The Rick, Week 5 – 2025
By Righetto Notari, BDFN
@BDFN_OldForge
(2134-598 overall, .781 winning percentage)
He’s a loser but he still keeps on tryin’
Well, The Rick may have just suffered the worst football weekend of my life.
The predictions were good. The Rick was 15-3. But the teams I root for really struggled.
We all know my Devils are struggling right now. But don’t bury them yet. The offense looked better last week, and division play will start soon. The Pitt Panthers on the other hand are just a sequel of the same movie I have been watching since Dan Marino underwhelmed in the most important game of the 1981 season. Yes folks, that is almost 45 years. The Rick was 9 years old. That’s a lifetime of disappointment. It is also either a lifetime of loyalty or stupidity. You make the call.
Then there is the Steel Curtain. Someone needs to be fired in Pittsburgh. Everyone wants the head man gone. But The Rick would settle for the offensive line coach and defensive coordinator. I already have a call into Mr. Dunmore to see if he could get his brother-in-law to return to coach the Steelers OL. That was the last time the Pittsburgh O-line was good, when Mike Munchak was their position coach. As for the defense, I plan on meeting with Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader) down on Oak Street in Taylor to see if he is willing to come out of retirement.
The one good thing about ball, is that you get to reset every weekend. The Rick has reset a lot. It’s part of being a real fan.
It’s OK, The Rick will smile and say, let’s get to Week 5….
THE RICK’S PICKS (61-17)
May their first child be a masculine child (1-3)
(The Big Boys)
Hazleton Area at Wyoming Valley West
The Big Boy game of the week takes us to Kingston where Hazleton Area meets Valley West. It’s been rough going for these two teams so far this season, but both have showed signs of being explosive on offense. Cougars’ running back Xavier Heck is fifth in D2 in rushing with 456 yards and QB Freddy Corrado has thrown for 433 yards. The Spartans live through the air. Quarterback Damian Eastman has thrown for 649 yards to put him in the top five in D2. His top target John Richards is also fifth in D2 with 16 catches for a district-leading 361 yards. This won’t be a game for defensive purists to watch.
Cougars 37, Spartans 35
The Luca Brasi (4-0)
(Toughest Pick of The Week)
North Pocono at Abington Heights
One of these teams was expected to be undefeated. The other? Well, let’s just say, Abington Heights has been the surprise of the high school season through the first month. And they may just be the best team. But North Pocono will have something to say about that this week. The Trojans’ schedule hasn’t been as daunting as the Comets, but the victories have been just as impressive. North Pocono has also shown to have depth and handled the adversity of playing without featured back Joe Briskie for two weeks. Briskie returned last week and looked like he was in top form. Along with Josiah Gray, Jayden Taylor and Cole West, the Trojan horses have rushed for 886 yards and 13 touchdowns. West has also caught six passes for 148 yards and three scores. Then there is the balanced attack of Abington Heights. Everyone knew about QB Nick Bradley, and the senior has not disappointed. Bradley has thrown for 569 yards and 7 TDs as the focal point of the Comets offense. But the emergence of receiver Gavin Anders (18 catches, 323 yards, 3 TDs) and running back Jayden Anglin, who is fourth in D2 with 535 yards rushing to go with 4 TDs, has made Abington Heights tough to defend. The other thing that is tough to defend is The Rick’s record in the Luca Brasi pick… 4-0.
Comets 28, Trojans 24
Don’t ask me about my business (1-3)
(No Rhyme or Reason)
Pittston Area at Dallas
The records are not unfamiliar, but who they are assigned to most certainly are. The three-win Patriots versus the one-win Mountaineers isn’t exactly what was expected outside of Greater Pittston as we start the second month of high school football season. But Pittston Area has taken advantage of a stable of athletes to put a high-powered offense on the field. QB Paulie Ferentino has thrown for a D2 best 10 touchdowns to go with 600 yards passing on just 31 completions. The electrifying Lucas LoPresto is tied for third in D2 with 48 points scored, including four TD receptions on 13 catches for 284 yards. Stephen Barnic also has four receiving TDs among his 8 catches. Dallas on the other hand have been an enigma. Sure, the schedule has been tough, but the Mountaineers have seemingly not been, especially late in games. That said, Dallas was able to beat everyone-but-The Rick’s pre-season favorite in the WVC last week. A lot of people are going to expect a Dallas win this week. Just don’t ask The Rick about his business.
Patriots 29, Mountaineers 28
Leave the gun, take the cannoli (4-0)
(Lead-Pipe Lock of The Week)
Riverside at Montrose
The cannoli are usually saved for dessert. But this week it is the appetizer as Riverside travels to Susquehanna County on a school night to take on Montrose in a Thursday Night Special. The Vikings have unleashed junior Brayden Rose on the NEPA football world. The all-star wide receiver has moved to quarterback this season, and the impact he has on a game has not changed. Rose is tied for third in D2 with 48 points scored as he has rushed for six TDs and returned two kicks for scores. As a dual threat QB in coach Harry Armstrong’s versatile offensive system, Rose has rushed for 357 yards and thrown for 404 yards and another three scores on the season. Meteors, meet Brayden Rose.
Vikings 55, Meteors 15
Going to the mattresses (1-3)
(A Rivalry-type Game)
Delaware Valley at Wallenpaupack
Is this a rivalry? If it isn’t, it should be. By definition alone – being two schools that border each other – Delaware Valley and Wallenpaupack are rivals. The Warriors are 0-4. It sure has been a while since that happened. But they haven’t been playing cream puffs during the first month. The offense has been fine as sophomore wide out Trey Newton has a D2 leading 24 catches for 330 yards and five TDs and QB Colin McGarvey is third in the district with 703 yards to go with his 8 TD passes. The Buckhorns are led by the rushing duo of Ed Kiesendahl and Logan Caruso who have combined for 618 yards and 9 TDs. Wallenpaupack played North Pocono tough last week for a half. Can they do the same against DV? This game will go a long way in telling us if the Warriors can make a run. The Rick thinks it happens.
Warriors 34, Buckhorns 19
Fredo, You broke my heart (2-2)
(Upset Special)
Western Wayne at Old Forge
Don’t laugh. Sure, the glory years have seemingly passed for these two teams, but they will buckle it up on Friday night looking for a victory that will impact the rest of the season. Western Wayne has one win, a 32-0, victory in Week 1 over winless Susquehanna. Old Forge is still searching for the taste of success. A look at the defensive point differential shows that the Wildcats are a 13-point favorite over the Blue Devils. But The Rick has a feeling this is the week, Old Forge hits paydirt. Hopefully Fredo doesn’t break my heart.
Blue Devils 20, Wildcats 17
Keep Your Friends Close, Keep Your Enemies Closer (3-1)
(They just don’t like each other)
Valley View at Honesdale
If this was a TV game, all the talking heads would be talking about the “story lines.” Dubbed, ‘The Howanitz Bowl’ by many local fans, Valley View travels to Honesdale where Cougars’ legend George Howanitz now coaches the Hornets. Honesdale gave its new head coach a victory in his debut, but they have dropped the last three heading into Friday’s game. The Hornets have had trouble scoring points and stopping the run. Valley View started quick but have lost two straight. The Cougars’ defense was outstanding the first three weeks before running into Abington Heights last week. But that says more about the Comets than anything. VV has struggled offensively the first month. The Rick thinks the buzz comes back for the Cougars’ running game this week.
Cougars 27, Hornets 13
Time to settle all Family Business (44-6)
Dunmore over Carbondale Area
Crestwood over Nanticoke Area
Berwick over Hanover Area
Lakeland over Susquehanna
Scranton Prep over Scranton
Wilkes-Barre Area over West Scranton
Wyoming Area over Tunkhannock
Lackawanna Trail over Mid Valley
Lake-Lehman over Holy Redeemer
CMVT over Holy Cross
The Rick Six
- Abington Heights (4-0, 2)
- North Pocono (4-0, 1)
- Berwick (4-0, 3)
- Wyoming Area (4-0), 4)
- Scranton Prep (1-3), NS)
- Delaware Valley (0-4, NS)
Next Six: Lackawanna Trail (3-1, NS); Dunmore (2-2 NS); Lakeland (3-1, NS); Pittston Area (3-1, NS); Dallas (1-3, NR); Wilkes-Barre (2-2, 5).
