Catasauqua Press

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs made an improbable romp into the playoffs with a late-season stretch that saw them finish off the regular season with a six-game win streak, including sweeping a four-game series against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to finish the season.

The Pigs were four games behind Rochester for the final playoff spot in the International League with 12 games left, and went on a 9-3 run to catch the Red Wings on the second-to-last day of the season. Both teams won their finale, but LV was awarded the wild card by virtue of having won the season series.

They say defense wins championships and Emmaus showed they have a lot of things to clean up on that side of the ballfollowing last week’s 42-35 loss to Whitehall.

Meanwhile, teams like Parkland and Easton continued to throttle teams on the defensive side of the ball, giving up 13 combined points last week.

As we enter week three, we have a new team at the top, as the top five has shuffled too, but how long will the pecking order last?

1. Parkland (2-0)

Last week’s rank: #3

Didn’t take long for the Trojans to get back on top.

For the Catasauqua boys’ soccer team, it is not all about the scoring, but the overall performance.

However, the scoring made a huge difference in their opening two games.

The Roughies began the season with two consecutive impressive victories, firing 13 total goals into the net. They rattled Northern Lehigh, 9-0, and then followed with a comeback 4- 1 victory over Lehighton.

New head coach Josh Inman already has seen plenty of positives.

An entire slate of 1-0 teams matched up in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference division that swept it’s northern counterpart last week.

Defending District 11 Class 5A champ Whitehall made a statement with a win over defending Eastern Pennsylvania Conference champ Emmaus, while Bethelehem Catholic and Freedom also rolled to wins.

In the Colonial League, Catasauqua and Salisbury both remained undefeated with victories on Friday night.

Emmaus-Whitehall

The Zephyrs beat Emmaus 42-35.

Week 1 of the high school football season told us what we expected: the EPC North football teams can’t compete with their neighbors in the south — but we already knew that.

Now, the real season begins with divisional play, highlighted by a slate of intriguing games this weekend.

The Colonial League saw Palisades make a play for a possible run at the league crown with their win over Notre Dame last week, but how will Week 2 shake out?

Check out the picks below in this week’s edition of the top 10.

1. Emmaus (1-0)

Last week’s rank: #1

Wil-Quon Clemons wasn’t totally aware of his record-setting, career-high night against Salisbury last week.

The junior running back rushed for a career-high 168 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns in the Roughies’ 47-29 loss to the visiting Falcons.

“I knew I would get the bulk of the carries,” said Clemons. “To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I just tried to run as hard as I could. It was good getting all of the work.

On Friday night, Catasauqua’s football team will be looking for history to repeat itself.

The Roughies will travel to Slatington to meet Northern Lehigh in a battle of winless teams. Catty lost to Salisbury, 47-29, while Northern Lehigh was shutout by Southern Lehigh, 42-0.

A year ago, Catty opened its season at Salisbury and suffered a 38-24 defeat. They then rebounded with a second-half surge against Northern Lehigh with a 39-31 win to even their record at 1-1.

They hope their trip north isn’t a wasted one, but one that again will be a worthy one.

If you were a former member or used the Firing Line indoor shooting range on Roosevelt Street on the border of Whitehall and North Whitehall townships that closed a few years ago upon the passing of its owner, you owe it to yourself to check out the new Firing Line.

The Firing Line has been reborn and has transformed into a first class indoor shooting facility that sports a vastly improved and state-of-the-art air filtration system, exceptional sound proofing, classrooms, lounge area and retail shop in the enlarged former building.

High School football got under way Friday night across the state. Several teams from the Lehigh Valley Press coverage area posted big wins to open the season.

Dieruff-Emmaus

Defending Eastern Pennsylvania Conference champion Emmaus opened its season with a 62-19 win over Dieruff to open the 2017 season.

The Iron Financial Orioles know all about coming from behind. When they fell behind Martins Creek 5-0 Sunday in game two of the Blue Mountain League Championship Series, it was just another day on the ball field for them. Unfortunately for the Orioles, there wouldn’t be a comeback in the offing this time and they fell to Martins Creek 7-4, evening the series at one game apiece.