He’s back in the race and flashing his prognostication skills again.

Justin Carlucci, away from the picks team for four years and a Cup winner in 2021, is making his move into contention early this season.

With a stellar Week 2 record of 14-1, he’s jumped from the back of the pack into third place.

Rod Heckman, also coming in with just one loss last week, holds the lead over Yours Truly by two games. Early-season favorite Brad Hurley slipped to fourth after an 11-4 mark. Pat Matsinko and Sam Matta both finished 12-3, and now sit tied for fifth.

The pack and the back

Following Mike Haines, who also had a strong 12-3 week, come Jeff Moeller and Emmett McCall, who are clinging to spots just one game above the Pundit Pit. That leaves TJ Engle scratching for daylight from the depths of despair.

It’s only two weeks into the season, but these three better get moving. Already eight and nine games behind the leader, they’re sliding out of early contention — and September has barely begun.

Flip a coin

Week 3 promises more movement in the standings. Six games are unanimous picks, which won’t help anyone climb. But three others are split down the middle and could change the race.

Unbeaten Palisades faces unbeaten Catasauqua. The Pirates upset Bristol on the road in Week 1, and blanked Saucon Valley last week. Catty handled both Mahanoy Area and Wilson with ease. My odds-on pick is Palisades, which has faced tougher competition and shown a stingy defense. Heckman and Hurley agree, but Carlucci, Matsinko, Matta and McCall can all gain ground if Catty comes through.

Lackawanna Trail meets Berwick in my Out-of-Area Game of the Week. Both are 2-0, and again the panel is split. Trail has toppled the stronger opponents, and is pushing for another state title. Berwick features Ty’meere Wilkerson, a phenomenal running back who will get his yards, but my call is the Lions. Hurley could either gain ground on the leaders or slide further back.

The other toss-up is Riverside at Lakeland. Riverside has two narrow wins, including one in OT against Dunmore. Lakeland has steamrolled its foes by a combined 105-20. This game is big for contenders. Heckman and Hurley like the Vikings, while Carlucci, Matsinko and Yours Truly are backing the Chiefs.

Out-of-Area Game of the Week

For this week, I chose two storied programs — both 2-0 — in Lackawanna Trail and Berwick.

The Lions are aiming for a fifth straight District 2 title, while Berwick boasts six state championships and once ripped off 41 straight wins in the late ’90s.

Trail features a deceptive wing-T offense, first created by Maine in 1950, built on misdirection. Running back Isaac Ryon has piled up 405 yards in two games, helping LT score 70 points. Last week, the Lions shut out a solid Western Wayne squad, 35-0.

Their defense now faces a stiff test from Berwick’s dynamic senior Wilkerson, who ran for 1,400 yards last year. This season, he’s at 360 yards and five touchdowns through two weeks — including 234 and three scores against Mid Valley. A workhorse with breakaway speed, Wilkerson has already carried 39 times.

Expect fireworks into the fourth quarter. My pick: the Lions, despite Wilkerson’s heroics.

Dancing in the dark

Week 3 is already critical for the pack and back pickers. Matta and Matsinko need strong weeks to stay within striking distance; they can’t afford to fall more than five behind. Haines, already down six games, can’t afford another stumble. Moeller and McCall are teetering at eight back, and Engle, at nine down, is desperate to climb out of the pit.

Week 3 — here we go. Who will rise in the race for the Cup?