Because there’s a tendency in sports to look ahead to the next big thing, sometimes the first big thing becomes lost in the shuffle.
Such is often the case in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football.
While many are focused on what it will take to get into the District 11 tournament at the end of the regular season, the first goal of most teams is to win their division.
This week, the divisional races take center stage with some pivotal matches.
In Lehigh County, Parkland, Allentown Central Catholic and Whitehall enter the weekend at 4-0 in the league and 2-0 in the division. That puts added significance on Friday night’s Trojans-Vikings battle at J. Birney Crum Stadium.
In Northampton County, Nazareth and Northampton are 2-0 in the division with Bethlehem Catholic and Easton still in contention at 1-1. The Blue Eagles visit the Golden Hawks on Saturday night in a game that could determine the division crown.
In Monroe County, Pocono Mountain East and West are both 2-2 in the league, but the Cardinals are 2-0 in the division. They could strengthen their position with a win over Pleasant Valley in the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry while West — one of four teams that are 1-1 in the division — could boost its chances with a win over East Stroudsburg South.
Just three league games remain for everyone in the EPC as the season continues to fly by.
For one of the few times so far this season, weather could be a factor, with rain in the forecast Friday and lower temperatures arriving Saturday, with a high of 59 degrees.
Here’s a look at the matchups:
Easton (3-4, 2-2) at Liberty (2-5, 1-3)
The storylines: One of the oldest rivalries in Lehigh Valley high school football continues. The series began in 1904, and Easton has won the last 10 meetings to lead the series 70-38-3. The Red Rovers beat the Hurricanes twice last season, including a 38-20 win in the District 11 6A semifinals when Easton ran for 372 yards. Both teams are in the mix for district berths. The Rovers have been on a lose-one, win-one pattern. Liberty is trying to bounce back from a 43-17 loss to Nazareth. In four of their five losses, the Hurricanes have allowed at least 35 points.
Players to watch: While neither team has a player with 500 or more yards rushing, the quarterbacks have come on strong in their first seasons as a starter. Liberty’s Alsaiah Gross has thrown for 1,256 yards and 11 touchdowns and Easton’s Zahviay McGurn had tossed for 1,122 yards and 12 scores. Both the Rovers’ Sean McPeek and the Canes’ Zyaire Davis have 29 catches. Liberty’s Greg Tillman and Jayvion White have 20 receptions apiece, while Easton’s Amin Fideen also has 20 grabs.
Keith Groller’s pick: Easton 33-27
East Stroudsburg South (2-5, 1-3) at Poc. Mt. West (4-3, 2-2)
The storylines: These are two teams that have been hard to figure. The Panthers have to prove they can beat a good team in order to crack the District 11 6A field. Their four wins are over teams with a combined record of 2-26. The Cavaliers seemed to turn around their season with a 38-28 win over Pleasant Valley three weeks ago but have given up 79 points in losses to Bethlehem Catholic and Pocono Mountain East over the last two weeks. West won last year’s meeting 49-26.
Players to watch: South sophomore Avery Walker has 516 yards rushing, while his brother Ayden, a senior, has rushed for 351yards. West’s Christian Stiehler is second in the league in rushing yards with 991 yards and is averaging 7.9 yards per carry. Stiehler also has 54 tackles.
Keith Groller’s pick: Pocono Mountain West 21-20
Freedom (4-3, 2-2) at Northampton (5-2, 3-1)
The storylines: Both teams had surprising results last week. The Patriots lost for the first time after 10 straight wins over Bethlehem Catholic. The Konkrete Kids beat Easton for the first time since 2008, snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Red Rovers. Freedom is fifth in the district rankings and Northampton is fourth, and they might meet again in the district quarterfinals. Freedom has won 12 in a row in this series, including a 35-14 final last season when the Patriots racked up 468 yards on offense.
Players to watch: This one is a matchup of two of the league’s best running backs — Freedom’s Lashawn Johnson and Northampton’s Chase Kessler, who have combined for 1,930 yards. Both teams have struggled in their passing games, but the K-Kids have gotten a recent lift from Luke Stopay, who has completed 21 of 34 passes for 260 yards and two TDs.
Keith Groller’s pick: Freedom 23-21
Parkland (6-1, 4-0) at Allentown Central Catholic (5-2, 4-0)
The storylines: One of the best rivalries in Lehigh County football takes center stage at J. Birney Crum Stadium. Parkland has won six in a row since an opening-night loss at Phillipsburg and the Vikings have won four in a row after back-to-back losses to Bethlehem Catholic and Nazareth. Both teams are headed to the district tournament, but could use this one to help secure a top seed and get a first-round home game. The Trojans lead the all-time series vs. ACC 34-21-2 and have won the last three meetings, including a 37-7 victory last year.
Players to watch: Since TJ Lawrence went out with a season-ending injury Sept. 25, sophomore Tycen Norman has taken the ball and run with it for Parkland, with 364 yards on 50 carries and 10 touchdowns. Central’s Trey Torres-Johnson has rushed for 704 yards. Both teams have playmakers in their receiving corps in Central’s Tahir Edmondson and Parkland’s Blake Nassry.
Keith Groller’s pick: Parkland 34-21
Pleasant Valley (3-4, 1-3) at Poc. Mt. East (5-2, 2-2)
The storylines: It’s the “Old Oaken Bucket” rivalry game for the two Monroe County programs. Both are coming off wins. PV snapped a four-game losing streak by beating East Stroudsburg North 60-0 and the Cardinals outlasted East Stroudsburg South. This could be a district playoff preview since both clinched berths in the 5A bracket even before the season started. East has won three in a row in the series, including a pair of shutout wins last year.
Players to watch: East’s Ceejay Serfass became his school’s all-time leading passer last week. Serfass has thrown for 3,251 yards in the last two seasons. He has 1,105 this year. The old record was set by Dylan Rinker, who had 3,130 in a career that wrapped in 2018. PV’s Chris Ward has run for 942 yards and 14 TDs this season, averaging 10.8 yards per carry.
Keith Groller’s pick: Pocono Mountain East 35-12
Stroudsburg (3-4, 1-3) at East Stroudsburg North (0-7, 0-4)
The storylines: The Mounties snapped a four-game skid last week with a 37-21 win over Pocono Mountain West. If the season ended today, they would make the District 11 6A field. Stroudsburg has won 15 in a row in this series, including 28-6 last year, when Jack Mitchell threw three TD passes.
Players to watch: Stroudsburg’s Keyen Johnson is fifth in the league in rushing with 882 yards and Mitchell is fifth in passing with 1,253. The Mounties’ Josh Ivers-Green has 25 catches for 600 yards and Keegan Munch is among the league leaders in sacks with seven.
Keith Groller’s pick: Stroudsburg 42-0
Saturday’s games
Delaware Valley League
Executive (5-2) at Chester (7-0)
The storylines: This is an 11 a.m. kickoff at Chester, where the Clippers do not play night games. The Raptors are coming off a tough 14-12 home loss to Chichester that snapped a five-game winning streak. Executive still finds itself in good position in District 11 3A, ranked fourth. Chester is No. 8 in the state in 5A. One of its wins came by forfeit.
Players to watch: Through six games, Chester quarterback Kenjai Gatling had thrown for 652 yards and eight TDs. Freshman Sa’Mhad Williams led the ground game with 724 yards and Sekai Brown-Murray had 13 receptions for 292 yards and four scores. Executive quarterback Shawntez Whitsett has thrown for 1,178 yards and 12 touchdowns and also had 549 yards rushing and 13 scores.
Keith Groller’s pick: Chester 35-20
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Nazareth (6-1, 4-0) at Bethlehem Catholic (6-1, 3-1)
The storylines: The Blue Eagles have won six in a row since an opening-night loss at Garnet Valley. The Golden Hawks’ lone defeat came on the last play against Easton. Since then, they have won three games by a combined total of 149-31. The most impressive of those wins was last week’s 49-17 win over Freedom. While both teams will be in the District 11 tournament, this one will go a long way in determining how their seed, and also has huge ramifications in terms of who will win the EPC’s Northampton County title. Nazareth won last year’s meeting 41-33 when the Blue Eagles built a 41-14 lead through three quarters before the Golden Hawks scored the last 19 points.
Players to watch: The matchup within the matchup will feature quarterbacks Cooper Madson and Axel Burkart. Burkart leads all EPC quarterbacks with 1,708 yards and Madson is second with 1,695. Madson has thrown 22 TD passes, Burkart 18. Both teams have several quality receivers. Four Blue Eagles have at least 18 catches, led by Luke DePietro’s 35 grabs. Carter Vassa has 31 receptions for Becahi despite missing two games due to injury. The teams also have three of the league’s top five tacklers and Becahi’s Great Chifirst is tops in sacks with eight.
Keith Groller’s pick: Nazareth 31-28
Note: Keith Groller’s high school picks were 6-4 last week and 61-22 on the season.