In a blink this weekend marks the midway point of the 2025 Colonial-Schuylkill League football season.
There are several intriguing matchups involving teams with playoff aspirations and those looking to find or gain momentum for the second half and beyond.
Palisades (4-0) has one of those games in a Saturday afternoon trek to 3-1 Pen Argyl.
Week 5 winners will have momentum and confidence entering the second half of the season. The others will need to turn things around quickly because before we know it, the leaves will be falling off the trees and the District 11 playoffs will be right in front of us.
Colonial-Schuylkill League Week 5 picks
Jim Thorpe (2-2) at North Schuylkill (2-2): Two teams with varying expectations sit with the same records approaching the midway point. The Spartans expect to be competing for a District 11 Class 3A title. The Olympians are looking to rebuild pride and toughness in their program. The Spartans can’t get caught peeking ahead to next week’s meeting at Northwestern Lehigh. North Schuylkill 29-14
Notre Dame-GP (4-0) at Catasauqua (3-1): The Crusaders are in a stretch in their schedule where they can build up their district’s 3A ratings points with four quality foes coming up, starting with the Rough Riders who would love to avoid a first-round matchup with the district’s top-seeded team in 2A. Notre Dame-GP 35-13
Northwestern Lehigh (4-0) at Lehighton (2-2): The Indians control their playoff destiny with their remaining schedule. They have future dates with Pottsville, Blue Mountain and North Schuylkill among others. The Tigers will show their true spots this week in how they respond to having their first scare of the season. Northwestern 34-21
Palmerton (1-3) at Northern Lehigh (2-2): How will the Bulldogs respond after the way they let one get away last week at Palisades? Can the Blue Bombers limit their turnovers, which have been a problem all season? Northern Lehigh 34-15
Salisbury (2-2) at Tamaqua (1-3): If the Falcons can’t tackle Terrence McDowell, they will not have a fun bus ride home. Tamaqua 27-7
Panther Valley (1-3) at Nativity BVM (2-2): True progress marker for both programs. The Green Wave are young. The Panthers are, too, in certain areas. Nativity BVM 22-14
Marian Catholic (4-0) at Mahanoy Area (0-4): A trap game for the Colts, who have Minersville, Schuylkill Haven and Williams Valley the following three weeks. The Bears have struggled offensively scoring only six points, but their first four foes are a combined 14-2. Marian Catholic 21-6
Blue Mountain (1-3) at Bangor (0-4): The Eagles should be soaring with confidence and angry after last week’s close loss at Northwestern. That will be a problem for the Slaters, who are looking to find some consistency on offense. That will be tough to come by against Reese Miller and Co. Blue Mountain 35-12
Pottsville (2-2) at Southern Lehigh (4-0): The Spartans bounced back from a shaky home win over Lehighton with a convincing road victory at North Schuylkill. They should be polishing things up the next several weeks, but will have to fend off the Crimson Tide’s best effort after the way last year’s playoff meeting went. Southern Lehigh 34-19
Saucon Valley (1-3) at Wilson (0-4): Two teams looking for some confidence and an identity. A lot of youth and inexperience on both sides, but it is Week 5. The Panthers have scored just 19 points the last three games. The Warriors have struggled finishing drives. Saucon Valley 27-7
Palisades (4-0) at Pen Argyl (3-1): This could be a real grinder between a pair of 2A teams with playoff aspirations. The Pirates grew up a little more last Friday with their second-half performance against Northern Lehigh. The Green Knights need that stable victory to take that next step. Palisades 28-14
Last week: 10-1
Season: 35-7
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
