For the first time in the past 11 years, I sit alone on the King’s Throne.

I’m going to lean back upon the big red velvet chair and enjoy the view of all the staff pickers who are trying to pass me by.

Yet, fame is short lived on the pulpit of prognostication and with six pickers within four games of me, I might be choking on their dust by next Friday.

Sam Matta sits one game back, and is followed by a cluster of crystal ballers. Reigning champion Brad Hurley, along with upstart Emmett McCall, are two behind. Then comes Pat Matsinko at three back, with Rod Heckman just four games off the lead.

Yours Truly is in awe of being in the company of these great football minds that have contended in the Grid Picks race year after year.

How he does it …

This week, Emmett McCall shares his strategies for picking winners. McCall, once a frontrunner but a dark horse coming into the season, has been steady with his picks and is in position to make his move to oust me from the king’s throne.

“We’re past the midway point of the season and I’m still in contention … which is something I haven’t been able to say the last few years,” he said. “I think I’m taking advantage of some extra time now that I’m retired. It has allowed me to check out some teams a little more than I have in the past. I’ve always had pretty good insight into our local teams. But this year I’ve looked more into teams from outside our coverage area to analyze who they’ve played, and who their opponents have played, and find some common denominators that have helped me be a little more accurate while picking games.

“But it’s still football, and logic doesn’t always work or lead you to a definite favorite. So sometimes you just have to trust your gut. And this year, I’ve been a little luckier in picking toss-up games and hitting a few upsets than I’ve been in the past.”

Moeller makes his move

Jeff Moeller had the best Week Seven with a solid 13-2 record, and now stands just four games behind Heckman and with another good week, might put himself into a contending position.

Give credit where it is due. Both TJ Engle and Kyle Magda also had good records last week with 11-4, and 10-5 marks, respectively. Engle is still 10 games better then Magda so he doesn’t have to worry about falling into the Pundit Pit.

Valleys to victories

Week Eight’s schedule offers games played by nine “Valley” schools. Favorite picks are Williams Valley, Panther Valley, Pleasant Valley, Tri-Valley, Valley View, Twin Valley and Schuylkill Valley. The PV Panthers are the majority pick to beat Shenandoah Valley, as are the Pleasant Valley Bears to win over Pocono Mountain East.

Local pick six to win

Panther and Pleasant Valley — with four other area schools — are favorite picks. Northwestern is expected to defeat Jim Thorpe and remain unbeaten. Tamaqua, following a loss to Southern Lehigh last week, is the unanimous pick to get back on track with a victory over Lehighton. Northern Lehigh, at 5-2, is almost everyone’s pick to get its sixth win of the season tonight against Catasauqua. Palmerton’s Blue Bombers tasted victory two weeks in a row and are the overall choice to make it three straight tonight against Salisbury.

Out of Area Game of the Week

The Wyomissing Spartans led Northwestern 17-7 at the half last year in a state semifinal game, but the Tigers rallied for a 33-24 win. The Spartans lost 12 players from that team, but are not in rebuild mode this year. They are 6-1, and are led by the hands and legs of halfback, Derek Macrina, a dual pass and run threat.

Tonight, Wyomissing takes on a 7-0 Twin Valley team headed by quarterback Evan Myers, who has passed and run for 19 TDs thus far. Behind him in the backfield is Evan Johnson, who has over 2,000 career rushing yards. This is a toss-up game that will have an impact on the Week Nine standings.

On the hot seat

Since Week One, there have been several lead changes in the race for the Bob Ford Memorial Cup. Matsinko, Haines, Matta and Yours Truly have all sat upon the Kings’ Throne. and no one has been able to stay in the lead for more than two straight weeks.

If this trend continues, that’s not a good omen for me. Week Eight will definitely see changes in the standings, especially with so many different picks with the out of area games. Take McCall’s picks this week. He has six different picks than me, which gives him a great chance to move closer to the top or if bad luck would have it, heavy losses could have him tumbling out of contention.

Matta can reclaim first place if Pocono East, Wyomissing and Hamburg all prevail. Hurley can gain ground with a Wyomissing win, and a Delaware Valley triumph over Valley View.

But for now, I sit tall upon the red velvet, reaching my hands out for the golden Cup that is still so very far away.