FOOTBALL: The Poopster's Week 13 picks

The Poopster envisions a cold night Friday.

Daniel Boone is the only Mercury-area football team left in the postseason, with the Blazers visiting Cocalico in a rematch of their season opener. This time, a trip to the District 3-AAA final is on the line. Here's the orange guy's take on the weekend action.

Friday's games

District 3-AAA semifinal
Daniel Boone (8-4) at Cocalico (9-3)
The Poopster expects some serious ground-and-pound action at Denver, and hopes his owner doesn't freeze on the sideline. The orange guy was sorry to hear about one of his favorite players, Paul Galanti, going down with a knee injury, which could blunt Boone's hopes of turning the tables on the Eagles (who took the Week 1 encounter 32-14). Though he is pulling for the black and blue, he'll reluctantly go with the home side. ... Cocalico 21-20.

Other games

District 1-AAAA semifinals
Downingtown East (9-3) at Coatesville (12-0): Red Raiders tame the Cougars ... Coatesville 34-23.
Upper Dublin (11-1) at Pennsbury (11-1): Falcons end Cardinals' joyride ... Pennsbury 42-20.

District 1-AAA final
Great Valley (11-1) vs. Springfield-Delco (12-0), at P-W: Patriots take Dan Ellis bowl ... GV 21-14.

Saturday's  game

District 3-AAA semifinal
Red Land (9-3) at Bishop McDevitt (12-0): Top seed McDevitt stays on crusade .... BMD 35-21.

Last week's record: 5-2 (71.4 percent)
Overall record: 76-26 (74.5 pecent)

FOOTBALL: The Poopster's Week 12 picks

The Poopster is calling for a couple of upset specials Friday.

The Poopster knows that anything can happen in the postseason, and though the two remaining area teams (Pottsgrove and Daniel Boone) will be underdogs in their respective district playoff games, the orange guy thinks they can both surprise.

Friday's games

District 1-AAA semifinal
Pottsgrove (8-3) at Springfield-Delco (11-0)
The Poopster realizes it could be very tough sledding for Torin Verdone, Devon Fink, Mike Fowler and the Falcons against a rugged Cougars defense. It may be wishful thinking, but he's going with the 'Grove. ... Pottsgrove 21-19.

District 3-AAA quarterfinal
Daniel Boone (7-4) at Milton Hershey (9-2)
The No. 14 seed Blazers might be hard-pressed to match the speed of the Spartans, but the Poopster says damn the torpedoes and that if Nick Hughes, Darius Hinton and the troops can beat the No. 3 seeds (like they did last week), they can beat the 11 seeds too. ... Daniel Boone 28-27.

Other games
District 1-AAAA quarterfinals
Henderson (8-3) at Coatesville (11-0): Red Raiders in a barn-burner ... Coatesville 34-28.
Downingtown East (8-3) at Quakertown (10-1): Big game from Angeline ... Dtown East 35-20.
Garnet Valley (9-2) at Pennsbury (10-1): Snorweah keeps on trucking ... Pennsbury 42-21.
Upper Dublin (10-1) at Rustin (10-1): Golden Knights get by in a tight one ... Rustin 27-26.

District 1-AA semifinal
Bishop Shanahan (8-3) at Great Valley (10-1): Take the over ... Great Valley 48-35.

Last week's record: 11-5 (68.8 percent)
Overall record: 71-24 (74.7 percent)

FOOTBALL: The Poopster's Week 11 picks

The Poopster is looking forward to all the postseason high school football action.

The Poopster senses there will be a chill in the air this weekend, though the orange guy will be nestled comfortably at home while his owner is out patrolling the sidelines. Here's how he sees the area action panning out, with some bonus district picks:

Friday's games

District 1-AAAA first round
Perkiomen Valley (9-1) at Downingtown East (7-3)
Unlike his cynical owner, who is always leery of teams getting homered this time of the year, the Poopster has faith the Vikings will be successful road warriors when they make the trek to Kottmeyer Stadium in a matchup of different styles. .... Perkiomen Valley 28-23.

District 1-AAA quarterfinal
Academy Park (8-2) at Pottsgrove (7-3)
The Knights dealt the Falcons a crushing 27-26 semifinal defeat last year en route to the district title, but the Poopster thinks Patrick Finn, Mike Fowler and the 'Grove can turn the tables this time around. ... Pottsgrove 21-20.

District 3-AAA first round
Daniel Boone (6-4) at Lampeter-Strasburg (8-2)
The Blazers got a heavy dose of a dual threat QB in Exeter's Chase Yocum last week, and the Poopster is afraid that will be the case again against Pioneers' signal-caller Collin Shank. ... Lampeter-Strasburg 35-27.

Northampton (1-9) at Owen J. Roberts (2-8)
The Konkrete Kids, coached by former Boyertown head man Mark Scisly, are trying to halt an eight-game losing streak. OJR held off Pope John Paul II last week to snap a six-game skid, but the Poopster is going to reluctantly go with the guys from the rugged East Penn Conference. .... Northampton 20-17.

Saturday's games
Methacton (7-3) at Norristown (4-6)
The Poopster hopes Warriors QB Conner Derrickson runs wild so he can surpass the 2,000-yard career rushing mark, and is confident the guys in green can notch their first eight-win campaign since 2000. ... Methacton 27-18.

Lawrenceville (3-1, 4-4) at Hill School (0-4, 0-7)
Big Red WR Grant Smith caught a boatload of passes for the Hill last year, and the Poopster envisions him making a few big plays in his return to Dell Field. ... Lawrenceville 35-19.

Other games
District 1-AAAA openers
Haverford (7-3) at Coatesville (10-0): Not a typical 1 vs. 16 matchup ... Coatesville 20-14.
North Penn (7-3) at Henderson (7-3): Knights on typical late-season march. ... North Penn 27-21.
Pennridge (7-3) at Quakertown (9-1): Rams gore the Panthers .... Pennridge 14-13.
Downingtown West (6-4) at Pennsbury (9-1): Falcons in a shootout .... Pennsbury 42-28.
C.B. South (7-3) at Garnet Valley (8-2): Jags get the nod ... Garnet Valley 28-27.
Conestoga (7-3) at Rustin (9-1):  Loper and Co. take the battle of league rivals ... Rustin 27-14.
C.R. North (6-4) at Upper Dublin (9-1): Big night for Brandon McIlwain .... CRN 30-23.

District 1-AAA quarterfinals
Springfield-Delco 35, Interboro 14
Great Valley 48, Octorara 13
Bishop Shanahan 27, Upper Moreland 21

Last week's record: 6-2 (75.0 percent)
Overall record: 60-19 (75.9 percent)