BY ED HEDES

With the regular season packed away for another year, things get interesting this week as it's one and done now with the post-season playoffs looking us in the eye.Both District 11 and Eastern Conference play begins tonight and we have quite a race going on with our Grid Picks to make it even more exciting. Rod Heckman has taken over as the sole leader of the group with Pat Matsinko and Brad Hurley slipping back to second place. There are a few others that are close behind, including yours truly.So let's do it:LEHIGHTON AT BETHELEHEM CATHOLIC - The Golden Hawks' Freddie Simmons is back and if the Indians find a way to stop him, they'll be in it. It'll be closer than their meeting last year…Bethlehem Catholic, 28-21.PALMERTON AT NORTH SCHUYLKILL - Bombers match up size-wise with the Spartans, but no one has been able to stop the AFL champs yet. If the Bombers don't fall behind early, it could be close…North Schuylkill, 21-7.PALISADES AT NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH - No reason to think that the Tigers will letup now…Northwestern, 28-7.PLEASANT VALLEY AT EASTON - Bears would up getting beat by the Red Rovers in the season opener. Red Rovers might be better now…Easton, 35-7.WILLIAMS VALLEY AT MARIAN - Colts wouldn't let the Vikings do anything the first time they met. I don't think they'll let them do anything here…Marian, 21-7.NORTHERN LEHIGH AT WYOMING VALLEY WEST - Bulldogs get the EC berth to play another week. This one could be a dogfight…Northern Lehigh, 14-13.PARKLAND AT STROUDSBURG - Someone please tell me how the Trojans are the No. 7 seed?…Parkland, 35-14.WHITEHALL AT FREEDOM - Patriots won by a point in overtime during the regular season. Not this time…Whitehall, 21-20.SAUCON VALLEY AT SOUTHERN LEHIGH - Spartans can't wait for a rematch against the only team that beat them this year…Southern Lehigh, 28-21.MAHANOY AREA AT PIUS X - Golden Bears make a step up from EC playoffs last year. This one might be closer than you think…Pius X, 28-21.EMMAUS AT SCRANTON - Hornets played tough competition, but the trip up North will be another tough one…Scranton, 14-7.EAST STROUDSBURG SOUTH AT LIBERTY - The Hurricanes look like the team to beat here…Liberty, 28-14.COUGLIN AT BLUE MOUNTAIN - Taking a gamble here with the Eagles…Blue Mountain, 21-20.PINE GROVE AT HANOVER - Cardinals take the ride up Route 81 and bring back a win…Pine Grove, 28-14.LINE MOUNTAIN AT TRI-VALLEY - This one is another rematch from the regular season and Ill go with…Tri-Valley, 14-7.