Five weeks into the high school football season, I'm sitting a little better than last season. Six games behind co-leaders Jason Boris and Andy Steinmetz keeps me well within striking distance.

One of the problems I seem to be having is that Boris and myself be using the same crystal ball since he very rarely has one or two games different that me. The same seems to be the tale for this week where we differ on just one game.This time, I have my fingers crossed that I get it right.So as we enter the second half of the season, lets look at what we see:MINERSVILLE VS. JIM THORPE - The Battlin' Miners put a hurtin' on Mahanoy Area last week and showed they'll be a force down the stretch as we start looking at playoff berths. Olympians looked better, but ... Minersville, 21-7.LEHIGHTON AT EAST STROUDSBURG SOUTH - Cavaliers haven't been as solid this year as they have in the past and are just 1-4 on the season. Indians used to always play tough at the Purple Pit ... Lehighton, 21-14.PALMERTON AT NORTHWESTERN - This is a crucial game for both teams. Tigers and small up front but have a decent running game. Bombers are big up front, but have to keep the Tigers from breaking the big one ... Northwestern, 14-13.PANTHER VALLEY AT MARIAN - Colts have been smarting from last year's loss to the Panthers for quite some time. This season, the game is in Colt Country ... Marian, 21-7.PLEASANT VALLEY AT POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST - Panthers could be a winner here, but I think the Bears have too many weapons ... Pleasant Valley, 28-14.NORTH SCHUYLKILL AT TAMAQUA - Blue Raiders get a taste of maybe the best 2A team in District 11 ... North Schuyllkill, 38-7.NORTHERN LEHIGH AT PEN ARGYL - Have gone with the Bulldogs all season and this will be the Green Knights closest and toughest test thus far. Home field advantage is the difference in the end ... Pen Argyl, 15-14.SHENANDOAH VALLEY AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Hurricanes picked up a win over Panther Valley last week. This week, the Devils prove to be a tougher foe ... Shenandoah Valley, 19-7.POCONO MOUNTAIN EAST AT EAST STROUDSBURG NORTH - I'm flipping the coin here I think it will be that close ... East Stroudsburg North, 14-13.CATASAUQUA AT BANGOR - Two of the other unbeaten Colonial League teams go at it in this one ... Bangor, 21-20.SAUCON VALLEY AT SALISBURY - From past results in the first five weeks, I like ... Saucon Valley, 21-7.ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC AT WHITEHALL - The Zephyrs have looked good so far, but we still think the Vikings are ready to explode ... Central Catholic 28-19.LIBERTY AT EMMAUS - My heart tells me to pick the Hornets, but for some reason I like the Hurricanes ... Liberty, 21-20.WILSON AT PALISADES - Who would have ever thought that the Warriors would be scraping the bottom of the barrel this year, but they get a win here ... Wilson, 21-0.HAZLETON AT CRESTWOOD - By looking at season records and opponents thus far, I like ... Crestwood, 14-7.