HS FOOTBALL: 2018 TIMES-TRIBUNE ALL-REGION TEAM PICKS SUPER BOWL LIII

| Jan 30, 2019 | Featured, HS Sports

Once again, this year, members of The Times-Tribune All-Region team were asked for their picks for Super Bowl LIII.

Being a longtime Los Angeles Rams fan (which I am sure none of the players knew ahead of time) kept me from swaying any of the players as you might imagine.

Here is how the best from the Lackawanna Football Conference see this one playing out:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Valley View swept this season’s Player of the Year awards after teaming up to lead the team to a 13-1 season. On who they think will win the Super Bowl, however, the teammates are split. Mason Kordish was the Offensive Player of the Year — and he is going with the Patriots. Traon Jones was the Defensive Player of the Year — and he is going with the Rams.

 

Mason Kordish

VALLEY VIEW, RB

PATRIOTS

 Tom Brady is the GOAT.

 

Traon Jones

VALLEY VIEW, LB

RAMS

I’d rather anybody win other than the Patriots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Los Angeles Rams received three selections, while the Patriots earned two. Lackawanna Trail guard Jacob Brim and Wallenpaupack’s Josh Moore broke it down like experts who study hours of film. T.J. Holmes showed great support for his brother, and the two Valley View Cougars who worked so well together on the right side of the line split with Brian Durkin taking the Patrio.

 

Brian DURKIN

VALLEY VIEW, OT

PATRIOTS

It’s hard to bet against Tom Brady, especially in the big game.

 

 

Jacob BRIM

LACKAWANNA TRAIL, OG

PATRIOTS

Their O-Line has been dominating in the postseason with a rookie running back and Tom Brady has been looking sharper than ever. Defensively, they stepped up and shutdown the league’s MVP Patrick Mahomes so they have momentum coming into this game. It’s going to be a great game for them on both sides of the ball.

 

T.J. HOLMES

SCRANTON PREP, C

RAMS, 31-24

My brother, Kevin, is a big Rams fan, so I am picking them for him.

 

Mike SEBASTIANELLI

VALLEY VIEW, OG

RAMS

I think their D-Line will be able to get pressure on Tom Brady.

 

 

Josh MOORE

WALLENPAUPACK, OT

RAMS

Tom Brady may be the GOAT, but the Rams up front don’t need to bring blitzes to pressure Brady and I think their defense is solid enough to confuse him. And the Pats defense is not what it was when they played the Super Bowl against the Seahawks (2015).

 

 

 

 

CHIEFS GO WITH PATRIOTS?

Despite sharing the same team nickname as the Kansas City Chiefs, the team that the Patriots eliminated from the playoffs, all three All-Region selections from Lakeland picked New England to win the Super Bowl. Must be the similar team colors, I bet.

 

Giovanni Spataro

LAKELAND, RB

PATRIOTS

They have the GOAT as a QB.

Thomas Pidgeon

LAKELAND, WR

PATRIOTS

Brady vs. Goff, I like Brady. How do you go against the greatest QB ever?

Garret Korner- Usher

LAKELAND, LB

PATRIOTS

You can’t go against Tom Brady.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BACKS AND RECEIVERS

It is a clean sweep among these athletes. Everybody is in favor of the Rams for various reasons, but it should come as no surprise they favor a team that averaged more than 30 points a game in the regular season.

 

Leo O’Boyle

SCRANTON PREP, QB

RAMS

The youth of the team and their head coach will end up helping them.

 

Ray Melnikoff

LACKAWANNA TRAIL, FB

RAMS

Their ability to run the ball combined with their defense’s ability (Aaron Donald especially) to stop the run and pressure Tom Brady should be enough to give them the win.

 

Michael Greco

SCRANTON PREP, WR

RAMS, 28-21

My brother lives in California and I am not a fan of Tom Brady, but he’s a great player. Go Rams!

 

Janaasah Boone

VALLEY VIEW, ATHLETE

RAMS

I have to go with the Rams because my older brother is a Patriots fan and I am tired of hearing him when they always win.

GO RAMS!

 

Justin LoBasso

HONESDALE, TE

RAMS

Rooting for the underdog and I don’t like the Patriots because I’m a Steelers fan.

 

Corey Perkins

ABINGTON HEIGHTS, WR

RAMS

Because of the play makers they have on both sides of the ball like Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald.

 

Quincey Vassell

WEST SCRANTON, WR

RAMS

I just don’t want the Patriots to win.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Belardi
SCRANTON PREP, DE
PATRIOTS 
37-31

 

 

DEFENSIVE LINE

With the Rams having all of the star power along its defensive line, it is clear what direction the All-Region players who played in the trenches went in making their selections. Only Scranton Prep’s Daniel Belardi chose the Patriots, with Tyler Overholtz, Chance Smith and Kevin Duffy all going with the Rams.

 

Tyler Overholtz

DUNMORE, DE

RAMS

The Rams are a young team with a young coach and they have a lot of potential.

 

Chance Smith

WALLENPAUPACK, DT

RAMS ALL THE WAY

They have the best D-Line in the game and they have high-powered weapons on both sides of the ball. Plus, who really wants the Patriots to win again?

 

Kevin Duffy

VALLEY VIEW, DT

RAMS

They are the younger and the better team. The Patriots also have some bad karma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LINEBACKERS AND SECONDARY

There is some disdain in this group. Dylan Walck showed the first anger toward the Patriots dominance of the AFC. Jason Henderson, a student of the game, would love to see a new up-and-coming team win, but the statistics tell him otherwise. Tucker Johnson likes the underdog story, Tommy Souriyavong cheers for a wide-open offense, while a lot more love for Tom Brady from Jaden Duplessis and Dan Walsh.

 

Jason Henderson

DELAWARE VALLEY, LB

PATRIOTS

The Patriots are going to win because of their history and how much of a veteran team they are. Personally, I want the Rams to win because they have a young team and it would be great to see another team top off the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

 

Tucker Johnson

SCRANTON PREP, LB

RAMS

Because they are the underdogs.

 

Jaden Duplessis

VALLEY VIEW, DB

PATRIOTS

Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback ever.

 

Dylan Walck

WESTERN WAYNE, DB

RAMS

I am a Steelers fan and strongly dislike Tom Brady.

 

Dan Walsh

NORTH POCONO, DB

PATRIOTS

Tom Brady will find a way. … He always does!

 

Tommy Souriyavong

OLD FORGE, DB

RAMS

I want the Los Angeles Rams because I like how Jared Goff runs the offense and I like their wide receivers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPECIALISTS AND ATHLETE

Well, the Rams do have a kicker who drilled a 57-yard game-winner last week, which gives Alec Buttner reason for cause, but the Patriots have won three Super Bowls on late field goals. The Rams do have a punter who has been All-Pro, so maybe that’s why Zac Cost went in the direction of the Rams. You have to remember, Rolka also plays quarterback, so, it makes sense that he favors Tom Brady.

 

 

Nathan Rolka

LACKAWANNA TRAIL

PATRIOTS, ATHLETE

As much as I would like to see the Rams win, it’s hard to bet against Brady and Belechik. They have proven time and time, again, that they win when it matters even on a so-called “down year.”

 

Alec Buttner

SCRANTON PREP, K

PATRIOTS

Even though I want the Rams to win, Tom Brady is too good and he has good wide receivers.

 

Zac Cost

LACKAWANNA TRAIL, P

RAMS

I believe they will win because first they have a great offensive line play and powerful running attack and second because expect their excellent D-Line to put a lot of pressure on Tom Brady.

 

 

 

 

 

THE VERDICT

 

 

LOS  ANGELES RAMS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

18

12

 

 

 

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Joby Fawcett

Joby Fawcett has covered high school sports -- including football, girls and boys volleyball, girls and boys tennis, girls and boys swimming, boys basketball, girls and boys track and field, and girls and boys lacrosse -- for 22 years. The High School Sports Blog offers deeper insights plus statistical and historical information for fans and features photos, videos and graphics along with Top 5 polls for tennis and volleyball. Contact: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5367; @sportsTT