FB FRIDAY: Week 1 Game Previews
Aug. 24—Tonight's games
Jersey Shore at Pottsville
Live updates: Follow Republican Herald correspondent Chuck Curley on Twitter
@ChuckCurley
Radio/TV: WPPA 1360 AM, 105.9 FM
Breakdown: Crimson Tide open the season for the second straight year against state power Jersey Shore, which went 12-1 a year ago and is ranked in the preseason state polls. RB Elijah Jordan returns for the Bulldogs. ... Playing mistake-free football and preventing big plays are two main objectives for Tide. Getting the ball into Parrish McFarland's hands as much as possible would be a good thing, too.
Jim Thorpe vs. Blue Mountain
Where: Rotary Field, Schuylkill Haven
Breakdown: This game was moved to Schuylkill Haven due to the ongoing construction at the Eagles' Nest for the installation of new turf. ... Blue Mountain enters with high expectations and a bevy of returning starters. Will be interesting to watch how Eagles coach Tom Gallagher uses his two quarterbacks, Will Jacobson and Tyler Miller, in a new offensive scheme. ... Olympians coming off a disappointing 3-8 campaign and would love to start a bounce-back campaign with a big road win. ... This game went into overtime last season, with Eagles winning 28-27.
North Schuylkill at Mount Carmel
Radio/TV: www.blackdiamondsports.net
Breakdown: A great matchup between two backyard rivals. ... Tornadoes bring back QB Cole Spears, running backs Xavier Diaz and Luke Blessing and tight end Jacob Schultz, but will be inexperienced up front. ... Spartans counter with QB Trevor Minalda, fullback Jaxson Chowansky, wide receiver Joey Flail and a gigantic line. ... Spartans had beaten Mount Carmel seven straight times before the Red Tornadoes won 25-17 last year behind a big game by Spears. ... Should be a barnburner.
Minersville at Tri-Valley
Live updates: Follow sports editor Leroy Boyer on Twitter @pubsportsboss
Radio/TV: WAVT 101.9 FM
Breakdown: One of the most intriguing matchups of Week 1, as Minersville looks to beat Tri-Valley for the first time since 2011. ... Miners return eight starters on both sides of the ball and possess a potent offense featuring QB Dante Carr, RB Luke Stevenosky and several fleet receivers. ... Dawgs lost a ton of talent to graduation, but the cupboard isn't bare. ... Team that controls the line of scrimmage will be the one who emerges victorious.
Schuylkill Haven at Marian
Breakdown: A matchup of two programs looking to return to the glory days of years past, and have teams capable of accomplishing that goal. ... The Hurricanes have a young, mammoth offensive line and two talented running backs in Aiden Myers and Niko Carestia, but how new QB Augustus Warke gets used in the offense will be something to watch. ... Marian returns nine starters on offense and eight on defense, but needs some offensive leaders to emerge. One of Week 1's best games.
Harriton at Mahanoy Area
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
Breakdown: Mahanoy Area originally was slated to play Morrisville from District 1 in its opener, a team the Bears crushed 46-6 a year ago. But scheduling issues on Morrisville's end left the Bears scrambling for an opponent. In comes Harriton, a Class 5A school from District 1 that was 4-6 a year ago. ... RB Colm McGroarty is Mahanoy Area's star, while Levi Terry takes over at quarterback. ... Kickoff was moved to 6 p.m. due to Harriton's long travel time.
Palmerton at Lehighton
Kickoff: 7:10 p.m.
Radio/TV: Blue Ridge Cable TV-13
Breakdown: Are the Indians one of this year's sleeper teams? We may find out tonight. ... Lehighton returns eight starters on both sides of the ball, led by QB Brady O'Donnell, who threw for 1,281 yards a year ago. ... Blue Bombers went 7-5 a year ago and return one of the most dynamic players in the Schuylkill/Colonial League in QB Matt Michalik, who excels at running and throwing the football. How well Lehighton contains him will determine how successful it will be.
Northwestern Lehigh at Tamaqua
Radio/TV: WMGH 105.5 FM, Pennsportsradio.com
Breakdown: Blue Raiders have just six seniors, and how much a talented group of underclassmen has matured and developed from last season will be seen against the always tough Tigers, who are coming off a District 11 Class 3A championship and bring back 1,500-yard rusher Dalton Clymer and three offensive linemen. Tigers do have to replace do-everything QB/RB Cade Christopher.
Northern Lebanon at Pine Grove
Breakdown: Pine Grove is another team that could be in line to surprise some people, as 1,000-yard rusher Lane Lehman and a veteran offensive line should give the Cards a strong running game. ... Vikings went 2-8 a year ago. ... Cards won this matchup 14-9 last season.
Salisbury at Panther Valley
Radio/TV: WLSH 1410 AM
Breakdown: Panthers have a chance to start the season off with a win against a Falcons' squad that went 0-10 a year ago. How quickly Brody Breiner takes over as PV's offensive leader will determine team's success. ... Panthers won this game 20-13 a year ago.
Col-Mon Vo-Tech at Shenandoah Valley
Breakdown: Blue Devils have a roster of 12 seniors that are hungry for victories. The combination of QB Ben Dempster and WR Nick Ryan gives Shenandoah Valley a home run threat on offense. Devils need to be physical up front to be successful vs. the Rams.
Upper Dauphin at Williams Valley
Breakdown: Stephen Sedesse's first game as the Vikings' head coach should come in front of a packed house as the backyard rival Trojans visit the pines in Williamstown. Both teams face rebuilding jobs on offense, but each has a big weapon in Williams Valley RB Alex Achenbach and Upper Dauphin QB Aidan Bingaman. ... Vikings won this game 42-30 in a shootout last season. Might be a similar story tonight.
Lewisburg at Shamokin
Radio/TV: www.blackdiamondsports.net
Breakdown: Head coach Marc Persing takes over at his alma mater in Shamokin and gets to face his former team, Lewisburg, in Week 1. Indians must replace a majority of last year's offense. Veterans on the line must lead the way.
Halifax at Hamburg
Breakdown: Hawks lost a ton of offensive talent from last year's 9-3 squad that reached the District 3 Class 3A semifinals, but have a solid nucleus returning. ... Hamburg will have a new starter at quarterback, either Tyler Shuey or Ethan Horvath, but running backs Aiden Readinger and Leland Moore and receivers Cohen Correll and Ty Werley give the new starter plenty of weapons to utilize. ... Hamburg cruised to a 48-6 win last year en route to a 5-0 start.
SATURDAY
Nativity at Wyalusing
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Live updates: Follow correspondent Matt Beltz on Twitter @mattbeltz_
Breakdown: Green Wave make the long road trip north for a game originally slated for tonight but moved to Saturday due to a lack of officials in District 4. Nativity won this matchup 43-16 last season. Getting its speedsters involved offensively could produce a similar result.
— Compiled by Leroy Boyer
