Mountain Valley

[Illuminati704]

whos the favorite at this point?

Central cruised by Ashe and East smothered Alleghany. West looks like a really solid team this season.

What are your thoughts? I think Central wins at this point. East just doesn't have that killer instinct in my opinion they had last season. Plus the game is at Central. Should be fun. Thoughts?

 

[Slasher Killer]

Right now I'd say between Central and East for 1 and 2 on both Varsity and the JV level. West looks like it could surprise for 3rd on Varsity. We will know if they can get it next Friday.

East is playing good ball right now but they haven't played a top team yet in the conference. They should be undefeated still but they played horrendous the first two games and it cost them week 2. East has 1 more down and out team left in Elkin before they get the teams people expected at the top. I think the final 2 games will be their biggest tests.

Central is hard to figure. Offensively they are still decent; not as much as last year but they have good depth. Boles has stepped in and played great with what he can get. Parsons is the workhorse though. If they continue to kill with the pass it could be rough to stop given their athletes. Defensively they still aren't very solid but they show sparks of potential. Last night for instance they did well on Ashe; kind of a surprise. If they play like that they can win it all.

West is playing good ball to right now. They got a program defining win last night as it's only the 2nd time they have beat Starmount and that's what they needed to get the monkey of their back for the year. They play Ashe next week in what will be their last challenge until the end of the year when they play East. If West wins next Friday they could have third locked up unless something odd happens. I see them getting between 7-8 wins at least in the regular season and a home playoff game if the cards draw right.

Ashe and Starmount are very hard to figure. Ashe has a solid offense but they hit a buzzsaw last night at WC but came back to a respectable effort in the 2nd half. They got to get the O going to make up for the defense which still isn't there yet. They play 2 hard hitting option teams next week; 1 is huge while the other's very scrappy. Option offenses is something they have struggled with so far this year roughly so they got to play hard on O and D to keep them in it. Starmount's an enigma. If you get the team that played East Surry or Elkin they will play you for a while and may shock people; but if you get the team that played MA or Forbush you'd have an easy go. They are in a zone the program isn't used to so will be interesting to see how they fight out of it. They will be very well coached and play hard despite the rest of what negatives they have.

As for the rest I'd say it be between Alleghany and North Wilkes for the best of the cellar teams. North Wilkes has big boys and a surprisingly good RB but not much of anything else. Alleghany's well coached and plays hard despite no athletes and not having a killer offense. I think North Wilkes could get it given their size and due to the RB running it good but they tend to choke and Alleghany's not one to choke to if you don't play responsible ball. Sadly though I think Elkin's a lock for last. Don't see them winning 1 on varsity unless they get Alleghany in a surprise. Luckily they won Thursday on JV so the whole program won't go winless.

 

[Realfreedom]

I believe North Wilkes will bear Starmount.

 

[DaBluePrint1]

After seeing both teams, I will give Starmount a slight edge. North has a really good run defense. They are too one dimensional on offense. Starmount's misdirection may pose a few problems. Starmount tends to lay down when they get behind this year. This is not your typical Ram squad though. Heck this is a toss up.

 

[BuckinElkin!!]

Its been a couple weeks but I stated that Elkin and Starmount may combine to go 1-21. Good chance it happens.

Someone above mentioned if Starmount plays like they did versus Elkin.....Starmount did not play well versus Elkin.

The immediate future isn't bright for either of these programs.

 

[Mitchaneers1]

As a Mitchell fan I was really impressed with West Wilkes in the first game, they are in my opinion the best team we have seen so far. We won 20 to 6, that is the lowest point total anyone has held us to this year, and they have one of the 2 tds Mitchell's starters have allowed this year. I know they've had some key players out in a few recent weeks, but if they are healthy they remind me so much of East Wilkes from last year, with the little fast backs around the edges and then hit you with the big fullback up the middle, if Cody Call is back, I know he had been out. I was actually really expecting them to pull out a win against WC. I'm happy to see them turning things around, also pulling for East Wilkes, they made a fan out of me last year, that was a heck of a team and very gracious and cordial fans.

 

[Slasher Killer]

North Wilkes is too hard to figure this year. I could easily see them choke the win away if they play like they have most this year. When they played Avery they had them beat and they let the backup QB outplay all over them and let them come from behind; yet they destroyed Forbush like it was nothing before that. I agree they got a chance best since 2013 but they got to play good ball to beat Starmount. West did it on Friday.

West's the feel good story of the conference. Not many considered them a team to watch (I did but I was considered the loony tune. Granted they had ? marks at the start but your welcome!) They got a good test this week which will show a lot. It's the GOW for the whole conference in my opinion.

 

[DaBluePrint1]

I also figured West Wilkes would be solid. This team steamrolled everyone as jv players.

 

[Slasher Killer]

They underperformed last year but you could see the potential in them. I seen them scrimmage and said "They are a year away from being something."

Glad to see West being competitive again.