They’re back ...
Just when you thought Allentown Central Catholic might be on a down cycle after a couple of off seasons, the Vikings made major waves in the Lehigh Valley last weekend.
ACC knocked off previously unbeaten Easton 26-24, improving to 3-1 overall. The Vikings also rocketed to the top of the District 11 Class AAA point ratings, which isn’t good news for the three Class AAA teams in the Anthracite Football League.
There’s still a long way to go this season, and all of the teams involved in the highly competitive Class AAA playoff race have several big games remaining.
But the success of ACC and fellow Lehigh Valley rival Bethlehem Catholic (3-1), packaged with Colonial League power Saucon Valley, may leave only one Class AAA playoff berth left for Lehighton, Jim Thorpe or Blue Mountain.
Lehighton, which has a tough road game tonight at Berks League power Governor Mifflin, beat Blue Mountain last Friday. But both the Indians and Eagles still have to face Jim Thorpe.
While local fans have grown to hate ACC over the years, their success adds more intrigue to what is already a tight chase.
Stay tuned.
Odds and Ends
Tri-Valley’s game with Line Mountain, originally scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, has been moved to 7 p.m. tonight due to the impending weather.
• Williams Valley’s Tri-Valley League showdown at Newport will start at 7:30 p.m. to accommodate Newport’s Homecoming festivities.
• Blue Mountain will induct seven members into its All-Sports Hall of Fame at halftime of tonight’s game with Marian. This year’s inductees include Erin McIntyre Cataldi, Class of 2001; Tim Eisenhauer, Class of 1996; Robert Koperna, Class of 1986; Keith Kirby, Class of 2000; Paul Klepchick, Class of 1993; Paul Vacula, basketball coach; and Garry Yeich, Class of 1964.
A gathering for the new inductees and their families will be held prior to the game on the stadium grounds, and a reception for inductees and current Hall of Fame members will be held after the game at Roman Delight Restaurant on Route 61.
• Minersville will hold its third annual Cancer Awareness Game tonight when the Miners host Shenandoah Valley. A limited amount of commemorative T-shirts will be available at the gate for $12, and balloons can be purchased for $1 for the launch to be held at halftime. Last year, the Minersville Fifth Quarter Club donated $3,264 to the American Cancer Society from this event.
Don’t make any plans
At the time Football Friday went to press, the weather for this weekend looked ... well, awful.
As a tropical storm moved up the coast, weather forecasts varied, so stay tuned. We could be in store for a lot of changes in terms of the local sports card.
All changes will be posted on Twitter and Facebook as soon as we get them.
Player of the Week
Lenny Dulsky,
Mahanoy Area
The Golden Bears’ senior tailback rushed 30 times for 329 yards (tying a school record) and scored four touchdowns in Mahanoy Area’s 38-21 win over Minersville. All four of his TDs came in the second half, helping the Bears break open what had been a 10-7 halftime lead.
Honorable Mention: Ignacio Reynoso, Hamburg; Nick Kuhn, Hamburg; Tommy McDonald, Mount Carmel; Preston Gehring, Schuylkill Haven; the Jim Thorpe defense; the Williams Valley offense.
(Sports Editor Boyer covers HS football for The Republican-Herald. Follow him on Twitter @pubsportsboss)