All the Right Moves

This past week Mount Carmel Area had a chance to get their 800th win in school history. Like with their first attempt for win #700 against Selinsgrove, this attempt fell short against North Schuylkill.  The senior class of the Spartans have become the only one to beat Mount Carmel three in a row. Hats off to the Spartans.

Off the field, 3 players returned to the field after serving suspensions for off field incident involving alcohol and marijuana.  The story keeps garnering top press and was the lead in last night's WNEP 16's 11 pm news.  One of main things keeping this story alive were that charges were filed just on Friday with the incident occurring late in September.  According to published reports, tests had to be done and the officers was away.  With Mount Carmel losing last night, hopefully everyone involved can learn from this and move on.

On the field for Mount Carmel, they had a hard time moving the ball against North Schuylkill.  The Red Tornadoes have a two-quarterback system that isn't working. They have run spread, option and wildcat.  Do they really need for all that???  Mount Carmel needs to get back to work and be Mount Carmel.  Another home showdown looms in Week 9 with Southern Area coming to town.  An 8-2 Red Tornado team in District IV AA faces some long bus rides in post season.

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Shamokin Area once again couldn't take advantage of three first quarter turnovers in losing to Montoursville on Friday, 26-7.  The Indians trailed the game 6-0 entering the 4th quarter.  The Shamokin "D" has been stellar against run the last few week.  Take a later 30-yard TD run off the board, the Indians hold the Warriors to 30 yards on 33 attempts.  

Shamokin will have trouble against Danville and needs a win against Danville or Shik to make the playoffs.  

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The Heartland Fab 5 has a few changes this week.  Danville comes in at #5 with a great first half against Southern.  Defensively, the Ironmen were able to stop the Tigers straight up stuff.  It wasn't until Southern made some adjustments that they were able to pull away.  Also, Southern takes the #1 spot away from Mount Carmel.  They will play for #1 in Week 9.

Heartland Fab Five

The only change in the Heartland Fab Five is Mifflinburg moving up to 4th and Bloomsburg dropping to 5th.  Other than that the top 5 remain the same.  Mount Carmel stays number one, followed by Southern and Lewisburg with Mifflinburg and Bloom rounding out the Fab Five.

Yonk and the Voice Go Down

Last week a blog that I like to follow called the Lulac Political Letter's author took a fall, but his blog kept on going.  This past week, I was put on the four-day DL. Bursitis that reared it's ugly head in my knee put me in the hospital with surgery to boot.

I am home now, but missed my first high school broadcast since 2002 with illness.  By the way, the Phil's lost.  I didn't watch one pitch and saw it coming.  More later on the Phillies.

Hospital stays are never fun, but my roommate (cellmate) was a man from my old neighborhood.  I got to reconnect with his family who I haven't seen in awhile.  Not everything was that bad.  For the reunion, I am grateful.

What is the Correct Suspension?

This past week several football players from Mount Carmel have been suspended for two games for violating teams rules with an underage drinking incident.  As a local broadcaster and covering high school sports for 21 years, it seems like this issue is a topic of discussion. 

Selinsgrove Area chose to suspend 9 players for the season with a similar issues.  Shamokin is a less publicized event lost a few players for code of conduct issues.  Finally, it is Mount Carmel's turn to be in the spotlight. Drinking and high school football in this area have around since high school football started.  Does that make it right?  Once I read the late George Homiak's account of playing in the 1927 state championship game against the Western Conference.  He did say it was cold at the game that players drank some whiskey at half time.

When did it become a problem?  Often times before modern DUI laws came about in the early 1980's, the problems wear looked the other or swept under the rug.  In the 1970's, officers would ID offenders and tell them to get the hell home and get ready for their next game.

Now we live in a society were if the first call by the student is to the parents, the second phone call being made in the equation would be to lawyer.  I really don't have skin in this game at all.


For the most part all schools can do is define a policy.  But for the most part, it is a policy of "ask no question, and I won't tell you any lies."

The bigger question to ask every year is why does only the football team get singled out. Is it because it is the first sport on the school calendar?  You never hear of mass trouble for basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, band, golf, cheerleading, cross country and track?

Good luck!!!

Heartland Fab Five Remains the Same

Even with Lewisburg's one-point loss to Southern on Friday, the Fab Five remains the same.  The Green Dragons are simply the third best team in the conference with 2 losses.  They are also an eyelash away of being undefeated at 5-0.

Here is the Fab Five as follows:

Mount Carmel
Southern Area
Lewisburg
Bloomsburg
Mifflinburg