MALVERN PREP VS. ROMAN CATHOLIC (WILDWOOD, N.J.)

The Friars have a lot of talent but head coach Dave Gueriera knows his team is in for a dogfight. “Roman Catholic has a very fast and athletic defense,” Gueriera said. “They also have two running backs that can go the distance at any point in the game. We, as a team, need to play mistake-free football and execute in all facets of the game to be successful.” Malvern is one of the best teams in the state and although Roman is an improved squad, the Friars have too much firepower to lose in this spot. Look for quarterback Drew Gunther to have a big game and sophomore receiver Lonnie White to show people how athletic he is.

Pick: Malvern Prep 28, Roman Catholic 14. PERKIOMEN VALLEY AT DOWNINGTOWN EAST Perkiomen Valley is the defending PAC champions and although it lost, 44-33 ,to a very good Downingtown West squad in Week 1, the Vikings pose a lot of problems for teams, especially when they have the football. Downingtown East head coach Mike Matta talked about the visitors. “Perk Valley is very well-coached with an outstanding quarterback that can beat you running or passing,” Matta said. “They have a different scheme to defend both on offense and defense. They will be quite a challenge for us.” There should be a lot of points scored in this one, but I will go with Downingtown East. Pick: Downingtown East 35, Perkiomen Valley 31. PREP CHARTER AT BISHOP SHANAHAN Prep Charter is a really bad football team. The Prep lost 50-0 last week to Boys Latin, and Bishop Shanahan, although very young, should mercy rule this squad.

Pick: Bishop Shanhan 42, Prep Charter 7. CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH AT DOWNINGTOWN WEST Downingtown West showed how good it is by going on the road and defeating Perkiomen Valley, 44-33, last week. Wide receiver Dan Byrnes caught eight Will Howard passes for 147 yards. C.B. South was shut out 21-0 by Spring-Ford. The Whippets look to be starting to jell and they should prevail here.

Pick: Downingtown West 28, C.B. South 13. KENNETT AT CHICHESTER Kennett struggled to move the football in a 21-7 opening week loss to Avon Grove, while Chichester won its first game. I usually do not pick Del Val League teams to win out of conference, but I like the Eagles a little here.

Pick: Chichester 21, Kennett 14. OXFORD AT INTERBORO Interboro is a very tough place to play and win for visitors but the Hornets looked good in a 30-7 over West Chester Henderson last week and Hornets head coach Mike Means has the Oxford program on the upswing.

Pick: Oxford 23, Interboro 21. ACADEMY PARK AT UNIONVILLE Unionvile ran into a buzzsaw last week at Garnet Valley as the Indians gave up 371 yards of total offense to the Jaguars. Academy Park is always one of the better 5A teams in District 1 and they are going to be tough.

Pick: Academy Park 21, Unionville 20. HAVERFORD AT CONESTOGA Haverford is one of the favorites to contend for the Central League crown and Fords quarterback Jack Ruane is a dual threat as last season he passed for 16 touchdowns and ran for 10 more. Conestoga did not show much offense in a 20-7 loss to Owen J.Roberts last week as the Pioneers only gained 90 yards on 27 carries on the ground.

Pick: Haverford 28, Conestoga 14.