Don't forget that the two local games are tonight. The two games in Ashland and Eagle Point are on Friday. It's a nice time to go to Ashland, watch a Friday game, and stay over and go to a Shakespearean play.
MID WESTERN LEAGUE PREVIEW WEEK 6
Two teams undefeated in league and tied for first place. Both ranked in the Pre-Season Top Ten at the start of the season. Post season positioning riding on the outcome. This game was circled on the schedule by lots of fans as one game not to miss. Churchill at Marist is the featured game of the week for local high school football fans.
CHURCHILL LANCERS (2-2) AT MARIST SPARTANS (5-0):
After a rough start with losses to Eagle Point and Ashland, the Lancers have rebounded with back to back league victories over North Eugene and Springfield. Churchill seems to be finding their rhythm. Perhaps the effect of not having an opening game until what was the second week of the season for most teams was a factor that hurt the Lancers. Regardless, Churchill is having success moving the football both on the ground and in the air. Churchill’s Aaron Ingram rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries last week in a 33-21 win over Springfield. Quarterback Derek Godfrey was efficient in passing for 292 yards on 18 completions of 23 attempts. Now Churchill will face the Marist defense which has been outstanding so far this year, allowing a total of only 26 points in five games. The matchup between the Churchill offense and Marist defense will be critical.
Marist senior Quarterback/running back Logan Silver has done everything except drive the team bus for the Spartans. Perhaps he will do that this week. He has passed for 1072 yards, run for 514 yards, thrown 13 touchdown passes and run for 7 touchdowns.
The outcome of this game may depend on Churchill’s ability to slow down the Marist offense and move the ball against the Marist defense. Special teams, turnovers and penalties are other factors that could turn the tide either way.
Gary's Prediction:
I'm going to this game as Churchill has steadily improved. They're starting to minimize their mistakes and their passing game is very efficient with Godfrey completing 60 percent of his passes and wide receiver Brandon Determan battling for third place in receiving among the MWL 8 receivers. And that's with one less game. I'm curious how Marist coach Frank Geske is going to play this one. Will he focus on Determan? Will he focus on the running back Ingram? I'm betting he releases the defensive front and challenges them to harass Godrey into poor passes and at the same time try and stop Ingram in his starting blocks. Marist has not allowed more than a touchdown against any MWL 8 opponent and they want to continue that string. You already know how I feel about Marist. Marist 35 Churchill 7.
WILLAMETTE WOVERINES (1-4) AT MARSHFIELD PIRATES (2-3):
Both of these teams are 1-1 in the Midwestern league and have common wins against North Eugene and common losses to Springfield. Willamette comes into this game after getting their first win of the season, a 34-27 win over North Eugene. Quarterback Kamerun Smith threw for 267 yards on 20 of 29 passing with two touchdowns. He has thrown for over a thousand yards so far this season. He will need some help from his defensive teammates who have given up an average of 42 points per game.
Marshfield enters this game following a 35-9 loss to Ashland. The Pirates have yet to lose back to back games this season and have been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde. Following a blowout loss to Springfield, the Pirates rebounded with a 41-32 win over the high flying Eagle Point Eagles. Then last week they lose on the road to Ashland. The common variable is they have yet to lose at home. The Marshfield offense has been inconsistent and scored 90 points total in five games, 41 of those in the win versus Eagle Point. Can Marshfield get back on the winning track now that they are at home again?
Gary's Prediction:
First a comment about Willamette's game at North Eugene....
I went to the Willamette at North Eugene game last week thinking I could see two teams playing their guts out for their first win, or I might see a lot of turnovers, penalties and missed tackles. I was treated to the former and a well played game. The outcome of the game could have easily gone the other way. There were many close calls, and they went Willamette's way all but one time. One of the close calls occurred late, when a Highlander stripped the ball at the one and North recovered for a touchback. But the official flagged North for a facemask call. If the North folks want to upset themselves, they can look through the photo gallery and look at that play. I recommend moving on with life. Anyway, it was a heck of a game with the lineman going out all night. My kind of game. Exciting to the very end.
So the question is "Can Willamette go to the bay and play like they did against North again?" The answer is 'Yes', unless the Pirates can get to qb Smith. The every other week Pirates are scheduled for a good week this week. I'm going to hope football fans see both teams at their best. If that's the case, Willamette has too much firepower in the air and on the ground. Even thought Willamette has defensive weaknesses even on a good night, I'm predicting Willamette 35 Marshfield 28. But remember the Marshfield-Eagle Point game.
SPRINGFIELD MILLERS (2-3) AT EAGLE POINT EAGLES (2-3):
Both teams enter this game following losses. Eagle Point lost at home to Marist last week 55-6. Springfield had their homecoming ruined by Churchill 33-21. Both teams have the ability to score both on the ground and through the air. This could be a fun game to watch and an important game for two teams eager to finish strong.
Gary's prediction:
I was high on Eagle Point's potential when I saw them beat Churchill in Eugene. And I was wondering if Springfield's football program had 'arrived' when I saw them beat Marshfield 50-6.
Miller quarterback Levi Green is having quite the season with 14 td's and 2 ints. Running back Thomas Spikes is pounding out 5.7 yards per carry. I think Springfield is due to put it all together. On the other side, Eagle Point's offensive potential is scary. Aaron Foster is a major threat at running back and receiver. But I really think 5'10', 210 pound running back Garrett Snow is the one who can swing the game in the Eagle's direction by controlling the clock. QB Shane Bluhm completes 50 percent of his passes and has run for 45 yards per game. Eagle Point 35 Springfield 31.
NORTH EUGENE HIGHLANDERS (0-4) AT ASHLAND GRIZZLIES (3-2):
North Eugene was competitive last week in a 34-27 loss to Willamette. The Highlanders turned the ball over on downs at the Willamette 17 yard line with four seconds remaining in the game. Ashland has won three games in a row following two losses on the road to start the season. The Ashland offense is improving after two early season games in which the offense sputtered and has averaged 34 points over the last three games.
Gary's Predictions:
Ashland's D is also improving. The Grizzlies have held opponents to just under 12 points a games over the last three games. Only Marist has scored more than two touchdowns against Ashland. Football fans are going to think they are watching a bunch of jackrabbits play football. Ashland qb Jake Scarmanich bounces around the field with ease as does North Eugene's Alex Wilson and crew. This'll be a fun one to watch because of all of the explosive skills guys on the field. Ashland 35 North Eugene 14.
Bench Splinters....I've been very mediocre in my weekly predictions this year. So it helps me feel better when I go back to my September 9 pre league predictions. I had Churchill finishing second to Marist in the MWL 6 league, which could still happen. I also had Churchill second in the MWL 8 league, ahead of Ashland and Eagle Point. Churchill lost to both of these teams this year.
If Marist and Sheldon go undefeated in regular season, how about a match up game during the play-in week? The game could be a fundraiser in Autzen for World Peace.
Ashland might want to keep an eye on their freshman linebacker after the game this Friday. Both teams wear red and the Highlanders could easily mistake a player in red as a North Eugene player and stick the player in the back seat of the bus for the trip back to Eugene. I don't know if a Grizzlie would want to wear a kilt, but if North could pull off the trick of spiriting away frosh Mason Montgomery, they would have one of the best linebackers in the league for three more years. The fantastic frosh is petite at 5'11" and 195 pounds. That's an ouch if you get hit by him. Montgomery leads Ashland in tackles and assists. Tell me he plays baseball and crushes the ball.
Stats
I work with MaxPreps and most of the MWL 8 teams to help compile league stats. Currently, six of the eight teams are inputting at least their offensive stats. If your team is one of those that is behind in stats, please check to see if you can help the team statistician. If the team stat person doesn't want to learn how to use the MaxPreps software, I can help by uploading the info. MaxPrep results are compiled into a statewide and nationwide database. It's fun to see the local kids names in the league, state and national stats. The MWL 8 has six of the top 10 quarterbacks in 5A among the schools that are reporting to MaxPreps. The teams reporting to MaxPreps include the top 11 teams in the latest OregonLive.com poll. We don't have any runners in the top 10, but Marist's Silver and Park are 11 and 12. Spikes is 14th and Foster is 16th.The MWL 8 has four receivers in the top 10 and eight of the top fifteen. Our prolific passers hold six of the top eight positions in total offense, with Logan Silver's legs giving him the number one spot.
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