Friday Night Previews (Week 2)

We're entering the third week of the season, dubiously titled Week 2, and things are beginning to shake themselves out across the local landscape.

There are plenty of teams in need of wins this Friday, all of them really with the possible exceptions of Elkhart and Oakwood, who are both already 2-0.

With that in mind, onward, forward and upward we go.

PALESTINE (1-1) at Van (2-0)
The Wildcats need this game tonight more than anyone probably wants to admit. By not completing last Friday's comeback against Pittsburg, Palestine all but made tonight a must win because the Wildcats really want to be 3-2 when non-district play ends. Looking ahead, Mabank is more likely than not a win, while Athens is the opposite. Van's 2-0 record and gaudy stats are nice, but have come against inferior opponents, including last week's 51-18 win over the same Brownsboro team Palestine beat 54-6.
My Pick: Palestine 27, Van 20

WESTWOOD (1-1) at Bullard (1-1)
Now that they've gotten into the win-column for the first time since 2009, the goal of the Westwood Panthers to put another number on the right, and not the left. They'll get a pretty good chance on the road against a Bullard team that scored 52 points in a season-opening win over Quitman, but were then subsequently shutout in Week 1 by Mineola. Westwood, on the other hand, has moved the ball decently in both games this season, and defense will be the key.
My Pick: Westwood 48, Bullard 21

ELKHART (2-0) at Centerville (1-1)
The Elkhart Elks couldn't have asked for a better start to the 2011 season. Dominant offense, check. Strong defense, check. The only thing really missing is some stops in special teams, otherwise the Elks would be giving up single-digit points per game. Centerville enters the game 1-1 but could easily be 2-0 after allowing a Teague comeback last week, and this game will tell everyone just how serious of a threat Elkhart might be in 2011.
My Pick: Elkhart 34, Centerville 17

FRANKSTON (0-2) at Elysian Fields (2-0)
Arguably the most surprising thing in the area's first two weeks of football is that the Frankston Indians haven't won a football game yet. If anything, I'd have expected them to be 2-0 at this point in the year. But, they seemed to play better defense in last week's loss to Westwood, and the offensive threat is always there, so don't expect them to stay down long. It'll be a tough test against Elysian Fields on the road, but Frankston should be able to handle it.
My Pick: Frankston 31, Elysian Fields 13

Buffalo (2-0) at CAYUGA (0-2)
Another perennial playoff team, another surprising winless start. Unfortunately for Cayuga, Buffalo brings no relief, instead more of the same. The Wildcats have struggled with hard-nosed, smash-mouth football teams this year, and the Bisons are just that — and good at it. The Wildcats won't struggle like this all season, but the win more likely than not isn't coming this week.
My Pick: Buffalo 28, Cayuga 16

Lovelady (1-1) at GRAPELAND (1-1)
The Lions and Sandies enter this week's game with the same records, but they're not really the same records. Grapeland was beat up by Centerville during Zero Week and then topped Trinity last week despite being outgained offensively. Conversely, Lovelady easily topped New Waverly to open the year, then fell to state-ranked Garrison.
My Pick: Lovelady 40, Grapeland 17

Milford (1-1) at OAKWOOD (2-0)
It's the home-opener for the once-again undefeated defending district champion Panthers, and Oakwood has a chance to do something it's never done: Beat Milford. The Bulldogs entered 2011 as a top-10 team in six-man Division II according to sixmanfootball.com, but fell last week to Abbott. They'll have speed, speed and more speed, not to mention almost 20 players on the sideline. Should be entertaining.
My Pick: Milford 74, Oakwood 64

There are my picks, what are your's? See you at the games.