Like two Knights of the Round Table, “Hot” Rod Heckman and Justin “The Voice” Carlucci jousted and ousted Bob “Photo” Ford right off the king’s throne following the Week 4 scores.

Heckman’s hot week of 12-2 helped him grab a piece of first place along with Carlucci, whose 11-win week was second-best on the board.

Ford’s five losses slipped him to a game back and into a tie with Yours Truly. My 11-win week jumped me over “Bad” Brad Hurley, who flopped with an 8-6 mark and is now four games off the pace.

Pat the “The Mat” Matsinko remains in the hunt, three games behind the leaders.

Four who are no more

Out of gas and in the back of the pack are four also-rans. Chuck “Having Some Luck” Hixson had a respectable 10-4 Week 4, but it still puts him at a nearly insurmountable six games back.

Emmett “Bossman” McCall also went 10-4, but it looks like he’ll be ending another season of failing to prove his football savvy to his minions.

Defending champ, Andy “The Chump” Steinmetz and his Legion of Doom dropped him eight games out after a 9-5 week. No repeat this year for “Handy” Andy. There will be a new champion in 2020.

What can be said about Sam “The Sham” Matta? With a disastrous 7-7 week, he fell deeper into the Pundit Pit, a whopping 10 games behind. With a couple of Hail Mary passes, he has a prayer’s chance of catching the three before him. Give Sam this perk: He did pick what no one else saw coming, and that was Bangor beating Saucon Valley.

209 Trophy time

Jim Thorpe takes on Lehighton in the battle for the Route 209 Trophy.

The Olympians look to rebound after being knocked down a peg by North Schuylkill last week. The Tribe rallied with a win over Schuylkill Haven after being routed by Pottsville.

Records don’t matter in this neighborhood tussle, but bragging rights do.

Carlucci’s pick of the Tribe could get him another game up, but if JT prevails, he might catch the big spear like Ford and fall from first.

Three up and two down

A trio of other locals are favorites to win this week. In a matchup of star quarterbacks, Palmerton’s Cole Serfass will try to lead the Bombers over Northwestern, the staff unanimous favorite.

Tigers’ QB Justin Holmes ran for three TDs and passed for two more in last week’s win over Wilson.

Tamaqua lost to Pottsville a week ago, and will try to get back in the win column over disappointing Blue Mountain, while Northern Lehigh is a heavy favorite to knock off Wilson.

Struggling Marian is a huge underdog against undefeated North Schuylkill in a game that has many wondering how it was even scheduled.

Panther Valley will have its hands full with Williams Valley. Vikings’ QB Bryce Herb has thrown for 10 TDs and over 1,000 yards in just four games.

Risky business

Speaking of our illustrious photographer, Ford swims against the tide In Week 5 in his attempt to get back to the king’s throne. His Saucon Valley pick over Southern Lehigh may not be an upset since both teams are playing only their second games, and if Freedom beats Easton, he could swing the standings back in his favor.

The Salisbury-Pen Argyl and East Stroudsburg North-PM West battles are pivotal games in the Week 5 standings.

The leaders, Carlucci and Heckman, disagree on who wins both games, so somebody might have to lose his seat on the throne going into Week 6.

Feeling the heat

With more than half the regular season gone by, the pressure is building in the race for the Cup that has four staffers jammed within one game at the top. Heckman said he picked his winners this week without much confidence and Carlucci said, “Those picks were stinking hard!”

Yours Truly is a usual also-ran by now, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. My pick of Jim Thorpe over Lehighton will get the wrath and ribbing from the guys in the Tribe press box when I arrive to cover the game, but many of my friends are parents of Olympian players so no matter who I pick, I’m a target for verbal arrows.

Carlucci and Yours Truly are in strange company running with the usual favorites to win the Cup.

Let’s see if we keep up the pace, or run out of gas going into Week 6.