Gold Out planned for Emmaus vs. Freedom

In a sense, this weekend’s batch of Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football games are the calm before the storm.

Next week is rivalry week and the end of the regular season and there’s always lots of excitement surrounding those matchups, especially with some District 11 berths likely to be at stake.

This week’s EPC slate does offer another edition of what has become one of the league’s best rivalries and one that often happens twice as Freedom visits Emmaus.

It’s also a special night for Emmaus students as its Senior Night and Gold Out with a fundraiser for the family of Hailey Cook, the Green Hornets standout who died last June at the age of 17 after a battle with leukemia. Cook would have been an Emmaus senior this year.

“We lost Hailey over the summer to her battle with leukemia, so we are doing black shirts with gold writing on them and we were going to donate our proceeds to the Cook family and allow them to choose where the money will go,” said Emmaus athletic trainer Liz Del Re who has run numerous fundraisers involving Emmaus kids over the years. “This year we have ordered 1,200 shirts, which is the most we’ve ever done. Last year, we sold out with 1,000.

“This year was tough for our kids because it was their peer who we lost. When they are sitting in the student section and they’re looking around for their friend, it’s tough. It hits close to home. She was an athlete here and these are her peers and her friends. It should be an emotional and special night.”

Here’s a look at the Week 9 games:

ALLEN (0-8, 0-6 NORTH) AT STROUDSBURG (4-4, 4-2 NORTH)

Storylines: This is a tough spot for the Canaries who are coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to Pocono Mountain East last week that may have been their best chance at a win this

season. The Mounties, meanwhile, are coming off their most disappointing effort of the season in losing to East Stroudsburg South. Stroudsburg would likely clinch a District 11 6A berth with a win while the Canaries are looking for some momentum entering their seasonender vs. Dieruff.

Players to watch: Allen has scored just 48 points this season, but has 22 points from Lawson Vasquez who has scored three TDs and a pair of 2-point conversions. Stroudsburg’s Will Francis has run for 518 yards and nine TDs and freshman quarterback Jackson Mitchell has thrown for 334 yards and five TDs.

What to expect: Stroudsburg figures to bounce back and make it 11 wins in a row over the Canaries. Last year’s 48-0 rout saw the Mounties run for 247 yards, and outgain the Canaries 440-76 and that kind of dominance could happen again.

Keith Groller’s prediction: Stroudsburg 42-0 ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC (6-2, 5-2 SOUTH) AT POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST (5-3, 5-2 NORTH)

Storylines: The Vikings got a gritty come-from-behind win over Whitehall last Saturday night and clinched a postseason berth in the process but had several key players go down with injuries. They will need everyone back healthy to defend their District 11 4A title, but first things first and that’s getting through the remainder of the regular season which includes a trip to the Poconos and seeing a physical Panthers team. Pocono Mountain West lost to Northampton 28-3, but led at halftime.

Players to watch: ACCHS continues to get clutch throws from sophomore Antonio Fontanez, who has thrown for 1,534 yards and 12 touchdowns. After DJ Kelly went out with an injury against Whitehall, juniors Aidan Sorrentino and

Jareel Calhoun stepped up with TD receptions. West features the top passer in the EPC North in Ryder Bray, who has thrown for 1,217 yards and 11 touchdowns. Will Mecca and Brady Behr have 24 receptions apiece.

What to expect: A closer game than most might anticipate considering ACCHS is coming off an emotional game against Whitehall and West is looking to get back on track after the loss to Northampton. The Vikings have already secured a district 4A berth. West hasn’t but would clinch one with a win here and could get to host a semifinal round game in 5A. Keith Groller’s prediction: ACCHS 28-14

BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC

(5-3, 3-3 SOUTH) AT

NAZARETH (7-1, 5-1 SOUTH) Storylines: The Golden Hawks will try to pull a major surprise and snap a three-game losing streak and secure a district playoff berth. The Blue Eagles, who are going for their fifth straight win after the muchtalked about 31-24 loss to Parkland on Sept. 15, have had remarkable offensive balance with an average of 207.6 yards in the air and 175.6 on the ground. They may not catch Parkland for District 11 6A’s top seed, but would secure at least two playoff home games with wins in their last two games.

Players to watch: Becahi features the EPC South’s No. 3 rusher in Jacob Sutton, who has 682 yards and five TDs. Nazareth, of course, has the South’s top passer in sophomore Peyton Falzone who has thrown for 1,661 yards and 15 TDs and has just two interceptions in 166 attempts. Nazareth also has the league’s top receiver in Mason Kuehner, who has 39 receptions for 597 yards and six TDs.

What to expect: Becahi was one of the league’s biggest stories in the first half of the season with five straight wins, but the schedule stiffened significantly and the Golden Hawks are trying to find their early-season groove. It won’t be easy against the Blue Eagles, who are ranked ninth in the state and are settling into a long stretch of home games after going on the road for five of their first seven games.

Keith Groller’s prediction: Nazareth 38-17

E.S. SOUTH (3-5. 3-3 NORTH) AT DIERUFF (2-6, 2-4 NORTH) Storylines: Both teams are coming off wins, but South’s 40-7 rout of Stroudsburg in the battle of the

Little Brown Jug was unexpected. The Cavaliers had a big night on the ground, rushing for 323 yards and six TDs. Nathan Gray led the way with 235 yards and two TDs. The Huskies continue to build for the future with sophomores Luis Martinez and Juan Manzano having big nights in a 38-14 victory over North.

Players to watch: Gray is the only EPC North player to rush for more than 1,000 yards. He has 1,128 yards and 10 TDs. Martinez leads the North in receptions with 25 for 223 yards and 3 scores.

What to expect: South has dominated this series with six straight wins, including 28-0 last year. The Cavaliers have an outside shot at a district berth. The Huskies have had trouble stopping quality offenses and figure to have issues stopping Gray.

Keith Groller’s prediction: East Stroudsburg South 42-12 FREEDOM (4-4, 2-4 SOUTH) AT EMMAUS (5-3, 3-3 SOUTH) Storylines: It’s a renewal of one of the EPC’s best rivalries. Freedom beat Emmaus in the 2021 district final and topped the Green Hornets again in the D11 semis last year.

So, the Green Hornets may have revenge on their minds. Both teams are playing well since slow starts. Freedom has won three straight after a four-game slide and Emmaus has won four in a row after a three-game skid. Winner will secure a District 11 6A berth, although both will likely eventually make it.

Players to watch: Freedom’s junior quarterback Chase Walker has thrown for 1,018 yards and 8 TDs and Emmaus senior Josiah Williams will likely join him in the 1,000-yard club this week. He has 986 yards and 9 TDs. The Green Hornets’ Mario Landino leads the EPC

South in tackles with 75. The Green Hornets’ Rafael Terrero has three interceptions, while the Patriots’ Jelani Fedrick and Aaron Beete have two picks apiece.

What to expect: Both teams have righted the ship after dealing with some turbulence earlier. Emmaus is coming off an uneven performance against Liberty and Freedom didn’t score in the second half of a 20-7 win over Easton. This one figures to be close and hard-fought and decided by the defenses and perhaps one of the kickers. Will

Buck of Emmaus and Michael Ferry of Freedom can kick the 3s.

Keith Groller’s prediction: Emmaus 20-17

NORTHAMPTON (7-1, 7-0 NORTH) AT E.S. NORTH

(1-7, 1-5 NORTH)

Storylines: It’s the final EPC North game for the Konkrete Kids who have dominated the division since entering it 2018, losing just one game. They will secure their fourth straight division title, but obviously this is a program that wants more and that will start with their rivalry game against Whitehall next week and the playoffs that follow. North has made vast strides this season although that improvement is not represented in its win-loss record. Players to watch: K-Kids sophomore quarterback Gavin

Taff has thrown for 718 yards and six touchdowns. Northampton’s Caden Henritzy, AJ Slivka and Billy Stuhldreher all average more than 5 yards per carry. Tristen Pinnock has 20 catches for 268 yards and two scores. North’s Nathanael Clay has rushed for 588 yards and 5 scores. What to expect: Something similar to last year’s 62-6 Northampton win. While the Timberwolves are improved, the K-Kids are simply at a different level.

Keith Groller’s prediction: Northampton 56-0

Parkland (8-0, 6-0 South) at

Easton (3-5, 1-5 South)

Storylines: The Trojans have lived up to their preseason billing and then some. They are deserving of being No. 2 in the state, but can’t get caught looking ahead to Emmaus and the playoffs. Trey Tremba is up to 1,142 yards rushing on just 109 carries. Five more players in the EPC South have at least 22 carries or more. Easton has some nice pieces for the future led by sophomore quarterback

Cole Ordway, who has thrown for 837 yards and 8 TDs. The Rovers currently own the 8th spot in the 6A power rankings, but will likely have to beat either Parkland or Nazareth to get in.

Players to watch: Easton’s Jasir Frutchey has 29 catches for 373 yards and 5 scores and will be a challenge for a Parkland defense that is allowing just 104.9 yards passing per game and has allowed just 4 passing TDs. The Trojans

defense has 18 sacks, led by Jake Beidleman (6) and Julius Reyes. Beidleman has 12 tackles for loss. Junior linebacker Mekhi Grant leads the Easton defense with 37 tackles, including five stops for loss and senior lineman Pete Diaz has 34 stops, including 9 TFLs.

What to expect: Parkland will try to maintain its offensive balance that has seen the Trojans run for 250 yards per game and pass for 175. The Rovers defense has played well in most games and will try to create turnovers to help spark an offense that has struggled for consistency. Parkland enjoyed its last visit to Cottingham Stadium, a 35-10 rout of Freedom in last year’s District 11 6A final, and figures to enjoy this one as well.

Keith Groller’s prediction: Parkland 34-14

POCONO MOUNTAIN EAST (2-6, 2-4 NORTH) AT PLEASANT VALLEY (4-4, 4-2 NORTH) Storylines: The Cardinals are coming off an overtime win over Allen and would like to finish the season playing well to generate momentum into the offseason.

The Bears were routed by Nazareth and would like a solid effort here to regain the vibe they had during a four-game win streak in September. PV will also likely secure a District 11 5A berth with a win.

Players to watch: Xander Gonzalez and Rasu Wearing-Poindexter scored the touchdowns for the Cardinals in the win over Allen. PV’s Alex Ecker didn’t play last week vs. Nazareth, but is still second in the EPC North in rushing with 931 yards and has scored 10 touchdowns. Valentino Byers-Robinson has scored five times for the Bears. What to expect: Pleasant Valley has been held to 13 points during its three-game losing streak and has played quality defenses in that stretch. The Bears would like to get things going on the ground against the Cardinals, who have given up 41 points or more five times this season. Keith Groller’s prediction:

Pleasant Valley 34-14

Note: Keith Groller’s EPC predictions were 7-2 last week and he was 57-15 this season entering Thursday night’s WhitehallLiberty game.