Thought I would kill a few minutes until time for the Redskins to "entertain" us today. So here is my current take on the Shenandoah and my preview of this week's slate of games:
Riverheads now seems to be in a solid position to take the title this year. Three of their remaining four games are at home, two of those against the 7/8 teams. Stuarts Draft could still pose a problem in the season finale, but we will deal with that one when it gets here. I know some folks will not be willing to pencil in a win at Wilson already, but I don't see the Hornets as being strong enough to win that one, rivalry or no rivalry.
Buffalo Gap now looks like they could go 9-1, after taking down the Cougars Friday night. Just from comparing their game at Riverheads to the ones we had on the road at Luray and East Rock, the Bison look stronger than those two teams. So they now get my vote for second.
Stuarts Draft looks like the best bet at this point to finish third, which could mean that both they and the Bison could get decent seeds in the 2-A playoffs.
The Luray/East Rock game should decide 4th and 5th place, but it is too early to tell if either or both of them will squeak into the playoffs. Luray could be the one left out due to 1-A East's decision to have only 12 teams.
Wilson will play its heart out against both SD and Riverheads in those two games, but I just don't see a win in the cards in either one, so my originally-predicted sixth-place finish for the Hornets is looking more and more likely each week. That narrow loss to Luray really hurt them but I suppose they could possibly knock off East Rock and help their cause.
SJ and Page are what they are, and they have already settled the 7th place question. Neither of them will win a game the rest of the season.
So, looking to this Friday's games, I see four wins for four home teams, although there "might" be a smidgen of doubt in one of them and if you really believe in long shots, maybe a prayer for an upset in another.
Page at Riverheads; It is Homecoming for the Big Red and I think having decent weather will be more desirable a goal than running up the score. RHS will put this one away in the first quarter, and will then sub liberally in the second half.
Stonewall at East Rock: The second guaranteed mismatch. Riverheads kept the Eagles from showing their best stuff Friday, so they will make up for it this week. An easy 4-5 TD win for the red and black.
Wilson at Stuarts Draft: A county rivalry and strange things do sometimes happen in this one. So I am willing to give Wilson a "chance" but I am sure you know they are the long shot I referenced above. I see the Cougars winning by 3-4 scores.
Luray at Buffalo Gap: Again the smart money is on the home team, but this could/should be the most competitive game of the four. Still on paper it looks like at least a 2-3 TD margin. If I am not mistaken, these two do have a strange history of playing well on each other's fields. But I think the Bison have been inspired by the near-miss at Riverheads and will be a team on a mission from here on out.
Riverheads now seems to be in a solid position to take the title this year. Three of their remaining four games are at home, two of those against the 7/8 teams. Stuarts Draft could still pose a problem in the season finale, but we will deal with that one when it gets here. I know some folks will not be willing to pencil in a win at Wilson already, but I don't see the Hornets as being strong enough to win that one, rivalry or no rivalry.
Buffalo Gap now looks like they could go 9-1, after taking down the Cougars Friday night. Just from comparing their game at Riverheads to the ones we had on the road at Luray and East Rock, the Bison look stronger than those two teams. So they now get my vote for second.
Stuarts Draft looks like the best bet at this point to finish third, which could mean that both they and the Bison could get decent seeds in the 2-A playoffs.
The Luray/East Rock game should decide 4th and 5th place, but it is too early to tell if either or both of them will squeak into the playoffs. Luray could be the one left out due to 1-A East's decision to have only 12 teams.
Wilson will play its heart out against both SD and Riverheads in those two games, but I just don't see a win in the cards in either one, so my originally-predicted sixth-place finish for the Hornets is looking more and more likely each week. That narrow loss to Luray really hurt them but I suppose they could possibly knock off East Rock and help their cause.
SJ and Page are what they are, and they have already settled the 7th place question. Neither of them will win a game the rest of the season.
So, looking to this Friday's games, I see four wins for four home teams, although there "might" be a smidgen of doubt in one of them and if you really believe in long shots, maybe a prayer for an upset in another.
Page at Riverheads; It is Homecoming for the Big Red and I think having decent weather will be more desirable a goal than running up the score. RHS will put this one away in the first quarter, and will then sub liberally in the second half.
Stonewall at East Rock: The second guaranteed mismatch. Riverheads kept the Eagles from showing their best stuff Friday, so they will make up for it this week. An easy 4-5 TD win for the red and black.
Wilson at Stuarts Draft: A county rivalry and strange things do sometimes happen in this one. So I am willing to give Wilson a "chance" but I am sure you know they are the long shot I referenced above. I see the Cougars winning by 3-4 scores.
Luray at Buffalo Gap: Again the smart money is on the home team, but this could/should be the most competitive game of the four. Still on paper it looks like at least a 2-3 TD margin. If I am not mistaken, these two do have a strange history of playing well on each other's fields. But I think the Bison have been inspired by the near-miss at Riverheads and will be a team on a mission from here on out.
