Neshaminy has revenge in mind after losing to Pennsbury, 27-20, in overtime in last year's regular-season finale. The victory at Falcon Field gave Galen Snyder's squad its first National Conference title since 1993.
In the 2008 regular-season finale, Mark Schmidt's Redskins, with the aid of three turnovers, scored all their points in the second quarter and triumphed, 16-13, to claim the National Conference championship.
Neshaminy, tied for fourth in the Class AAAA playoff-point standings with North Penn, enters with an 8-1 overall record and a 5-1 conference mark. Pennsbury, which would need a win and major help to sneak into the playoffs, is 5-4 and 3-3.
The Falcons lead the emotionally charged series, 36-35-7.
Pick: Neshaminy, 23-7.
Last week: 9-6. Overall: 88-46.
Catholic League Class AAAA semifinals
At Harry S Truman.Father Judge (7-2, 2-2) vs. No. 1 La Salle (8-1, 4-0), 7 p.m. Friday. The Crusaders will need big efforts from running backs Raul Quinones and Nick Myers to reverse a 42-14 loss in Week 7. Pick: La Salle, 35-14.
Roman Catholic (6-3, 2-2) vs. St. Joseph's Prep (4-5, 2-2), 7 p.m. Saturday. The Prep surprisingly rolled over the Cahillites, 31-15, in the regular season. Roman's defense, too often burned by big plays, needs to buckle down. Pick: Roman, 23-21.
Public League Class AAAA Semifinal
At Northeast.Fels (7-2, 6-0) vs. Northeast (6-2, 6-0), 2 p.m. Saturday. Deion Barnes and the red-hot Vikings have won six in a row, including a Gold Division-clinching win over George Washington two weeks ago, by a combined 132-47. Pick: Northeast, 28-13.
Public League Class AAA Semifinals
Saturday at Simon Gratz.Martin Luther King (3-5, 3-4) vs. Dobbins (8-1, 7-0), 2 p.m. Terrance Stafford, a rugged-as-anything running back and linebacker for Dobbins, will be a handful for Curtis Witherspoon and King. Pick: Dobbins, 23-0.
