I've strictly been a score watcher for these two teams this year, but this, in my mind, is the biggest game in the Dominion District in a long, long time. There have been games for the district title when the title actually mattered for playoff purposes and games where I don't think Bird was even favored, but this one has got to be really big to both teams.
Don't think that district title doesn't matter. I don't know that Manchester has ever won an outright title and Bird has won eleventy-four in a row. I think that title is gigantic to both teams. I also don't think there has ever been a Dominion District game where the two teams were better. Bird was probably a better team the last two years, but otherwise this might still be the best Bird team ever. They seem to have really gotten their passing game going the last three weeks and nobody is moving the ball worth squat on them (other than Lake Taylor). The major thing I have noticed looking at stats is that their penalty yards have disappeared the last two weeks. If Bird runs out the season only getting 5 or 6 penalties a game, then look out! Manchester has played nearly perfect ball all year and their defense is fantastic. They have been knocking on the door quite a while now and they seem to finally have all the pieces together. I am in no way convinced they should be ranked behind anyone in the old Central Region. I would not be surprised if this is only the first of two games between these squads and somebody is going to get a zillion power points out of this one. I don't think anyone will be surprised to see either team still playing for a few weeks after Friday.
Good luck to my good buddy, Tom Hall, and to all of my great friends at L.C. Bird. I think I'm going to have to do the I-64 to I-288 drive this week.
Don't think that district title doesn't matter. I don't know that Manchester has ever won an outright title and Bird has won eleventy-four in a row. I think that title is gigantic to both teams. I also don't think there has ever been a Dominion District game where the two teams were better. Bird was probably a better team the last two years, but otherwise this might still be the best Bird team ever. They seem to have really gotten their passing game going the last three weeks and nobody is moving the ball worth squat on them (other than Lake Taylor). The major thing I have noticed looking at stats is that their penalty yards have disappeared the last two weeks. If Bird runs out the season only getting 5 or 6 penalties a game, then look out! Manchester has played nearly perfect ball all year and their defense is fantastic. They have been knocking on the door quite a while now and they seem to finally have all the pieces together. I am in no way convinced they should be ranked behind anyone in the old Central Region. I would not be surprised if this is only the first of two games between these squads and somebody is going to get a zillion power points out of this one. I don't think anyone will be surprised to see either team still playing for a few weeks after Friday.
Good luck to my good buddy, Tom Hall, and to all of my great friends at L.C. Bird. I think I'm going to have to do the I-64 to I-288 drive this week.
