The 2026 Pa. high school football season is upon us, with a full slate of NTL games, including a home game for Sayre, and a season-opening road trip for Athens.The Mick returns to defend his VSR Pigskins Prognosticators title after unseating me, the three-time defending champ, last year.
Country Bob and Little Red also return, and we welcome a new picking duo Madden & Summerall, who will combine their efforts.
There's no sense delaying the inevitable, which is mediocre records in Week 1.
Athens at Wyalusing: On paper, this is a mismatch with the Wildcats returning a host of skill players from a 9-2 team, while a 2-8 Ram team was hit hard by graduation.
Athens should have little problem scoring with Connor Davidson, who accounted for 33 TDs on offense last year, the lynchpin of an explosive offense.
Defensively, the Wildcats' athleticism should pose a lot of problems for Wyalusing's young offense.
Prediction: There's a new coaching staff on the Wyalusing sidelines, so that's always a wild card, but I think mismatch on paper will translate to the field. ... ATHENS 54, WYALUSING 6.
The Mick: Athens 54, Wyalusing 7; Country Bob: Athens 56, Wyalusing 6; Little Red: Athens 48, Wyalusing 6; Madden & Summerall: Athens 42, Wyalusing 8.
Towanda at Sayre: The Redskins lost their best player four minutes into the 2025 season, and things went downhill from there in an 0-10 season, while the Black Knights were hit hard by injuries last year and finished 3-7.
I think Sayre will be much improved this season, but I'm not sure it translates into more than two wins, which would still be an astronomical improvement.
Towanda will start the season healthy, and will have the most dangerous player on the field in Jazick Brown.
Prediction: Sayre is big up front and has a pair of big backs, so they may be able to move the ball on the ground. Towanda has more big-play potential. ... TOWANDA 37, SAYRE 12.
The Mick: Towanda 55, Sayre 0; Country Bob: Towanda 28, Sayre 13; Little Red: Towanda 35, Sayre 6; Madden & Summerall: Sayre 22, Towanda 18.
Cowanesque Valley at Canton: The CV Indians are coming off a 5-6 season that ended with a loss to eventual state champion Southern Columbia in the District 4 quarterfinals, while the Warriors were 2-8.
These two teams have flip-flopped divisions with Canton dropping into the Small School ranks, and CV bumping up the Large School Division.
On top of that, CV won't play a home game this season after new grass field they installed last spring didn't survive the summer.
Prediction: The Indians have the potential to score points with Dave Hess and Kegan Lane running the ball, while Canton's sophomore QB Owen Moore returns to direct a Warrior offense that averaged just 12 points per game in 2025. Prediction: CV 26, CANTON 22.
The Mick: Canton 16, CV 14; Country Bob: CV 27, Canton 20; Little Red: CV 34, Canton 14; Madden & Summerall: CV 35, Canton 20.
Montoursville at Troy: The Trojans are coming off an 11-2 season that ended in the District 4, Class AA finals, while the Warriors were 9-3, losing the Class 3A semifinals.
Prediction: Montoursville returns most of its skill players, while Troy graduated nearly 3,000 rushing yards. ... MONTOURSVILLE 21, TROY 17.
The Mick: Montoursville 21, Troy 20; Country Bob: Montoursville 28, Troy 7; Little Red: Montoursville 27, Troy 7; Madden & Summerall: Troy 30, Montoursville 28.
South Williamsport at North Penn-Mansfield: The Mounties return their top four skill players and most of its line from a 6-5 team, while the Panthers graduated more than half of its offensive production.
Prediction: South Williamsport is on a trajectory to win a District title, whether it's this year or next is the question. ... SOUTH 44, NP-M 7.
The Mick: South 44, NP-M 12; Country Bob: South 42, NP-M 7; Little Red: South 36, NP-M 13; Madden & Summerall: South 28, NP-M 12.
Wellsboro at Lakeland: The Hornets return nearly in tact from a 6-5 season, while the Chiefs graduated its QB and top two ground-gainers from an 11-2 team that lost in the District 2 title game.
Prediction: Wellsboro could be a team to watch in the NTL this season, and Lakeland has some questions to answer, but I think they have enough. ... LAKELAND 35, WELLSBORO 19.
The Mick: Lakeland 28, Wellsboro 13; Country Bob: Lakeland 35, Wellsboro 14; Little Red: Lakeland 42, Wellsboro 14; Madden & Summerall: Lakeland 56, Wellsboro 20.
Warrior Run at Muncy: The Defenders graduate a 1,700-yard rusher and an 1,100-yard receiver, but return a running back that topped 1,300 yards on a 10-2 team that lost to Troy in the District 4, Class AA semifinals, while Muncy was 5-6, including a season-ending four-game losing streak, in 2025, and graduates the majority of its offensive production.
Prediction: I've waffled on this game, and as I write this, the pendulum has swung toward the Defenders. ... WARRIOR RUN 26, MUNCY 16.
The Mick: Warrior Run 34, Muncy 13; Country Bob: Warrior Run 35, Muncy 21; Little Red: Warrior Run 27, Muncy 13;
Madden & Summerall: Warrior Run 49, Muncy 20.
Hughesville at Montgomery: The Spartans return most of its top offensive weapons from a 4-6 team that averaged 13.4 points per game in 2025, while the Red Raiders return a pair 1,000-yard rushers from a 10-2 team that lost to Line Mountain in the Class A title tilt.
Prediction: Montgomery needs to replace a couple lineman and find a new QB to distribute the ball, but I think they win another close game over a scrappy Hughesville team. ... MONTGOMERY 19, HUGHESVILLE 7.
The Mick: Montgomery 36, Hughesville 8; Country Bob: Hughesville 17, Montgomery 14; Little Red: Hughesville 20, Montgomery 7; Madden & Summerall: Montgomery 45, Hughesville 12.
Northwest Area at Holy Redeemer: The Rangers return virtually intact from an injury-plagued 2-8 season, while the Royals also return the majority of its team after a 2-9 season.
Prediction: Northwest has some talent when fully healthy. ... NORTHWEST 26, HOLY REDEEMER 19.
The Mick: Holy Redeemer 16, Northwest 12; Country Bob: Northwest 27, Holy Redeemer 6; Little Red: Northwest 27, Holy Redeemer 13; Madden & Summerall: Holy Redeemer 21, Northwest 15.
