Colonial League football Week 2 match-ups
WILSON AT PALISADES
When/where: 7p.m. Friday, Kintnersville
Last meeting: Wilson won 15-12on Aug. 31, 2019 What to expect: Wilson returns quarterback Cayden Stem, who threw for 1,874yards and 22TDs as a sophomore, plus two main targets Zack Gillen (43 catches, 823yards, 12TDs) and Dylan Goldsworth (29catches, 429yards, 6TDs). C.J. Fazio takes over the bulk of the running duties after splitting time last season with graduated, three-sport standout Alec Snyder. Palisades has a star running back in Mason Smeland who has the speed to break a big gainer at any moment and does not go down on first contact. Ben Haubert is a premiere linebacker for the Pirates. Jon DeNato is coming off a three-interception game. The Warriors must replace four of their five top tacklers from 2019.
The skinny: This is Wilson’s season opener after reaching last year’s District 11Class 4A quarterfinals. It had a scrimmage last weekend against
Pen Argyl. Coach Chris Labatch’s Warriors may be a little rusty, but they have experience in a lot of areas on both sides of the ball that should help. Wilson should have a healthy passing game. Palisades will need to have that balance offensively to make Smeland more effective. Its experienced defense and the lessons learned from its Week 1 loss at Northwestern could be the difference. Prediction: Palisades 28-21
BERKS CATHOLIC AT NORTHWESTERN When/where: 7:10p.m. Friday, New Tripoli
Last meeting: This is the first meeting
What to expect: QB Brad Hoffman leads a large cast of returning offensive contributors for the Saints, who lost five all-league standouts including running backs Nolan Larkin and Abdul MacFoy. Returning all-league standout Luke Hughes moves from defensive tackle to defensive end. Linebacker Aiden Gallen, free safety Christian Cacchione and cornerback Trace Brown (transfer from Reading) are other returning all-league players for Berks Catholic.
The skinny: This is Berks Catholic’s season opener
with 48hours notice. It is taking the place of Pen Argyl, which closed its high school for a week and postponed all sporting events because of two positive COVID-19tests. The Class 4A Saints have a six-game schedule in their first year in Berks Section 1. They won five of the last seven Berks 2 titles. ... Coach Rick Keeley is in his 10th season at Berks Catholic, 35th overall. The Saints were 8-5last season and became the first Berks County team to reach a District 3championship game for seven consecutive seasons. ... Northwestern beat Palisades 36-28in last Friday’s season opener despite five turnovers. ... Expect a jump in progress for Tigers first-year QB Justin Holmes and several firstyear starters on the offensive line, but it will have to come against an experienced, talented Saints defense.
Prediction: Berks Catholic 30-20
MUHLENBERG AT NOTRE DAME-GP When/where: 7p.m. Friday, Easton
Last meeting: This is the first meeting
What to expect: Quarterback Aron Reinhart is among several returning offensive starters for Muhlenberg. He missed last season after getting hurt in a preseason scrimmage. His backup,
Shawn Shakur also suffered an injury and missed the second half of the year. Running backs Aaron Shuker, Alex McGeary and Giovanni Cavanna are among other experienced players on that side of the ball. Returning starting linebackers Brodie Faessen, Chris Rivera and Jeffrey Rodriguez anchor the defense. Muhlenberg is instituting new offensive and defensive schemes. ... Notre Dame-GP has experience at every level on offense and defense. The skinny: This is John Lorchak’s first season as Mules head coach. He was an assistant earlier in the decade. The Berks Section 1team was 0-10 last season when it allowed a school-record 44 points per game. It was the program’s first winless season in 42years. The Mules, who were 1-9the previous year, last won a Section 1title in 2005. ... Notre Dame-GP finished strong in a 36-20win last Friday over host Pine Grove in its season opener. The Crusaders’ experience and depth should be the difference.
Prediction: Notre Dame-GP 28-20