D7 Week 3

[Zowwy21]

D7 has a chance to have a large impact to the rankings this week. WV at North Tama and East Buc at Ed Co. I suspect Ed Co may be a bit much for EB but the potential for an upset is there.

I'm much more up in the air about the WV/NT game. Last week's narrow margin over Denver, albeit a strong rivalry game, has made me a little nervous as a WV Warrior fan. Looks like NT was able to exploit the passing game the first couple of weeks, and I feel the WV secondary is one of their strengths. WV has been more of bend but not break defense and doesn't have the run stop strength they've had in the past. I have to give WV the edge but it may be a one point game.

 

[IGo42]

D7 has a chance to have a large impact to the rankings this week. WV at North Tama and East Buc at Ed Co. I suspect Ed Co may be a bit much for EB but the potential for an upset is there.

I'm much more up in the air about the WV/NT game. Last week's narrow margin over Denver, albeit a strong rivalry game, has made me a little nervous as a WV Warrior fan. Looks like NT was able to exploit the passing game the first couple of weeks, and I feel the WV secondary is one of their strengths. WV has been more of bend but not break defense and doesn't have the run stop strength they've had in the past. I have to give WV the edge but it may be a one point game.

Agree those should be good games. I looked at districts 5, 6, 7 and not a lot of big games this week. I would expect EdCo to win by 2+ Td's and WV/NT should be the best game in Class A this week. I see North Tama hasn't been scored on yet this year.
Any other games of potential interest that might be good games? North Linn @ Alburnett? MFL MarMac @ Jesup?

Many of the other matchups look like potential blowouts.

 

[Anonymous111]

Hmm interesting takes. I actually don’t think there will be much surprises here. I’ll take edco by 21 points and Wapsie by 14

 

[troutstamp1]

Agree those should be good games. I looked at districts 5, 6, 7 and not a lot of big games this week. I would expect EdCo to win by 2+ Td's and WV/NT should be the best game in Class A this week. I see North Tama hasn't been scored on yet this year.
Any other games of potential interest that might be good games? North Linn @ Alburnett? MFL MarMac @ Jesup?

Many of the other matchups look like potential blowouts.

District 7 also has a ranked team in Grundy Center so that's 3 teams in top 10 not including last years state champ Hudson. I'm going to go with NT over Wapsie because it is at NT and I think the run game will be a factor and I think NT is better up front. I think it will be a close game maybe 20 - 16. The edco - eb game looks like on paper EC with more returners from last year and at home should be favored by allot. Looking at quick stats EB is throwing it quite a bit witch for them is unheard of in the wishbone, both teams 2-0. As for the other games you mentioned I think NL rolls Alb by at least 3 scores if not more as Alb isn't as good as what people thought preseason based on the success of their baseball and basketball teams. The other game i see MFL over jesup as they seem to be much improved from a year ago.

 

[Anonymous111]

District 7 also has a ranked team in Grundy Center so that's 3 teams in top 10 not including last years state champ Hudson. I'm going to go with NT over Wapsie because it is at NT and I think the run game will be a factor and I think NT is better up front. I think it will be a close game maybe 20 - 16. The edco - eb game looks like on paper EC with more returners from last year and at home should be favored by allot. Looking at quick stats EB is throwing it quite a bit witch for them is unheard of in the wishbone, both teams 2-0. As for the other games you mentioned I think NL rolls Alb by at least 3 scores if not more as Alb isn't as good as what people thought preseason based on the success of their baseball and basketball teams. The other game i see MFL over jesup as they seem to be much improved from a year ago.

The north linn v edco game is going to be very interesting to watch in a few weeks

 

[Sev393]

"As for the other games you mentioned I think NL rolls Alb by at least 3 scores if not more as Alb isn't as good as what people thought preseason based on the success of their baseball and basketball teams. The other game i see MFL over jesup as they seem to be much improved from a year ago."

injuries have hurt Alburnett again this year. Week 1 starter at QB down with ACL, week 2 starter down with lower body injury, might be back in 3-6 weeks. Obviously hurts on the offensive side, but probably really effected the loss column from a defensive standpoint. So hanging with NL will be tough. but its a rivalry game , at Alburnett and North Linn hasnt been tested. So if Alburnett can keep it close early, then it could be an interesting game. BUt more likely gets out of hand than it is close IMO.
Will be interesting to see if NL plays up in 1A in non district in the next cycle, assuming they stay in 1A.


"MFL MarMac @ Jesup?"

Will be interesting to see the score on this one. is MFL on of the surprise teams in the state? should know more after this score.

 

[IGo42]

"As for the other games you mentioned I think NL rolls Alb by at least 3 scores if not more as Alb isn't as good as what people thought preseason based on the success of their baseball and basketball teams. The other game i see MFL over jesup as they seem to be much improved from a year ago."

injuries have hurt Alburnett again this year. Week 1 starter at QB down with ACL, week 2 starter down with lower body injury, might be back in 3-6 weeks. Obviously hurts on the offensive side, but probably really effected the loss column from a defensive standpoint. So hanging with NL will be tough. but its a rivalry game , at Alburnett and North Linn hasnt been tested. So if Alburnett can keep it close early, then it could be an interesting game. BUt more likely gets out of hand than it is close IMO.
Will be interesting to see if NL plays up in 1A in non district in the next cycle, assuming they stay in 1A.


"MFL MarMac @ Jesup?"

Will be interesting to see the score on this one. is MFL on of the surprise teams in the state? should know more after this score.

Isn't the QB from Alburnett that good basketball point guard H. Caves??
Is he out for the season or just a short amount of time? He's a very talented athlete!

As for MFL, they got a new coach last year and seem to be on the rise. They had a lot of juniors last year and are the #1 offense in Class A after 2 games according to Quikstats.

 

[troutstamp1]

Will be interesting to see if NL plays up in 1A in non district in the next cycle, assuming they stay in 1A.

Sev393 Why would NL sched up the next cycle as right now they basically play all gate games for non district in Starmont, Alburnette, Edco and Maq Valley, smart move as they make more money at the gate than half the teams in their district that travel. Plus those are old tri rivers conf foes so you know those teams well and travel is short, no reason to sched anyone else. I do think in the new rotation of districts next year teams will probably look hard at who they sched because wins mean everything in football with the rpi you get no bonus for playing up class.

 

[rkhemp]

I would be all for teams scheduling conference opponents for non district slate. Great for the gates, great for the fans. Some of the non district games don't make any sense. Why take long bus rides out of conference when there are quality opponents in your conference?

 

[Sev393]

Will be interesting to see if NL plays up in 1A in non district in the next cycle, assuming they stay in 1A.

Sev393 Why would NL sched up the next cycle as right now they basically play all gate games for non district in Starmont, Alburnette, Edco and Maq Valley, smart move as they make more money at the gate than half the teams in their district that travel. Plus those are old tri rivers conf foes so you know those teams well and travel is short, no reason to sched anyone else. I do think in the new rotation of districts next year teams will probably look hard at who they sched because wins mean everything in football with the rpi you get no bonus for playing up class.

trout, i suppose if you adhere to the "if it ain't broke don't fix it " mentality then that line of thinking is fine. But maybe check out how many people will be at the CR Kennedy- WDM Valley game at Kingston tonight. That's taking advantage of the non-district schedule. I'd like to see way more teams do this regardless of class.

I'd agree that NL scheduling 2 away games 2 hrs away wouldn't be prudent. But scheduling 4 teams from class A cause they're the "old tri-rivers rivals" when conferences are pretty much dead for football ? eh, seems like BS but I'm not smart enough to know the ins and out or 1A -A revenue needs. But a West Branch -North Linn game, for instance, would be intriguing and I've heard the Bears travel well?

Lastly, I'm pretty sure all the coach's and AD's now realize there isn't any benefit to playing UP (unless the state tweaks the RPI ? or there just aren't other somewhat local options?) for the next cycle, and we will see the out of class non -district games significantly decline. I don't necessarily think that's bad, as it would help the RPI be more valid. But might lead to some rivalry games taking a break (Mt Vernon-Solon has been one that has been pretty one-sided and would be an example that jumps to mind)?

 

[troutstamp1]

trout, i suppose if you adhere to the "if it ain't broke don't fix it " mentality then that line of thinking is fine. But maybe check out how many people will be at the CR Kennedy- WDM Valley game at Kingston tonight. That's taking advantage of the non-district schedule. I'd like to see way more teams do this regardless of class.

I'd agree that NL scheduling 2 away games 2 hrs away wouldn't be prudent. But scheduling 4 teams from class A cause they're the "old tri-rivers rivals" when conferences are pretty much dead for football ? eh, seems like BS but I'm not smart enough to know the ins and out or 1A -A revenue needs. But a West Branch -North Linn game, for instance, would be intriguing and I've heard the Bears travel well?

Lastly, I'm pretty sure all the coach's and AD's now realize there isn't any benefit to playing UP (unless the state tweaks the RPI ? or there just aren't other somewhat local options?) for the next cycle, and we will see the out of class non -district games significantly decline. I don't necessarily think that's bad, as it would help the RPI be more valid. But might lead to some rivalry games taking a break (Mt Vernon-Solon has been one that has been pretty one-sided and would be an example that jumps to mind)?

SEV you make it sound like NL is a huge school, heck they are probably the smallest in class 1A and wouldn't surprise me is they were back in class A the next rotation so playing teams like Alb, Starmont, Maq Valley and EdCo make sense size wise. I never said conference football was alive but these kids and coaches know each other from the tri rivers conference from all the other sports and for the most part they are all a rivalry each week they play with much bigger gates than traveling two hrs to play a game. You mentioned the Kennedy - Valley game, i would hope quite a few people show up as that's two ranked teams and with fewer 4 A teams in the state than other classes you see more match ups like this. If you want big game match ups ask West Branch and Regina why they don't play each other every year in the regular season when they are not in the same district. The RPI proved to coaches one thing for the future and thats wins mean more than strength of schedule and you will see more teams change who they want for non district games. The biggest change wasn't the RPI it was that ALL games count towards the post season where in the past when your first couple games didn't matter or count teams could schedule stronger because a loss wouldnt hurt you in those first couple games like they do today.

 

[rkhemp]

There are non conference matchups that make sense and are exciting and others that are just blah with no rivalry. If a top 5 team from the west side of state schedules a top 5 team from the east side that creates excitement and something people want to see. A 5-4 team going across the state to play a 5-4 team is not attractive at all. And playing down a class to play a conference rival or up a class shouldn’t be frowned on. Especially between two Class A and 1A teams who constantly flip back and forth from A to 1A. And the difference in competition between class A to 1A is the least difficult jump in the state

 

[Sev393]

solid points, @rkhemp. I guess its a bit of what you preference is? I just want to see intriguing and competitive games. I know thats never going to be possible for every game, every week. But a guy can dream....