On this final week of the regular season, this is a very limited picks column … and I still don’t have any clue what my overall record is.
Most of the focus tonight will be on the Allegheny Mountain League championship game, but there are several others out there including Warren at Bradford, which has developed into a solid rivalry.
Both teams have struggled this season. Between them they have four wins. The Owls are 3-6 and the Dragons 1-8.
Playing a major role in the two disappointing seasons has been injuries.
“We’ve had our share of injuries … everything from broken bones to a ruptured spleen,” Warren head coach Greg Latimer said during an interview on Wednesday night. “The injuries have affected us on both sides of the ball.”
Bradford has not experienced injuries quite that severe, but the Owls have been riddled with them and the starting lineup has seen changes from week to week.
Last week Bradford got several players back and came out of its game with Curwensville in pretty good shape.
“This week we really have only one change,” Bradford head coach Jeff Puglio said earlier this week, with a hint of relief in his voice.
Both coaches are looking for a hard-fought and spirited game tonight.
“The kids have played each other on nearly all levels so they know each other,” Puglio pointed out. “There’s a little more at stake in a rivalry, so you can throw the records out.”
Latimer echoed similar feelings.
“There is a great rivalry between these teams,” said the Dragons’ coach. “This is a game of who wants to win.
“This will be the last game for a lot of our seniors. I hope they’re ready to play. I look for a very good football game,” he added.
Where the two teams may differ is in their style of play. Warren will be physical, while Bradford has not shown the aggressiveness that Puglio and his staff have been attempting to instill in the Owls and they have not been as physical as their coaches would like.
“The teams in the South (AML) pushed us around,” Puglio noted, knowing that Warren will attempt to do the same thing. If the Dragons are successful in that area, it will be a long night for the Owls.
The Dragons have had the Owls number the past couple of seasons. Picking this game isn’t as easy as it seems. I’m going to hope that Parkway Field will be kind to its home team. Bradford by 8
AML CHAMPIONSHIP
Kane at Otto-Eldred
Usually I don’t pick playoff games, but this matchup kind of falls somewhere in between. I think of it as being in sort of a gray area.
The Terrors came from well behind in the North Division pack. They earned their berth in the title game. I don’t think the unbeaten Wolves will over-power them like they did in the first meeting, but I still have to go with the visitors. Kane by 18
THE OTHER GAMES
Ridgway at Union
The Elkers have put together a solid 7-2 record, while Union has won just two games. Ridgway by 21
St. Marys at Clarion
If this game were being hosted by the Dutch, I’d go with them, but it isn’t. The Bobcats have lost only one game. Clarion by 12
DuBois at Hollidaysburg, DuBois by 6
Karns City at Clearfield, Clearfield by 14
Punxsutawney at Clarion-Limestone, C-L by 4
Union City at Eisenhower, Union City by 2
Sheffield at Youngsville, Sheffield by 14
