Five weeks of the 2014 regular season are in the books.
Five weeks are left.
For some teams, how they fare over the next five weeks will determine if they play in Week 11.
For others, there will be no Week 11.
North Schuylkill and Jim Thorpe head into the second half of the season as the area’s only unbeaten teams, with the two Anthracite Football League teams on a collision course for a Week 8 showdown in Fountain Springs.
The Spartans have done it with a high-powered, balanced offensive attack, while the Olympians have done it with defense, allowing just 33 points so far.
As we started two years ago, it’s time to evaluate the area’s high school football teams at the midway point of the season.
Our “Republican-Herald Mid-Term Evaluations” don’t give the 20 area teams an A-F letter grade, but rather slot them in the following categories: “Outstanding,” “Satisfactory,” and “Needs Improvement.”
Along with those assessments will be a prediction for that team’s final regular-season record and postseason destination, if any. The playoff prediction for some teams will be hit or miss since District 11 spots in Class AAA and AA depend on the results of other teams.
Let’s begin:
Outstanding
North Schuylkill (5-0) — The Spartans have been the class of the area so far this season, going unscathed through a tough first half that included key AFL matchups with Tamaqua, Lehighton, Blue Mountain and Marian.
North Schuylkill’s offense has been electrifying, averaging 36.6 points per game behind the talents of QB Bobby Grigas, running back John Rupinski, wideout Tevin Murray and a gigantic offensive line.
It’s shaping up to be a magical season in Cresswell Gardens, but big games with Mount Carmel, Jim Thorpe and Schuylkill Haven lie ahead. Must stay healthy.
Prediction: 10-0, District 11 AA qualifier
Jim Thorpe (5-0) — Olympians have been the surprise story of the first half, riding their Red Swarm defense and the sturdy offensive play of QB Shane Snisky and tailback Robert Heller to one-point wins over Tamaqua and Schuylkill Haven and a key non-league victory over Tri-Valley.
Jim Thorpe started strong last year as well, going 6-1 before fading down the stretch. I see a similar result this season, with tough games against North Schuylkill, Blue Mountain and Lehighton in the final three weeks.
Prediction: 7-3, Eastern Conference playoffs
Mount Carmel (4-1) — Red Tornadoes have overcome injuries to quarterback Dominic Farronato and fullback Kyle Karycki to win three straight games by impressive margins after a blowout loss to Selinsgrove.
Gigantic rivalry games against unbeatens Southern Columbia and North Schuylkill will test Mount Carmel over the next two weeks. Three winnable games at the end of the season will clinch a District 4 playoff spot.
Prediction: 7-3, District 4 Class AA qualifier
Shamokin (3-2) — Compared to last year at this time, the Indians have dramatically improved, going from 0-10 in 2013 to a winning record through five games under new coach Pat DiRienzo.
Seniors Tucker Yost, John Demsko and Logan Mirolli have come up big so far, and need to continue their stellar play. Games with Shikellamy and Montoursville will decide postseason fate.
Prediction: 5-5, District 4 Class AAA qualifier
Satisfactory
Lehighton (3-2) — AFL newcomers have made an immediate impact, nearly knocking off North Schuylkill and pulling out a win over Blue Mountain. The offensive trio of Tyler Cann, Wyatt Clements and Tyler Crum has been as good as advertised, and the defense has been opportunistic.
Big game tonight against Marian will determine Indians’ second-half course. Season finale with Jim Thorpe could decide if Lehighton returns to District 11 Class AAA playoffs for second straight season.
Prediction: 8-2, District 11 Class AAA bubble
Blue Mountain (3-2) — Eagles have had an up-and-down first half, winning and losing on alternate weeks. Blue Mountain has been competitive in its two losses, to North Schuylkill and Lehighton, and impressive in wins over Pottsville and Marian.
In second half, Blue Mountain needs to enhance its running game since its passing game is subpar. Opportunity is there to make a strong second-half run.
Prediction: 8-2, District 11 Class AAA bubble
Marian (3-2) — Colts have been battered the last two weeks with AFL losses to North Schuylkill and Blue Mountain, and face another tough one tonight in Lehighton.
Transfer Angelo Maskornick has made an immediate impact on both sides of the ball, K.J. Snerr has successfully made the transition to tailback, and Marian has enough offensive weapons to be successful in postseason. Season finale against Tamaqua could be a dandy.
Prediction: 7-3, District 11 Class A qualifier
Williams Valley (3-2) — Vikings stumbled at times in first half, and struggled at times to maintain consistency on both sides of ball. Seniors Matt Miller and Albert Wolfgang have been leaders, and wideout Cody Miller has had a great last few weeks.
In balanced Tri-Valley League, Vikings need to avoid turnovers and costly mental mistakes in second half and get solid play up front. Season finale with Juniata could decide TVL title, but Williams Valley can’t afford to look that far ahead.
Prediction: 7-3, District 11 Class A qualifier
Tamaqua (3-2) — An injury to starting quarterback Thaddeus Zuber in the season opener had the Raiders reminiscing to last year’s injury-filled start.
Behind senior Ernie Shilko and the strong running of Collin Moyer and Tyler Skripko, however, Tamaqua has rebounded to play well in the last four weeks, and could be 4-1 at this point if not for a blocked extra point.
Winnable games with Minersville and Shenandoah Valley are followed by a tough closing stretch of Blue Mountain, Lehighton and Marian. Raiders need to win one of those final three, if not two, to have postseason hopes.
Prediction: 5-5, Eastern Conference bubble
Pine Grove (3-2) — Cardinals begin an interesting stretch of games against “local” teams in the Tri-Valley League, facing Upper Dauphin, Williams Valley and Tri-Valley in next three weeks.
Pine Grove has ran the ball well the past two weeks with senior RB Mark Weinus, and will need to do so the rest of the way to be successful. Cards have talent to make a strong second-half push, but have to limit mental mistakes and turnovers that have plagued them so far.
Prediction: 6-4, Eastern Conference bubble
Upper Dauphin (3-2) — Trojans have continued to improve under head coach Brent Bell, and have showed signs of promise in first half. Running backs Cameron Fornwald and Cole Reed have provided solid 1-2 punch, and will need to continue that effort in second half.
Big game tonight with Pine Grove and Week 8 contest at Newport will decide Upper Dauphin’s postseason fate. Slipping into District 3 Class A field might be tough, however.
Prediction: 6-4
Mahanoy Area (3-2) — Golden Bears have gotten big performances from first-year quarterback Mason Ryan, running back Lenny Dulsky and wideout Mason Evitts so far, but injuries have hampered Mahanoy Area’s effectiveness.
Wins over Schuylkill Haven, Panther Valley and Minersville currently have Mahanoy Area as the fourth qualifier in the District 11 Class A field. Victories over CMVT and Shenandoah Valley in the final two games of the regular season might be enough to get the Bears into districts.
Prediction: 5-5, District 11 Class A qualifier
Needs Improvement
Schuylkill Haven (2-3) — A hamstring injury to quarterback Ryan Fink and lackluster play on defense has left the preseason District 11 Class A favorites on the outside looking in at the postseason.
Senior RB Will Casella is among the area leaders in rushing, but Haven hasn’t been a dominant running team like it was last year. Defensively, Hurricanes have been outmuscled up front, allowing 223.4 yards per game on the ground.
Hurricanes didn’t win the games they needed to in the first half, with tough second-half contests against Marian, North Schuylkill and Blue Mountain ahead. Will need to pull off an upset to have a chance of defending their district crown.
Prediction: 4-6
Tri-Valley (2-3) — Quarterback Hunter Harner and running back Anthony Snyder have played up to expectations, but close losses to Upper Dauphin and Jim Thorpe have curtailed any momentum.
Dawgs need to use last Friday’s comeback win over Line Mountain as a springboard into the second half, starting with tonight’s key Tri-Valley League clash at Juniata. Big games with Pine Grove and Newport will be difference in Tri-Valley playing in Week 11 or sitting at home.
Prediction: 4-6
Minersville (1-4) —- A switch to a more traditional, run-based offense has injected some optimism into the Miners’ program, which has played well the past two weeks.
Minersville must continue that momentum into second half, keeping in mind that rebuilding any program takes time. Chance to gain wins in second half is there with the right approach. An upset or two will go a long way into turning things around.
Prediction: 3-7
Nativity (2-3) — The play of first-year wide receiver Jeff Yordy (22-546, 8 TDs) has been one of the feel-good stories of the first half, as the senior leads the area in receptions and receiving yards through five games.
The Green Wave lack a running game, and opposing defenses will be able to key on Yordy and quarterback Dominic Piccioni in the second half. A lack of depth, especially up front, hampers Nativity’s chances to make a playoff push.
Prediction: 4-6
Hamburg (1-4) — New coach Damian Buggy knew he faced a rebuilding job when he took over at Hamburg, and this season has lived up to that billing.
There have been some positives for the Hawks, as junior QB Nick Kuhn leads the area in passing yardage (801) and junior wideout Aaron Nelson (15-334, 3 TDs) has had a big first half catching the ball. With tough games against unbeatens Berks Catholic and Wyomissing ahead, Hamburg needs to work on its running game, building consistency and stability with an eye to the future.
Prediction: 2-8
Panther Valley (1-4) — Rookie coach Matt Davis’ squad has played well at times, but has lacked the consistency needed to garner victories in the tough Anthracite Football League.
The development of a go-to running back and establishing consistency on offense should be the Panthers’ goals in the second half, which features four games against teams with winning records.
Prediction: 1-9
Shenandoah Valley (0-5) — It’s been a tough season for the Blue Devils, who have struggled to run the ball (just 237 yards) and score points (only 33), thus making life difficult for big-armed quarterback Ian McCole.
The future doesn’t look too bright, either, with games against North Schuylkill, Tamaqua, Lehighton and Marian upcoming. Annual Damato-Szematowicz game with Mahanoy Area could be exciting, however.
Prediction: 0-10
Pottsville (0-10) — In the long, storied history of Crimson Tide football, there have been only two winless teams since 1910. This year’s Pottsville team could join them, becoming the first winless squad since Bill Flynn guided the Tide to an 0-11 mark in his first year as head coach in 1958.
QB Patrick Keating has played well, but hasn’t gotten any support. The Tide line is inexperienced and small, and leading rusher Darion Jacoby has missed two games due to injury. Defensively, a playmaker has yet to emerge.
A second-half schedule that includes four Berks League contests and a tough non-league game at Crestwood offers no relief.
Prediction: 0-10
(Boyer covers high school football for The Republican-Herald. Follow him on Twitter @pubsportsboss)