Pannunzio flirts with perfection

By Tommy Keeler Jr. -- tkeeler@nvdaily.com

As I glanced at the picks last Saturday to see how bad I was doing, I looked over to the left of my selections and something caught my eye. Charles Pannunzio hadn't missed a game.

He cruised through the high school games, surviving a late attempted rally by Millbrook and a scare at the new Handley Bowl. He correctly picked Bridgewater to spoil Shenandoah's home debut, and probably held his breath as Maryland, Georgia and USC each narrowly avoided upsets.

No one in the forecast has ever gone 20-0 in one week. Many have come close, and I'm not saying it can't happen but I'll believe it only when I see it. Still, I was starting to wonder if this would be the week as I watched the Falcons, Jets and the Eagles take Pannunzio to 17-0. Would it be his beloved Washington Redskins who would spoil his chance at perfection -- by winning. Of course not -- this is the Redskins we're talking about.

Then I noticed the San Francisco 49ers had a slim lead on the Arizona Cardinals. This time Kurt Warner couldn't work any late heroics and Pannunzio's chances of a perfect week had faded. Yet another opportunity for perfection gone by the wayside. He would end up 18-2, still a great week but not perfect.

Will a perfect week ever happen? I guess we'll have to wait and see. Of course, in my mind my picks are always perfect when I make them. Maybe, just maybe, this is the week.

Now here are my picks:

Hedgesville at James Wood

The Colonels should have no problem moving to 3-0 this season. Look for Brock Lockhart to have another huge game.

James Wood 35, Hedgesville 6

Handley at Fauquier

Even with seniors Jeremiah Wilson and Leonard Grant banged up the Judges should be able to pull out another win.

Handley 28, Fauquier 14

George Mason at Stonewall Jackson

The Mustangs are 2-0 and the Generals are reeling after last week's loss to Clarke County.

George Mason 27, Stonewall Jackson 24

Strasburg at Luray

It could be a long season for the Rams.

Luray 21, Strasburg 14

Broadway at Central

The Falcons face a double-A opponent for the only time this season.

Broadway 26, Central 21

Nebraska at Virginia Tech

If the Hokies want to get back in the national championship picture they need to beat the Cornhuskers. I know I'm going to regret this, but ...

Virginia Tech 30, Nebraska 27

Tennessee at Florida

Perhaps the biggest question in this game is will Florida cover the 28 1/2 point spread. That will be no problem for Tim Tebow and Co.

Florida 56, Tennessee 14

Rams at Redskins

The Redskins will get their first win, but if it's against the Rams does it really count?

Redskins 27, Rams 17

Giants at Cowboys

I promise I'm not just being a homer (since the Cowboys are my favorite team). It is only September and the Cowboys usually wait until December to start falling apart.

Cowboys 31, Gaints 27