FOOTBALL: The Poopster's Week 5 Picks

The Poopster foresees a defensive struggle in the Spring-Ford/Pottsgrove showdown.

By Darryl Grumling
dgrumling@pottsmerc.com
Twitter: @MercSmokinD

The Poopster started knocking off wins like they were cans of Fancy Feast last week, failing only to correctly predict Upper Perkiomen's 37-14 upset victory over Pope John Paul II that snapped a 14-game losing streak dating back to the 2011 season. He will try to carry that momentum over to this week's action:

FRIDAY'S GAMES

Pottsgrove (3-0, 4-0) at Spring-Ford (2-0, 3-1)
In what looks to be a showdown dictated by strong defense, the Poopster is at odds with his owner, who believes the Falcons (who've won 17 straight PAC-10 regular season games) get the benefit of the doubt until someone knocks them off. But the Poopster is going to go with the home squad at what should be a packed house at Coach McNelly Stadium ... Spring-Ford 14-13.

Boyertown (1-2, 2-2) at Owen J. Roberts (0-2, 0-4)
The Poopster feels this could be a game in which workhorse OJR running back Wyatt Scott finally sees some daylight. Problem is, the Wildcats will be hard-pressed to stop a Bears infantry led by Cody Richmond ... Boyertown 38-21.

Perkiomen Valley (2-1, 3-1) at Pottstown (0-2, 0-4)
This is a battle of two of the PAC-10's most entertaining quarterbacks, PV's Rasaan Stewart and the Trojans' Gary Wise, but the Poopster feels the Vikings are too strong in all three phases of the game ... Perkiomen Valley 42-12.

Pope John Paul II (1-2, 1-3) at Phoenixville (2-0, 2-2)
The Poopster has an inkling PJP will come out fired up after last week's stinging loss to Upper Perkiomen, but it might not be enough against the Phantoms, who have won two straight in dramatic fashion ... Phoenixville 26-21.

Daniel Boone (0-1, 1-3) at Conrad Weiser (0-1, 3-1)
After scoring 35 points in a Week 2 victory over Owen J. Roberts, the Blazers have been shut out in back-to-back weeks. The Scouts, coached by the Poopster's owner's old Lebanon Valley League baseball teammate Alan Moyer, are smarting after a 17-16 loss to Exeter ... Conrad Weiser 35-14.

Perkiomen School (2-1) at Pottsville Nativity (1-3)
The Panthers' improving line has keyed a strong ground attack, and the Poopster believes as long as nothing shady happens up in the Coal Region, they should bring home a victory ... Perkiomen School 25-14.

SATURDAY'S GAMES

Upper Perkiomen (1-2, 1-3) at Methacton (1-2, 1-3)
The Indians got a phenomenal 392-yard, six-TD  performance from RB Aidan Schaffer last week in snapping a 14-game losing streak, but the Poopster doesn't think Mike Cassidy, Lucas Hepp and the Warriors defense will be so generous this week ... Methacton 28-13.

Springside Chestnut Hill (3-1) at Hill School (0-2)
Rams QB Matt Foltz and WR Grant Smith have been making like Montana-to-Rice over the first two weeks, but the Hill needs to be more consistent defensively and improve in the ground game to get in the victory column ... Springside Chestnut Hill 30-20.

Last week's record 7-1 (87.5 percent)
Season record: 25-10 (71.4 percent)