Lehigh Valley football: Colonial League Week 4 picks have the unbeatens staying that way

It took only three weeks to produce a perfect weekend of predictions with a 9-0 mark. There are several tougher games to pick in Week 4.

Most of the crossover and nonleague matchups are done, so there will start to be some separation among the 14 teams in the Colonial and Schuylkill leagues.

Here’s an attempt at consecutive weeks with perfect picks.

Colonial League Week 4 picks

Jim Thorpe (1-2) at Bangor (1-2): Two young teams who have been banged around a bit in the early going. The Slaters will need to contain sophomore running back Bobby Levins and the Olympians’ size up front. Jim Thorpe 20-12

Saucon Valley (2-1) at Lehighton (3-0): The Indians are shooting for their first 4-0 start dince 2017, when they were 12-0 before losing to Palisades in the District 11 playoffs. Their first-team defense has not given up a point the last two weeks. The Panthers bounced back last week against Catasauqua. They will need another stellar effort. Lehighton 27-21

Northwestern Lehigh (3-0) at Salisbury (1-2): The Tigers are rolling with consecutive mercy-rule games after a sluggish Week 1 road win. The Falcons are coming off back-to-back losses after a Week 1 road win. Northwestern Lehigh 42-7

Palmerton (3-0) at Catasauqua (1-2): The Blue Bombers likely get their toughest test of the young season with a trip to face the Rough Riders, who have had rough sledding since a Week 1 win. Expect a lot of offense here. Palmerton 42-28

Northern Lehigh (2-1) at Palisades (0-3): The Bulldogs found an offensive rhythm in the second half of last week’s win over Pen Argyl. With or without Chris Frame, they should continue to score points against the struggling, inexperienced Pirates. Northern Lehigh 40-14

Nanticoke Area (1-2) at Panther Valley (1-2): Both teams are struggling to score points. This could be a low-scoring affair or a shootout in the Panthers’ first meeting with a District 2 foe since 2015 (Hanover Area, Nanticoke Area’s neighborhood rival). Nanticoke Area 14-12

Executive Education (2-1) at Tamaqua (2-1): Big matchup in the District 11 Class 3A playoff race with the athletic Raptors a matchup challenge for the Blue Raiders. Executive Education 30-22

Minersville (1-2) at Marian Catholic (1-2): The Colts are a couple plays shy of a 3-0 start with two losses by a combined three points. The Battlin’ Miners are coming off a close loss to District 3’s Northern Lebanon. Marian Catholic 19-13

Wilson (1-2) at Southern Lehigh (3-0): The Spartans’ focus has been good so far. The Warriors, who have lost 10 of the last 11 meetings, will need a stellar effort by their pass defense. Southern Lehigh 49-14

Notre Dame-GP (3-0) at Pen Argyl (1-2) (1:30 p.m. Saturday): The Crusaders have done well on both sides of the ball in the first three weeks. The banged-up Green Knights, who have lost seven in a row in the series, will face a challenge in the Crusaders’ versatile offense. Notre Dame-GP 48-7

Last week: 9-0

Season: 29-7

Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com