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Holy Redeemer (1-5) at Athens (4-2)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Redeemer’s Dwayne Downing (26-39, 7th year); Athens’ Jack Young (129-66, 17th year)

Last Meeting: Athens 52-7 in 2016

All-Time Series: Athens leads 1-0.

Quick Fact: Athens has allowed 12 or fewer points four times this season.

Scouting Redeemer: The Royals’ 42-14 loss to Northwest was similar to their 30-9 loss to Meyers. They were able to hang around for awhile, but ultimately faded in the second half. The running game had a season-high 171 yards, but the run defense was leaky.

Scouting Athens: Athens came to town last Thursday and defeated GAR 41-6 behind the power running of Zack Jayne. He’s a big guy at 210 pounds and will be the focus again. The Wildcats threw a little, but didn’t look overly comfortable doing it.

What To Expect: Jayne will be too much for Redeemer to handle.

Wallenpaupack (3-3) at Dallas (4-2)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Wallenpaupack’s Mark Watson (54-65, 12th year); Dallas’ Rich Mannello (13-16, 3rd year)

Last Meeting: Wallenpaupack 21-0 in 2016

All-Time Series: Dallas leads 3-2.

Quick Fact: Dallas won the first meeting 42-0 in 2000.

Scouting ‘Paupack: The Buckhorns seized control of the top seed in the D2-5A playoffs with a 28-21 victory over Wyoming Valley West. The offense, though, didn’t do much and a fumble return TD and a punt return TD accounted for half the points.

Scouting Dallas: The Mountaineers posted their first shutout since 2013 with a 42-0 win vs. Meyers. The defense held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing for a third time and also recorded four turnovers. The offense has been running more lately.

What To Expect: Dallas in a close game.

Northwest (3-3) at Hanover Area (0-6)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Northwest’s Lon Hazlet (101-98, 19th year); Hanover Area’s Mike McCree (6-20, 3rd year)

Last Meeting: Northwest 28-22 in 2016

All-Time Series: Northwest leads 5-3

Quick Fact: Northwest enters off its two best rushing games.

Scouting Northwest: It took a little longer than expected, but Northwest eventually pulled away from Holy Redeemer for a 42-14 win. WR Connor Hazlet had two TD catches. RB Jake Anderson failed to reach 100 yards for the first time in three games, but others chipped in.

Scouting Hanover Area: The Hawkeyes were overwhelmed by Wyoming Area 54-14. A bright spot was RB David Fedorchick, who ran for a career-high 138 yards and two TDs. The run defense has surrendered 1,096 yards in the last three games.

What To Expect: Northwest to win its third in a row.

Scranton (5-1) at Hazleton Area (3-3)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Scranton’s Mike Marichak (60-44, 10th year); Hazleton Area’s Mike Brennan (124-88, 16th year)

Last Meeting: Scranton 27-20 in 2016

All-Time Series: Scranton lead 5-2.

Quick Fact: Both teams will be in the D2/4-6A playoffs.

Scouting Scranton: Scranton had Williamsport on the ropes only to give up two TDs in the final two minutes in the 38-34 loss. Uneven defensive play all season finally caught up to the Knights. The offense remained stout with RB Rheyse Green leading the way.

Scouting Hazleton Area: Hazleton Area battled undefeated Delaware Valley, but fell 28-14. The defense gave up a 99-yard scoring drive. QB Sparky Wolk threw two TD passes, but the running game took a step backward after a solid outing vs. Wallenpaupack.

What To Expect: Scranton to bounce back with a win.

Coughlin (3-3) at Meyers (4-2)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Coughlin’s Ciro Cinti (69-59, 12th year); Meyers’ Jeff Labatch (16-12, 3rd year)

Last Meeting: Coughlin 40-0 in 2016

All-Time Series: Tied 32-32-1

Quick Fact: The teams played to a 6-6 tie in 1945.

Scouting Coughlin: The Crusaders trailed Berwick 3-0 at halftime, but a lack of offense eventually led to a 24-6 loss. Once Berwick made it a three-score game, Coughlin’s chances were dash because the team isn’t built to overcome big deficits.

Scouting Meyers: Meyers finished with a season-low 144 yards and a season-high four turnovers in a 42-0 loss to Dallas. The offense has been a little shaky since the second half of the Nanticoke win in Week 4. The defense has two turnovers in the last four games.

What To Expect: Coughlin to get back on track.

Berwick (5-1) at Pittston Area (3-3)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Berwick’s Frank Sheptock (14-5, 2nd year); Pittston Area’s Nick Barbieri (3-3, 1st year)

Last Meeting: Berwick 63-26 in 2016

All-Time Series: Berwick leads 31-2

Quick Fact: Pittston Area’s only wins in the series were in 2003 and 2006 .

Scouting Berwick: The defense did it again, slowing down Coughlin and putting the offense in good position in the second half in a 24-6 win. The Dawgs recorded four turnovers and only Selinsgrove topped 100 yards on the ground. QB Jared Marshman could be back.

Scouting Pittston Area: One more win and Pittston Area will reach four victories for the first time since 2009. QB Walter Coles and WR Kevin Krawczyk played a big part in a 51-34 win vs. Abington Heights. The duo, though, faces a very good secondary.

What To Expect: Berwick has the defense to neutralize the Patriots.

Crestwood (3-3) at Tunkhannock (1-5)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Crestwood’s Greg Myers (78-69, 13th year); Tunkhannock’s Jan Cechak (28-100-2, 13th year)

Last Meeting: Crestwood 49-6 in 2016

All-Time Series: Tunkhannock leads 9-8

Quick Fact: The first meeting was in 1982 and won by Tunkhannock 20-6.

Scouting Crestwood: Crestwood steered things from start to finish in a 35-7 win against Nanticoke. RB Nick Grosek had 152 yards rushing, all in the first half. New QB Garrett Swank threw three TDs. The defense gave up most of its yardage after the game was in hand.

Scouting Tunkhannock: The Tigers scored 31 first-half points, then was blanked in the final two quarters in a 49-31 loss to Lake-Lehman. A wind-blown rain didn’t help the passing attack after halftime. RB Garrett Hopkins had 135 yards.

What To Expect: Tough one to figure out. Crestwood by a TD.

Abington Heights (1-5) at Wyoming Valley West (1-5)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Abington’s Joe Repshis (100-46, 13th year); WVW’s Pat Keating (70-28, 9th year)

Last Meeting: Abington 24-7 in 2016 D2-5A playoffs

All-Time Series: Valley West leads 10-8

Quick Fact: Valley West defeated Abington in the 2016 regular season.

Scouting Abington: A year after winning the D2-5A title, the Comets’ rough rebuild continued with a 51-34 loss to Pittston Area. QB George Tinsley threw for over 300 yards and four TDs, but the defense has surrendered 44 or more points five times.

Scouting WVW: Mistakes and special teams were the main culprits in a 28-21 loss to Wallenpaupack. Valley West outgained the Buckhorns by nearly a 2-to-1 advantage. The Spartans now face the possibility of their first losing season since 1993.

What To Expect: Valley West to get back on track.

Delaware Valley (6-0) at Williamsport (5-1)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: DelVal’s Keith Olsommer (127-81, 19th year); Williamsport’s Chuck Crews (34-37, 7th year)

Last Meeting: Williamsport 55-21 in 2016 in D2/4-6A playoffs

All-Time Series: Williamsport leads 3-1

Quick Fact: DelVal won the regular-season game 49-42.

Scouting DelVal: DelVal embarks on its longest bus ride, heading to Williamsport off a 28-14 victory vs. Hazleton Area. RB Ryan Obiso was the star once again, but QB Nick Reilly has been throwing the ball well. Had a couple close calls earlier in the season.

Scouting Williamsport: The Millionaires scored two TDs in the last two minutes to rally past Scranton 38-34. They needed OT a week earlier against Shikellamy. Aside from two victories against winless teams, every game as been a battle.

What To Expect: High-scoring game, with DelVal having a slight edge.

Lake-Lehman (4-2) at Nanticoke (3-3)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Lehman’s Jerry Gilsky (54-31, 8th year); Nanticoke’s Ron Bruza (30-47, 8th year)

Last Meeting: Lehman 35-0 in 2016

All-Time Series: Nanticoke leads 28-18

Quick Fact: Nanticoke’s last win vs. Lehman was 24-14 in 2006.

Scouting Lehman: After an ugly first half where the Black Knights allowed 31 points, their running game took over in a 49-31 victory against Tunkhannock. RBs Trey Borger (204) and Zach Kojadinovich (140) led the 415-yard running attack.

Scouting Nanticoke: Nanticoke was missing injured RB Eric Jeffries, the WVC’s top rusher, in a 35-7 loss to Crestwood. It’s debatable how much his presence would have helped because the defense couldn’t stop the run or the pass. At a crossroads after three losses.

What To Expect: A Lehman win, which will be big in the D2-3A playoff race.

Wyoming Area (2-4) at GAR (0-6)

7 p.m. Saturday

The Coaches: Wyoming Area’s Randy Spencer (51-53, 10th year); GAR’s Paul Wiedlich Jr. (51-35, 8th year)

Last Meeting: Wyoming Area 35-14 in 2016

All-Time Series: Wyoming Area leads 17-12-1

Quick Fact: The teams played to a 6-6 tie in 1977.

Scouting Wyoming Area: The Warriors’ offense finally broke out in a 54-14 victory, although it came against winless Hanover Area. Still, the unit needed a jolt of confidence and got it. The running game had 314 yards after totaling 411 in the first five games.

Scouting GAR: After being trampled in the first quarter by RB Zack Jayne, the Grenadiers played fairly well the rest of the way in a 41-6 loss to Athens. The defense allowed seven points after halftime. The offense, though, showed very little once again.

What To Expect: Wyoming Area should win big.

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By John Erzar

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