Danny Darno who has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. Shane Leh, quarterback for Northwestern, has thrown for over 1,200 yards himself on 77 completions and 19 scores as a sophomore. Dalton Clymer is the team's leading rusher with 1,151 yards and has scored 18 touchdowns. WR Josh Ludlow leads the Crusaders with 595 yards receiving in 11 games.
What to Expect: Another barn-burner between these two schools. NDGP coach Phil Stambaugh and Tiger's coach Josh Snyder played together at Lehigh University back in the day. So that should make things even more interesting but expect the Tigers to advance at home 41-28.
PIAA District XI 3A Semi-final
Friday, November 10th 7pm
North Schuylkill Spartans (9-2) at Palmerton Blue Bombers (11-0)
Another one of the several rematches in District XI as these two faced off in week eight at Palmerton with the home team coming out with a 48-24 victory. The Bombers are led by all-everything QB Matt Machalik, who became the first player in state history to throw and run for rushed for over 5,000 yards in both categories. In the first meeting he ran for 240 yards and scored three times on just 12 carries, while passing for another 162 yards on 11 completions and two scores.
Pennsylvania Football News has Palmerton ranked 9th in the state in the 3A classification while North Schuylkill is an Honorable Mention this week.
North Schuylkill QB Caden Mengel also had a big night passing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns but down the stretch key stops by the Bomber defense help break up a close game.
Besides Machalik and Mengel both teams have several other players that couold be the deciding factor. For Palmerton RB Ty Sander has gained 796 yards this season and he also is the leading receiver with 533 yards on 35 catches with 14 touchdowns all together. For the Spartans Jaxson Chowansky has 454 yards rushing and six touchdowns while WR Joey Flails has caught 37 passes for 657 yards and seven scores.
PREDICTION: I covered this game the first time and was impressed by both teams, I will be there for this game tonight. Wally Hall, coach at North Schuylkill will have his team well prepared as always and Chris Walkowiak, coach at Palmerton, will have the Bombers set to play as well. The key being can North Schuylkill contain Machalik? If not, it will be long night for the kids from Ashland. Palmerton will advance 42-35