Springfield and Eagle Point - for real?

Springfield 50 Marshfield 6

A lot of people justifiably think that Springfield (2-0, 2-1) has a shot at Marist this Friday.  Certainly the dominant win over the Pirates makes a statement that the Millers are improving week by week.  Springfield quarterback Levi Green has 11 touchdowns versus 1 interception and he's completed passes to eight different receivers.  Running back Thomas Spikes is pounding the ball for over 90 yards a game. 

The win over the Pirates came via the great passing game of the Millers, eight turnovers by the Pirates and an out of this world game by Springfield's Kyle George.  George took two of his four receptions to the house.  He also picked up a fumble near midfield and rambled all the way to the endzone.  And he created total havoc from his DB position.

Keep in  mind that Springfield exploded for 20 points while it was pouring during the third quarter. Nothing stopped the Miller's passing game.  The rain did shut down my photography for the night.  I have good enough rain gear for the camera, but all I was getting was pictures of raindrops with players in the background.

Eagle Point 58 Willamette 19

I said I liked Eagle Points offense after I saw them at Churchill in week two.  In the Lancer game,  Eagle Point came out passing and quickly scored two td's.  They cooled off for two quarters, but in the fourth they took over the game by pounding the ball on the ground.  I liked the fact that the Eagles could quickly switch from passing to pounding the ball.  The victory over the Lancers led to a great quote in the Register-Guard the next morning by coach Jacob Schaffler.  Schaffler was speaking to the issue of Eagle Point and Ashland being in a two team league and what it meant to have non-league games against the entire Midwestern League.  "We don't call it the Southern Oregon hybrid or anything like that.  We call it the Midwestern because we're in the Midwestern League.  These are our league opponents."  Love that attitude.  That's throwing out a challenge.  Eagle Point wants the Midwestern League trophy.  So, based on coach Shafflers's quote, I'm  renaming the Hybridiberdoo League.  It's now the 'Midwestern 8' .  Heck, I'll provide the trophy.

According to the paper it was pouring in Eagle Point, so Schaffler used the running part of his game to rack up almost 400 yards on the ground, while not showing the scouts in the stands his passing game.  Eagle Point  completed only 5 passes, but then they didn't need to throw the ball.  That's five straight quarters that Eagle Point has used their three yards and a cloud of dust routine.  Did I say three yards?  The Eagles averaged thirteen yards per carry against Willamette.

If the Eagles can  roll the first three quarters on the coast against Marshfield and work on maintaining intensity each and every play, then the Marist at Eagle Point game on Oct 1 should be awesome.  Unfortunately or fortunately, I won't be making the game at Eagle Point.  I'm heading to Vancouver B.C. to watch my stepson play quarterback for Winnipeg.  This is Alex's first year with Winnipeg and he's been getting some action lately.  He has to hustle it when they send him in.  The Canadian Football League has a 20 second clock!  It's a hoot to watch with four backs in motion (forward motion), wide receivers who can be in motion along the line and almost no time for audible's.

Marist

Marist hit the 50 mark against North Eugene last Friday.  I'm wondering when the Spartans will have Josh Paiment back at qb, thus freeing up Logan Silver to be a true back/receiver.  And if a Paiment return occurs during the next two weeks, will his passing game be rusty and give Springfield and/or Eagle Point a nice advantage?  And would coach Geske care, even if rust on Paiment did take a while to wear off?  After all, shouldn't Paiment get in his reps against the best teams he can possibly face?  He needs to be ready for the playoffs.

Bench Splinters

Did you notice that Churchill played the two southern Oregon teams in their two opening games? Eagle Point and Ashland were not very nice to the Lancers.  Churchill will now play only league games.  The Lancers might be the team that benefits most from the 'everybody in' format.  I think that Churchill's stumbled more than they should have because of self inflicted mistakes.  Those mistakes are fixable if the kids get in the right frame of mind and focus........ 
Did you notice Ashland used rotating quarterbacks in their win over Churchill?  And who turned out to be the key receiver?  Why, a quarterback - Jake Scarminach.  He was 9 for 9 passing and led the teams with 83 yards receiving.  Jake McCoy was the Grizzlies other QB.  Hats off to coach Hall for making a radical change.  It added some much needed punch to an offense that scored just siven points in the first two games.....
Did you notice that North Eugene's RPI went from 0 to 333 after their loss to Marist?  North Eugene has a higher RPI than Marshfield (292), even though Marshfield has already beaten North Eugene.  If Marist loses to Springfield or Eagle Point, would Marist's RPI increase?......
Did you notice that last week the only two undefeated teams with a winning record in the MWL played each other, with Springfield beating Marshfield.?  Once again this week the only two undefeated teams with a winning record in league will play each other - Springfield (2-0) at Marist (1-0).  It could happen again if Churchill beats North Eugene this Friday to go 1-0 in league.  Churchill plays Springfield on Oct 1 and Marist on Oct 8. ....
Springfield's Kameron Bates is scheduled to undergo knee surgery this week.  He's hoping to make a  return for baseball season.  Bates was the MWL MVP last year in baseball.....
A worse blow than my alma matre losing to Springfield last Friday was that there was no marching band at Silke field.  Budget cuts have sliced into the Springfield music program.  That's a shame, because the Millers have a  fantastic music program.  There were several years when the jazz band was more entertaining the the boys basketball team.   (I was a three sport guy at Marshfield, but I played in the marching band and jazz band when I during my non varsity years.  It was a riot.)

Hope to have Chris Park's previews tomorrow or Thursday.  Also hope to have the first 2010 stat update Wednesday.  Might be missing a team this week, but it looks like all teams will have reported by the end of next week.  Remember, all league voting will be for all players in the 'Midwestern 8' league.