Marist - Churchill, Wildcat, RPI and more

Churchill at Marist

I went to the Churchill-Marist game last Thursday hoping to see some fireworks and to see an old MWL team at least put some first half points on the board against Marist.  The stands were full for this game for the league lead.  Churchill brought a large crowd and it was Marist's homecoming.  But on the field during warmups there wasn't any electricity among the teams.  Marist was methodically going through their pre game routine, while Churchill was just quiet.  Perhaps the Lancers were thinking about playing without Aaron Ingram, who sat out with a rib injury. 

I hadn't seen Marist since their opener against Corvallis.  Marist looked a little rough that game.  Probably it was because it was the opener and because they lost their starting QB after he completed his first pass of the season early in the game.  And they lost their primary receiver, Taylor Walcott, and key linebacker, Will Swindling.  But since the 'Return of the Injured' in the fourth game of the season against Springfield, the Spartans have exploded in the first quarter of each game.  The Spartans laid 35 points on Churchill in the first quarter.   Maybe Churchill's Aaron Ingram can pull off a 'Return of the Injured' and jazz up the Lancers for their last two games.

Willamette at Marshfield

During my preseason articles I repeatedly mentioned that I thought Marshfield had to get Ryan Scoville more touches.  I hadn't thought about making him quarterback in a wildcat formation.  One of the many reasons I am not a coach.  What a great idea for a team struggling in its passing game and needing something to ignite the players.  Marshfield, like Marist, had their own 'Return of the Injured'.  Lineman Johnny Castro and DB/WR Evan Griffan made huge contributions to the Pirates. Hats off to Marshfield coach Justin Ainsworth for keeping the ship afloat after the big loss in Springfield.

I'm strongly leaning towards going to the Sheldon - Roseburg game this weekend with Marshfield at Churchill being my backup.  I want to see some 6A ball and I want to see how Sheldon and Roseburg compare to Marist.   But how can I pass up seeing how Churchill will try and handle the Wildcat?  Remember, the Pirate's Scoville was in the final heat of the 5A 100 meter race at state.

Stats - Did Springfield's Thomas Spikes really rush for over 300 yards?

Yes he did.  But, get this, he didn't score!  The poor guy.  "Coach, I've carried the ball a million times and averaged 15 yards a carry.  Can't you give me the ball inside the ten?"  Spikes must have been one tired puppy.

Spikes 300 yard night put him into the lead in league rushing.  Logan Silver is the league's only other 100 yards per game rusher. 

Willamette's Kamerun Smith still leads the league in passing yardage at nearly 250 yards per game.  But it's Marist's Logan Silver and Springfield's Levi Green who are the efficiency leaders.  Both have over 200 yards per game and are above that critical 3 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio.  Churchill's Derek Godfrey is second in yards per game with 223.  Now that Godfrey has Marist behind him, he may move into the lead in average yards per game.  He'll have trouble leading the league in total yardage because Churchill is playing one less game than the other MWL 8 teams.

It's definitely a 'Year of the Quarterbacks" in the MWL.  And that means it also the 'Year of the Receiver'.  Their are tons of receivers that are a hoot to watch.   With two league games to go, who will be the league leader is going to go down to the last night, with several players in the race.  Marist has Baird (570) and Walcott (409); remember Walcott missed almost three full games.  Willamette has Brown and (523) Koehler (440 I'm missing a game for Koehler). Springfield's John Davidson has 518.  Churchill's Determan is fourth at 496.  Willamette will be introduced to Marist this week, so it's likely Brown's and Koehler's averages will drop.  The other leading receivers won't see Marist for the rest of the year.

Quarterbacks get all the glory, but I'll shine some light on a non quarterback.  Eagle Point's Aaron Foster is fourth in rushing and 7th in receiving.  Stats won't matter when the Eagles play Ashland in two weeks.

RPI

The MWL 6 still only has one team, Marist, with an RPI over 500.  This is killing Marist's chance of moving into the top two statewide seeds in the round of 16.  Marist's next two games are against teams with RPIs of 399 and 298. Our southern brothers, Ashland and Eagle Point are both above 500.  Something tells me Marist coach Frank Geske could care less about the RPI.  Just tell him who the Spartans play next in the playoffs.  He'll take care of the rest.

Marshfield Wildcat at Churchill Air Lancer.

Humongous game that was a yawner until the Pirates unveiled their wildcat.  This is mano-a-mano.  Stop my passing game.  No, you stop my running game. 

The game is also interesting because it pits a veteran coach, Darrel Mehl of Churchill, against second year coach Ainsworth of the Pirates.  Has Mehl seen the wildcat before and does he have a defensive plan for it?  Can Ainsworth develop a plan to stop the screen pass and keep Godfrey in the pocket? 

This game has a huge impact on the MWL 6.  A Marshfield win over Churchill sets up another game for the MWL title in Coos Bay/North Bend on the last night of regular season.  The same thing happened last year.  If Marshfield had beaten Thurston in 2009 in Coos Bay, the Pirates would have earned the number one seed.  This year it will be Marist for the title if the Pirate Wildcat beats Air Lancer.

A Marshfield win also sets up a possible three way tie for second.  Something Springfield would have a nightmare about.  Springfield ended up in a three way tie for second place in the MWL just two years ago.  The Millers lost the luck of the draw and missed the playoffs.  At least this time, the Millers could clinch a round of 32 game if they beat North Eugene in two weeks.

How teams finish in the MWL is huge come playoff time.  The MWL 2 seed plays the Mid-Willamette 5 seed.  The MWL 3 seed plays the Mid-Willamette 3 seed in the playoffs.  Big difference in a very tough Mid-Willamette league.

More about this Friday's games later in the week.