Each week, Josh Thomson will give his predictions on every high school football game in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties. That will include highlighting the five games of the week. Leave your thoughts on this week’s games in the comments, e-mail Josh at jthomson@lohud.com, or reach Josh on Twitter @lohudinsider.
Week 4: White Plains-Scarsdale, Orange Bowl among Week 4 predictions
Week 4 rewind: High school football scoreboard, Sept. 23-25
The Week 5 high school football schedule
Week 4 Coach of the Week: Tony Becerra, Pleasantville
Week 4 Player of the Week: Tanner More, Fox Lane
From right, Spring Valley’s Tyreke Smith (5) looks for some running room in the Port Chester defense during second half football action at Port Chester High School Sept. 24, 2016. Spring Valley won the game 3-0.
Week 5 Games of the Week —
Friday, Sept. 30
Rye (4-0) at Brewster (4-0), 7 p.m. — The big news from last week’s Rye win over Eastchester was that T.J. Lavelle left the game with a shoulder injury. The senior QB has been great for the Garnets and they could certainly use him against an unbeaten opponent like Brewster, especially one so capable of putting up points. But perhaps no team has a backup more capable than Rye. Mat Bruno may not be the passer Lavelle is, but the senior is a terrific athlete who has proven time and again that he can lead the offense, particularly on the ground. Rye is also terrific on defense and will force Brewster to do more than just feed the ball to Jack Guida. I think that the Garnets’ superior depth throughout their lineup will pay dividends in one of the week’s best games. The pick: Rye 35, Brewster 20.
Arlington (4-0) at Spring Valley (4-0) at Torne Valley Field, 7 p.m. — In the weeks since Ori Jean-Charles left the lineup with a knee injury, Spring Valley’s offense has been less and less productive, topped off by last week’s three-point effort at Port Chester. However, the defense has seemed to improve just as steadily. Both units will face a challenge this week in unbeaten Arlington, which has proven itself so far, winning tough games against good teams like John Jay-East Fishkill and Carmel. Spring Valley will be amped up to play, but I have to favor the Admirals based on what’s happened so far. The pick: Arlington 24, Spring Valley 14
New Rochelle (4-0) at Clarkstown South (4-0), 7 p.m. — South has had a terrific season so far, proving it can play both offense and defense with some of Class AA’s best. But this is a different challenge because this is the best. New Rochelle has thoroughly dominated its competition since the start of the second half of its season opener against North Rockland. The Vikings will have to throw on the Huguenots to stay in the game and they’ll have to force New Rochelle into a couple of big mistakes. I don’t see South lining up toe to toe and outplaying the Class AA favorite. The pick: New Rochelle 27, Clarkstown South 7.
Lakeland (2-2) at Panas (1-3), 7 p.m. — This game comes at a perfect time for both teams; they are in need of a jumpstart to their season. Nothing better to do that than trying to beat the other. Lakeland has won two straight, winning close games with Nyack and Highland. Panas is probably better than its record, so this will be a challenge. The Hornets won 9-0 in last year’s meeting. Expect something similarly close, but I like Panas to prove it is not a 1-3 team. The pick: Panas 22, Lakeland 20.
North Rockland (2-2) at Scarsdale (3-1), 6 p.m. — After three so-so weeks for its offense, Scarsdale dropped 62 points on White Plains last week. It could’ve easily been more. North Rockland might be more capable of stopping the Scarsdale option game, but the Red Raiders will have to tackle a bevy of elusive backs. As White Plains learned, even if you’re in position, that doesn’t guarantee you’ll make the play. The Raiders might give up some points, but based on last week’s performance they appear poised to finish the regular season strong. The pick: Scarsdale 33, North Rockland 21.
Other Week 5 games:
Friday, Sept. 30
Ramapo at White Plains, 6 p.m. — White Plains 26, Ramapo 13
Tuckahoe at Woodlands, 7 p.m. — Woodlands 33, Tuckahoe 8
Lincoln at Harrison, 7 p.m. — Harrison 35, Lincoln 6
Gorton at Pelham, 7 p.m. — Pelham 22, Gorton 21
Fox Lane at John Jay-East Fishkill, 7 p.m. — John Jay-East Fishkill 31, Fox Lane 14
Ossining at Mahopac, 7 p.m. — Mahopac 23, Ossining 16
Clarkstown North at Suffern, 7 p.m. — Clarkstown North 26, Suffern 13
Iona Prep at Kellenberg at Mitchel Athletic Complex, 7 p.m. — Iona Prep 44, Kellenberg 20
Somers at Nyack at MacCalman Field, 7 p.m. — Somers 35, Nyack 13
Saturday, Oct. 1
Nanuet at Westlake, 3 p.m. — Westlake 27, Nanuet 7
Yorktown at Sleepy Hollow, 3 p.m. — Yorktown 35, Sleepy Hollow 19
Kennedy at Cardinal Spellman, 3 p.m. — Cardinal Spellman 19, Kennedy 13
Haldane at Rye Neck, 3 p.m. — Rye Neck 34, Haldane 7
Pleasantville at Ardsley, 3 p.m. — Pleasantville 28, Ardsley 7
Albertus Magnus at Croton-Harmon, 3 p.m. — Albertus Magnus 40, Croton 13
Briarcliff/Hamilton at Blind Brook, 3 p.m. — Briarcliff/Hamilton 21, Blind Brook 12
Hastings at Yonkers Montessori, 3 p.m. — YMA 19, Hastings 13
Lourdes at Byram Hills, 3 p.m. — Lourdes 37, Byram Hills 13
John Jay at Pearl River, 3 p.m. — John Jay 34, Pearl River 21
Yonkers at Roosevelt, 3 p.m. — Yonkers 29, Roosevelt 18
Saunders vs. Palisade Prep at Gorton HS, 3 p.m. — Saunders 26, Palisade Prep 8
Carmel at Ketcham, 3 p.m. — Carmel 28, Ketcham 13
Port Chester at Greeley, 3 p.m. — Port Chester 20, Greeley 0
Mamaroneck at Mount Vernon, 3 p.m. — Mamaroneck 35, Mount Vernon 15
Eastchester at Beacon, 3 p.m. — Eastchester 29, Beacon 13
Harvey at Dwight Englewood, 3:30 p.m. — Dwight Englewood 27, Harvey 14
Peekskill at Hen Hud, 5 p.m. — Hen Hud 40, Peekskill 12
Dobbs Ferry at Bronxville, 6 p.m. — Dobbs Ferry 20, Bronxville 14
Edgemont at Valhalla, 6 p.m. — Valhalla 27, Edgemont 20
Rye Country Day at Pennington, 6 p.m. — Rye Country Day 26, Pennington 21
Fieldston at Hackley, 7 p.m. — Hackley 33, Fieldston 13
Putnam Valley at Irvington, 7 p.m. — Putnam Valley 16, Irvington 7
Twitter:@lohudinsider
