And then there were two.

Twelve weeks into the high school football season and two Butler County area teams are still standing.

The "Cities" are alive and kicking — and throwing, and running and playing some mean, mean defense.

Karns City shut out Kane 40-0 and Grove City High stunned heavily favored Erie Strong Vincent 19-13 to earn trips to district championship games.

I'd like to think I had a little something to do with Grove City's win. You know, prognosticators don't get enough credit when it comes to motivating teams. My pick for the Eagles to lose to Strong Vincent just might have been the push that helped the Eagles — my namesakes — shut down the Colonels.

Sure. The Grove City defense deserves a

little credit. But, c'mon, we all know who the most valuable Eagle was.Wink. Wink. Nudge. Nudge.After all, I am 86-23 this season. I am 10-1 in the last two weeks.I am awesome.Speaking of awesome, on to the picks.•

Karns City 35, Brockway 25 — This game is going to be fun.Brockway quarterback Derek Buganza has thrown for more than 3,400 yards and holds the District 9 single-season passing yardage record.He throws screens. He hits receivers on crossing routes in perfect stride. He throws a good deep ball. If he were about four inches taller, every college coach would be after him.And he's only a junior.But, ah, he's facing Karns City, and one thing I have learned this year is never to bet against the Gremlins and Ed Conto.I'm sure Karns City is heading to Clarion University Friday night prepared for Buganza and all his crazy passes — and the Gremlins have an offense that can play keep-away.I like Karns City.•

Erie Cathedral Prep 37, Grove City 16 — I thought last week was a tall order for the Eagles, but this week might be the most challenging game Grove City has ever faced.Let's see, the Eagles are playing a team that beat Strong Vincent 46-0 during the regular season, and Strong Vincent was supposed to handle the Eagles easily.The District 10 Class AAA title game is inexplicably being played at Erie Veterans Stadium — the Ramblers' home field.And Grove City has to deal with Prep quarterback Shyquawn Pullium, who is a threat to score running or passing on every play.Talk about underdogs.But if the Eagles proved anything last week, it's that anything can happen on the high school football field in November.All the pressure is on Prep. The Ramblers are supposed to win. Grove City isn't. If the Eagles get blown out of the Vet, everyone will shrug and say it was supposed to happen. Should the Eagles rise up and pull off an epic upset, everyone will be surprised.Sadly, though, the upset vending machine is empty this time.It won't be 40-0, but Prep will win the district title.Scoop is the new Nostradamus.