Weel we are a third of the way done with the regular season. We have had some pretty fine games so far and I think most can agree we haven't yet determined any real favorite to make it to Cedar Falls in late November. Below are my picks for this week as well as a few highlighted games:
District 1Ar-We-Va, Westside at Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton
Boyer Valley, Dunlap at West Harrison, Mondamin
Kingsley-Pierson at Newell-Fonda
River Valley, Correctionville at Woodbine
District 2Clay Central-Everly at Harris-Lake Park
Graettinger-Terril at West Bend-Mallard
Laurens-Marathon at Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn
Remsen-Union at St. Mary's, Remsen
District 3CAL, Latimer at Janesville
Clarksville at Rockford
North Iowa, Buffalo Center at Northwood-Kensett
Riceville at Tripoli
District 4Central City at Kee, Lansing
Central, Elkader at Cedar Valley Christian School
Midland, Wyoming at Springville
Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction at West Central, Maynard
District 5Colo-Nesco at Dunkerton
Don Bosco, Gilbertville at Meskwaki Settlement School
English Valleys, North English at Grand View Christian School
H-L-V, Victor at Tri-County, Thornburg
District 6Lamoni at Moravia
Melcher-Dallas at Harmony, Farmington
Seymour at Twin Cedars, Bussey
Wayne, Corydon at Mormon Trail, Garden Grove
District 7Adair-Casey at Coon Rapids-Bayard
Ankeny Christian Academy at Northeast Hamilton, Blairsburg
East Union, Afton at Glidden-Ralston
Guthrie Center at Murray
District 8CAM, Anita at Essex
East Mills at Stanton
Fremont-Mills, Tabor at Nishnabotna
Lenox at Sidney
Game of the week: Lenox @ Sidney
This week I am looking to take a different look at the game of the week and throw a couple teams in there that aren't currently talked about in rankings or at the top of their respective district. In district 8 it seems pretty clear that Fremont Mills and East Mills are the top two dogs to beat and the rest of the district is still trying to find itself on who else will be a playoff contender. This game will go a long ways in seperating the rest at the top. Lenox comes in at 3-0 and look to move that record to 4-0. One of the best teams in the past decade of the class, Lenox hopes to win this game and propell themselves back into the playoffs that they missed out on last year. Sidney comes in at 2-1 after losing to top ranked Fremont Mills last week. They look to get that balanced attack going again and get back on the winning track heading into the heart of district play. I see this being a chess match sort of game. Both teams look to run a balanced attack offense with not a whole lot of variations in the way the line up. The team who can put themselves in better position on 2nd and 3rd down throughout the game I think will take this game. Lenox I have picked to go on the road and get the big W in district play.
Game #1 to Keep an Eye on: Midland, Wyoming @ Springville
Doing away with the upset special this week as I dont see many games that I feel there could be an upset happen. This game I feel though we should definitely keep an eye on however. Midland has played 3 of the better teams in the state so far and have struggled to gain their footing in the very tough district that they are in. They look to go on the road and trip up Springville on their home field and get a solid district win. Springville is looking to defend their home turf and look to get their first district win. Winner of this game sets themselves up to potentially earn on of the 4 playoff spots in the district.
Game #2 to Keep an Eye on: Graettinger Terril/ Ruthven-Ayrshire @ West Bend Mallard
A huge game up in district 1 as their are 3 teams that could easily take the #1 spot come playoff time. GTRA is looking to avoid being the low man on the pecking order after playing a tough game last week against MMC going 0-2 to start district play. West Bend is looking to make a statement that we can be the #1 team in the district and move to 2-0 with the heart of the schedule left. Both teams look to ride very stout and physical defenses to the victory in what will be a slugfest. This one should be on everyones radar.
District 1Ar-We-Va, Westside at Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton
Boyer Valley, Dunlap at West Harrison, Mondamin
Kingsley-Pierson at Newell-Fonda
River Valley, Correctionville at Woodbine
District 2Clay Central-Everly at Harris-Lake Park
Graettinger-Terril at West Bend-Mallard
Laurens-Marathon at Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn
Remsen-Union at St. Mary's, Remsen
District 3CAL, Latimer at Janesville
Clarksville at Rockford
North Iowa, Buffalo Center at Northwood-Kensett
Riceville at Tripoli
District 4Central City at Kee, Lansing
Central, Elkader at Cedar Valley Christian School
Midland, Wyoming at Springville
Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction at West Central, Maynard
District 5Colo-Nesco at Dunkerton
Don Bosco, Gilbertville at Meskwaki Settlement School
English Valleys, North English at Grand View Christian School
H-L-V, Victor at Tri-County, Thornburg
District 6Lamoni at Moravia
Melcher-Dallas at Harmony, Farmington
Seymour at Twin Cedars, Bussey
Wayne, Corydon at Mormon Trail, Garden Grove
District 7Adair-Casey at Coon Rapids-Bayard
Ankeny Christian Academy at Northeast Hamilton, Blairsburg
East Union, Afton at Glidden-Ralston
Guthrie Center at Murray
District 8CAM, Anita at Essex
East Mills at Stanton
Fremont-Mills, Tabor at Nishnabotna
Lenox at Sidney
Game of the week: Lenox @ Sidney
This week I am looking to take a different look at the game of the week and throw a couple teams in there that aren't currently talked about in rankings or at the top of their respective district. In district 8 it seems pretty clear that Fremont Mills and East Mills are the top two dogs to beat and the rest of the district is still trying to find itself on who else will be a playoff contender. This game will go a long ways in seperating the rest at the top. Lenox comes in at 3-0 and look to move that record to 4-0. One of the best teams in the past decade of the class, Lenox hopes to win this game and propell themselves back into the playoffs that they missed out on last year. Sidney comes in at 2-1 after losing to top ranked Fremont Mills last week. They look to get that balanced attack going again and get back on the winning track heading into the heart of district play. I see this being a chess match sort of game. Both teams look to run a balanced attack offense with not a whole lot of variations in the way the line up. The team who can put themselves in better position on 2nd and 3rd down throughout the game I think will take this game. Lenox I have picked to go on the road and get the big W in district play.
Game #1 to Keep an Eye on: Midland, Wyoming @ Springville
Doing away with the upset special this week as I dont see many games that I feel there could be an upset happen. This game I feel though we should definitely keep an eye on however. Midland has played 3 of the better teams in the state so far and have struggled to gain their footing in the very tough district that they are in. They look to go on the road and trip up Springville on their home field and get a solid district win. Springville is looking to defend their home turf and look to get their first district win. Winner of this game sets themselves up to potentially earn on of the 4 playoff spots in the district.
Game #2 to Keep an Eye on: Graettinger Terril/ Ruthven-Ayrshire @ West Bend Mallard
A huge game up in district 1 as their are 3 teams that could easily take the #1 spot come playoff time. GTRA is looking to avoid being the low man on the pecking order after playing a tough game last week against MMC going 0-2 to start district play. West Bend is looking to make a statement that we can be the #1 team in the district and move to 2-0 with the heart of the schedule left. Both teams look to ride very stout and physical defenses to the victory in what will be a slugfest. This one should be on everyones radar.
