{"id":84177,"date":"2020-11-10T16:35:39","date_gmt":"2020-11-10T16:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=84177"},"modified":"2023-04-11T19:42:34","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T19:42:34","slug":"toughest-opponent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/toughest-opponent\/","title":{"rendered":"The Toughest Opponent"},"content":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are<\/i> those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

This week the District XI<\/a> was in the unenviable position of trying to play schedule a playoff football schedule. In the scope of things, I know that is not so important. And rest assured, I am not making light of what is happening here in Pennsylvania and across the nation.\u00a0 In just this past weekend alone, Pennsylvania Covid case numbers skyrocketed to over 9,000 with no sign of diminishing.\u00a0 The situation seems to worsen every day with daily tragic results.<\/p>\n

And, yet we try to find ways to maintain some semblance of normalcy in our everyday existence.\u00a0 In this environment, the District XI athletic committee has tried to put together a football championship tournament.\u00a0 Knowing the powers that be, they must be literally pulling their hair out, what little they have (that\u2019s for Jason and Bob).<\/p>\n

For high school football, what transpired the past ten days or so has shown what this pandemic can do to any attempt at normality.\u00a0 After a shortened regular season, the tournament brackets were put in place.\u00a0 In all honesty, the bracketing looked quite like it has in past years.\u00a0 It appeared that the season would continue towards champions being crowned in the six categories.<\/p>\n

But this is 2020 \u2013 the year of chaos where nothing seems to go right.\u00a0 The Covid scheduling nightmare all started in the 4A bracket.\u00a0 Saucon Valley<\/a> was forced to withdraw from the tournament.\u00a0 They were replaced by Bangor<\/a>, who a few days later, also, withdrew from the playoffs.\u00a0\u00a0 Central Catholic<\/a> would advance without playing a game.<\/p>\n

Next up was the 5A bracket – #1 seed East Stroudsburg South (4-0) said they were out.\u00a0 They had their best team in decades.\u00a0 Many thought they could challenge for a state title.\u00a0 \u00a0Now their season was over.\u00a0 Pocono Mountain East<\/a> (1-3) would automatically now play for the championship.<\/p>\n

The 6A bracket followed the strangest path of all. Earlier last week, #4 seed Stroudsburg had to drop out of the 6A bracket, meaning Parkland<\/a> <\/span>would advance without playing their Friday game.\u00a0 Then Stroudsburg said they could play this past Friday, but their opponent, Parkland, now said they could not play \u2013 Stroudsburg<\/a> was back in; Parkland was now out.\u00a0 Are you following this?\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t end there.<\/p>\n

Friday, while I was on my way to do the Easton<\/a>–Emmaus<\/a> game, I received word that the #1seed and undefeated Nazareth Blue Eagles were forced to drop out of the tournament.\u00a0 But wait!\u00a0 On Sunday, it was announced that Nazareth<\/a><\/span>\u00a0was back into the tournament if Pleasant Valley would agree to play them on Monday night.\u00a0 PV graciously said they would.\u00a0 Nazareth won and continues on.<\/p>\n

We move into another week with championships to be decided in 1A, 3A, and 5A and semifinals due to be played in 2A, 4A, and 6A.\u00a0 But with each day, what is obvious is that the toughest opponent for everyone right now is the Covid virus.\u00a0 Stay safe.<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. On Friday night, the 6A football game between Easton and Emmaus was one of the best of the year. Easton upset Emmaus 28-23 with the game coming down to the final minute.\u00a0 Easton\u2019s Marcus Williams put on quite a performance with 314 yards of total offense.\u00a0 He scored on two kickoff returns of 94 and 96 yards.\u00a0 He scored a touchdown on a 65 yard run and he caught a 21 yard pass for a touchdown.\u00a0 That\u2019s right \u2013 4 touchdowns.\u00a0 He finished the night intercepting an Emmaus pass inside the Easton 20 stopping a game-winning drive.\u00a0 A performance for the ages.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. I haven\u2019t mentioned any gambling stories this year, but with legal betting now happening all over, here is a good one: On Friday, a bettor in Las Vegas bet $4,000 that he could pick seven correct winners in college and pro games. The odds were 110-1.\u00a0 His picks were: Maryland over Penn State (a 4 TD favorite), Liberty over Virginia Tech (a 17-point favorite), and favorites Oklahoma, Ohio State, Appalachian State, and Iowa State. He picked all 6 correctly.\u00a0 The only game left was the Steelers (14-point favorites) over the Cowboys.\u00a0 At the half, the Steelers trailed 13-9 and Ben Roethlisberger was being treated for a knee injury.\u00a0 Roethlisberger returned and the Steelers won 24-19, knocking down a pass in the end zone by the Cowboys as time ran out.\u00a0 The payoff for the bettor was $438,643!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. The Bills beat Seattle on Sunday. They are now 7-2, behind 8-0 Pittsburgh and 8-1 Kansas City, which makes their road to the #1 seed in the AFC a tough one.\u00a0 Are they Super Bowl possibilities?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. You may not know that I went to Wilson High School. I say that because the biggest upset in the District XI tournament so far happened this past Friday night.\u00a0 The #7 seed, Wilson beat the #2 seed and defending District champion, Pottsville, 18-14.\u00a0 \u201cGive me a W, give me an I, give me an L, etc\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. District playoff action continues this week in high school football. We think we have a really good match-up for you on Friday night at 7:00 PM when Easton travels to Freedom.\u00a0 The two teams met in Week 2 with Freedom<\/a><\/span>\u00a0winning 21-14.\u00a0 Freedom has since replaced their quarterback and Easton had to replace their top running back.\u00a0 It should be a good one.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Gary\u2019s Guesses: NFL Picks \u2013 (LAST WEEK \u2013 10-4; OVERALL- 88-42-1 – 68%)<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Tennessee<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

            Pittsburgh<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

            Detroit<\/p>\n

            Cleveland<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

            Green Bay<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

            Philadelphia<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

            Carolina<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

            Las Vegas<\/p>\n

            Buffalo<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

            LA Rams<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

            New Orleans<\/p>\n

            Baltimore<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

            Miami<\/p>\n

            Minnesota<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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