NORRISTOWN AT SPRINGFIELD

TIME: Friday, 7:00 p.m., Springfield High School

RECORDS: Norristown is 1-5, 1-2 after losing to Upper Moreland, 20-8. Springfield is 3-3, 0-3 after losing to Upper Merion, 42-14.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Did not play.

OUTLOOK: The Eagles continue to look for ways to improve, but have had difficulty putting a full game together.

Last week, they played real good second-half defense and had some success running the football. Unfortunately, Norristown yielded 20 first-half points and was never able to move the ball through the air.

In the Spartans, the Eagles get a club that started the season by winning three non-league games by the cumulative score of 112-19, then dropped its three SOL American contests by an aggregate 102-41.

Springfield, a state playoff team a season ago, relies heavily on sophomore quarterback Chris Stone, tight end Billy Dahm and running back Jhaloni Johnson.

Count LB/RB Darius Wills and DE/OL Coley Adams among the Eagles seniors who have continued to play hard through the challenging start.

UPPER MERION AT PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH

TIME: Friday, 7:00 p.m., Plymouth Whitemarsh High School

RECORDS: Upper Merion is 1-5, 1-2 after defeating Springfield, 42-14. Plymouth Whitemarsh is 5-1, 3-0 after defeating Wissahickon, 35-21.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Plymouth Whitemarsh won, 55-14.

OUTLOOK: It’s kind of like crawling through barbwire to get your reward, only to discover your reward is getting to crawl through fire.

After 25 heart-wrenching losses in a row, the Vikings got off the schneid last week with a convincing win over Springfield. Their reward?  A date with the defending SOL American champion Colonials, who just happen to be all alone at the top of the conference again and who are coming off wins over their two toughest challengers – Wissahickon and Cheltenham.

Don’t expect the PW game plan to change. The Colonials lean heavily on running backs Terry Brown and Corey Kelly, and that duo has combined to produce better than 1,600 yards on the ground and 17 rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Pete Giorgio is coming off, perhaps, his best game of the season, throwing for 100 yards and a score and rushing for a touchdown in the big win over Wissahickon.

Upper Merion, meanwhile, went against its tendencies over the season’s first five games and used a 5-to-1, run-to-pass ratio (46 to 9) in the win over Springfield. That being the case, PW should expect a healthy dose of Vikings RB Hassan Gardner (164 carries, 758 yds.) this week.

UPPER DUBLIN AT UPPER MORELAND

TIME: Friday, 7:00 p.m., Upper Moreland  High School

RECORDS: Upper Dublin is 3-3, 1-2 after losing to Cheltenham, 28-7. Upper Moreland is 4-2, 2-1 after defeating Norristown, 20-8.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Upper Dublin won, 47-15.

OUTLOOK: The Cardinals fell victim to the mistakes of youth last week, out-statting Cheltenham but dooming themselves with ill-timed miscues, both mental and physical.

They’ll hope that changes this week against the Bears, who have turned their focus to making the AAA playoffs and have gotten off to a solid start.

“I like their aggressiveness, defensively,” said Cardinals head coach Bret Stover. “They really fly to the football, and they’ll hit you.

“Offensively, they’ll be patient. They’re OK with getting four, five yards a play and putting together 15-play drives.”

To beat Upper Moreland, the Cardinals know they’ll have to slow RB Robert Knox (117 carries, 643 yds.).

WISSAHICKON AT CHELTENHAM

TIME: Friday, 7:00 p.m., Cheltenham High School

RECORDS: Wissahickon is 4-2, 2-1 after losing to Plymouth Whitemarsh, 35-21. Cheltenham is 4-2, 2-1 after defeating Upper Dublin, 28-7.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Wissahickon won, 21-0.

OUTLOOK: Playoffs? Are you kidding? Playoffs?

No, this is not a written tribute to Jim Mora, but rather a commentary on this game.

With both teams at 4-2, the Trojans and Panthers both realize what this contest means as far as the postseason.

A victory puts the winner in real good shape heading into the season’s final weeks. But first, you have to win, and Trojans head coach Jeff Cappa knows that won’t be easy.

“This should be a real good game against two evenly matched teams,” Cappa said. “(Cheltenham head coach) Joe Gro does a nice job putting his players in positions to make plays. Their quarterback (Hyneef Dockery) throws the ball real well and they’re able to get the ball to their players in space. And if you focus too much on (leading rusher) Mark Thompson, their other back (Ryan Phillips) is a tough kid.”

As for the Trojans, Cappa said the team has put last week’s loss to PW behind them, but they’ll be without starting guard Eddie Bailey (ankle) and DL Alex Smith (injury). The good news is that LB Darrell Jackson will be back after being sidelined by a concussion.

As for the playoff implications?

“We’ve told our guys this week that this game is a playoff game,” Cappa said, “and it’s a playoff game for both teams.

‘We’re just happy we’re in a position to control our own destiny.”

ARCHBISHOP CARROLL AT WEST CATHOLIC

TIME: Friday, 7:30 p.m., Widener University

RECORDS: Archbishop Carroll is 3-3, 2-0 after defeating Neumann-Goretti, 34-13. West Catholic is 3-2, 2-0 after defeating Conwell-Egan, 52-16.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Did not play.

OUTLOOK: The Patriots have bounced back into the PCL title conversations after back-to-back wins. But in front of them are the Burrs, who have no fewer than 40 straight wins over league opponents, with 28 of those coming via the mercy rule. 

 A tall order for the Patriots, no doubt, especially realizing that in order to win they’ll have to find some way to deal with RB Greg White (80 carries, 587 yds.), QB Antwain McCollum (40-for-72, 602 yds., 8 TDs) and receiver Ron Womack (17 catches, 238 yds.).

And speaking of tall, take a gander at Burrs OL Jarryd Jones-Smith, a robust 6-7, 320-pounder.

As for Carroll, QB Sal Bello (45-for-91, 676 yds., 9 TDs) has been getting better by the week and a healthy Shawn Springs (56 carries, 205 yds.) gives the Patriots a decent run game.

HATBORO-HORSHAM AT NORTH PENN

TIME: Friday, 7:30 p.m., North Penn High School

RECORDS: Hatboro-Horsham is 1-5, 1-2 after defeating Quakertown, 14-13. North Penn is 3-3, 2-1 after losing to Central Bucks South, 36-29.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: North Penn won, 40-8.

OUTLOOK: How will the Knights bounce back after their first loss in SOL Continental play?

Of course, there’s no point of reference considering they’ve never had to do it, but you have to believe those guys clad in Columbia Blue might be a tad motivated this weekend.

Meanwhile, it hasn’t been a season to remember for the Hatters, who have been outscored, 219-84, to date and managed their first win a week ago, a one-pointer over a very young Q-town team.

The Hatters predominantly employ the ground game, with Luke Spahits, who went for over 200 yards against Quakertown, the primary pigskin toter.

If possible, the Hatters may attempt to throw against the Knights, who yielded 237 yards through the air in last week’s loss. 

PERKIOMEN VALLEY AT POPE JOHN PAUL II

TIME: Saturday, 1:00 p.m., Pope John Paul II High School

RECORDS: Perkiomen Valley is 5-1, 5-0 after defeating Phoenixville, 28-15. Pope John Paul is 0-6, 0-5 after losing to Pottstown, 41-35.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Pope John Paul won, 33-27.

OUTLOOK:  The Panthers are wounded and the Vikings have been on an offensive roll – not exactly the proper formula for a Pioneer nailbiter.

PV QB Rasaan Stewart is coming off a monster game in what has been a season of monster games – 223 rushing yards and three touchdowns and 185 passing yards and another TD in PV’s win over Phoenixville. Teamed with WR Clay Domine (conference-best 34 catches, 517 yds.) and RB Mark Bonomo (80 carries, 587 yds.), it’s no wonder the Vikes are racking up 420 yards per game.

Then again, even with all the injuries, PJP leads the PAC in passing yards (1,331) while Chris Veisbergs (17 catches, 416 yds.), Jamel Stinson (26 catches, 293 yds.) and Tim Tadros (16 catches, 348 yds.)are seeing more passes than Mila Kunis on a street corner in Boystown.

METHACTON AT SPRING-FORD

TIME: Saturday, 2:00 p.m., Spring-Ford Middle School

RECORDS: Methacton is 2-4, 2-3 after losing to Pottsgrove, 27-14. Spring-Ford is 5-1, 3-1 after defeating Boyertown, 42-0.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Spring-Ford won, 26-14.

OUTLOOK: The Warriors have, in recent weeks, begun to perform as many thought they would at the outset of the season.

The primary weapon in the Methacton surge has been its defense, which ranks fourth in the PAC (311 yds. per game) and is a plus-five in turnover ratio.

The Green Guys, however, need to improve offensively, as they stand 10th and last in the conference while managing just 200 yards per start.

The Rams got 200 passing yards and four TDs from QB Hank Coyne last week, upping his career total of scoring passes to 48 and propelling him past previous record holder Lance Viola, who reached 46 TD tosses during the 1973 season.

GERMANTOWN ACADEMY AT MALVERN PREP

TIME: Saturday, 2:00 p.m., Malvern Preparatory School

RECORDS: Germantown Academy is 3-1 after defeating Pennington School, 31-6. Malvern Prep is 3-2 after defeating Upper Darby, 40-20.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Malvern Prep won, 48-0.

OUTLOOK:  After an impressive start, the Patriots get to put their wares on display in Inter-Ac play against the perennially tough Friars.

GA has been one of the year’s best stories, winning three of its first four games under first-year head coach Matt Dence, while impressing behind the quarterback play of Hayes Nolte (52-for-88, 887 yds., 9 TDs). But going up against Malvern is a tough start to the league schedule.

“Now, it’s a new season and we have five big challenges ahead of us,” Dence said. “It’s going to be a heck of a task, but we think we have the guys to tackle it.”

That’s not a slight to the Friars.

“Malvern is a great team,” Dence said. “They’re very well-coached and you know they’re going to be prepared. They’re going to run that Wing-T and come right at you with real tough kids.”

Friars Eric Purnell (45 carries, 423 yds.), Connor Bohs (37 carries, 200 yds.) and QB Billy Ford (35-for-82, 593 yds.) are among those the Patriots must stop.

“We’re going to need our best effort to win,” Dence said.

LANSDALE CATHOLIC AT ARCHBISHOP WOOD

TIME: Saturday, 7:00 p.m., William Tennent High School

RECORDS: Lansdale Catholic is 4-2, 0-1 after losing to Monsignor Bonner, 28-9. Archbishop Wood is 4-2, 0-1 after losing to Saint Joseph’s Prep, 23-10.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Did not play.

OUTLOOK: The Crusaders took it tough last week, yielding an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown just before halftime and allowing 196 yards through the air in a league schedule-opening loss.

This week, LC climbs out of the proverbial frying pan and smack into the fire with a date against a Wood team that is still smarting from its loss to the Prep last week.

A quick look at the Wood offensive line, that includes TE and Rutgers recruit Nick Arcidiacono, Deion Oliver (6-5, 275), George Griffin (6-4, 280) and Chris O’Connor (6-6, 285), is enough to intimidate Alabama and RBs Andrew Guckin (61 carries, 429 yds.) and Josh Messina (41 carries, 265 yds.) don’t make it any easier.

The contest also represents a reunion, of sorts, as Wood FB/DL Tyler Smith led the Crusaders in rushing last season.

LA SALLE AT SAINT JOSEPH’S PREP

TIME: Saturday, 7:00 p.m., Plymouth Whitemarsh High School

RECORDS: La Salle is 6-0, 2-0 after defeating Father Judge, 35-7. Saint Joseph’s Prep is 5-0, 1-0 after defeating Archbishop Wood, 23-10.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: La Salle won, 28-17.

OUTLOOK: See Sideline Insider