GWAL Football Predictions

Much will remain the same as it has in the City League for the last few seasons, but there should be some subtle changes in the standings. Here is how I see the City League shaking out:

1. Bishop Carroll
Yes, Blake Bell is gone. Yes, Heights made it to the state championship game. Bishop Carroll returns too many starters to not be favored in the top of this league. Tyler Nance takes over at quarterback, and that formula worked pretty well for Bell a couple years ago. I am not comparing the two athletes in the least, but Carroll has a winning tradition that cannot be overlooked. Alan Schuckman returns 15 starters from a team that walloped Heights 28-0 last season. Carroll should run the table in the City League.

2. Heights
The Falcons have the second easiest schedule in the City based on last year’s results. Heights’ opponents won 50.5-percent of their games last season. Rick Wheeler’s squad made a great run to end last season, but the slow start is a little worrisome. I think the Carroll-Heights game is close, but in the end it goes to Carroll. That should be Heights’ only loss in the City.

3. Kapaun
Kapaun only returns seven total starters, but they are good ones. Keaton Lewis provides stability at the quarterback position. He should be one of the best in the City League this year after earning second-team all-league honors last season. Michael Reynolds will be a force to be reckoned with on the defensinve line; couple that with Will Hutton and the Kapaun defensive line is going to be good. The Crusaders suffered their three regular season losses by a total of 12 points. I like Kapaun’s chances with strong senior leadership to move into the upper tier of the league this year.

4. Northwest
It has been the same story each of the last three years for Northwest. Lose to Carroll and lose to Heights. Then the Grizzlies have gone 1-3 in playoff games. Demarcus Robinson is gone, but Northwest always seems to have a strong running game. My worry comes from Northwest having question marks at quarterback. Jordan Weideman is the starter, but he is out for the first part of the season. That means Northwest must play Kapaun, Carroll and Heights with a patchwork passing game and a relatively unproven backfield.

5. South
South was the surprise team last season, but Cory Brack has this team heading in the right direction. DuWayne Kelly is an athlete and should fill in nicely at the quarterback position. Jordan Turner is a big, strong defensive lineman the Titans are building around. A season like last year should help get attitudes right and interest in the South football program.

6. West
The bottom half of this league is up for grabs, and West has the experience to move up. Arnez Jones is back to start at running back for the third consecutive year. Dorian Flournoy is also back to run the spread offense. The other thing that appeals about West’s prospects to finish here in the league standings is not having to play Northwest.

7. Southeast
Southeast struggled last year even with Division I stud Joseph Randle last season. This year it is tied with West for the toughest schedule based on last year’s results. Southeast’s opponents won 56.8-percent of its games last season. The reason I put it here is because Southeast has to play all of the top teams in the City League. East is the team it does not play.

8. East
East has not been the same since the Brown Brothers graduated. CJ Graham will be the focus in the backfield, but past him there are not too many players that earned all-league honors returning. If East is going to get out of the basement, it will have to do it out of the gate as it has North, West and a short-handed Northwest to open the season.

9. North
North struggled last season and this year will likely be no different in Kelley Sayahnejad’s first year as head coach. The Redskins do not return any player that completed a pass or had over 100 yards receiving or rushing last year. That spells trouble in the City League.