OPRF health a factor?

May 18, 2015
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In numerous post there has been mention of injuries to OPRF players. I believe some have mentioned RB, QB and another. Can anyone shed light on what injuries will impact the GW game this week?

I'm sure coaches are talking, but as fans, I would hate to have it come out after the game that OPRF was missing three key ingredients and that GW's win doesn't mean much. If there are injuries, let us know so we are not reading too much into a possible victory.
 

GEPreps

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From Pioneer Press story on the OPRF win over York.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/subur...est-york-football-tl-1008-20151003-story.html

Hunt helped off field

"Oak Park-River Forest junior quarterback Jeremy Hunt suffered an injury to his right ankle in the fourth quarter and had to be helped off the field.

"It's tough to see a young man get injured," Hoerster said. "It's hard to see that. He's been doing a great job for us."

Hunt completed 8-of-18 passes for 78 yards with an interception. He injured his ankle on a running play when he gained seven yards on a keeper with 6 minutes, 43 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Hunt scored OPRF's third TD on an 11-yard run with 4:55 left in the third quarter.

Hunt's backup, senior Keegan Smith, finished the game and attempted just one pass, which York intercepted."
 
May 18, 2015
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Well here's hoping he is better by Friday.

Sounds like OPRF is playing amazing defense so maybe this is a low scoring affair. Maybe 24-7
 

chuck998

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I have a good friend who lives in OP who mentioned that the OPRF QB is pretty banged up. Not sure he'll play Friday. My guess is, he'll be on the field unless he's in a cast. He's a very big piece of their offense.
 
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Two thoughts I guess. One is that this game decides conf champ and second is that a healthy QB takes them further in the playoffs.

Knowing how these guys tend to look forward to wrestling season around week 10, my bet is everyone plays to try to take conference.
 

jdhitters

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Cap, I think you are being a little inconsistent here. On the one hand you are digging for info on the health of OPRF under the guise of empathy (which given your prior posts, I think you are sincere) and not wanting GBW to be punished for beating a lesser OPRF. Later, you switch gears and build up OPRF's defense and predict all of OPRF will play given the importance of the game. Perhaps those positions are not inconsistent, but I am having a hard time reconciling them. I know you don't criticize opponenets and generally show respect for them, so maybe that is what you are doing.

I will say this about OPRF ,first, they have been scouting GBW since day one. They likely had 4 coaches at every game at Duchon as Saturday games don't conflict with their usual Friday night games. I suspect they also were scouting at Lyons, which was a Saturday game against, at the time, two undefeated teams. OPRF always scouts GBW, but the level is up this year. I have not seen evidence(albeit it may not be apparent) of any other team coming close to scouting GBW this much. Thus, at a coaching level, they are taking GBW very seriously. Second, my impression over the past several years is that OPRF plays GBW tough at OPRF. I prefer GBW to play OPRF at Duchon. I don't buy into universally saying its tougher to beat GBW at Duchon because statistically, since 2008, that statement is not supported. What is supported is it's tough to beat GBW no matter where they play, but their road record is better. However, IMO, for some teams, including OPRF, I think Duchon gives GBW an advantage. In other words, IMO, against GBW, OPRF plays better at home. WIth that said, I don't think this is OPRF's year to beat GBW regardless of OPRF's health. Cheers to finishing off the hat trick tomorrow.
 
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May 18, 2015
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A couple of things: I do have empathy for teams that are missing key kids. These are high school kids and I know the feeling of missing a big game due to injury, it sucks. I always want to play a team that is ready for the game. HC was one of the most satisfying victories in years because GW was challenged to play a 48 minute football game and they learned something valuable that will help get them past the semi-final hump this year.

I agree GW plays well on the road and this year we are a combined 76-0 away on turf. It is almost like playing on Duchon is like wearing ankle weights and getting on turf is the feeling of taking said weights off. Now OPRF hates Duchon more than any WSS team, so I agree they are happy to play this at OPRF.

Where the conflict comes from is that I hate hearing after the fact that "you only beat us because we were missing x." As a passionate fan I like to understand why things are happening the way they are on the field. I like to know where it is GW defense that is playing so well or whether the opponent's offense is missing key elements.

All of us are trying to do the same thing. We all want to measure the development of our team with a lense toward future performance in the playoffs. As a game progresses you watch key match ups on the line to see whether your guy has the heart to go 48 minutes against the best. Last week GW took the ball with a 28-24 lead and 3-4 minutes left and pounded the ball down the field and in for a final Brodner TD to put the game out of reach. Some on the board characterized that as kinda tacking one on at the end. I viewed that as having the heart to finish a game the right way in the face of a desperate defense trying to get the ball back for their offense with a chance to win.

So yes maybe a bit of a conflict. I want to win and it helps to know what you are up against. But also want OPRF healthy to ensure our guys leave there battle tested for the likes of MC and Lville and others. Then finally a tad of "don't tell me this isn't a quality victory after the fact."
 
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jdhitters

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Good response. Cap. I agree that the comments about GBW only winning in the trailing moments are a bit off the mark. Not taking anything away from HC, who had the lead going into the half, but GBW took control over the entire second half, not just the trailing moments. I also agree that our running game seems to be better on turf. We may have a passing advantage at Duchon just based on observations, not any statistical analyis.
 

chuck998

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A couple of rambling thoughts about the GW/OPRF game. No visiting team wants to play at Duchon, but sometimes they show up and play well. GW, on the other hand, loves playing on turf, so even though they are playing away, the speed and quickness they gain on turf more than makes up for the negatives of playing away.

I've seen OPRF jackets at several GW games this season, but what they are looking at or for is a mystery to me. GW does the same thing, year in and year out. If they are looking at player tendencies for some advantage, they are over analyzing the game. Those things are built into the offense and defense.

If OPRF has a wounded QB, they need to adjust quickly. They can only win if they can keep the ball away from GW offense. If they can't produce results, and GW gets a 2 score lead, then the GW defense will start taking risks and then the game could get out of control. Hope their QB is healthy and ready. I think both teams need a tough game, with an eye on the remaining season.
 

Bwm57

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OPRF lost Kamal Bey, who likely would have been their best running back, prior to the beginning of the year when he moved out to Colorado to train at the US Olympic training center for wrestling.
 
May 18, 2015
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OPRF lost Kamal Bey, who likely would have been their best running back, prior to the beginning of the year when he moved out to Colorado to train at the US Olympic training center for wrestling.

yep, knew that one. Without him, they are 6-0 and up until last week against York, looked like a juggernaut. Last week,they appeared to score only 7 points on offense as it was relayed that OPRF had two TDs on blocked punts as they have a basketball player and Allen Stallings (a beast of a wrestler and all around huge dude) on their punt block unit. Further, there was a post by Deano on the DSR thread on the pay side that there were possibly multiple injuries that occurred to the OPRF QB, RB and OL during the York game.

I have seen the article as linked above that suggests the QB was helped off the field with a possible ankle injury, but no one yet has offered anything related to a RB or OL that might impact tomorrow's game. Just want to properly set my expectations as explained ad nauseum above.