We're down to the last night of the season and all we know is that there will be one, two or three champs this year.
As much as we think about rain in Oregon, we really don't have that many games that are influenced by the elements. I'd say about one Friday a year. It hasn't happened yet this year, but based on tonight's (Thursday) downpour, this might be it. The game is in Coos Bay, so we might get to throw in a little fog to boot.
Thurston
There's not much more to say about the Colts. The closest anyone in league has come to the Colts so far is 41-7. Every MWL has faced the Colt machine except Marshfield. But the Pirates know by now that the 2009 version of the Colts is very similar to the quick tempo spread offense of last year, minus the lighting bursts of Tym Pearson. As a reminder that the Colt passing O is still going strong, QB Chance Hendrickson is averaging 266 YPGame in the air during league, has 14 TD passes versus 4 Int's. He's completing 70% of his passes. You can find three Colt receivers in the top ten list in league. Jordan Loos, Jordan Demoss and Andrew Woody. Woody was lost for the season a few weeks ago. Michael Livingston likes to slip out of the backfield and catch passes, and Kyle Wright saw a lot more action last week at receiver.
I don't picture the running backs, Livingston and Tyler Johnson as constant threats to break the big run, but Johnson is averaging 10 yards a carry in league and Livingston is averaging almost 7 YPCarry. Coach Starck has everyone in east Springfield wanting to be on the Colt football team because they know they are going to touch the ball. 22 different players have run, caught, passed or scored for Thurston in just four league games!
The Colt D is almost as ridiculous. Watch Kraig Akins and Kyle Wright for a few plays. They just blow things up.
Marshfield
The Marshfield line has been opening huge holes for QB Kyle Tedder. When Tedder isn't running wild, he is lateraling to Ryan Scoville for a long gainer. Tedder is chasing Mike Bibbee for the league rushing title. Tedder is averaging 131 yards per game. Scoville is easily the second leading rusher on the team in terms of yardage, but he is fourth is carries. This guy can explode!
Marshfield leads the league in rushing, but is next to last in passing. Look for Chris Krajcir to make some spectacular catches. And 6' 3" Joey Morgan should be returning this week.
The Marshfield line is on the large side. The Pirates can put a lot of 250+ pounders on the field. But they'll have to use a couple of their 200 pound and under guys, Cody Shipp and Kody Campbell, to keep up with Thurston's quick D line.
Prediction
The game is in Coos Bay at Susick Stadium. I'm betting that there will be a huge Pep rally Friday at Marshfield to get the word out about this game. I hope there is a large and loud crowd..... Thurston gets hurt more by a constant downpour than will the Pirates. If the balls get too wet, it will be difficult for Thurston to go to the air. Plus, just getting a dry ball in and out of the game will slow down the Colts..... But you can't count on the whether, so I'll go with what I've seen after seeing both of these teams twice. Thurston gets the nod with their relentless up tempo spread option.... This isn't a no-brainer. It was just five games ago that Thurston self destructed against South Eugene, who has won only three games. And it was just three weeks ago that Springfield put a first quarter scare into Thurston...... I think it's going to be close enough that I'm driving all the way to Coos Bay just to see if my alma mater can knock off the #4 rated Colts and win their first and only title of the decade.
No comments:
Post a Comment