SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF PICKS (And Analysis After the Games)

Ok, it is your favorite column of the week for all you problem gamblers. As most of you know who did take my advice last week, that I was a clean 8 for 8 in picking the Iron Hills Playoff winners. Ok, I was 7 for 8 but who is counting the Wessex vs. Madison game? I added a disclaimer when I gave that pick. I picked Madison with my heart not my gut. Don't worry; there heart felt picks this week.

At any rate, you have to agree that I am a freaking HS FOOTBALL playoff picking guru when it comes to picking these games. I am like Mathew McConaughey in that movie Two for the Money where he is this former college star who gets injured and gets into picking football games for some gambling firm. He is like the stud of the firm and in the end all he does is flip a coin to make his picks.

By the way don't ever see that movie. It was the weirdest movie with Al Pacino as his boss and Rene Russo as Pacino's wife. There was like no plot and the whole time Pacino was trying to get McConaughey to sleep with his wife (Russo), or at least that is what I think it was about. Pacino just kept yelling the whole movie and I just wanted McConaughey to sleep with his wife so Pacino would just shut up. I actually left the theater before the movie ended.

I am like McConaughey in that movie all the way except for the fact that I didn't play in college, I don’t walk around with no shirt on and I never flip a coin to choose my picks. All my picks are based on sheer stats, knowledge of the game, inside information and the occasional coin flip (ok, sometimes it’s too close to call).

But enough yipping, lets get right into the thick of it.


MORRISTOWN VS. NEWARK WEST SIDE

What do you say here? In my opinion this is the hardest game of the week to pick so lets get it over with. Why, well you have Morristown who is having just an incredible year having won every game by a margin of 18 points. The only exception is their one loss against Seton Hall Prep at their first game. And, Motown should have won that game if it wasn't by an incredible play by a SHP d-back when Colvin was passing for a two point conversion to win the game.

But West Side is 8-2 with their two losses coming at the end of the season. You might say that West Side had been slipping. Two reasons why their not though! One is that both their loses were to two playoff teams, Wayne Valley and Irvington. Secondly, they had been without their stud Quarterback, Anthony Baskerville since October 20th with a colarbone injury. Baskerville finnally game back and just in time. He just came back last week for their first round playoff game vs. Union Hills. How did he do? Well, he only was named the Star Ledger's player of the week and was 10-15 with 300 yards and 4 TD's.

West Side also has a very intense and fast defense led by linebackers Tahir Whitehead and Carlos Cox. Whitehead, Cox and company have held opponents to only 12 points per game which has been more than enough for their offense (25 points per game) to secure their wins.

But, Morristown has all the tools. Michael Colvin is the real deal at only a junior and has been a major threat in the air with his gun slinging arm and also with his feet. Wideout Carter will be a big pest for West Side because they will always have to know where he is.

Meanwhile, while West Side will be keying in on Colvin and Carter; enter in...

...SUPER GEORGIE!!!

Georgie Bass is just too electrifying for any team to stop, let alone West Side. This kid has just mad skillz and my favorite Iron Hills player to watch. I just think MoTown is just too stacked.

PICK: Morristown 31-27

REAL SCORE: West Side 12-7

Hey, you have to tip your hats off to West Side. I thought this game would be an offensive score fest. But I did warn you about West Side's D. Congrats West Side. As for the rest of the Iron Hills, the bad news for you is the core of the Morristown team are only juniors. And now their pissed. They are already my pick to go all the way next year.

HANOVER PARK VS. WEST ESSEX

Hanover Park has a few things in their favor this game. Fist, West Essex may be without their leading rusher and tackler Anthony Hayek who has been recovering from an MCL injury. Secondly, they are the only team this year to hand West Essex a loss. And thirdly, and probably the most important is they have the "NOTHING TO LOSE" factor.

HP has some swagger. They have one of the craziest offenses which can only be described as an option, I-formation, shotgun, running, passing offense. But they make it work. It is hard for defenses to key on all their different weapons. QB Alex Ardolino is as nifty a passer as they come and he can also run very effectively. And Ryan Hinton is probably one of the fastest running backs in the Group II Iron Hills Conference.

On Defense, the Hornets truly do swarm to the ball with Defensive leaders Pryer, Nagy and Gatti.

But, West Essex has one good thing going for them: They are just awesome! They have won three out of the last four State Titles. The Knights have had six shutouts this year and in three games they did not let up more than 7 points. And they have the "New England Patriots" factor going for them.

Even without their star, Hayek, the Knights other players just plugged in the void with stellar play. They are a true team with Andrew Cross handling a lot of the running in Hayek's absence. Mike Agrifolio is stellar in the WR position and also has 11 pass deflections and 4 interceptions on defense. They are also joined by stud Defensive Lineman Tom Bianchi who has 6 sacks and Sal Tobia who is the second leading tackler (next to Hayek).

To Fakehead's dismay, I just don't see Wessex getting stung by the Hornets!

PICK: West Essex 18-15

REAL SCORE: 12-0

Hey, you have to hand it to HP. They really pulled out all the stops. Wessex could not unload on them but they beat them. And you have to hand it to Wessex to over come adversity without their star player and keep rolling. Although I have personal ties to HP, Wessex was the better overall team and deserve to move onto the finals. Now we'll just have to wait till tomorrow to find out who they will be facing. I am sticking to my prediction of Chatham.

EAST ORANGE VS. MORRIS KNOLLS

You got to love playoff games that are against regular season opponents. Why, because you can say, "Hey E.O. beat Knolls once, they will do it again." In most cases I would tend to agree.
But you cannot discount the fact that Knolls just initiated Bellville last week 50-27. And no team is running the option better these days than Knolls with Nick DeRosa at QB and Kellan Cardio and Dan Herr running the ball. Last week this trio almost put up 300 yards rushing between them.

But then you enter E.O. They have one of the most talented QB's in Quadir Pendleton (which if I have another kid will be his name. Not just Quadir, but Quadir Pendleton.) And position players Akeem Cunningham who is one of the best WR in the league and RB Hakeem Harvey have been getting it done all year. E.O.'s strength lies in their defense. Their defense have held opponents to 9 points per game this year. They also posted 3 shut outs and three times held teams to 7 points or less.

This game is another really hard one to pick. But defense wins games. And I think E.O. is disciplined enough to slowdown Knolls ground attack.

PICK: E.O. 24-16

REAL SCORE: E.O. 20-14

I told you. EO was just too good. And Knolls maybe showing their true colors with some really poor sportsmanship, cheering when EO's number 8 went down with an injury so loud that you would have thought they scored a TD. Common Knolls, what is with that? That is not my grandfather's Knolls. Where is the class?

MORRIS HILLS VS. CHATHAM

Why do I like this match-up so much? I don't know. I really feel Morris Hills is the real deal this year. I love their coach and what he has done with the program. The Scarlet Knights are no doubt here to stay.

This year they just have it all, starting with the Three Amigo's in the back field in Colin Be, Justin Doniloski and Deric Torres. Their QB, Dan Kellner, is regarded one of the best in the conference. And two way starter Doug Dudek has the skillz and the fire to make this team a real contender.

And MoHills' strength is in their defense that has held teams to 7 points or less six different times.

BUT...nobody has had the tough breaks Chatham has had. And I am not making excuses for them but you need to consider a few things. First, they opened the season to route a good Par Hills team in the first game of the season. Only to have Par Hills have a fluke come back in the last two minutes. Then they controlled Mendham in the second game of the season, only to have Mendham tie the game on an interception return, and then win it in over time.

Take away those two losses and Chatham is 8-2 coming into this game, with losses to Morris Hills and West Essex.

Chatham is good. Trust me. And MoHills needs to pay attention here because they match up almost perfectly with them.

Quarterback Jamie Pinaire is as much of a leader of this team as Kellner is to MoHills. And Kyle McDonough, James Brennan and Kevin Allgood are Chatham's "Three Amigo's". Billy Fenwick is a dangerous receiver. And Campbell Wood is the answer to Doug Dudek.

I have smelling this upset for a few weeks now. I just can't help seeing MoHills get stung here and hard. Just watch Chatham match up perfectly in this big battle. The difference? Cam Wood and in the form of a kickoff return or punt return.

PICK: Chatham 23-21

REAL SCORE: Morris Hills 26-0

Hey, crow tastes best when it is eaten the soonest. Okay, I bombed this pick. Chatham you son of a b**ches! I stood by you till the end. I still feel they got some really tough breaks and that they are a good team. But you know what, Morris Hills is good. And they just taught me and the West Essex a big lesson: That next will is going to be one bad mother f'n game between West Essex and Morris Hills. I have no idea who to pick for that one now. I would go with the home field team but I think this one is being played at Giants Stadium. Which sucks because when I played in my State Championship game (blatant bragging by me here) we had to play on our field. We ended up romping on Rozelle but it would have been much sweeter if it were in Giants Stadium. Good job Coach Sabo and your gang! But just like the Chatham coach said last week, "One more game!"

Do you disagree with my picks? Yeah, well then tell me why.

Photo's of Morristown's Bass, HP's Hinton and MoHill's Kellner courtesy of http://www.dailyrecord.com/. Chatham Photo courtesy of http://www.mchss.net/ where you can purchase photo's of yourself or your son for a very reasonable price.