After 12 weeks and 180 games of pigskin prognostication, only one game separates “Hot” Rod Heckman from Bob “Focus” Ford to determine who wins the Picker’s Cup and sits on the king’s throne until next season.

Heckman’s 14-1 week pulled him into striking range of Ford, who has held the top spot for much of the last three months. Tied for third are Andy Steinmetz and Justin Carlucci. Both need monumental collapses by the front runners to make up the three games in which they trail.

“It’s been a very competitive season, and a number of people can still win the title,” said Heckman. “I’m just glad I’m in the mix. There are some difficult games to pick this week, mostly because of not being familiar with the teams. I’ll just give it my best shot, and hope it’s good enough.

“Someone in the office recently said, ‘We can’t let the photographer win.’ A number of writers will try to catch the leader, but if Bob Ford does win, he deserves it. He’s led most of the way, and it might be tougher to stay on top than to get to the top. We’ll just have to wait and see how it ends up.”

“I never counted Heckman out,” said Ford. “He’s been super consistent year after year, always near the top. This year, though, he’ll end up second to the photographer by only a game or two.”

At the other end of the pack, Sam Matta holds a one game edge over TJ Engle and Son who are holding on by their fingertips over the fires of the Pundit Pit. So Week 13 determines if the Sam “The Man” or father and son escapes the flames and stays cool until next year. Yours Truly sits safely in the middle after leaping over “Bossman” McCall and could catch Pat Matsinko if my crystal ball sees the outcomes of these games better than his does.

Indians battle Pirates for District 11 3A championship

After their win over Jim Thorpe last week, undefeated Lehighton goes helmet-to-helmet against the undefeated Palisades Pirates tomorrow night. Both teams feature running backs who have surpassed 1,000 yards on the season in the Indians’ TaQuan Bradley-Chambers and the Pirates’ Jared Colletti. Lehighton’s balanced attack is led by quarterback, Cody Scherer, who had another big game throwing and carrying the pigskin last week.

Coach Tom McCarroll will have to prepare to stop the Pirates’ power running game that rolled up and down the field for 388 yards last week in mercy-rule mauling of a good Notre Dame (Green Pond) team. Palisades quarterback Ethan Brader hands the ball off to three different backs who have been blasting through big holes opened by a strong offensive line. Once the ground game kicks into gear, the Indian secondary will have to watch out for Brader’s accurate play action passes down field.

The Pirates also have a formidable defense that has allowed opponents an average of one touchdown a game. It should be Lehighton’s toughest test this season. One team comes away from this game as undefeated district champions, and the other finishes with an outstanding 12- 1 season.

My head says the Pirates win it, but my heart roots for the Tribe, so I’m picking McCarroll and his maroon and white to edge Palisades on a Scherer to Zack Crum TD pass late in the fourth.

Who will hoist the Picker’s Cup?

Heckman’s heart tells him Lehighton will win, too. Ford has tabbed Palisades.

The other game that will decide who takes home the Picker’s Cup is Valley View against Berwick.

The staff is also split with this toss-up contest between the Cougars, winners of six straight and Berwick, a school with a storied history and a long list of football highlights that include three national championships and 10 district titles.

Ford likes the Dawgs while Heckman gives the nod to Valley View. Two games will determine who sits on the king’s throne until next season.

Based on the picks they turned in this week, the only other writer who is still not mathematically eliminated is Justin Carlucci. Carlucci is three games behind Ford and has three games different.

Look for my wrap up column next week.