2021 PPL & United X Spring Season: Week 2, MLK @ NE

Photo: Zaire Dean Chubb Vision Photography

Vic Castillo March 18, 2021 @ 08:49 PM

As we all know, we are lucky enough to have a Spring season and all of these games are subject to be postponed or cancelled at any time. Many teams, including Philly’s premier program Imhotep Charter, had games moved, canceled, or changed to a scrimmage due to lack of available players. Besides the negatives, we still have a good-looking slate of Spring Football action going down this Friday and Saturday. Below are lists of PPL and U10 games and prospects to watch in each! Best of luck to all teams involved.

Philadelphia Public League / Catholic

Olney @ Central

Vaux BP HS @ Washington

MLK (1-0) @ Northeast (1-0)

Lincoln @ Overbrook (1-0)

Pickett Mastery @ Boys’ Latin

Roxborough (0-1) @ Frankford (0-1)

Kensington (0-1) @ Simon Gratz

West Philadelphia (1-0) @ Ben Franklin

West Catholic (0-1) @ Neumann & Goretti

The game of the week in the PPL is without a doubt Martin Luther King at Northeast. Both teams took home Week 1 wins, MLK doing so with an electric offensive showing led by quarterback Lamir Kitchens and wideout . Northeast dominated on the defensive end, shutting out the West Catholic Burrs while heavily dosing the run game on offense. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that MLK can score on NE, the question is whether or not it’ll be enough to win. Pajuste and Gray will have their hands full, as a premier defensive front consisting of four ranked prospects will prove to be challenging. , , , and the daunting will decide who wins this game.

The Frankford Pioneers look to bounce back and enter the win column, facing the also winless Roxborough Indians. Look for running back Nadir Mitchell to continue his solid 2021 campaign. The rest of the PPL will either be starting their seasons off or continue after last week’s scrimmages. Look for senior RB/CB Frederick Fulmore II and junior OL/DL Alban Birdaini, two under the radar Central Lancers looking to make a name for themselves against Olney Charter. Lincoln’s Khavon "Duke" Walker is drawing a solid matchup in Dechaune Jackson out of Overbrook HS. We also will have our eye on , a 2023 prospect on George Washington whose size stands out. Premier ball club Imhotep Charter still is without a game due to COVID-related restrictions. We hope to see them in Week 3. More exciting news. Saints Neumann & Goretti’s football team will be debuting this Spring against the 0-1 West Catholic Burrs this coming Saturday! , III, and will all be suited up in what looks to be another tough matchup for the Burrs. Those kids are tough, I expect K’Saan Greene and Naidir Hilliard to go down swinging.

United Ten League

Chester (1-0) @ Chichester (1-0) Cheltenham (0-1) @ Norristown Penn Wood (1-0) @ Interboro (0-1) Father Judge (0-1) @ Reading Harry S. Truman (1-0) @ Academy Park (0-1) One team will come out of Week 2 undefeated, as Chester (1-0) will take on Chichester (1-0) in what will be a battle for the top of the United X South Division standings. The Clippers offense looks to continue their impressive scoring output on the backs of senior ATH Anton Sterling and junior wideout Kylie Harper. Harry S. Truman and Penn Wood look to stay undefeated as well, striving for an early 2-0 start to the season. We will see if Sincere Thomas and Malik Brooks can continue to produce as they did in Week 1. Norristown and Reading will also be debuting in Week 2! Look for Norristown’s Tyson Tate and Reading’s to start off the season with a bang. Burdine may be the most talented Quarterback on this preview, alongside Neumann & Goretti’s and MLK’s Lamir Kitchens. Bounce-back opportunities are in play for Academy Park, Father Judge, and Cheltenham. All three teams showed new, under-the-radar talent, all of which have been added to our Watchlist. Ibrahim Sanogo, , and Pat McShea are among the names who stood out in a loss in Week 1.