A FACE IN THE CROWD – WEEK 5
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forget what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong expresses my emotions extremely well. Cousin Gino is also a big Green Day guy. As we consider our mediocrity in picking winners during the month, we’re also anxious for cooler weather, particularly because the Econoline (the new Command Center) is bereft of air conditioning. Several proud area programs are also eagerly waiting for the month to go away, as they are off to starts that are not in line with the team’s or the fan base’s expectations.
The Econoline is currently parked outside of Salon Jam in Covington as Gino and I hope to get some hair product tips from North Pocono mentor, Greg Dolhon. We’ve heard that this is his spot each Friday morning. His picture is on the window outside and it states, “Do you want to be a hit with the ladies?” Well, hell yes. Gino has sprinted across the parking lot several times already to pick up Cannoli Cupcakes (yes, that’s apparently a thing) at the coffee shop across the way. Well, sprinted may not be the most precise word. Lumber, lurch, plod, and shamble all may be more accurate. Still, he’s getting there. All this to prepare ourselves for the Trojans at Abington Heights on Saturday afternoon at the PIT!!! But more on that later.
We have definitely learned lessons and we are proud to share them with our tens of loyal readers. So here we go.
LESSON #1
One football player can make a difference. On Friday night, Will McPartland of Scranton Prep returned from a knee injury that had sidelined him for the season’s first three weeks. Now I’m not saying Prep wins any of the first three games had old #12 played, but I do know this: they would not have won on Friday night without him. Will “the Thrill” put the electricity back into the Prep offense, particularly in the second half when the Cardiac Cavs posted 42 consecutive points against Delaware Valley. That’s THE Delaware Valley, not the Globe Store Mannequins. The dude scored five TD’s and threw for two more, in addition to the 9 tackles he made on the other side of the football. Our rumored local paper named him Athlete of the Week. I think the edition where Gerry McNamara wins Athlete of the Week came out yesterday. But I digress. The Jesuit Giants are a different animal now, and not a cute and cuddly one.
LESSON #2
Division I of the Wyoming Valley Conference is a conundrum at best, and a mess at worst. Dallas, Wilkes-Barre, Crestwood: are any of them any good? Now don’t think I’m going to proceed on my scheduled rant against the quality of football in the WVC. Wyoming Area and Berwick are certainly good football teams, as evidenced by their current status in the Power 5. Still, I’m beginning to think Pittston Area has a real chance at stealing that division away from the supposed heavyweights. The Fighting Tomatoes (I know that’s not their name, but it should be) currently sit at 3-1 with their only loss coming versus undefeated North Pocono. This week they travel to Dallas. A win in the Back Mountain will be enough for me to proclaim the Tomatoes as the team to beat.
LESSON #3
It’s officially the year of the quarterback in District 2. By my count, area gunslingers have heaved the pill (I bet Gino I could shove two hackneyed football-isms into the first independent clause of the sentence – he now owes me a cannoli cupcake and a triple chocolate muffin) for over 200 yards in a single contest already this season. Gone are the days of three yards and a clump of field turf. The proliferation of RPO’s, spread offenses, four verticals, and the eschewing of the running game have trickled down to scholastic offensive coordinators who are scheming ways to outwit their defensive counterparts. This has given us performances like that of Paulie Ferentino (not a mob associate) of the aforementioned Tomatoes. Against Wyoming Valley West last weekend, the Prolific Paisan chalked up 302 yards through the air and 5 touchdown passes. Guys like Nick Bradley of Abington, Jake Howe of Wilkes-Barre, Jaden Shedlock of Crestwood, and Will “the Thrill” of the Jesuit Giants are putting up video game numbers on the weekly. I like it.
LESSON #4
We here at the mobile FITC Command Center (aka the mustard green Econoline) have an affinity for coaches. Each weekend on television, one can witness any number of multi-millionaire CEO’s of college and pro football teams who don’t really do much actual coaching. They are recruiters or salesmen, politicians or personalities, but not akin to the awfully paid, yet incredibly motivated guys we see on the sidelines on Friday nights. So with a bow to all of the head coaches out there, let me lob out a few ideas on the early candidates for Coach of the Year: C.J. Curry – Berwick, Joe Repshis – Abington Heights, Paul Russick – Pittston Area, Dave Piwowarczyk – Lakeland, Eric Richardson – Hanover Area. There are certainly many others out there deserving of recognition, but those are the five fellas who jump into my mind.
LESSON #5
And now we come to our favorite new segment – the Henzes Award. There were so many phenomenal individual offensive performances last week that it has become difficult for Gino and me to stratify these kids appropriately. Gino doesn’t know what stratify means, so it’s fine for me to include him. He doesn’t know what grooming means either. But that’s a story for another day. This list is based solely on one characteristic: “electrifyingness”. That is a Gino word and we’re hanging with it until the bitter end. Or at least until the big kid decides to coin a new word. And remember, if you don’t like our list, make up one of your own. Don’t cost nothin’.
- COLE WEST NORTH POCONO
- TY’MEERE WILKERSON BERWICK
- NICK BRADLEY ABINGTON HEIGHTS
- ISAAC RYON LACKAWANNA TRAIL
- LUCAS LO PRESTO PITTSTON AREA
Honorable Mention: Weston Yannone – Dunmore, Jack Gravine – Wyoming Area, Will McPartland – Scranton Prep, Brayden Rose – Riverside, Jaden Shedlock – Crestwood
Finally, the preamble is over. On to the main event. I know why you pile through all of my nonsense to make it to this glorious spot in the piece. You’re all gambling addicts. We cast no judgments here. Occasionally, we shall cast aspersions on one’s character, but that’s all in fun, right, Coach Cinti?
FISTFIGHT#5 SCRANTON (2-2) at SCRANTON PREP (1-3)
Though the records do not necessarily reflect the import of this one, both coaching staffs understand that these teams stand at a crossroads. And not the one in front of Salon Jam. Each team comes in off a win that it absolutely had to have. The Knights kept a firm hold on the Bell with a 51-6 conquest of Invader Nation, while the Jesuit Giants won an absolute thriller over Delaware Valley. Both have momentum. Only one will maintain it. Brody Coyle is a nice place to start for Scranton High. He did damage to West Scranton with his arm and his legs on Friday past. But…as stated previously, the Prep sent a message to the rest of Division I of the LFC last weekend. Will “the Thrill” has returned and the Purple will rejoice once again. I’ll take the Jesuit Giants in this one that may feature a bunch of points and lots of excitement.
FISTFIGHT #4 LACKAWANNA TRAIL (3-1) at MID-VALLEY (2-2)
Coach Delaware Jervis brings his pride of Lions to Throop/Dickson City/Olyphant on Friday to scuffle with the Fighting Stan Yanoski’s of MV who have won their last two in extremely impressive fashion, lighting up the scoreboard for 6 touchdowns in each contest. Trail needed a helium snap over the head of the Dunmore punter to escape at Tunnel Hill last Friday. That safety may allow Trail to set sail (a lovely rhyme, if I do say so myself) with a string of victories the rest of the way. Yes, they are on the road, and yes, the Spartans are a tough out in the upper valley. But my love affair with the Delaware (I can’t stop the verse – I’m a slave to it) continues. The Lions roll on by a couple of scores.
We have reached that dark place where I cede the keyboard to the Corpulent Calabrian himself, Cousin Gino. He has demanded that there be no lakes in the vicinity this weekend, and I have obliged. So here he is.
FISTFIGHT #3 DUNMORE (2-2) at CARBONDALE AREA (3-1)
Cousin Gino’s pick is sponsored this week by Sweet Lou’s Loans – “Your credit score won’t suffer, but you might.”
So, yeah, it’s me, Gino. My cousin told yas, several times. I got strong inclinations and intimations about this game. And I got a thesaurus to sound smart, like my cuz. I’ve been learning a lot about these teams. Carbondale’s got an Italian quarterback, which is always nice. The paisans always come through in the clutch. But my gut says different. I’m gonna’ uber up to the Pioneer City on Friday to watch. I’m rollin’ with the Bucks because of my gut. And if yas see me at the game, pretend yas don’t know me – cuz yas don’t.
Gino’s gut never lies. It gurgles ominously, but never lies. Let me wipe the cannoli cupcake crumbs off this bad boy, and we shall proceed with the Fistfights.
FISTFIGHT #2 PITTSTON AREA (3-1) at DALLAS (1-3)
Of course, Dallas is 1-3. That is because I prophesied that they would fall victim to the aura of Ciro Cinti. When will I ever learn? The Mounts of Rich Mannello grabbed a big turnaround victory over Wilkes-Barre last week and announced their arrival to the rest of the denizens of Division I of the WVC. As I stated earlier, there is a lot to like about the Tomatoes, I mean Patriots of PA. Paulie Ferentino to Lucas Lo Presto!! It sounds like something out of A Bronx Tale. Those are two baaaaaaaad Italians. I want to go with PA, but I just can’t. Coach Mannello is one of the very best in the business and last week was a harbinger of coming events. At home, I’ll take Dallas by a touchdown.
FISTFIGHT #1 NORTH POCONO (4-0) at ABINGTON HEIGHTS (4-0)
There are just four unbeatens remaining in all of District 2. After Saturday, that number will be diminished by 1. Coach Repshis’s Comets had the weekend’s most impressive victory, shellacking Valley View. The Visor had his squad running on all cylinders and will need that type of energized performance on Saturday to vanquish the Trojans. Coach Dolhon has a great squad and great hair. That, my good buddies, is a lethal combination. There will be playmakers all over the field on both sides of the football. It will be an electric atmosphere at the Pit. Thank God the geniuses who make such decisions deigned to play this one at the Cathedral of High School Football in NEPA. This battle should be waged at no other locale. North Pocono has three great backs in addition to Cole West, the most talented Trojan since Hector did battle with the Greeks. But you remember what happened when Hector faced off with Achilles. If you don’t, let’s just say it didn’t end well for the Trojans. And I don’t think Saturday will either. I’m sticking with the Visor over Salon Jam. The Comets will stay undefeated.
So there you have it. Wager responsibly. And if you lose, stay away from Sweet Lou’s Loans. Gino and I can’t afford to lose any readers.
And now, the coda to this operatic masterpiece. This week’s Power 5!
THE POWER 5 – the best high school football teams in all of District 2, heedless of record, classification, or number of Facebook friends.
- WYOMING AREA (3A) (4-0)
- BERWICK (3A) (4-0)
- ABINGTON HEIGHTS (5A) (4-0)
- NORTH POCONO (4A) (4-0)
- SCRANTON PREP (3A) (1-3)
