Halfway Point of the Season

With Week #5 in the books, there are some surprises and some disappointments on the 2007 football season. Shamokin, Mount Carmel, Southern Columbia and Lourdes are four teams I get to see on a regular basis. I also got to see Line Mountain in action against Juniata.

SHAMOKIN

The district opted for coaching change in the off season and brought back former head coach Dave Zielinskie. So far the Indians are 0-5 on the season and 6-18 since upsetting Southern Columbia on opening day in 2005. The Indians could have won all 5 games and should have one three. Mistakes have accounted for three losses in close games while others resulted in blowouts on the scoreboard to Southern and Mount Carmel.

Coaching or not Shamokin has not had a 1000-yard rusher since Tim Krebs in 2004. If you can't run the ball in high school it is hard to win. It also shows there maybe a lack of speed under the tepee. Tyler Dirienzo has shown some promise, but you have to be consistent. The glaring stat for Shamokin this year is -10 turnover ratio which is resulting in short fields for the opponents. On a positive note, Shamokin has been stingy on defense and has not been "manhandled" as a team. Although the Indians may be favored in only one game (Shikellamy) in their next five, they could be competitive in all five and maybe pull off an upset.

SOUTHERN

Everyone was shocked by Southern's Week #2 loss to Bloomsburg. It was the first time Southern was shut out by a single A school in 20 years. Like 2005, Southern's offensive line was in transition, but look at the result in the end. With close to 400 yards on the ground last week against a solid Warrior Run team, the Tigers are gearing up for a postseason run. A good measuring stick will be how Southern performs against Loyalsock on 10/12 and Danville in Week 10. The Tigers hope Justin Knoebel is back on the field for both. Knoebel sat out against Warrior Run with a nagging ankle injury.

MOUNT CARMEL

With close to 26 juniors on the roster, the Red Tornadoes continue to improve with back-to-back wins against Shamokin and Bloomsburg. Two losses to Lancaster Catholic and Southern leave Mount Carmel at 3-2, but there is renewed confidence in the defense. This has been missing since 2003. With games against Chichester (0-5), North Schuylkill (0-5), and Shikellamy (1-4) may have Mount Carmel in good position as the end the season with Pottsville at home and Selinsgrove.

LINE MOUNTAIN

The Eagles survived a tough game with Pine Grove as the Cardinal's number 1 quarterback returned to the line up. The Eagles give any opponent different looks offensively and Clark Morris more is like a general on the field.

LOURDES REGIONAL

I got to see Lourdes opening night against Northwest. I believe an injured Dave Schweitzer would have been the difference in a loss to the Rangers. With only single digit boys in the junior class, the 22 or so that make up the roster play with pride and spirit and to be 4-1 against anyone at this point of the season.

As stated by Coach Klembara earlier in the season, "our goal is to get into the playoffs and win a playoff game." Here is a little bit of history lesson for days gone by.

SURPRISES

There have been some surprises at the halfway point in the season. Teamwise, with over 15 seniors in the lineup, Shamokin is winless. Also, North Schuylkill with Rick Geist in his second year, is also winless.

Some regional surprises include Loyalsock with a big win over Montoursville, looks to be a front runner in District IV AA. Keep an eye on 5-0 Athens and Towanda. They will face off against each other in Week 9. Bloomsburg, who may have surprised some people, returned nearly 20 starters on both sides of the ball. Keep an eye on Northern Lebanon out of District 3 who are 5-0 and have their best squad in years.

Southern, Bloomsburg and Line Mountain figure to be in the single A picture. Right now in District IV AA and A there is no clear cut favorite. The same goes for the final year of Division I and II of the Central Susquehanna Valley Conference.

HONORS

Shamokin's booster group, the Hillside Coaches, is in the process of creating a wall of fame out at Kemp Memorial Stadium. Bernie Romanoskie Sr. was the first nominee. Here is the article and criteria.

IN MEMORIUM

On my way out to the Mifflinburg-Shamokin game on Friday, I talked about Coach Rich Lichtel with one of his contemporaries, Joe Gubernot. Gubernot played at Coal Township while Lichtel was a Greyhound at Shamokin. While involved in a coaching change his senior year in high school and movement in a new direction, Lichtel worked so hard on his game at Bloomsburg and didn't let his senior year at Shamokin High hold him back.

Chuck Souders had a great tribute to Lichtel in the News-Item's football preview last Friday.