Wow, coming up on the halfway point of the high school football regular season as we enter Week 5, there is one heckuva race going between our Times News Pigskin prognosticators.

Hard to believe that we have two tied for first again in Brad Hurley and Patrict Matsinko.And don't look too much further as three of us, Rod Heckman, Justin Carlucci and yours truly, are just one game back. Emmett McCall sits two games out, while Andy Steinmetz and Rich Strack are three games behind.It's a tough week, but surprisingly some of the games that I thought might be split a bit, have a unanimous pick.So let's not waste any time and get right to it:BLUE MOUNTAIN AT MARIAN - The Colts suffered their first setback of the season last week to Anthracite Football League pre-season favorite North Schuylkill. This week, the Colts host another AFL power in Blue Mountain. Both teams look to get back on track. I'm going with the home team … Marian, 21-20.GOVERNOR MIFFLIN AT LEHIGHTON - Don't accuse the Indians of dodging a tough opponent to fill the gap in their bye week from Anthracite Football League competition. Governor Mifflin could very well go deep in the PIAA playoffs this year … Governor Mifflin, 33-14.JIM THORPE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Hurricane season might be upon us shortly, but until the Olympians show signs that they can be beat, we're riding their wave … Jim Thorpe, 21-7.PALISADES AT NORTHERN LEHIGH - Bulldogs will have to play the perfect game this week against the Pirates, who are on a three-game run after a week one week loss … Palisades, 18-7.PALMERTON AT NOTRE DAME - Crusaders might have found a quarterback they can count on in the second half of last week's loss to Northern Lehigh. The Bombers know they let one slip away last week … Palmerton, 21-7.PANTHER VALLEY AT TAMAQUA - Blue Raiders and Panthers battle in what used to be a pretty good rivalry. Panthers tasted victory last week, but Raiders have just a little more manpower … Tamaqua, 21-6.SAUCON VALLEY AT NORTHWESTERN - Game of the Week not only in the Colonial League, but The Times News area. Someone has to lose here and it won't be … Northwestern, 21-18.PLEASANT VALLEY VS POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST - Panthers have been shuffling things around the past week or two. Now they have to head to a neutral field to take on the Bears … Pleasant Valley, 28-7.PEN ARGYL AT SALISBURY - It's been tough times in the Slate Belt this fall. The Falcons have played tough in a couple of outings so we'll go with the home team here … Salisbury, 28-23.CATASAUQUA AT WILSON - The Warriors took a step back last week, but I think this could be the week they finally get a "W" … Wilson, 21-14.SHENANDOAH VALLEY AT MINERSVILLE - Don't know who to pick here, but something tells me the Battlin' Miners win the battle of winless … Minersville 20-18.NORTH SCHUYLKILL AT MAHANOY AREA - As long as the Spartans don't have a letdown after two tough opponents, they'll cruise … North Schuylkill, 39-7.CENTRAL CATHOLIC AT FREEDOM - This week we find out if the Patriots are for real. I think they are … Freedom, 20-7.EMMAUS AT LIBERTY - Going to take a little gamble on this one. And the coin toss says … Emmaus, 20-14.PARKLAND AT WHITEHALL - Hate go to against my good friend Brian Gilbert and his Zephyrs here, but … PARKLAND, 24-14.