Mike Copper’s Crawford County Calls
Week One Record: 5-1.
Overall: 5-1.
Week Two Football Previews
Friday
Region 1
Cochranton Cardinals (0-0, 1-0) at West Middlesex Big Red (0-0, 0-1), West Middlesex Stadium, 7 p.m.
For one week at least, the region standings look inverted.
Cochranton, tied for last in 2006, won its season opener with a 34-12 win over Maplewood. The Cardinals’ Andy Harkness and Andy Boughner each scored two touchdowns, while running back Joe DeWitt finished with 141 yards.
West Middlesex, the defending region champ and a finalist in last season’s PIAA Class A title game, lost 34-6 to Neshannock. The Lancers, 1-9 overall last season, won their first game with new coach Pat Cuba.
Do those outcomes indicate how the Cardinals and Big Red will fare this fall? Their game could be a big indication.
Prediction: West Middlesex 20, Cochranton 12.
Conneaut Lake Indians (0-0, 0-1) at Lakeview Sailors (0-0, 1-0), Lakeview Stadium, 7 p.m.
Thomas Miller took the early lead in the District 10 rushing department. The Sailors’ running back racked up 181 yards and three touchdowns in Lakeview’s 50-0 victory at Union City.
Miller could find himself in a ground-gaining contest with Conneaut Lake’s Cash Horne. The Indians’ senior rushed for more than 1,200 last season and ran for 120 in Friday’s loss to Saegertown.
Conneaut Lake can’t afford to get behind like Union City did against the Sailors. Lakeview led 14-0 before the Bears ran their first play on offense.
Prediction: Lakeview 28, Conneaut Lake 20.
Region 2
Eisenhower Knights (0-0, 1-0) at Cambridge Springs Blue Devils (0-0, 1-0), Baird Memorial Field, 7 p.m.
Cambridge Springs avenged last season’s opening loss to Union-Rimersburg with a 34-15 road victory over the Clarion County team. The Blue Devils will aim for a similar result in their second straight game against a team nicknamed the Knights.
Eisenhower’s defense frustrated Reynolds in a 15-0 victory at Transfer. The Knights intercepted three passes and recorded a safety.
A victory over the Blue Devils would give Ike a 2-0 record going into its Sept. 14 home opener against Union City. It would be a positive sign for the Knights, whose inconsistent play against region rivals cost them a 2006 postseason berth.
Prediction: Cambridge Springs 15, Eisenhower 7.
Mercyhurst Prep Lakers (0-0, 1-0) at Conneaut Valley Indians (0-0, 0-1), Clements Field, 7 p.m.
The Lakers began defense of their region championship with a 10-0 victory at Mercer. Mercyhurst’s defense held the Mustangs to 182 yards in offense and recovered a fumble.
That could be bad news for Conneaut Valley, which will play its first home game with new coach Jeff Dahlstrand. The Indians were shut out 49-0 at Linesville.
Almost as bad for Conneaut Valley was the first-quarter ejection of wide receiver Ben Varee. The 6-foot, 4-inch senior not only sat out the final three quarters of that game but also won’t play against the Lakers, per PIAA rules.
Prediction: Mercyhurst Prep 27, Conneaut Valley 7.
Youngsville Eagles (0-0, 0-1) at Maplewood Tigers (0-1, 0-0), Maplewood Stadium, 7 p.m.
Expect Maplewood to key on the run when Youngsville has the ball. Eagles quarterback Neil Koontz only attempted one pass against Seneca, even though Youngsville lost 43-0.
The Tigers never recovered from the 26-point second quarter that Cochranton put on them in a 34-12 win. Maplewood started Broc Baker at quarterback over incumbent Andrew Hamilton, but the sophomore finished 5-of-22 for 78 yards and was intercepted twice.
If the Tigers lose their home opener, they could be looking at a 0-3 start. Maplewood plays at Mercyhurst Prep, the defending region champ, on Sept. 15.
Prediction: Maplewood 21, Youngsville 6.
Iroquois Braves (0-0, 0-1) at Saegertown Panthers (0-0, 1-0), Canon Memorial Field, 7 p.m.
The only downside to this matchup is that the teams don’t meet later in the regular season. The Braves and Panthers were District 10 Class A playoff teams last season.
Against Conneaut Lake, Saegertown showed that its defense could be as formidable as its offense. The Panthers won 36-16 last Friday and held the Indians to 60 yards in offense for the second half.
Iroquois almost had its home opener against North East moved to Ted Miller Stadium because of lighting problems. The site made little difference, as the Class AA Grapepickers won 34-0.
Expect the Braves to have a better showing against the Panthers.
Prediction: Saegertown 27, Iroquois 20.
Region 5
Warren Dragons (0-0, 0-1) at Meadville Bulldogs (0-0, 0-1), Bender Field, 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs assumed first place in one District 10 category. Problem is, it’s the wrong one.
Harbor Creek beat Meadville 34-6 last Friday, which was the Bulldogs’ 15th straight loss. They inherited the longest such streak in District 10 when Fort LeBoeuf beat Northwestern that same night.
In order to erase that scarlet letter, they’ll have to beat region contender Warren in their home opener. The Dragons were tied with General McLane at halftime before the defending state champions emerged with a 28-14 victory.
Prediction: Warren 24, Meadville 13.
Titusville Rockets (0-0, 1-0) at Franklin Knights (0-0, 1-0), Franklin Field, 7 p.m.
Like Meadville, Titusville carried over a trait from the 2006 season.
Unlike Meadville, the Rockets’ trait was a positive one: shutout victories.
Titusville routed Corry 46-0 at Carter Field last Saturday. Derek Carr rushed for 168 and two touchdowns and Ben Anderson scored three times for last season’s region titlist.
Franklin also opened at home last Saturday and beat Central Tech 35-18. The Knights won despite the absence of head coach Dave Smith, who missed the game to attend a friend’s previously scheduled wedding in Chicago.
Smith would be wise to show for this one.
Prediction: Titusville 27, Franklin 14.
Saturday
Region 1
Linesville Lions (0-0, 1-0) at Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles (0-0, 0-0), Butala Stadium, noon.
The known: Linesville dominated in a 49-0 victory over Conneaut Valley last Friday.
The Lions’ two Dougs, Williams and Farley, combined to rush for 296 yards and four touchdowns. Wideout Matt Laird also caught three passes for 107 yards.
The unknown: Kennedy Catholic and how the perennial postseason contender will fare.
The Golden Eagles sustained heavy graduation losses to their 7-5 playoff team of 2006. The returning players had an extra week to prepare for the Lions because Kennedy Catholic had a bye last weekend.
Linesville plays the first of three straight road games, a stretch that could ultimately determine its postseason fortune.
Prediction: Kennedy Catholic 24, Linesville 20.