Before we get to the subject of who IS playing this Friday night, let's send out props to the team that will have the week off...........the Buffalo Gap Bison. They somehow managed to do what no one else has done yet....stay close to East Rockingham. So when the Bison resume action in two weeks, against whomever they may play, they will probably come into that game as the most confident team you will ever see that is on a two-game losing streak. Also don't be surprised if they have a nice playoff run as well.
Now let's take a look at this week's slate of games which will feature two county rivalries, a grudge match, and a "please try to be gentle" game. Here is my take on those four encounters:
Luray at Page: Obviously this is THE game those teams look forward to every year, and this time it will even have the attention of other fans in the area. It should also have playoff implications as well. I suppose picking this one is a crapshoot every year, even when they might not appear to be evenly matched, but this year may be even tougher. Comparing scores, Luray might still be a "tad" better on paper, but they certainly looked inept and out of focus against RHS Friday night. If they were looking ahead to Page and play their A game, they might still pull it off, but even though I have not seen the Panthers play this year, I think they just might take it this time.
Wilson at Stuarts Draft: Another game where you can just throw the records out the window. Prior to the Draft's upset over BG, I was expecting them to nosedive and be ready to pack it in for next year. But apparently they are still mathematically alive for playoffs. I will go with Wilson, but just barely.
Lee High at Riverheads: This time last year, the Leemen had been off for a week and little did anyone know that they used that time to prepare for the Big Red. As a result, they designed the perfect game plan, executed it just as perfectly, and posted their first-ever win over Riverheads. As it turned out, that was just the beginning of an impressive march to Salem. Week off or no, I just don't see that happening again. Yes, RHS was shut out at East Rock, but they have bounced back from that and averaged over 50 points per game in the four games since that one. Lee will score enough to perhaps keep it interesting, but the Pride just has too many weapons this year and Lee won't be able to stop them all. Not only that but Mr. Williams, the primary architect of last year's big win, is not around this year. Gladiators will win by about 49-20.
Stonewall at East Rock: When the bottom meets the top, and on the top's home field no less, there can be no suspense whatsoever about the outcome. My advice to the Eagles is to think long-term and keep Mr. Evans in the game just long enough to take control of it, since he has bigger fish to fry.
Now let's take a look at this week's slate of games which will feature two county rivalries, a grudge match, and a "please try to be gentle" game. Here is my take on those four encounters:
Luray at Page: Obviously this is THE game those teams look forward to every year, and this time it will even have the attention of other fans in the area. It should also have playoff implications as well. I suppose picking this one is a crapshoot every year, even when they might not appear to be evenly matched, but this year may be even tougher. Comparing scores, Luray might still be a "tad" better on paper, but they certainly looked inept and out of focus against RHS Friday night. If they were looking ahead to Page and play their A game, they might still pull it off, but even though I have not seen the Panthers play this year, I think they just might take it this time.
Wilson at Stuarts Draft: Another game where you can just throw the records out the window. Prior to the Draft's upset over BG, I was expecting them to nosedive and be ready to pack it in for next year. But apparently they are still mathematically alive for playoffs. I will go with Wilson, but just barely.
Lee High at Riverheads: This time last year, the Leemen had been off for a week and little did anyone know that they used that time to prepare for the Big Red. As a result, they designed the perfect game plan, executed it just as perfectly, and posted their first-ever win over Riverheads. As it turned out, that was just the beginning of an impressive march to Salem. Week off or no, I just don't see that happening again. Yes, RHS was shut out at East Rock, but they have bounced back from that and averaged over 50 points per game in the four games since that one. Lee will score enough to perhaps keep it interesting, but the Pride just has too many weapons this year and Lee won't be able to stop them all. Not only that but Mr. Williams, the primary architect of last year's big win, is not around this year. Gladiators will win by about 49-20.
Stonewall at East Rock: When the bottom meets the top, and on the top's home field no less, there can be no suspense whatsoever about the outcome. My advice to the Eagles is to think long-term and keep Mr. Evans in the game just long enough to take control of it, since he has bigger fish to fry.
