The obvious goal for each team will be to win the region and return to state play, since both of them were there last year. But each one has at least two other streaks they would like to maintain.
Starting with Central, since they are unbeaten on the season, they will of course want to keep that going, hopefully for three more games. But I also read someplace that their coach has a perfect record against teams that he faces twice in the same season. At the time, that figure was supposed to be 7-0 but I guess with Friday's escape over Strasburg, it would now be 8-0. So they will want to win Friday to keep that streak alive.
As for Riverheads, their primary motivation is to continue their streak of state titles. That is currently at 7 but of course to extend that they will have to get past Central and win two more after that. If the Big Red can in fact go all the way, that will be amazing considering the jump to Class 2 this season. On a related note, the radio guys commented the other night that because of that string of state titles, the Gladiators now have something like 32 playoff wins in a row and the current team has never lost a playoff game. Needless to say, they will be motivated to keep that streak alive.
Also the Gladiators have had a habit over the years of knocking off unbeaten teams at playoff time. The ones that immediately come to mind are Surry County, Sussex and Eastern Montgomery. I don't have this information at my fingertips but I would assume that Essex would have been unbeaten at least once, maybe twice, when RHS knocked them out. Not sure about Lunenburg, Altavista, Galax, Chilhowie, or any others that we have played more than once over the years.
So with all that pride at stake for both teams, somebody's streaks will have to come to an end. So needless to say, it will be a heck of a game. I just ask three things of the evening.........
We can expect and can handle a little cold, but please no rain!
No major officiating mishaps so that the losing team leaves the field feeling they were ripped off. Let the kids decide the game on the field.
And for Pete's sake give us ANYTHING but another 8-7 Central win! If that should happen, somebody should call those Guinness World Records people!
Starting with Central, since they are unbeaten on the season, they will of course want to keep that going, hopefully for three more games. But I also read someplace that their coach has a perfect record against teams that he faces twice in the same season. At the time, that figure was supposed to be 7-0 but I guess with Friday's escape over Strasburg, it would now be 8-0. So they will want to win Friday to keep that streak alive.
As for Riverheads, their primary motivation is to continue their streak of state titles. That is currently at 7 but of course to extend that they will have to get past Central and win two more after that. If the Big Red can in fact go all the way, that will be amazing considering the jump to Class 2 this season. On a related note, the radio guys commented the other night that because of that string of state titles, the Gladiators now have something like 32 playoff wins in a row and the current team has never lost a playoff game. Needless to say, they will be motivated to keep that streak alive.
Also the Gladiators have had a habit over the years of knocking off unbeaten teams at playoff time. The ones that immediately come to mind are Surry County, Sussex and Eastern Montgomery. I don't have this information at my fingertips but I would assume that Essex would have been unbeaten at least once, maybe twice, when RHS knocked them out. Not sure about Lunenburg, Altavista, Galax, Chilhowie, or any others that we have played more than once over the years.
So with all that pride at stake for both teams, somebody's streaks will have to come to an end. So needless to say, it will be a heck of a game. I just ask three things of the evening.........
We can expect and can handle a little cold, but please no rain!
No major officiating mishaps so that the losing team leaves the field feeling they were ripped off. Let the kids decide the game on the field.
And for Pete's sake give us ANYTHING but another 8-7 Central win! If that should happen, somebody should call those Guinness World Records people!
