Here's my take on some key match ups this weekend...
HILLS: (all teams complete through 8 games; no bearing on playoffs)
Chatham (5-3) @ West Essex (7-1)
This should be a great game. Two playoff teams, Chatham who has been improving all season is probably more like a 6-2/7-1 caliber team than anyone else in the 'Hills who isn't. West Essex is supposedly still without the services of standout RB/LB Hayek, but that seemed to be transparent last week in their DRUBBING of banged up ParHills...did anyone else hear that message that was sent through the IHC??? It was WEssex saying "We still own this show, so step off." MoHills and Mendham are actually hoping WEssex drops their second here so they can get a share of the IHC-Hills crown...it will be close...and I usually pick one upset a week (which I know is more than statistics bear out)...so here it is:
Chatham breaks out: Cougars 15 - Knights 14
Mendham (6-2) at HP (5-3)
I know Unruly showed his true colors this week despite the fact that he claims he is all Mendham to the bone now that he lives in Brookside. It's ok buddy, I understand.
Two more playoff teams.
HP is riding high because Hinton is back in the lineup, and they took down the mighty Knights 2 weeks ago. But they should have DESTROYED Parsnippany and they did not. This makes me wonder how good they really are.
Look for the Minutemen to be pissed off that they dropped their second game. There is no "Homecoming dance interference theory" at play here. Riposta and Salerno will combine for ~200 yards rushing, Schermerhorn passes for another 100, D adds another Santomo INT and Puglisi or "BamBam" DeWitt sack, and Special Teams (which has been solid all year) continues with a slight chance of a breakout TD.
The Forecast (revised)? : Minutemen 21, Hornets 10.
Summit (2-6) @ MoHills (7-1)
Summit was hoping for a breakout year this year, trying to restore their team to former glory days. In a way, they have kind of succeeded - they already have one more victory than last year. Look for Vitale to play possessed in his last game in High School. If I was MoHills defense I would be afraid...very afraid.
MoHills is coming off of the hard fought win over Mendham in which they are no doubt, still nursing their bumps and bruises. Nevertheless, they showed a great performance in holding off another potent offense in what ended up a totally defensive struggle. They have got to be riding high, and this game means absolutely nothing to the post season. No doubt Sabo has been preaching to avoid the trap all week. It is must win if they want at least a share of the title though. Almost a classic "Trap Game".
HILLS: (all teams complete through 8 games; no bearing on playoffs)
Chatham (5-3) @ West Essex (7-1)
This should be a great game. Two playoff teams, Chatham who has been improving all season is probably more like a 6-2/7-1 caliber team than anyone else in the 'Hills who isn't. West Essex is supposedly still without the services of standout RB/LB Hayek, but that seemed to be transparent last week in their DRUBBING of banged up ParHills...did anyone else hear that message that was sent through the IHC??? It was WEssex saying "We still own this show, so step off." MoHills and Mendham are actually hoping WEssex drops their second here so they can get a share of the IHC-Hills crown...it will be close...and I usually pick one upset a week (which I know is more than statistics bear out)...so here it is:
Chatham breaks out: Cougars 15 - Knights 14
Mendham (6-2) at HP (5-3)
I know Unruly showed his true colors this week despite the fact that he claims he is all Mendham to the bone now that he lives in Brookside. It's ok buddy, I understand.
Two more playoff teams.
HP is riding high because Hinton is back in the lineup, and they took down the mighty Knights 2 weeks ago. But they should have DESTROYED Parsnippany and they did not. This makes me wonder how good they really are.
Look for the Minutemen to be pissed off that they dropped their second game. There is no "Homecoming dance interference theory" at play here. Riposta and Salerno will combine for ~200 yards rushing, Schermerhorn passes for another 100, D adds another Santomo INT and Puglisi or "BamBam" DeWitt sack, and Special Teams (which has been solid all year) continues with a slight chance of a breakout TD.
The Forecast (revised)? : Minutemen 21, Hornets 10.
Summit (2-6) @ MoHills (7-1)
Summit was hoping for a breakout year this year, trying to restore their team to former glory days. In a way, they have kind of succeeded - they already have one more victory than last year. Look for Vitale to play possessed in his last game in High School. If I was MoHills defense I would be afraid...very afraid.
MoHills is coming off of the hard fought win over Mendham in which they are no doubt, still nursing their bumps and bruises. Nevertheless, they showed a great performance in holding off another potent offense in what ended up a totally defensive struggle. They have got to be riding high, and this game means absolutely nothing to the post season. No doubt Sabo has been preaching to avoid the trap all week. It is must win if they want at least a share of the title though. Almost a classic "Trap Game".
Mendham is hoping th Knights drop this one so they can get a share of the 'Hills crown one more time.
Summit threatens, but comes up short: Knights 21, 'Toppers 14.
Summit threatens, but comes up short: Knights 21, 'Toppers 14.
Parsippany (0-8) at Dover (0-8) - AKA "Toilet Bowl III"
Parsippany is actually a little better at football than they are at naming their athletic teams. They have some decent receivers and backs who might be able to do some damage and improve their prospects for next season. QB Pohlman and RB McFadden could be in a tight one for the first time this season.
Dover has their best shot at their first victory here, but I just don't see them doing it.
Both teams' coaches were secretly looking to next year 4 games ago. So...how's that Junior class looking??
Parsnippany ends it on a good note: Hawks 20, Tigers 14
Note: Maybe JoeHof can do a nice charity piece on the winner after the game like he did for WMC last week...then again...looking at the box scores...maybe not. (according to Douchebaggius Maximus who lurks on JoeHofs blog and constantly posts anonymously with the same points over and over, its not worth looking below the boxes)
IRON
West Morris (1-7) at Morristown (7-1)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAH....MUwahhaahaahhaa....ohhhhhhhhhh!!
If WMC scores it will be in the second half when Morristown is up 28-0 and Coach Hull decides he needs to rest his 1st string.
Colonials 35, 'Pack 7
Morris Knolls (6-2) at East Orange (7-1)
If you to see some football, this one is gonna be every bit as good as any playoff game the week after. In fact, it's entirely possible these two could see each other in the playoffs, so this could just be a preview.
Ok, so I lied. I am picking another upset:
Iggles 21, Jaguars 20.
OTHER:
Irvington (7-0) at Newark West Side (7-1) - AKA "The Rumble on the Raritan"
These two towns are ~ 4 miles apart down Springfield Ave.
Newark West is coming off a schooling at the hands of the impeccable Wayne Valley squad who hasn't lost a game in like three years or something. I have a feeling they are going to look to make a statement here, and try to take away that #1 seed from the Blue Knights.
Meanwhile, Irvington has had a steady diet of minced meat from mashing up Group III and IV teams in the Watchung league all season long. If Irvington wins they clinch homefield advantage for the playoffs. Who can stop this juggernaut??
Westside becomes dog meat and Irvington is a Junkyard Dog...sorry boys, you are just, well - next.
Blue Knights 35, Roughriders 21.
Blue Knights 35, Roughriders 21.
13 comments:
Val Hall, great commentary as always, but some of your predictions are completely off balance and you might need to have your head inspected at some time inthe near future.
First of all, before I go any further, is anyone suprised about all the votes QB Zukowsky from W. Morris is getting? The Fudgepackers will be good next year, along with Motown.
At any rate, lets get back to this year and to the games on hand.
Chatham vs W. Essex: I have said it all year, Chatham is the best team I have seen in the Iron Hills Group II conference all year. Tey have just had some really tough breaks. Plus I met the coaching staff at a game and they all seemed like cool guys and very gracious too. Without Hayek, I see Chatham coming through with a win. Common Chatham, I have been saying nice things about you all year...pull this won out you.
Mendham vs. HP: Val Halla, you can't change who you are. My uniform might be Minutemen Red, White and Blue now...but my Under Armor is Black and Gold. I predict a good game. I agree with your commentary, HP has not played consistent all year. And Mendham has continued to play their games, even in their loses. But HP's Gregory motto has been "Get better each and every game" or something like that.
But with the revenge factor involved, I am going with Mendham here.
Summit vs. Morris Hills: Morris Hills actually sits in a good spot to win the conference. They really dont have to even suit up for this game. By Summit Coach Liberato (a former HP guy) has too much pride not to bring out their bag of tricks (they kicked an onsides kick vs. Mendham in the first Q of their game). But I still think MoHills is too good. MoHills takes this easily.
Parsippany vs. Dover: Lets hope "The Coach" from MCHSS.NET (your welcome for the plug VC :0) tapes this game bc I can't wait to see the high lights. This should actually be called the "Not even the mothers will go to thie game" Bowl. I think Dover will actually take this one, and in blowout fashion. QB Hartman is aptly named bc he does have a lot of heart, and guts for that matter. And Vazquez is always open. Also, they like to blitz up the middle which is hard to defend against. Dover by 20.
Morristown vs. West Morris: Val Halla, your hatered toward the Wolfpack is completely evident. This is where I dissagree with yout he most. This wont be as bad as you think. As crappy a record as the Pack has, they have been in most of their games. The second half is where they lose the games. I say they score two touchdowns in the first half and that is it. I do see Georgie Bass and company lighting it up. Motown in a bloodbath. Ok, maybe I dont dissagree with you!
Morris Knolls vs. EO: I am going with EO. Cunningham and Anderson and the rest of the EO Jags will sniper the Grassy Knolls. And their will be a second shooter.
Irvington vs. West Side: My father is actually a former Captain for the Irvington Blue Knights football team. Other than that, I have no clue about this team. So I am going to against journalistic nuetrality (for which this blog proudly stands by) and go with Irvington. I think if they do win, Mendham's chances are helped some how. But I might have just made that up.
Goooooooooooo Mendham (and all the other teams that are playing this weekend)!
Actually I don't hate WMC. No really, I don't. I happen to think they have (or had) a decent program. If they are good next year, I am not sure if it is better or worse to have them in the same Group Section as Mendham.
Did anyone see my question in the Comment section of the last post regarding HP/Mendham game?
My guess on question - Frank Franco and Don Ameche for Mendham.
As for Val's predictions, they are all okay but I think West Essex is going to roll over Chatham and bring them back down to earth.
And, of course, there is no question in my mind that HP is going to win! Sure, Mendham has great backs but they are going to be calling this game the Hinton Highlight after it is over. I stand by my original prediction.
Go Hornets!
Some good games this weekend for sure.
Nope, not Franco. And I actually dont know the answer to who was the Mendham guy.
Phillipone then. Gale Sayers for Mendham.
Hey retard, why ask a triva question when you don't know the answer to it?
I don't think I can go to the game tonight, I may go out in Motown Sat. night and I only get one free pass a week. Not for nothing, I would probably rather spend it getting drunk and hitting on uninterested girls. ha ha
Seriously though, Unruly, who was your cheerleader at HP? Didn't every player have a specific cheerleader? Don't tell me it was Tab-a-ho or some other ugly one.
Fakehead, you so funny! You make me laughy laughy!
My cheerleader was M.M., which is code for the girl you almost committed suicide over.
No Filapone...but good guess. Think a diferent nationality. Again, not sure about the Mendham kid. But I will guess Iorrio, but I think he was not playing varsity at that point.
We really need Val Halla or anyone else for that matter to weigh in on that answer.
PS: Do you see that MAP on the right hand side of this site? Click on it and it will tell you where all of our fans are dialing in from. Do you know who that big circle is in the middle of the country?
Lature maybe? Or what was that Chinamen's name? Ho Chi Minh? I forget. But I bet it was him.
My guess on the Mendham guy is Dick Butkus or Garry Shandling.
As for MM, man I was nuts over that one. I'm regret that to this day. What was wrong with me?
I may not go in Motown so maybe I'll go to the game. Do you get to stay on the field or are you in the stands?
Your right it was Won Quq Rim who made the stop. Not sure who the Mendham guy was.
We;ll have to wait for Val Halla to tune in to find out who the Mendham guy was.
By the way, Mendham won tonight 27-21 in double over time. It was really a f'n awesome game. I thought your HP team had a very flashy offense but undiscipline reared his ugly head in a few costly penalties. Hinton, Gady and Ardolino and company did a great job. But Riposta was a complete battering ram. He was practically calling for the ball. And kudos to Coach Kirk for spreading the ball around. He had the linebacker run it in in Overtmie and also bombed it on a 2nd and 10 play from the 25 to tie the game to Ben Blais.
And Fakehead, dont worry about that MM. I think it was really couragous of you to put your feelings on the table to her. It was kind of cute...until you started talking about killing yourself. But glad we can all laugh about it now...right?
The answer to the question has been killing me...I can't think of the guys last name...first name: Tommy.
Steve Iorio's older brother Mike was a Senior TE on that team and he too was an outstanding athlete. Steve was a Frosh at the time.
And you are both retarded.
Val Halla, they should have given it to the older Iorrio on that play. I thought the younger Iorrio was class of 93 which would have made him a soph that year like you and I.
If Mendham did convert that play they would have probably won the states. Because HP played Rozelle that year and we killed them like 51-14 I think. Mendham would have done the same.
The younger Iorio was class of '94 the older was '91.
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