Nov 18 Picks

Nov 18 Picks

Coach Geske was quoted in the paper as moving the Marist playoff games to North Eugene due to ducks using the puddles on the field since October and goose droppings from migrating geese.  Seems like if you could get your players to practice in droppings, it would be an incredible home field advantage.  I'd even walk a few geese around on leashes when the opponents took the field to warm up.

Marist over Wilsonville.

The easy ride is over for the Spartans.  If Wilsonville can get pressure on Smith and there's the pounding rain that I'm seeing out my window right now, we very well could see an upset.  The best ball boys in the world won't be able to keep the balls dry if it pours the entire game.  Plus the balls pick up weight as they get coated with water, no matter what the ball manufacturer says.

Can the Marist O line do the job against a quality team?  This is an amazing stat .... in seven league games, the Marist O line only allowed Smith to be touched SIX times.  Springfield tackled Smith three times.... Ashland, Eagle Point and Churchill sacked Smith one time.  That's something to ponder.  Every opponent knew that Smith was not going to run, but could only get to him six times in seven league games.  Thats an incredible job by the Spartan line.

Sherwood over Ashland.

I have been fortunate to be able to listen to Ashland's wild and wooly 4th quarters (and a double OT) the last two weeks.  Marist was nice enough to get the running clock going at the beginning of the second half in each of the last two games.  The second halves finished quickly and I was able to drive the two miles home and catch some wild Ashland 4th quarters called by some great announcers.

I'm hoping it's wet up in Sherwood.  I think Ashland's offensive quickness and the Grizzlies explosiveness will be an advantage for the Grizzlie O.  Sherwood is going to score no matter what, so the Griz will need to really turn it on.  Sherwood is very good, but not the monster they have had at times.  A good Grizzlie game plan and an evening with few offensive errors could advance Ashland to the semis.

Mt. View over Lebanon

Lebanon's style of play should be a huge advantage in what will probably be horrible conditions - wet and very cold.  I would think that the Warriors could focus on the QB-WR combo of the Hollister brothers and gamble that Mt. View doesn't go wild on the ground.

It's a home game for Mt. View.  The Cougars are good and they can go to the ground if they need to, so I'm going with Mt. View

West Albany over Bend


Good Luck to Bend in trying to stop RB Jake LaCoste.  West Albany also has a really good QB in Brandon Myers.  Add in West Albany's physical play and the Bulldogs roll.

Bend relies on a passing game, and their QB has thrown for a lot of  yards, but has nine interceptions.  MWC teams are able to pour on the pressure, so the Bend QB needs to have his best game of the year.

CFL


My stepson, Alex Brink, will likely see a little action in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers semifinal game Sunday.  If they win, they go to the Grey Cup in Vancouver.  Alex has gotten a lot of playing time this year, including a few starts, but the QB who started the season before falling to injury is going to give it a go this Sunday.

When Alex doesn't start, he gets to go in on 2nd or 3rd and one.  The D line in Canada has to play a yard off of the ball.  So it's easy to get that first  half yard.  But all 12 defenders know the QB is going to carry the ball, and all the defenders jump on the two or three spots they think he is going to run.  So most CFL teams  put in their number two QB to avoid injury to their starting QB.  Or restated, they put in Alex to get clobbered.

Go Ashland!! Go Marist!!