MIDWESTERN LEAGUE PREVIEW WEEK 7
Fans have four games to choose from this week with all four local teams taking the field for home games in the Eugene/Springfield metro area. Two games stand out as potentially entertaining and for post season implications. The biggest is Marshfield at Churchill, as both teams are still in the hunt for the Midwestern League title.
MARSHFIELD PIRATES (2-1, 3-3) AT CHURCHILL LANCERS (2-1, 2-3):
Marshfield fans are wishing this game was at home, where the Pirates are undefeated. But it is on the road at Churchill and Marshfield has yet to win a road game this year. They have also not won back to back games or lost back to back games. Erratic is the best adjective to describe their play so far this year. At times they have played very well (41-32 win at home versus Eagle Point and last week’s 59-14 home win over Willamette). But then how to explain the 6-50 loss at Springfield and 9-35 loss at Ashland).
Churchill had a rough go of it last week in a 45-6 loss to Marist. The Churchill defense gave up 35 points in the first quarter! Junior running back Aaron Ingram was injured and missed the game versus Marist. His status for returning is unknown.
Both teams are still in the race for the Midwestern League title and #1 seed for the first and second round play in games.Churchill needs to win this game and then get a little help from Marshfield next week and hope the Pirates can defeat Marist. If Marshfield wins this game and then defeats Marist next week, they will be the league champions.
Seeding for first and second round play in games is a stake.
- The #1 seed will host the winner of Mid Willamette Conference #7 seed versus Southern Oregon #2 seed.
- The #2 seed from the Midwestern league will host the #5 seed from the Mid Willamette Conference.
- The #3 seed from the Midwestern league will host the #3 seed from the Mid Willamette Conference.
Gary's Prediction: I have no clue as the Pirates installed the wildcat last week and went wild on O, and I don't know if Aaron Ingram will be playing for the Lancers. The MWL fan poll says that 62% are predicting a Churchill win. The fans have been outperforming me lately. So I'll trust them. Churchill in a high scoring affair.
ASHLAND GRIZZLIES (4-2) AT SPRINGFIELD MILLERS (2-4):
Ashland won this game last year 24-7 in Ashland. The Grizzlies have won four straight after two losses to start the season (7-14 at Klamath Union and 0-31 at Marist) and appear to be hitting their stride. The offense has improved with the two quarterback system of Jake McCoy and Jake Scarminach. Scarminach has rushed for 505 yards and 4 touchdowns and thrown for 803 yards and 7 touchdowns, while McCoy has 337 yards passing and 5 touchdowns.
Springfield has struggled with three consecutive losses now to Marist, Churchill and Eagle Point. Senior quarterback Levi Green has passed for 1,217 yards on 112 completions and 199 attempts with 15 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. Senior running back Thomas Spikes leads the Midwestern League in rushing with 755 yards on 102 carries. The defense has been the issue for Springfield, giving up 108 points in the last three games. The Millers still have a reasonable shot for third in the Midwestern League. Next week they face North Eugene to conclude the Miller regular season.
Gary's Prediction: Ashland has been the only team other than Marist to develop consistency. Ashland 35 Springfield 28.
MARIST SPARTANS (6-0) AT WILLAMETTE WOLVERINES (1-5):
Marist continues to roll along and looked very impressive in a 45-0 win over Churchill last week. The offense is firing on all cylinders under the capable arm and legs of senior quarterback/running back Logan Silver. He has passed for 1,331 yards and 16 touchdowns and run for 683 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Marist defense is loaded with experienced seniors and recorded its third shutout of the year. So far this season the Marist defense has given up 26 points in six games, an amazing average of 4 points per game!
Willamette is led by Sophomore quarterback Kamerun Smith who has passed for 1,493 yards on 101 completions and 203 attempts. He has 9 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Willamette defense has given up 269 points thus far this year and could be in for a long night against Silver and the Spartans.
Gary's Predition: My wife, a principal in the Bethel School District, is going to check this game out for me. Marist by a lot.
EAGLE POINT EAGLES (3-3) AT NORTH EUGENE HIGHLANDERS (0-5):
Eagle Point was flying high until two recent losses in a row to Marshfield and Marist. They showed some resiliency and rebounded at home with a 31-24 win over Springfield last week. Eagle Point has been laying the points on the old MWL teams. The Eagles poorest offensive outing against the old MWL is 31 points.
Fortunately for the Highlanders, the Eagles have also been opening the door for the opponents’ offense, giving up at least 3 tds to each of the old MWL teams.. North Eugene will need to continue that trend and score lots of points against Eagle Point because the Eagles offense is diverse and athletic and will certainly be moving the ball against the North Eugene defense.
Gary's prediction: This should be a fun game to watch. Both teams are explosive. Lot's of long gainers in this one. Eagle Point wins with a little more firepower.
MWL fans have outpredicted me 20 to 17. I won't be closing the gap this week because we are on the same page this week. Wait until the playoffs! I"ll crush you.
OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK FOR 6A MIDWESTERN LEAGUE TEAMS:
#4 Roseburg is at #1 Sheldon.
Sheldon (629 RPI) and Roseburg (595 RPI) have the two lowest RPI’s of the four undefeated teams at the 6A level. That means that they haven’t played anyone yet. You won’t be able to say that after Friday. Both teams might benefit RPI-wise by playing each other. This game will be on TV - KEZI
Thurston is at South Eugene.
Have you noticed that Thurston is doing quite well in the 6A? The Colts are 3-1 in league and 4-2 overall. This is a game to establish the Colts as the second best 6A team in the Eugene-Springfield area. If Thurston beats South Eugene Friday, they can look forward to playing Sheldon the next week. A Thurston upset of Sheldon, following a win over South, would make the Colts the Eugene-Springfield 6A champ and put them in position to earn the second seed or even a part of a three way tie for first.
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