The irony of early-season high school football often defies what sportswriters believe they know about the outcomes of games.

Week Two proved to be a slap in the face to many of us in the race for the Bob Ford Memorial Grid Picks trophy, proving that whatever happens in the first week of the season has little influence on picking games one week later.

All of us were wrong in choosing Palisades to beat Wilson, and we were wrong again with Schuylkill Haven over Tamaqua. Eight of us incorrectly chose Catasauqua to beat Mahanoy Area, and only three of 10 pickers selected Wallenpaupack to defeat East Stroudsburg South.

Six pickers won only eight games or fewer, and just three posted double-digit win totals in Week Two.

Engle holds lead, Hurley, Haines advance …

For the second straight week, TJ Engle, at 20-1 to win the race, sits on the king’s throne. His 10-5 record has him one game ahead of Brad Hurley, a perennial race favorite who finished 11-4. Jumping into third place from the middle of the pack is Mike Haines, also at 20-1 to hoist the trophy, after an 11-win week.

Taking the biggest fall was Pat Matsinko. Tied for first a week ago, he dropped to fifth place after going 7-8. Rod Heckman remains within striking distance of the lead, just two games behind Engle.

Slip sliding away …

It’s only the third week, but it might be getting late for those of us jammed into the back of the pack.

Justin Carlucci is four games behind. Yours Truly, after a bad 8-7 Week Two, fell five games off the lead. Six back is Jeff Moeller, while Emmett McCall and Sam Matta are both seven games behind Engle.

It’s already crunch time for us. We will need a solid Week Three to get back in the chase or risk being labeled the “also-rans” long before the gridiron schedules move into October.

Raiders, Olympians earn big wins …

After getting clubbed by Lehighton in its opener, Tamaqua bounced back to knock off Schuylkill Haven. Jim Thorpe did the same after giving up 48 points to Blue Mountain in its opening contest, responding with 42 points of its own in a rout of Minersville.

Marian beat Panther Valley, while Palmerton, Northwestern, Pleasant Valley and Lehighton all won to remain undefeated early in the season.

Out of Area Game of the Week

Let’s go with the Twin Valley Raiders against the Wyomissing Spartans on Saturday afternoon.

Twin Valley is 2-0, and led by a dynamic running back tandem of Lucas Myers and Alain Bazile, who combined for 238 yards and three touchdowns last week against Susquehanna Township.

In its first game, Wyomissing battled unbeaten Southern Columbia, a legendary football factory, before falling 34-27. The Spartans also feature a dynamic backfield duo. Brady Eisenhower rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns, while Zanda Westwood added 99 yards on 12 carries and one score.

Wyomissing’s second game against Frankford was canceled, leaving the Spartans with two weeks between games.

So, it’s 2-0 vs. 0-1.

But I’m going with the Spartans at home. With two weeks to prepare for Twin Valley and coming off a near upset of Southern Columbia, this team will be raring to go and hand the Raiders their first loss of the young season.

Mumbo jumbo

Engle’s picks conflict with Heckman in four games. Haines chose five different winners than Engle, while Hurley, hoping to grab the lead going into Week Four, disagrees with Engle on four games.

The pickers jammed into the back of the pack cannot afford another bad week. Yours Truly must make his move past Matsinko and JC. Moeller, Matta and McCall are all in free fall.

The standings will change again going into Week Four.

Let’s see who fumbles the ball, and who puts up a big score.