Coming off 14-1 records in Week 2, Handy Andy Steinmetz and Yours Truly get to share a seat in the king’s throne and lead the pack of pickers for the second week in a row.

Hot Rod Heckman is heating up his engines. With his 23 wins, he sits just one game behind. A preseason favorite and a “never count him out of the race” picker, there will be no surprise if he takes possession of the throne in the next few weeks.

McCall free falls

There have been reports that our sports editor, “Bossman” Emmett McCall was seen standing on the ledge of the Times News building. After two straight seven-loss weeks and already six games behind the leaders, he’s in the Pundit Pit all by himself. We might have to invoke our own version of the mercy rule on the boss if he has another brutal picks’ week.

On the upswing is Justin Carlucci. After an opening week 7-8 record, the “Voice” rebounded nicely winning with 14 of 15 picks and currently sits just three games back along with Bob Photo Ford. Past champion, Bad Brad Hurley is two games out along with Pat ‘The Mat” Matsinko. Like a high stakes horse race, Hurley, Ford, and Matsinko are positioning themselves to make a late season sprint to the finish line.

Tough week of picks

This week brings a crystal ball challenge with as many as 13 of the 15 matchups capable of going either way. Despite that, Seven of our ten games are unanimous picks. So we’ll skip looking at those and get to the bold and risky, where an underdog win here or there can make a difference in who sits in what place.

Yours Truly has been successful winning a game over everyone else in the each of the first two weeks, first with Notre Dame and last week with Lehighton. This week, Sam the Man Matta alone tabs Catasauqua, a team that has allowed 100 points scored against it in two games, to defeat Pen Argyl,

Ford is the only picker who likes Wyomissing Area to knock off North Scuylkill in a battle of early unbeatens. One thing is for sure in this one. The Spartans will win. Both teams carry the same mascot.

Chuck “Good Luck” Hixson, Matsinko, Ford and Yours Truly boldly take Wilson to break into the win column against Salisbury. Hixson and I favor Saucon Valley to edge Palmerton. Losses to both games could kick me off the top of the mountain.

Perhaps the toss up game of the week is Freedom at Parkland, two perennial powerhouses. The majority nod here goes to the Patriots who will certainly have their hands full on the road at Parkland.

Defense! Defense?

An early season sign that a team is on the way toward a successful overall record is their total number of points allowed. Just like in every other sport, a good defense keeps you in every game and great defense can win a championship.

So far Tamaqua has shut out their first two opponents and is favorite to defeat Schuylkill Haven. Can the Raiders make it three in a row? If Tamaqua and North Schuylkill can both keep winning, that promises to be a huge showdown in Week 7.

Jim Thorpe’s Red Swarm has allowed one touchdown in eight quarter and could continue to keep opponents from crossing their goal line when it travels to Panther Valley tonight.

As far as pick strategy goes, playing it safe by choosing weekly favorites does not routinely work, After all, this is high school football and a fumble here or an intercepted pass there can change a predictable outcome. The best defense is often a good offense when it comes to jumping up the ladder of the grid pick standings.

Excuse me while I adjust my King’s crown and hunker down before my envious subjects on the sports staff try to storm the castle and send me into exile!