The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.
Here are 3 local sports observations, before we take a look at this week’s “SportsTalk” high school football poll for teams in the RCN viewing area.
#1
It was another great weekend for the 34th Annual Celtic Classic Highlands Games and Festival.
It was once again my privilege to host the United States National Championship held in Bethlehem along with my partner, Dr. Harrison Bailey, who returned for this year’s broadcast on RCN TV.
Each year the competitors put on a tremendous show and are truly larger than life characters — both figuratively and literally (one participant this year was 6-ft-8, 385 pounds). This year’s caber toss thrown by participants weighed in at over 19 feet and 153 lbs.
These athletes are entertaining to watch for both die-hard Celtic athletic fans as well as first-time viewers.
Be sure to catch the action this Friday night at 7:00 p.m. on RCN- TV, as well as reliving all of the great moments and memories from this year’s events. All of our broadcast games, events and stage performances can be watched through RCN On Demand, which is free for RCN customers.
#2
There’s been some outstanding fall teams in the Lehigh Valley outside the sport of football.
Among the pleasant surprises so far this season include the Emmaus and Northern Lehigh girls soccer teams, an undefeated Nazareth field hockey squad, who just scored a win over previously undefeated Whitehall, the Emmaus girls cross country team, who have now won over 40 consecutive matches in a row and many others. It should be an exciting league and district playoff season when it commences in a few weeks.
#3
We’ve continued to bring you a steady stream of competitive high school football games each weekend on RCN TV this fall. Last Friday, Freedom and Nazareth were tied at 14-14 before the Patriots went on an impressive offensive showing in the 4th quarter to record the victory.
Elsewhere, the steady onslaught of Lehigh Valley teams beating up on squads from the EPC North continued, which included Emmaus winning 84 – 0 over East Stroudsburg North. There seems to be growing discontent in the region about this widening disparity between the teams. Also, some local schools are frustrated that they have to butt heads against the best teams in District 11 each week, while other Valley schools rack up easy wins, matched up against teams that barely have enough players to field a team.
Once we finally rid ourselves of COVID-19 concerns, expect this issue to become even more prominently discussed and more loudly debated in local sports conversations.
Meanwhile…
Two more games were postponed last weekend due to COVID-19 — including one featuring our previously number one ranked team, Notre Dame. Because of the Crusaders’ inactivity and Northwestern’s big win last weekend, the Tigers will move into the number one spot in our poll for the Colonial League teams.
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That brings us to this week’s input from the RCN SportsTalk pollsters — a random collection of local coaches, athletic directors and media members.
Below we have high school polls for both leagues in the RCN viewing area, along with the listing of all of the teams that are included in our respective categories.
Feel free to email me at Chris.Michael@rcn.net for your thoughts on this week’s poll and we might read and respond to your emails on this week’s SportsTalk show.
EPC-LV TOP 5
1) Emmaus
2) Central Catholic
3) Parkland
4) Freedom
5) Nazareth
Eligible Teams (in no particular order): Allentown Central Catholic, Bethlehem Catholic, Easton, Freedom, Liberty, Dieruff, Allen, Parkland, Whitehall, Emmaus, Nazareth, and Northampton
COLONIAL TOP 5
1) Northwestern
2) Notre Dame-GP
3) Wilson
4) Bangor
5) Northern Lehigh
Eligible Teams (in no particular order): Bangor, Pen Argyl, Notre Dame – Green Pond, Wilson, Catasauqua, Salisbury, Saucon Valley, Northwestern, Northern Lehigh, Southern Lehigh and Palisades
Be sure to bookmark our high school football broadcast schedule here on the website and check it frequently as, with several games already postponed or canceled so far this season, there could be changes from day to day.
