Southern Columbia Preview vs. Bloomsburg in 2013

Last week, Southern Columbia celebrated 50 years of varsity football against Selinsgrove by honoring their 1963 team. It was actually outstanding to see many members and their families attend the event. The Tigers then proceeded to harpoon the Seals with a 33-7 lead after one quarter and a 47-7 lead by the half to the 2009 AAA state champions.

The questions that one has to ask is whether Southern is that good or is Selinsgrove that bad.  My answer is that the Tigers are that good and are going to get better.  This year's version of the Tiger offense features 5 guys that could run the ball with Adam Feudale, Blake Marks, Matt Lupold, Nate Hunter, and Brad Noll.  This opens up the air game for Jake Becker to pick you apart with Luke Rarig or Zach Tillet plus go to the backs out of the backfield.

This week's game is centered around the year 2009. Southern finished off the 2009 AAA champions in style last week.  It was 2009 when the Tigers lost to Tri-Valley at Schuylkill Haven in a playoff who were coached by current Bloomsburg head coach, Mike Kogut. The controversial call went against Southern on the Tri-Valley goal line. The Tigers thought they broke the plane, but were eventually called for assisting the runner.  It ended up being the difference in a three point loss.

Bloomsburg is a team that Southern has played every year they had varsity football including a few in the post season.  The rivalry was dominated early by Bloomsburg but has been dominated over the past three decades by the Tigers.  The Panthers have played Southern tough since 2007, but this year's version of the Tigers has a chance to rank up there with the 1994 and 2006 teams who this writer considers the best in school history.

Shamokin vs. Mifflinburg

 

 

Shamokin had a strange stat of all stats last week when the Indians held the ball for 9 minutes of the second quarter and were outscored 28-0.  For the Indians, they have to look at that 9 minutes and look at what can be and work for it.  You do that 4 times a game you win easy. 

 

 

The Achilles heel for the Indians not only this season, but for the past decade or so.  It is even more troubling when these big plays come on the 3rd and 4th down.  Again, coaching could only do so much.  It is eventually up to a player if they want to make the Heartland Conference 1st team or the Xbox All-Madden team.

 

 

Last weeks game served notice of you can be and also of what you don't want to be. The decision is eventually yours.

 

Foor and Roth Talk About the Southern Versus Shamokin Game

NCAA Final: Cinderella Sitting This One Out

"The Voice" and 1985 Tournament MVP Villanova's Ed "E-Z Ed" Pinckney

Kansas and Memphis, two number one seeds by the way, will battle it out for NCAA college basketball supremacy. The ingrediants that made this tournament great in years past are missing once again.

Heartland Conference

Three teams in the News-Item coverage area; Shamokin, Mount Caremel and Southern have their schedules posted for the 2008 season. Click here.

Southern Preps for the Playoffs.

Southern Columbia had a stiff test in week 10 as Danville put up an aerial show with nearly 300 yards in the air. The Ironmen fell short 47-34 and so did their playoff hopes. When you look at the scope of 10 weeks, the Tigers replaced many starters, had some injuries and still managed to post a 9-1 record. Southern managed to host a home game when Line Mountain fell from first to third with a 14-12 loss to Millersburg. Millersburg also claimed the Twin Valley Championship. Analysis on Line Mountain will come later in the week.

MOUNT CARMEL

Mount Carmel fell to Selinsgrove at Harold Bolig Stadium for the fifth consecutive time, 34-19. With the number one seed going to Towanda, the Red Tornadoes could have had a game at home with an easier opponent but with get Montoursville in the first round and possibly Loyalsock in the second round. The Red Tornadoes will go as far their run defense takes it. In 1999, Mount Carmel won the district championship being the fourth seed out of four teams. Look for their long bustrips to Biglerville and Chichester to pay dividends now. Although Montoursville and Loyalsock aren't' that far, their will still be the diesel fumes in the air.

SHAMOKIN

There was alot of hoopla when Dave Zielinskie assumed control over the Indians for his second stint as head coach. However, 15 years did pass since the Indians walked off Crispin Field in the playoffs in 1992 in Zielinkie's last season at the helm. With a loss to Southern in the opening week and a week four blowout to Mount Carmel, Shamokin was left without local support to play the rest of the season. To the team's credit, they played the likes of Mifflinburg, Cedar Cliff, Pottsville, Selinsgrove and Blue Mountain tough. They did not bow to the "mercy rule". Week 10 rewarded them with their first win of the season over Shikellamy. Eight out of ten teams on Shamokin's schedule made the postseason. Analysis on the 2007 season and what the Indians need for 2008 will be upcoming.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Electricity expensive? The lights were quick to go out at Danville last week against Southern. With most of the Southern team still on the field and about 100 friends and family the place went black leaving everyone to find a way out.

There was a great article on Mount Carmel's sports information director Phil Gergen in Monday's News-Item. Gergen and long time statician, Jose Gonzalo, have put in so much effort over the years compiling two history books and maintaining records and statistics. Gergen has also undertaken the huge task of putting Mount Carmel game film on DVD. The game film goes back to the the 1940's. Remember that not includes MCA, but any opponent they had since that time. Chris Doleman, a former Minnesota Viking standout, is in one the games when William Penn (York, PA) played Mount Carmel in 1980.

Great Turnout for Maroons Week

Author Dave Fleming at his book signing on Thursday at the Pottsville Free Library. The Republican has some great coverage of Maroons Week. Fleming's book, Breaker Boys: The NFL's Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship was sold out of local outlets all week long.

Fleming indicated that he will come to the area before the end of the year. If you want to order his book in time for the next signing, click on the link posted at the left.

Mr. Fleming will be a on-air guest on tonight's BILL 95 coverage of the Pottsville and Shamokin football game.

SCHOOL BOARD STRIKES AGAIN

Warrior Run suspended head coach Scott Shaffer for Friday's game with Montoursville. Read Harold Raker's account here from the Daily-Item. I love the bands, but remember the football team feeds the band.

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA

Southern's game tonight will provide a glimpse on how the Tiger will perform in the playoffs. They take on unbeaten Loyalsock tonight at home. One surprising things is to the Lancers 6-0 with heavy graduation losses. I got to see Montoursville early in the season and the Warriors returned their starting offensive line intact from last season. Look for a good battle in the trenches. With Southern being 14-0 all time against the Lancer, look for Southern to win a close one.

The Tigers are in a three-way tie for the last three positions in the District IV playoffs. Line Mountain sits at the top by themselves with Southern sharing the spots with Bloomsburg and Canton. Lourdes Regional sits in 5th position 20 points out of a playoff spot. Will a 9-1 Lourdes team opt for Eastern Conference? Will they have enough points to edge any team that finishes 8-2? Lourdes still has some tough games left with East Juniata and Columbia Mountour Vo-Tech. Either way look for Lourdes to go Eastern Conference. Coach Klembara in week 1 stated their goal this season was to win a game in the post season. The Eastern Conference gives Lourdes' their best chance.