The Heartland Fab 5

For the second year, I have decided to have my Heartland Fab 5 football poll.  Here they are with no scientific reason other than what teams I will believe will be the last ones standing in the playoffs:

1. Mount Carmel
2. Southern Columbia
3. Lewisburg
4. Bloomsburg
5. Selinsgrove

For the first time since 2008, Mount Carmel will have the same person at the helm that they had the previous year.  In Tornadoland, this is hard to believe.  The Big Red has 16 starters returning from last season.  The team improved as the season went along.  Should be a favorite for the District IV title game.

Southern Columbia lost their only returning running back when Tyrell Thomas went down 10 minutes into two-a-days.  This team however is loaded with athletes plus the line has more experience than in recent years. Sure Jake Morton will be missed, but out of central casting comes Matt Moore to pick up slack.  How quick the Tigers 8 new position starters transition on defense will go a long way.  Tiger pride was hurt in the playoff loss last year not being in the game at all.

Many have Lewisburg at the top of the heap, but their are some nagging and off the field injuries starting to pile up.  Merle Moscarello may be the best player in the conference, but will surely miss Nate Brown who was a tackling machine on defense and provided solid leadership.  Moscarello will have to play more defense and will his supporting cast be as good as 2010.  Hats off to the Green Dragons for believing in Coach Tilford.

With Bloomsburg, how much of a supporting cast do they have around Blake Rankin, a Rutgers recruit.  Selinsgrove were state champs in 2009, they need to be here somewhere.

Teams to watch if they catch a break will be Mifflinsburg, Jersey Shore, Shamokin and Danville.