This column was supposed to be a one and done.

But the sports editor, obviously suffering from FNFF (Friday Night Football Fatigue), wants it to run through the season.

So, dear readers, you are stuck with my sophomoric jokes and bad puns until mid-December.

That’s right, mid-December, because I guarantee one of our teams - no pressure 1-0 Panther Valley - will be playing for a state title in Mechanicsburg.

This week I am working on short rest. We have two games tonight, including a biggie in Slatington, so I didn’t have as much time to do my meticulous in-depth data dive into our teams. ... Just laying the groundwork for missed picks.

No. 9 - Tamaqua

Sorry Blue Raiders, but it’s your turn to be the caboose. Guess what? I know how you can move up at least one spot - beat the team you are playing Friday night and I guarantee you will move up.

No. 8 - Lehighton

The Indians play their home opener tonight against ... Tamaqua.

No. 7 - Marian

Great win by the Colts last week - need to see one more before Marian gets a Panther Valley-like bump in the rankings.

No. 6 Pleasant Valley

Let’s hope Allen gives the Bears more of a challenge than East Stroudsburg North did last week. That game was over before sunset. Unless the Canaries prove the Bears are a lark (I warned you), we won’t know anything about Pleasant Valley until next week when it plays East Stroudsburg South.

No. 5 - Jim Thorpe

I can hear the screaming now from the folks on the West End of Monroe County. “Thorpe has a loss, etc., etc.” The Olympians are being rewarded for going for the two-point conversion in overtime. Coach Mark Rosenberger gets the “I Got Guts Award” this week. I especially like that he took full responsibility for making the call when it didn’t work.

No. 4 Panther Valley

Oh no you don’t. Don’t even think about hopping on the Panther Valley bandwagon. It’s a one-seater and it’s mine. The Panthers went to Salisbury last Friday and scored their first win since 2020. That fool you saw doing cartwheels down West Patterson Street in Lansford last Friday night was me. Way to go Panthers! ... Did I get overly excited and let my emotions cloud my judgment by moving the Panthers up five spots? Heck yeah.

No. 3 - Palmerton

Can’t quite get a handle on the Blue Bombers. They are good, but I’m not sure how good and I’m not sure if the next two games (Catty and Palisades) will sway me one way or the other. But Week 4 matches them against Jim Thorpe, so that will be a rankings-watching game.

No. 1 - Tie: Northwestern

and Northern Lehigh

A cop out? You betcha. I don’t want this column being bulletin board fodder for either team. One of the marquee games this season is tonight - Northwestern at Northern Lehigh. There is a saying in journalism to “avoid cliches like the plague.” But seriously, this one is for all the marbles (does anyone play marbles anymore?). It’s for bragging rights in northern Lehigh County. But even bigger than that, the only thing worse than being No. 2 in my rankings is going to Scoopendorf’s in Walnutport and being told they are out of Peanut Butter Crunch Explosion.