{"id":77587,"date":"2015-11-17T20:00:52","date_gmt":"2015-11-17T20:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=77587"},"modified":"2023-04-12T21:32:43","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T21:32:43","slug":"sportstalk-shop-district-xi-previews-week-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/sportstalk-shop-district-xi-previews-week-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The SportsTalk Shop: District XI Previews – Week 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

First, a quick pat-on-the back for all the people who participated in last week’s “SportsTalk” show poll (a.k.a. \u201cWho will win the Easton\/Freedom football game?\u201d).\u00a0 Extra congratulations are in order for all the people who predicted (and\/or rooted) for an Easton victory.\u00a0 The win sets up one of several great contests this weekend and we’ll be previewing all of the match-ups involving District XI teams on this Thursday’s “RCN SportsTalk” show (live, 7-8pm on RCN-TV).<\/p>\n

Secondly, in addition to breaking down and making predictions about this upcoming weekend’s contests, I’d like to give the Easton and Saucon Valley fans a chance to give some payback to our adversarial co-host, Joe Craig, who predicted double-possession losses for both the Rovers and the Panthers.\u00a0 After all, turnabout is fair play. We’d be happy to read your emails (RCNSportsTalk@rcn.com<\/a>) and take your phone calls about those predictions as well as your thoughts on how your teams will do again this weekend.<\/p>\n

Now, as we promised in last week\u2019s blog, a closer look at the teams vying for a Class 2A and 3A title this weekend…<\/p>\n

Class 3A Championship<\/strong><\/span>
\nBoth of these teams got to the title game with solid defense\u2026underrated defenses at that!<\/p>\n

Saucon Valley<\/strong> has been in the spotlight because of the running ability of Evan Culver, quarterback Zach Thatcher\u2019s effectiveness in running the offense and the spectacular and timely catches of sophomore Alstan Wolfe. \u00a0However, it has been the defensive efforts of those three\u2014and many others\u2014that has fueled the Panthers\u2019 success over the last few seasons.\u00a0 Culver, who joined his teammates as guests on \u201cRCN SportsTalk\u201d (see it again On-Demand or on our podcasts here on the website<\/a>), said that he actually prefers to play defense.\u00a0 That\u2019s a pretty interesting statement considering he\u2019s third among active District XI players in rushing yards and his 64 touchdowns and 4,129 ground-yardage blew away the school records quite some time ago.<\/p>\n

Head Coach Matt Evancho, who ran the underappreciated defenses for those great Wilson teams in the 2000s, has been one of the top defensive minds in the Valley for some time.\u00a0 Seniors Mike Kane, Christian Carvis, Nate Harka and Mike Paolini have been defensive stalwarts for several years and have made for one of the stingiest defenses\u2014Colonial League or EPC–in the area.<\/p>\n

Lehighton<\/strong> also allowed just one score in their semifinal game against Blue Mountain. The undefeated Indians forced four turnovers in the first half (six for the game) and scored a defensive touchdown. Their stout defense allowed QB Tyler Cann enough time to warm up the offense and post several second-half scores to put the game away.<\/p>\n

Lehighton is similar to Saucon Valley in that they have a core of seniors who have been building to do some special things this fall.\u00a0 The Indians have a very good secondary and it will not be easy when (if?) the Panthers look to pass the ball.<\/p>\n

Class 2A Championship<\/strong><\/span>
\nSpeaking of being underrated, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s been a less-mentioned player who\u2019s deserved more accolades than Northwestern<\/strong>\u2019s Harry Hall, who, oh, by the way leads ALL active District XI players in rushing yards.\u00a0 Hall came into last weekend\u2019s semifinal with 4,860 yards on the ground and 51 TDs (both school records).<\/p>\n

I think the Lehigh Valley fan base looked at all the talent that the Tigers lost to graduation from a year ago, and assumed it would be a rebuilding year up in New Tripoli (although they were the #5 team in the \u201cSportsTalk\u201d preseason poll\u2014just sayin\u2019).\u00a0 However, Northwestern has gotten solid performances on both sides of the ball and played well\u2014even in their losses this season.<\/p>\n

One of their losses was to the team they will face in the championship, Notre Dame-Green Pond.<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>The Crusaders are led by Tre Jordan, who\u2019s passed for over 7,000 yards during his high school career, and he\u2019s just as lethal running the ball.\u00a0 Mitch Daniel, an outstanding point guard for the basketball team, has made a name for himself as a tailback.\u00a0 Destyn Woody, Austin Kaulius, Nick Basenese, Jalen Simpson and Aaron Weller all have outstanding abilities receiving the football.\u00a0 Christian Candelaria, Julian Wismer, Taino Gonzalez and EJ Medina have all had impressive seasons on the defensive side.<\/p>\n

The Crusaders have a ton of weapons, a ton of speed and some outstanding defenders.\u00a0 One would think Notre Dame just has too many horses for Northwestern to handle, but people have discounted the Tigers a few times now, so I\u2019m expecting a very close game on Friday night.<\/p>\n

Don’t forget, we’ll be talking about all the 2A\/3A\/4A playoff teams in our viewing area in action this weekend on this Thursday’s “SportsTalk” show (if you miss the program, the podcast will be available Friday afternoon here<\/a>\u00a0or catch the program On-Demand).\u00a0 Also, make sure you check out the Easton\/Parkland game Friday and Saucon Valley\/Lehighton game Saturday on RCN-TV.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

First, a quick pat-on-the back for all the people who participated in last week’s “SportsTalk” show poll (a.k.a. \u201cWho will win the Easton\/Freedom football game?\u201d).\u00a0 Extra congratulations are in order for all the people who predicted (and\/or rooted) for an Easton victory.\u00a0 The win sets up one of several great contests this weekend and we’ll…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"Yoast SEO Relevanssi index exclude","inline_featured_image":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4,5],"tags":[606,384,385,480],"class_list":["post-77587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured","category-sports","category-the-sportstalk-shop","tag-lehighton","tag-northwestern","tag-notre-dame","tag-saucon-valley"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe SportsTalk Shop: District XI Previews - 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