Thinking that Friday would be too close to the holiday, apparently it was pre-determined that Thursday night would be a regular night for a four-game district slate. Again we have some interesting ones in the mix.
East Rock at Riverheads: Ordinarily when you have an unbeaten team hosting a team with two losses, the home team will be favored. As much as I would love to think that is the case this time, I just don't think our Gladiators, as nice a surprise as they have been so far, will be up to the challenge the Eagles will present. They will compete, but I fear that in the end, East Rock will just have too much experience and size for them. My hope is that the Big Red can keep it close or at least respectable, because they are a young and impressionable team, and a lopsided loss could be demoralizing for them and take away from what they have accomplished so far. My advice to anyone facing the Big Red any time this year.......get them while you can because this team is going to be SCARY GOOD for the next three years.
Luray at Page: One of these old days, if these two are playing on a night when RHS is not, I am just going to have to amble on up the road and see what this rivalry is really like. It sounds very interesting and intense. On paper, the Panthers look as if they will be favored in both their match-ups, but with county pride at stake, you just can't be sure. I will say folks up there will see a close first half this time, with Page pulling away to a 14-point win.
Buffalo Gap at Stuarts Draft: The key word in this one is going to be endurance. First of all, the Bison only dressed 8 against RHS last night, so if that will be the case again Thursday, then the Draft run and gun game will wear them down by the end. However, working in Gap's favor is the fact that SD played last night, plus they have a make-up game with Waynesboro tonight. So playing three nights in a row, the Cougars may have their own fatigue problems, no matter what style they are playing. In the past, the Bison have given them some good games against that Grinnell offense, but I think they will fall short this time. Draft by 17.
Stonewall at Wilson: The Hornets have carved a three-game win streak and joined Riverheads and East Rock as teams with an early 2-0 district record. The Generals by contrast have started out 0-2 but something tells me they are improved this year. I see a close, low-scoring affair in this one, and Wilson may have to pull out all the stops to get a six-point win.
East Rock at Riverheads: Ordinarily when you have an unbeaten team hosting a team with two losses, the home team will be favored. As much as I would love to think that is the case this time, I just don't think our Gladiators, as nice a surprise as they have been so far, will be up to the challenge the Eagles will present. They will compete, but I fear that in the end, East Rock will just have too much experience and size for them. My hope is that the Big Red can keep it close or at least respectable, because they are a young and impressionable team, and a lopsided loss could be demoralizing for them and take away from what they have accomplished so far. My advice to anyone facing the Big Red any time this year.......get them while you can because this team is going to be SCARY GOOD for the next three years.
Luray at Page: One of these old days, if these two are playing on a night when RHS is not, I am just going to have to amble on up the road and see what this rivalry is really like. It sounds very interesting and intense. On paper, the Panthers look as if they will be favored in both their match-ups, but with county pride at stake, you just can't be sure. I will say folks up there will see a close first half this time, with Page pulling away to a 14-point win.
Buffalo Gap at Stuarts Draft: The key word in this one is going to be endurance. First of all, the Bison only dressed 8 against RHS last night, so if that will be the case again Thursday, then the Draft run and gun game will wear them down by the end. However, working in Gap's favor is the fact that SD played last night, plus they have a make-up game with Waynesboro tonight. So playing three nights in a row, the Cougars may have their own fatigue problems, no matter what style they are playing. In the past, the Bison have given them some good games against that Grinnell offense, but I think they will fall short this time. Draft by 17.
Stonewall at Wilson: The Hornets have carved a three-game win streak and joined Riverheads and East Rock as teams with an early 2-0 district record. The Generals by contrast have started out 0-2 but something tells me they are improved this year. I see a close, low-scoring affair in this one, and Wilson may have to pull out all the stops to get a six-point win.
