With a couple of big games on the outskirts of the Dogwood Circe this week, things are a little more desperate inside the Palestine city limits, where both teams are looking to avoid 0-2 district holes. It won't get easier for either, as Palestine welcomes in preseason district favorite Mexia, while Westwood and new head coach Roger Mays host undefeated and unchallenged Fairfield.
Speaking of the outskirts, the Dogwood Circle Game of the Week has to be in Frankston, where the Indians (4-2, 1-0) welcome in the No. 7-ranked West Rusk Raiders (6-0, 1-0). Odds are, this ones for the district title.
In Elkhart, playoff positioning may very well be on the line when the Elks take on Teague. With a win, Elkhart will own wins over both the Lions and Trinity, the two other teams who seem to be able to fight for that third spot. Unfortunately for everyone in that district not Malakoff or Crockett, it seems third place is all that there is left to fight for.
Now, on to the predictions:
Mexia at PALESTINE
It's Week 2 of the new-look Wildcat offense helmed by new quarterback Caleb Cargill, and in the first full week (a 35-27 loss to Groesbeck) there were flashes of what could be. Because of those flashes, if it were anyone other than Mexia (or Fairfield) coming into Wildcat Stadium tonight, I'd pick the 'Cats, but unfortunately, it's not. Mexia probably is none to happy about losing to rival Fairfield, and the Blackcats were preseason picks for a reason.
Mexia 41, Palestine 27
Fairfield at WESTWOOD
To call this season at Westwood rough is really an understatement. It didn't get anything but tougher this week with the news that Westwood ousted Athletic Director Bryan Price and appointment offensive coordinator Roger Mays as the new head coach. All that, and Westwood still has to suit up tonight and take on Fairfield, a team that sports a shiny 6-0 record and has yet to even have a game decided by single digits in 2010.
Fairfield 56, Westwood 9
Teague at ELKHART
This one, at least for Elkhart, could turn out to be the biggest game of the year. With fellow 1-0 club member Malakoff and Crockett looking all kinds of unbeatable, the third spot in the district's playoff race may be the Elks only hope at the postseason. But, the fact that the postseason is even a discussion in Elkhart is a testament to what John Adair and his staff have done over there this year. Teague comes in having been pushed all over the field by Crockett in a 53-0 loss, and will either come out deflated or pumped up. Either way, with the stout Elkhart defense and a confident, Lane Grant-led offense, it won't matter.
Elkhart 37, Teague 17
West Rusk at FRANKSTON
It doesn't get much bigger than this. These two squads have already proved themselves to most likely be the class of this district, and a win tonight would give Frankston all sorts of legitimacy in the eyes of football fans statewide. West Rusk boasts a lot of athletes all over the ball, but, so do the Indians. Coach Sam Wells at Frankston seemed to think his squad could make the required stops to win, and I trust his judgement. It may only take one or two to derail what could be a track meet.
Frankston 54, West Rusk 48
Timpson at GRAPELAND
Both the Sandies and Timpson fell in the first week of district play, and neither was an easy loss. Grapeland fell, 31-27, to Shelbyville while Timpson suffered a 22-21 defeat to Garrison. This is a big week for both teams, as the winner stays in the hunt and the loser faces an almost impossible uphill climb to the playoffs. Last week was the second week in a row Grapeland's come close, and it's time to get over the hump.
Grapeland 26, Timpson 20
Blum at OAKWOOD
This one could be over early. In fact, Oakwood fans could probably catch second halves in other parts of the Dogwood Circle when this one ends. It's the 4-2 Panthers final tune-up before district begins, and 0-7 Blum doesn't seem to present much of a challenge. The Bobcats have been outscored in 2010 379-33, or, if you like averages, an average of 63-5 (give or take a point or two).
Oakwood 67, Blum 0
Well there you have it. I've been really close on my Oakwood predictions lately, so that's cool. Follow along as Palestine tries to keep it's playoff hopes alive at Wildcat Stadium here on the blog, and check out www.fridaynightcentral.com after the games for score updates and more.
No comments:
Post a Comment