This time last week we discussed the situation in the 'Doah where Waynesboro had finished its district schedule at a highly-disappointing 0-6, given their pre-season expectations, which left the other six teams all at one 1-0. Therefore each Friday night will feature three games matching those six in round-robin fashion. This is all being made more interesting by the fact that Riverheads has appeared at times to be less than the juggernaut they have been in the past, but more importantly the rest of the league is showing signs of catching up to the Gladiators, with one team (Staunton) actually being unbeaten.
Well last Friday night's three district matches went down to the wire and were all decided in the fourth quarter. They might have all eventually been won by 2-3 touchdown margins, but the three teams that left the fields on the losing end certainly put up a fight and proved just how even the district really is this season. Miraculously I managed to predict all three correctly, but this week I don't see that happening. There are no sure-fire winners that I can see in this week's slate, especially since I will be throwing Waynesboro's non-district game in the mix. Of those four games, I see only one with "maybe" a clear-cut favorite, whereas two of them look like absolute toss-ups to me. So as much as I would like to be 7-0 this time next week, it will be a long shot. Here is the slate of action............
STAUNTON AT FORT DEFIANCE: If there is a "book it" game this Friday, this will be it but even it is not guaranteed by any stretch. Yes, Staunton is undefeated but unless I am forgetting a game somewhere, they have not won any "big" games on the road. Fort Defiance on the other hand has battled everyone tough, no matter where the game was being played. So the Indians will not back down in this one, and if Staunton wins, they will have to do it by being the better team, not by catching breaks. I will go with The Storm by two TDs but a closer game or a Fort victory will not come as any kind of shock.
WILSON AT RIVERHEADS: It will be Homecoming in Greenville and sometimes coaches hate those because of the distractions but I will not factor that in to my prediction. Instead I will say that I consider this to be a pivotal game for both teams. RHS, as mentioned above, has not been overwhelming in the eyes of some fans, and has been hampered somewhat by the injury to all-state running back Cayden Cook-Cash. He came back Friday on offense only so the key moving forward for the Big Red will be the question of when he can get back to his old full-strength self, which should help the Gladiators get into more of a consistent rhythm. Wilson on the other hand should come into this one showing Confidence with a Capital C. They have one of their better teams in years, they have already beaten some quality opponents, and they know that Riverheads has had their number for the past decade. So this will be a win they would dearly love to have on their resume. I see a close one with Riverheads pulling it out in the second half but anything more than a two-touchdown margin will be a surprise. With each 1-0 in the league, whoever loses will not be out of the race, since they each still have Staunton on their schedule.
And now for my two COMPLETE toss-ups.........
BUFFALO GAP AT STUARTS DRAFT: Wow, if anybody has a crystal ball for predicting this one, I am impressed! I am not sure when I have ever seen a game that looks more even on paper. At the beginning of the season, many folks assumed that the season finale when SD travels to Riverheads would be for the district title. But the Cougars have lost two in a row, although only Friday's last minute loss to Staunton was a district game. For those of you that did not read about it, the Cougars led that one 21-14 halfway through the fourth quarter before Staunton exploded for three scores down the stretch to win 35-21. Buffalo Gap on the other hand has been its usual consistent competitive self and appears headed for one of its typical 6-4 or 7-3 seasons. Riverheads held the Bison to only one TD Friday so I guess for that reason I will assume that SD can right the ship and defend the home turf this week. So officially I will go with the Cougars but my gut tells me the more-experienced Bison will pull this one out. Unlike the Wilson/RHS situation, the loser of this one WILL pretty much be eliminated from the title race with two district losses.
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY AT WAYNESBORO: Since Waynesboro is finished with district action, this non-district game will not carry as much weight. But don't tell that to the Giants as they are no doubt determined to prove that they are a better team than an 0-6 record looks. This time last year, facing a similar situation, they went on a rampage against their former Valley District foes and made it into the playoffs. I am not so sure that is a realistic goal this year but they will certainly be determined to get that first win. RCHS has put up some points this season and owns a win over Fort Defiance, which beat Waynesboro. That might be enough reason to go with the Cats but I think Waynesboro will benefit from its bye week and get the job done. But it will not be a runaway for either team.
Well last Friday night's three district matches went down to the wire and were all decided in the fourth quarter. They might have all eventually been won by 2-3 touchdown margins, but the three teams that left the fields on the losing end certainly put up a fight and proved just how even the district really is this season. Miraculously I managed to predict all three correctly, but this week I don't see that happening. There are no sure-fire winners that I can see in this week's slate, especially since I will be throwing Waynesboro's non-district game in the mix. Of those four games, I see only one with "maybe" a clear-cut favorite, whereas two of them look like absolute toss-ups to me. So as much as I would like to be 7-0 this time next week, it will be a long shot. Here is the slate of action............
STAUNTON AT FORT DEFIANCE: If there is a "book it" game this Friday, this will be it but even it is not guaranteed by any stretch. Yes, Staunton is undefeated but unless I am forgetting a game somewhere, they have not won any "big" games on the road. Fort Defiance on the other hand has battled everyone tough, no matter where the game was being played. So the Indians will not back down in this one, and if Staunton wins, they will have to do it by being the better team, not by catching breaks. I will go with The Storm by two TDs but a closer game or a Fort victory will not come as any kind of shock.
WILSON AT RIVERHEADS: It will be Homecoming in Greenville and sometimes coaches hate those because of the distractions but I will not factor that in to my prediction. Instead I will say that I consider this to be a pivotal game for both teams. RHS, as mentioned above, has not been overwhelming in the eyes of some fans, and has been hampered somewhat by the injury to all-state running back Cayden Cook-Cash. He came back Friday on offense only so the key moving forward for the Big Red will be the question of when he can get back to his old full-strength self, which should help the Gladiators get into more of a consistent rhythm. Wilson on the other hand should come into this one showing Confidence with a Capital C. They have one of their better teams in years, they have already beaten some quality opponents, and they know that Riverheads has had their number for the past decade. So this will be a win they would dearly love to have on their resume. I see a close one with Riverheads pulling it out in the second half but anything more than a two-touchdown margin will be a surprise. With each 1-0 in the league, whoever loses will not be out of the race, since they each still have Staunton on their schedule.
And now for my two COMPLETE toss-ups.........
BUFFALO GAP AT STUARTS DRAFT: Wow, if anybody has a crystal ball for predicting this one, I am impressed! I am not sure when I have ever seen a game that looks more even on paper. At the beginning of the season, many folks assumed that the season finale when SD travels to Riverheads would be for the district title. But the Cougars have lost two in a row, although only Friday's last minute loss to Staunton was a district game. For those of you that did not read about it, the Cougars led that one 21-14 halfway through the fourth quarter before Staunton exploded for three scores down the stretch to win 35-21. Buffalo Gap on the other hand has been its usual consistent competitive self and appears headed for one of its typical 6-4 or 7-3 seasons. Riverheads held the Bison to only one TD Friday so I guess for that reason I will assume that SD can right the ship and defend the home turf this week. So officially I will go with the Cougars but my gut tells me the more-experienced Bison will pull this one out. Unlike the Wilson/RHS situation, the loser of this one WILL pretty much be eliminated from the title race with two district losses.
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY AT WAYNESBORO: Since Waynesboro is finished with district action, this non-district game will not carry as much weight. But don't tell that to the Giants as they are no doubt determined to prove that they are a better team than an 0-6 record looks. This time last year, facing a similar situation, they went on a rampage against their former Valley District foes and made it into the playoffs. I am not so sure that is a realistic goal this year but they will certainly be determined to get that first win. RCHS has put up some points this season and owns a win over Fort Defiance, which beat Waynesboro. That might be enough reason to go with the Cats but I think Waynesboro will benefit from its bye week and get the job done. But it will not be a runaway for either team.