Every week, we will give you a capsule preview of every game involving WVC and LFC teams presented by Dickson City Hyundai.

 

WEEK 13

Valley View Cougars (10-2) at Crestwood Comets (11-1)

Crestwood Stadium (Turf), Friday 7pm
District 2 Class 4A Final – Media: NEPAFootball.com
Series: Valley View 6-1
Last Meeting: 2022 – Crestwood 20-7
Last Week: Valley View 31, Dallas 14; Crestwood 56, Berwick 14
Players To Watch
Valley View: WR Taheed Jewell; Crestwood: DL Magnus Bibla
The Skinny: The Comets beat the Cougars for the first time ever back in Week 1. Throw that game out the window. Crestwood has gotten better and freshman QB Jaden Shedlock has gotten more comfortable in the offense. Valley View’s offense has been developing all season and senior quarterback Adam Howanitz ran for 90 yards last week against Dallas. Remember, the Week 1 game was his first back after having knee surgery from an injury against Crestwood in the regular season. Both defenses are very physical so we expect this to be a great high school football game.
Key Matchup: Crestwood ground game vs. Valley View run defense
Favorite: Crestwood by 8

Delaware Valley Warriors (7-5) at Whitehall Zephyrs (7-5)

Zephyr Stadium (Turf), Friday 7pm – Media: NEPAFootball.com
PIAA Class 5A First Round
Series: Delaware Valley 1-0
Last Meeting: 2012 – Delaware Valley 46-45
Last Week: Delaware Valley 24, Scranton 21; Whitehall 43, Southern Lehigh 17
Players To Watch
Delaware Valley: LB Justin Kalitsnik;  Whitehall: RB Nigel Linton
The Skinny: Both teams entered the postseason with identical 5-5 records due to very tough schedules. Whitehall zipped through both their District 11 playoff games while DV had to hold on last week against Scranton. These two teams actually met once before in the post-season in one of most exciting football games from the last decade. This one could go either way.
Key Matchup: Delaware Valley run game vs. Whitehall front seven
Favorite: Whitehall by 3

Neumann-Goretti Saints (7-3) at Scranton Prep Cavaliers (9-3)

Scranton Memorial Stadium (Turf), Friday 7pm
PIAA Class 3A First Round
Series: First Meeting
Last Week: Neumann-Goretti 52, Kipp-DuBois 0; Scranton Prep 28, Western Wayne 14
Players To Watch
Neumann-Goretti: QB Mekhi Wharton; Scranton Prep: WR Liam Barrett
The Skinny: Usually when we see this matchup it is on the basketball court as the Saints and Cavaliers have met several times in the state playoffs in hoops. Prep has had some success in state games over the years so this is not new territory. But NG has been one of the best small schools out of the Philly area this year so the Cavs will have to bring their A game and be able to pound the football because the Saints have some Division I athletes who have that X factor – speed.
Key Matchup: Neumann-Goretti pass attack vs. Scranton Prep secondary
Favorite: Neumann-Goretti by 6

Executive Education Raptors (7-3) vs. Lakeland Chiefs (12-0)

Dunmore Veterans Memorial Stadium (Turf), Friday 7pm
PIAA Class 2A First Round
Series: First Meeting
Last Week: Executive Education 32, Catasauqua 29; Lakeland 20, Dunmore 14
Players To Watch
Executive: QB Darmel Lopez; Lakeland: WR Jon Seamans
The Skinny: We will find out who plays for Lakeland on Friday after both QB Dominico Spataro and TE Lacota Dippre were injured in last Thursday’s district title game. Executive is a charter school out of Allentown and needed a Hail Mary to win District 11 last week with a :03 seconds left. The Chiefs secondary, which is very good, will need to be on top of their game as the Raptors love to throw the football. If Spataro can’t play defense, it takes away a playmaker in the secondary.
Key Matchup: Executive passing game vs. Lakeland secondary
Favorite: Lakeland by 10

Northern Lehigh Bulldogs (11-1) vs. Lackawanna Trail Lions (8-4)

Dunmore Veterans Stadium (Turf), Saturday 1pm – Media: NEPAFootball.com
PIAA Class 1A First Round
Series: Northern Lehigh 1-0
Last Meeting: 2021 – Northern Lehigh 35-14
Last Week: Northern Lehigh 40, Tri-Valley 15; Lackawanna Trail 40, Jenkintown 7
Players To Watch
Northern Lehigh: RB Keegan Eichert; Lackawanna Trail: LB Hunter Patterson
The Skinny: These two teams met last year in the Class 2A playoffs with the Bulldogs pulling away in the second half. Trail had an easy time last week, but this Friday will be a different story as Northern Lehigh is very good. The Lions are young and hungry but that might not be enough, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Key Matchup: Northern Lehigh running game vs. Lackawanna Trail linebackers
Favorite: Northern Lehigh by 14