Nibblin’ on Lebnin’, watchin’ the Bombers win

All those fans covered in blue

Waving their pompoms, from the hard bleachers

Smell of victory, and French fries, in the air

Writing away again in Carbon County

Searching for some keen insight

Some people claim it’s the sports editor to blame

But I know it’s no one’s fault

Don’t know the reason, for Tamaqua’s rough season

Nothing to show but two losses

But it will get better, come cool weather

The Blue Raider faithful just have to hang on

Writing away again on high school football

Looking for some inspirational words

Some readers claim it’s nonsensical gibberish

Now I think, it could be my fault

The Tigers blew out the Bulldogs

Skewered them like they were shrimp on the barbie

But there’s hot coffee at the concession stand

Will help us all stay warm in late October

Writing away again about Matt Machalik

Easy to find words about the all-everything QB

Some people say it’s the opponents’ defenses to blame

But we all know, the kid’s got game

Yes, and some readers say it’s the editor to blame

But I know, it’s my own darn fault

9 - Tamaqua

The Blue Raiders are struggling, and things don’t get any easier with Notre Dame of Green Pond and North Schuylkill the next two weeks. September shouldn’t be a total washout because hapless Salisbury is up in Week 5.

8 - Jim Thorpe

If Jim Thorpe was a publicly traded company, its stock would be trending up. After an anemic offensive performance in Week 1, the Olympians totaled 259 yards of total offense in their loss to Bangor. Next up is Salisbury, a team that everyone feasts on. Thorpe won 28-12 a year ago.

7 - Lehighton

With a 28-6 win over Tamaqua, avenging last year’s 32-29 loss, the Indians have a little momentum going into Friday night’s game at Pottsville. They will need it; the Crimson Tide won last year’s game 49-21.

6 - Panther Valley

Three first-quarter turnovers last week put the Panthers in a deep hole in their 42-12 loss to Tri-Valley. They can’t afford those kind of miscues this week against Mahanoy Area, a team they lost to last year 35-13.

5 - Northern Lehigh

Pen Argyl could be just the tonic the Bulldogs need after a 48-0 loss to rival Northwestern last Thursday.

4 - Marian

What looked like a blowout early in the third quarter last week turned into a heart-stopping final minutes of Marian’s 41-39 loss to Minersville. The Miners led 34-13 shortly after halftime, but the Colts stormed back and a missed two-point conversion prevented overtime. Catasauqua is up next, and expect another stay-to-end contest. Catty is much improved from last year and gave Palmerton a tussle last week in a 27-7 loss.

3 - Pleasant Valley

Can’t take much away from Pleasant Valley’s 41-14 rout of Dieruff last Friday night. The Bears get their first Monroe County opponent tonight in East Stroudsburg South. A year ago PV won 7-6, a harbinger of its stake on being the county’s best team.

2 - Northwestern

The Tigers do not play the Blue Bombers this season, so if each team keeps winning, the arguing in local bars will only escalate as the season rolls on as to which team is No. 1.

1 - Palmerton

Until they lose, the Blue Bombers should hold the top spot. Palisades beat them a year ago, 47-40, so this could be another tricky Friday night for Palmerton.

Watching the weather: Highs today are forecast in the upper 80s (Pleasant Valley hosts ES South) and on Friday it will top out around 85, meaning at kickoff both nights it will be at least in the high 70s. After a week of hot weather, the mantra for all the games this week is: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. ... And don’t wait until game time.