FB FRIDAY: Week 2 game preview capsules
Aug. 31—TONIGHT
Wyomissing (1-0) at Pottsville (0-1)
Radio/TV: WPPA 1360 AM, 105.9 FM
Breakdown: Crimson Tide gave up a whopping 518 total yards in season-opening, 68-13 loss to Jersey Shore. Needless to say that can't happen against the Spartans, who are ranked No. 2 in Class 3A and smoked Kennard-Dale 56-7 in their opener. ... Tackling and being competitive on the line of scrimmage are two goals for Tide tonight. And staying healthy. Back-to-back games against state powerhouses are a tough way to open the season. More competitive games are on the horizon.
Blue Mountain (1-0) at N. Schuylkill (1-0)
Live updates: Follow sports editor Leroy Boyer on Twitter @pubsportsboss
Radio/TV: WAVT 101.9 FM
Breakdown: Matchup of two of the area's top teams should draw a packed house to Cresswell Gardens. Eagles clicked on all cylinders in 35-0, shutout rout of Jim Thorpe in opener as Tyler Miller threw for 178 yards and two scores and Will Jacobson excelled as a runner and receiver. ... Blue Mountain's biggest test will come defensively, as the Eagles try to contain QB Trevor Minalda, WR Joey Flail and the Spartans' run game. Flail had three touchdowns and Jaxson Chowansky was everywhere defensively in comeback win over Mount Carmel. ... Despite North Schuylkill's success in recent years, this matchup has been a tight one. Spartans won in OT in 2020, 21-14 in 2021 and 21-0 last year. Expect another tight one.
Lehighton (0-1) at Tamaqua (0-1)
Kickoff: 7:10 p.m.
Radio/TV: Blue Ridge Cable TV-113, WMGH 105.5 FM
Breakdown: It's Hall of Fame Night at Tamaqua, where the 27th class of the Tamaqua Area High School Athletic Hall of Fame will be inducted prior to the game. Congratulations to Kolby Mashack (Class of 2011), Maria Streisel (2013), Paige Demetriades (2015), Monika Shimko Horoho (2017), Casey Rother (2018), Thaddaeus Zuber (2018) and the 2008 girls' soccer team. ... On the field, it's a chance for the Indians and Raiders to bounce back after rough opening losses. Blue Raiders compiled just 77 total yards in a loss to Northwestern Lehigh, while Lehighton yielded six touchdowns to Palmerton superstar Matt Machalik. Establishing the running game will be a key factor in this one.
Minersville (1-0) at Marian (1-0)
Radio/TV: WLSH 1410 AM
Breakdown: Is this a preview of the District 11 Class A championship game? It might be after the Miners and Colts scored impressive wins in Week 1. ... For Minersville, cutting down on turnovers and dropped passes is a priority. Way too many against Tri-Valley. The Miners also struggled against the run, which Marian did very well in its win over Haven. Jayden Fermin rushed for 142 yards and a TD against the Hurricanes as Marian dominated up front. ... A big matchup is Marian's secondary against Minersville's passing attack. ... Expect a big crowd. Should be a barnburner.
Tri-Valley (0-1) at Panther Valley (1-0)
Breakdown: Both squads have to feel good about the Week 1 performance of their QBs. Blake Schwartz threw for 180 yards and four touchdowns for Tri-Valley in its loss to Minersville, while Brody Breiner rushed for 135 yards and a score and threw for another TD in PV's win over Salisbury. ... The Dawgs' play up front was impressive against Minersville, and Noah Porter (28-154) and Kash Tobin (11-46) were strong running the ball. That's going to be tough to stop for the Panthers.
Pine Grove (1-0) at Williams Valley (1-0)
Breakdown: The Cardinals are looking to open the season 2-0 for the first time since 2019 after last Friday's thrilling overtime win over Northern Lebanon. Lane Lehman, who plays a great center field for the PG baseball team, walked it off on the football field with a TD run in overtime. ... Stopping Alex Achenbach will be a tough task for the Cardinals after the Williams Valley senior rushed for 230 yards in the Vikings' rout of Upper Dauphin. Controlling the line of scrimmage will be key battle.
Shen. Valley (1-0) at Upper Dauphin (0-1)
Breakdown: Big performances by QB Ben Dempster, freshman runner Joel Nunez and Athlete of the Week Nick Ryan helped the Blue Devils win their opener. Can they make it two in a row? If they do, it will be the first time since 2007 that Shenandoah Valley opened the season 2-0. ... For the Trojans, the game provides a chance to bounce back from a season-opening loss to Williams Valley in which they compiled 119 total yards. Getting Chase Snyder and Tyler Erdley more touches in the running game has to be a priority, which would open things up for QB Aidan Bingaman.
Mount Carmel (0-1) at Dunmore (1-0)
Radio/TV: WQMY TV-53, www.blackdiamondsports.net
Breakdown: Red Tornadoes and Bucks meet for just the sixth time and only for the second time in Dunmore. ... Red Tornadoes had North Schuylkill on the ropes for most of last Friday's contest before falling 34-27. Cole Spears threw for 233 yards to pace the offense, while LB Maddox Reed had 15 tackles on defense. ... Dunmore, ranked No. 3 in the state in Class AA, opened its season with a 35-12 rout of Old Forge. Domenic DeSando rushed for 90 yards and had an electrifying 49-yard punt return for a score as the Bucks compiled 379 yards of offense. ... Mount Carmel beat Dunmore 42-14 last year. This should be much closer this time around.
Shamokin (0-1) at Southern Columbia (1-0)
Radio/TV: www.blackdiamondsports.net
Breakdown: Indians dropped a heartbreaker in Week 1, falling to Lewisburg in overtime. It gets much worse this week when they travel over to Catawissa to face defending Class AA state champion Southern Columbia, which throttled Berwick 50-0 in its opener. ... Give a shoutout to Zakem Clinton (13-91) and Chase Pensyl (5-89) for solid efforts on the ground last week for Shamokin.
Hamburg (1-0) at Warrior Run (0-1)
Breakdown: Ty Shuey's debut as the Hamburg starting quarterback was one to remember as he completed 10-of-14 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 76 yards and two more scores in 49-19 rout of Halifax. Ty Werley was his main target with five catches for 253 yards and three scores. ... Expect that duo to put up big numbers again against a Defenders' club coming off a 33-26 loss to Class A Muncy.
SATURDAY
Mahanoy Area (0-1) at Pen Argyl (1-0)
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m.
Breakdown: One of Mahanoy Area's biggest wins last year was over the Green Knights as the Golden Bears pulled out a 20-14 victory. They'll look for a similar result Saturday afternoon. QB Brad Rissmiller was 6-for-6 for 179 yards and two scores in the Knights' 48-20 win over Wilson Area, while Alex Moser (3-148) scored on a 90-yard TD pass. Damian Tyminski is one of the best in the Colonial League. ... For Bears to be successful, they'll need a big night from Colm McGroarty, who was held to 52 yards in loss to Harriton.
Schuylkill Haven (0-1) at Nativity (1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Where: North Schuylkill's Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium
Live updates: Follow sports writer Eli Doyle on Twitter @iamelidoyle
Radio/TV: WAVT 101.9 FM
Breakdown: What happened to the Hurricanes last Friday? That was a frequently asked question last weekend after Marian dominated the game from start to finish en route to a 27-0 victory. How they respond in Week 2 will be interesting to see. More carries by Aiden Myers (7-20) would be a good start. ... Nativity enters 1-0 after beating Wyalusing last Saturday. Junior Noah Dolbin had a big game for Green Wave with a pair of return touchdowns. ... Nativity's first-ever home game on turf as the Green Wave call North Schuylkill their new home.
NEXT THURSDAY
Shenandoah Valley (1-0) at Minersville (1-0)
Breakdown: The Blue Devils and Miners face a quick turnaround, squaring off in a Thursday night contest as part of Military Appreciation Night. Obviously, breakdown depends on how both clubs fare tonight. How Miners contain Shenandoah Valley's Nick Ryan will be something to watch.
— Compiled by Leroy Boyer
