Westpac Week 1

[The professor60]

Since no one else has jumped in and given a Westpac preview I will try my hand at it.

Week 1 Schedule (Friday night)
Ferndale @ Blacklick: Ferndale comes into this season still riding the high of last seasons success. With their dynamic duo returning at QB and reciever they should once again be able to score against anyone and give themselves a shot in most games this season. Blacklick returns most of their team from last year and can only go up from last years finish at 1-9. Ferndale comes in fresh for a new season and wins this one 35-7.

Berlin @ Meyersdale: Berlin's strength is their line this year, they rode them to a 9-3 record a season ago now as seniors this unit will be the deciding factor in how far they go. With their QB returning and plenty of protection I look for Berlin to mix more of a passing attack with a power run game instead of the speed of the spread we have become use to. Meyersdale comes off a strong season last year but has the opposite situation from Berlin. Meyersdale lost most of their line from a season ago and the pieces are there for a solid year but it'll take them some time to get it going. Berlin rolls 42-0.

Portage @ Conemaugh Township: Portage reloads and returns as they do every year.They will always be in the hunt playing fundamentally sound football and relying on the expectations the program has set over the years. Conemaugh Township lost a huge senior class last year and still has plenty of pieces to have a solid year, but like Meyersdale its going to take them some time. Portage takes this one 48-0.

North Star @ Shade: This game is the story of two teams heading in opposite directions. North Star returns most of the team from last year and can only get better from last years 1-9 season. With their QB and top receiver returning I expect them to take a page from the Ferndale playbook and pass the ball much more. Shade lost the majority of their team and only have 3 seniors on this years team so I look for this to be a learning year for them. I think North Star starts off on the right foot 27-14.

Saturday
Game of the week: Windber @ Conemaugh Valley: Both teams return the majority of their roster from a season ago and look to step up in the conference this year. Last year Windber won a hard fought 21-20 game. I look for Conemaugh Valley to flip the script this year and win 21-20.

Conference Pediction:
1) Berlin
2) Portage
3) Ferndale
4) Conemaugh Township
5) Windber
6) Conemaugh Valley
7) Meyersdale
8) North Star
9) Shade
10) Blacklick

I feel like Berlin and Portage are in their own tier and one of them will win the conference. 3-10 are all going to be very equal and could end in any order. It looks like it should be a great year for the conference as talent is up across the board and their will be no easy games for any team as there has been in the past.

[stangin80]

I'm thinking the Portage/Conemaugh Twp. and the Berlin/Meyersdale games will be closer games than stated. The West Pac this year will be a better conference top to bottom than the last few years.

[12HankQB]

I'm thinking the Portage/Conemaugh Twp. and the Berlin/Meyersdale games will be  closer games than stated. The West Pac this year will be a better conference top to bottom than the last few years.

Agreed, which is what we all want. Blowouts are a waste of gas and a ticket

[knowitall]

I've been to some 14-6 thrillers that probably weren't worth it either. 

[12HankQB]

Painfully agonizing games played in a mud bog have to be the worst games ever. Like the Steelers 3-0 win over Miami...blah

[GoldenRamsFAN]

This conference will come down to two teams again....Portage and Berlin. The westpac very seldomly has more then 2 teams in the mix at the end...anyone know when the last time that was? If those 2 games are close it will be since both of them open up on the road.

[12HankQB]

Usually there's a team that only lost to the top 2. 2014 Meyersdale was 8-2 behind 9-1 Berlin/Portage. I'm pretty sure there was a year with 3 one loss teams. 2012 is what I'm thinking of Windber, Berlin, and Portage all with 1 loss and North Star with just 2. That was a good year. Berlin ran into Tyler Boyd that year....by that I mean he ran circles around everyone.

[GoldenRamsFAN]

And usually the team that lost to the top two were ugly.

[12HankQB]

Most conferences are historically dominated by a couple schools with others here and there. I'd like to see Windber and North Star get back to their former glory. It's a breath of fresh air seeing what this Ferndale team is doing. With the school sizes shrinking, not sure how all of these schools will be moving forward.

[stangin80]

Most conferences are historically dominated by a couple schools with others here and there. I'd like to see Windber and North Star get back to their former glory. It's a breath of fresh air seeing what this Ferndale team is doing. With the school sizes shrinking, not sure how all of these schools will be moving forward.

I wouldn't be surprised that Windber could finish at least couple games over .500 this year. They got Alot of experience back this year including the Quinn boy..Ferndale shocked some teams in the Westpac last year.. they're definitely on the radar this year.