Crystal Ball: NFL predictions and PIAA Eastern Final Preview

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

High School Football Predictions (winner in yellow)
PIAA Class 4A Eastern Final
LaSalle vs North Penn, 28-20

Match-up to Watch: Colin Buckley (LaSalle TE) vs Ralph Reeves (North Penn LB) - Buckley does not mind going across the middle and quarterback Matt Magarity loves to hit him in stride. It will be the Knights' linebackers and secondary to shut the passing game down. In the Week One game it was not until the Explorers went to the air that they were able to pull away with a 44-27 win.
Weakness to Explore: A mixture of a hurry-up offense and quick three step drops could be a way to ware down the Explorers big front seven. Expect to see Dan Gevirtz making plays outside, inside, and on end-arounds. The Knights should try to march the field four yards at a time and not let adrenaline cause them an untimely turnover on an attempted big play down field.
Into to the Knight: The best thing for the Knights this postseason has been that the best teams in District One were all run-first teams and they were basically running right into the strength of coach Dick Beck's defense. While the Explorers can run the ball well, they know they are going to need to take shots in the air and really see if the Knights' cornerback can keep up with the speedy LaSalle receivers.

PIAA Class 3A Eastern Final
Allentown Central Catholic vs Archbishop Wood, 31-21

Match-up to Watch: Kevin Guylas (A.C.C. WR) vs Nate Smith (Wood DB) - South Carolina commit Brendan Nosovitch has not done it alone. He has a pair of talented receiver and his favorite target is Guylas. The tandem had a field day last year, but Nate Smith was not even a Viking yet. Smith, the West Virginia recruit, will be faced with his biggest test yet.
Knock on Wood: The Vikings have been so dominate this year I'm stretching a little bit when I look for a knock of the Vikings. How about this - they have been so far head at halftime in nearly every game this season that a lot the starters have yet to play four competitive quarters of football. Not even last week against Pottsgrove did they break a sweat. So when the score is tied in the fourth quarter it will be interesting to how coach Steve Devlin's team responds.
Gatorade Player of Last Year: This year's PA player of the year is Noah Spence (he could be mentioned next week). Last year was Nosovitch's year. He ran for 198 yards and threw for 409 against Vikings of Wood. Wood will want revenge in the worst way and this year they are the healthier team. Last year they were without star running back, Rutgers recruit Desmon Peoples.This year Nosovitch has battled through injuries all season. This game should should be hard hitting.
LAST WEEK: 3-0
YEAR: 189-57
CAREER: 320-106

NCAA Predictions
LAST WEEK: 11-3
YEAR: 188-87 

NFL Week 14 Predictions (winner in yellow)
Browns at Steelers

Is Who Dey Nation beginning to fade?

Texans at Bengals
Vikings at Lions
Saints at Titans
Eagles at Dolphins
Chiefs at Jets
Patriots at Redskins
Falcons at Panthers
Buccaneers at Jaguars
Colts at Ravens
Bears at Broncos
49ers at Cardinals
Raiders at Packers
Bills at Chargers
Giants at Cowboys
Rams at Seahawks
LAST WEEK: 9-7
YEAR: 122-70