Let's liven up this board. What is Magna Vista going to bring to the table on Friday? What kind of answer do you think Salem will have on offense and defense?
Salem vs MV Predictions
- Thread starter close2salem
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Magna Vista will bring energy and plenty of fan support. Magna Vista never backs down from a challenge. The Warriors are one of the few teams in the state that match up well with any team regardless of classification. Salem will bring their "A" game as usual. I'm sure it will be a GREAT contest!!!
I wouldn't get too worked up about it, either way. It's essentially a practice. Since they started playing these benefit games in 2013 against North Hall (GA), Salem has looked somewhat pedestrian in three of the four years (2014 against Glass being the exception). The other team always seems to take it more seriously. Jefferson Forest's fans got to dance around as if they'd won state when they "won" the benefit game two years ago. Remember how the rematch, which took place when the outcome actually mattered, turned out?
Salem typically seems to start the season pretty slowly. I can remember very few years when the Spartans came roaring out of the gate from week one. This year will probably be about the same. The benefit practice will give us a good look at both Salem and Magna Vista in game-type situations. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Warriors with more points on the board at the end. Coach Magenbauer seems like he uses these events to evaluate as many players as possible, and he's not going to keep starters in all the way, or put them back in, to try to "win" a glorified practice session.
Our main hope for Friday should be simply that both teams make it through to the end with no injuries, and everyone gets home safely.
Salem typically seems to start the season pretty slowly. I can remember very few years when the Spartans came roaring out of the gate from week one. This year will probably be about the same. The benefit practice will give us a good look at both Salem and Magna Vista in game-type situations. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Warriors with more points on the board at the end. Coach Magenbauer seems like he uses these events to evaluate as many players as possible, and he's not going to keep starters in all the way, or put them back in, to try to "win" a glorified practice session.
Our main hope for Friday should be simply that both teams make it through to the end with no injuries, and everyone gets home safely.
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"The Warriors are one of the few teams in the state that match up well with any team regardless of classification."
I'm not disputing that Magna Vista has a great program. They clearly do, as witnessed by their two recent 3A state championships. However, they did lose three games last season alone, by an average of 25 points; one of those was to a 2A team. The two seasons prior to that, they suffered blowout losses to 4A teams Jefferson Forest and GW - neither of which was anywhere close to being a state champion.
So, while I respect the heck out of the Warriors' program, and will not be surprised if they outpoint Salem in the benefit game (see my post above), I'm going to have to challenge the contention that they match up well with every other team in the state. They've been one of the very best programs in 3A for the last four years, and that's plenty to be proud of.
As I remember the game with JF Coach Magenbauer was still playing to win all the way to the end of that game.
Make no bones about it these kids are ready to hit the field and play and trust me they want to win! It's not just a "benefit" game to the boys and they take it seriously as well they should, it is their craft and they are proud of it. I too believe it will be a good game and hope for an outcome of no injuries to anyone in either team no matter who has the most points on the board. Good luck to both!
MV didn't get blown out by GW though. To come to Magna Vista's defense, they lost to a very good 2a team in Dan River, lost by 2 TDs against supposedly the second best team in the west, WB, were they gave up only 21 points, Byrd's second lowest outcome of the year, and MV had their JV team play SR in the playoffs. The DR game may be their worst loss of the season.
The 2's and 3's were in by the fourth quarter, as were JF's. Coach M could have started subbing starters back in if he'd been all hung up on winning a benefit game. There are other coaches that would, and have done so.
I didn't say the kids don't take it seriously. I just pointed out that the other teams have taken scrimmages and benefit games more seriously, and been the more fired up. Just as Brookville was undeniably the more fired up of the two teams last week. Whether or not teams should be getting that emotionally invested in a scrimmage in early August is probably a debatable point. Salem's lower-key, workmanlike approach has worked pretty well.
I know that mv rb scales did not play at rb last week so not sure if he'll play Friday. Interested to see how mv OL is. If they can create some holes. Also I seen somewhere on another thread that Salem had 4 OL around 300. If so they'll create some holes even I could run thru lol. Always fun to watch both teams no matter.
I think a benefit game is a great time to take a look at your team at game speed. It's also an opportunity to sub in different players to get a good feel for them in game situations. I'm excited to see the kids play, but I won't put much stock in the end of game score to be a predictor of the season. That being said, do you expect to see any new schemes or plays tested out on Friday? How do you think MV players will match up to the new and veteran players in Salem?
To finish my point, in the past 7 years MV has had 4 bad losses. 2015 to JF, 2011 to Cburg, 2012 to Pulaski, and to Staunton River in the playoffs of last year. In that time they've won 2 state championships as well as making the playoffs every year. I'd say that they match up very well with their counterparts.
MV spread offense has helped us a lot down here because we've always have had athletes but not a lot of big olineman. Get the ball to your Athelete n open space and see if he can make a play. Way back with Bateman we ran the option with kinda the same idea, get to the outside with your speedster. So what I think they'll do is spread Salem out as far as possible and try to get ball out in open field and make salems dbs make plays. Still don't know if mv got a real speedster though guess I'll find out Friday.
Salem has a lot of experience at db. I'm looking forward to seeing Salem's OL. I want to see what they can do. They have the size.
I seem to recall that Salem was kicking XPs instead of going for two to tie it up as the game went on because he needed to see more from the kicker. A few months later, the same sophomore was making the winning kick in the state title game.
Salem was never stopped by JF with their 1s, the game only came back around when the 2s went in.
Wonder if they'll play who they think will start for a half then mix it up
What I like to see at a scrimmage is the players being excited about each individual play. Encouragement or slaps on the back or what ever is appropriate. The overall outcome is really irrelevant. I know we all like to come away thinking that "we won". But, the learning and executing is what is really important, play by play.
Show me a team that is quiet on the sidelines for plays during the scrimmage, and I'll show you a team that will not have a great season.
Show me a team that is quiet on the sidelines for plays during the scrimmage, and I'll show you a team that will not have a great season.
It isn't that Salem gives less effort in these games but the way they prepare for benefit games and scrimmages is different than what a lot of teams do. I know in the past and I assume it is still this way, they watched no film and did no scout team preparation for these games. They really wanted the players to learn to adjust on the fly. I do know that a lot of teams watch film for games like these and prepare specifically for the defense and offense they will see during the week.