Over the years, the District 4 Class A tournament has had as much drama as a New England Patriots game.
Last year, Line Mountain spruced things up a bit by giving the district's 600-pound gorilla, Southern Columbia, a tussle before falling 49-31.
But the 2007 tournament promises to be the best ever, with any of the top three seeds capable of making a run to Hershey in December.
Barring a major upset, Line Mountain, Southern Columbia, Bloomsburg and Canton will comprise the field. Muncy could pass Canton by winning their head-to-head meeting Friday night and having Canton fall in Week 10 to Troy. Even then, the Indians would need a bit of help.
If Line Mountain wins out (the tougher one is next week at home against Millersburg for the Twin Valley Conference title), the Eagles should just eke out the Tigers for the top seed. Southern would probably edge out Bloomsburg for the No. 2 seed, setting up a rematch of a Week 2 game in which the Panthers blanked the Tigers 19-0, but this one would be at Southern.
The Class AA tournament remains a crapshoot, with at least 10 teams fighting for the eight playoff berths. Towanda, Montoursville, Loyalsock and Athens appear to have the top four spots, which means home field in the quarterfinals, with Towanda looking like the top seed. Montoursville could change that with a win over Selinsgrove on Friday night.
Mount Carmel could grab a home game by winning out, but it faces Pottsville and then Selinsgrove, a tall, but not impossible, order.
If Mifflinburg and Warrior Run win out, the Wildcats and Defenders would likely be in the tournament. That would leave Wellsboro and Troy to fight for the final berth.
The less than thrilling Class AAA tournament is virtually set: No. 1 Selinsgrove will host East Juniata and Jersey Shore will meet Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech in the other semifinal. The seeding between the Bulldogs and Rams for second and third seed is too close to call.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Quarterbacks Eric Deckard of Selinsgrove and Marc Persing of Shamokin. The two senior gunslingers put up quite a duel Saturday night at Kemp Memorial Stadium with the Indians winning 42-23. Persing broke a school single-game record by completing 20 of 41 passes for 264 yards and 4 touchdowns; Deckard was 13 of 20 for 234 yards and also 4 TDs. Persing was intercepted just once and Deckard did not throw a pick.
COACH OF THE WEEK: Lourdes Regional's Mike Klembara for the Red Raiders' dominating 35-7 over East Juniata to stay alive for at least a share of the All-America Conference championship.
Last week's and season records: 29-1 (I missed on Pittston Area's overtime win over Williamsport); 160-39, .804.
This week's picks:
FRIDAY
Southern Columbia at Central Columbia -- The Tigers should be able to wear down the Blue Jays in the second half. Southern 34-14.
Mifflinburg at Milton -- The Wildcats don't want to limp into the playoffs. Mifflinburg 28-14.
Shikellamy at Line Mountain -- The Eagles bid a fond farewell to their neighbors. Line Mountain 25-7.
Danville at Lewisburg -- Both teams are clinging to slim playoff hopes. Lewisburg 14-10.
Selinsgrove at Montoursville -- The winner will claim at least a share of the final Central Susquehanna Conference Division I championship. Selinsgrove 28-21.
Hughesville at Warrior Run -- The Defenders have two games to prove they belong in the playoffs. It starts Friday night. Warrior Run 21-13.
Lourdes Regional at Nativity BVM -- The Red Raiders tune up for next week's showdown with CMVT. Lourdes 35-6.
Pottsville at Mount Carmel -- The Red Tornadoes could really use this one. Mount Carmel 28-21.
Tri-Valley at Upper Dauphin -- The Bulldogs get their second win. Tri-Valley 38-13.
Blue Mountain at Shamokin -- The Indians finally prove their winless record is undeserved. Shamokin 21-20.
SATURDAY
East Juniata at Freedom Village -- The Tigers are playing for pride now. East Juniata 42-19.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference: Williams Valley over Pine Grove, Halifax over Juniata, Millersburg over Newport, Loyalsock over Bloomsburg, Berwick over Coughlin, Marian Catholic over Jim Thorpe, Schuylkill Haven over Mahanoy Area, Minersville over Tamaqua, South Williamsport over Sayre, Towanda over Athens, Central Dauphin over Williamsport, North Penn-Blossburg over Montgomery, Canton over Muncy, Wellsboro over Wyalusing, Jersey Shore over Central Mountain, Pius X over Shenandoah Valley, Northwest over Carson Long and Bucktail over Elkton (Md.) Christian.
n Assistant sports editor Harold Raker covers high school football for The Daily Item. E-mail comments to hraker@dailyitem.com.
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Harold Raker's high school football column: Class A tournament worth the wait
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