Week 5 Big Game:
The toughest week thus far too single out one game to say, “this is the biggest game this week.”
Based on scuttlebutt and water cooler talk, it seems that Happy v Crowell gets a lot of play this week. It should as it’s a headline grabber, but there are at least five other games I am more intrigued about than that one, and I also don’t like picking the same pool of teams for the game of the week. That rules Coolidge v Jonesboro out, even though that game will be good! Same deal with Nazareth v Borden County.
While I’m not 100% sure the outcome of this game won’t end up being one sided, this week I think I will settle on Milford v Aquilla.
Both schools come into this matchup with undefeated 4-0 records. Milford, #3 in Granger’s DII rankings, notching the best win between the two, as they beat Bryson in week one by just a single point. Aquilla’s best win was arguably last week with a 55-7 halftime game vs Avalon, vaulting them up to #15 in Granger’s DI polls.
Let’s be honest, this is Aquilla’s statement game and we will know a lot more about just how good the Cougars are after it. Their four wins have been impressive, scoring a total of 205 points and allowing just 13. However, their opponents: Covington, Walnut Springs, Mt. Calm and Avalon, have not been the toughest teams out there. Mt. Calm and Walnut Springs are traditionally tough teams, but this is a down year for both, as they sit at 0-4 on the year. In last week’s game vs Avalon, a team that is always tough and a playoff-type team, Avalon had several key starters out, making what would have been a competitive game, a lot more one-sided. So Aquilla is a bit of a mystery at this point. I can tell you they have a talented dual-threat backfield in backs Jacob Felan and Zack Winder. Felan has rushed for 581 yards and 11 touchdowns this year. Winder has rushed for 321 yards and 12 touchdowns and defensively he is one of the top ball hawks in the state, having logged 5 interceptions.
Milford is one of those teams who every year is great and has high expectations. This year is no exception. They came very close to losing in week one to Bryson, but went on to handle an always-tough Jonesboro squad, 71-44. Their last two wins have been over Ghoslon and Wylie Prep by wide margins. Taron Smith has already rushed and passed for over 500 yards in each category. The Bulldogs defense has a few early standouts this season; MarKavion Thompson picked off three passes in a single game and is second on the team in tackles with 42, behind Corbin Scroke’s 47. Sophomore Ricky Pendleton has proven to be a versatile player, having recorded 38 tackles as a defensive standout, while also catching eight passes for 136 yards and four touchdowns on the offensive side.
Keys to the Game:
It’s all on Aquilla. In my opinion (which isn’t worth much), they have to keep the ball out of Taron Smith’s hands, by limiting Milford’s time of possession and grinding it out moving the chains, while on offense. In addition, the Cougars will have to play mistake free and force a turnover or two themselves. It will be an uphill fight if Aquilla wants to get to 5-0, but I think they have a chance to do it. Milford can not be looking past this team or they will get burned. This game is an intriguing matchup for sure and a game worth going out to see…it’s two undefeated teams and one is a big underdog, looking to make a statement. However, in the end, I think Aquilla has more than they can handle to keep Milford and Smith at bay, and the Bulldogs’ defense has to many obstacles standing in the Cougars path to the end zone, thus I don’t see Aquilla pulling off the upset.
The toughest week thus far too single out one game to say, “this is the biggest game this week.”
Based on scuttlebutt and water cooler talk, it seems that Happy v Crowell gets a lot of play this week. It should as it’s a headline grabber, but there are at least five other games I am more intrigued about than that one, and I also don’t like picking the same pool of teams for the game of the week. That rules Coolidge v Jonesboro out, even though that game will be good! Same deal with Nazareth v Borden County.
While I’m not 100% sure the outcome of this game won’t end up being one sided, this week I think I will settle on Milford v Aquilla.
Both schools come into this matchup with undefeated 4-0 records. Milford, #3 in Granger’s DII rankings, notching the best win between the two, as they beat Bryson in week one by just a single point. Aquilla’s best win was arguably last week with a 55-7 halftime game vs Avalon, vaulting them up to #15 in Granger’s DI polls.
Let’s be honest, this is Aquilla’s statement game and we will know a lot more about just how good the Cougars are after it. Their four wins have been impressive, scoring a total of 205 points and allowing just 13. However, their opponents: Covington, Walnut Springs, Mt. Calm and Avalon, have not been the toughest teams out there. Mt. Calm and Walnut Springs are traditionally tough teams, but this is a down year for both, as they sit at 0-4 on the year. In last week’s game vs Avalon, a team that is always tough and a playoff-type team, Avalon had several key starters out, making what would have been a competitive game, a lot more one-sided. So Aquilla is a bit of a mystery at this point. I can tell you they have a talented dual-threat backfield in backs Jacob Felan and Zack Winder. Felan has rushed for 581 yards and 11 touchdowns this year. Winder has rushed for 321 yards and 12 touchdowns and defensively he is one of the top ball hawks in the state, having logged 5 interceptions.
Milford is one of those teams who every year is great and has high expectations. This year is no exception. They came very close to losing in week one to Bryson, but went on to handle an always-tough Jonesboro squad, 71-44. Their last two wins have been over Ghoslon and Wylie Prep by wide margins. Taron Smith has already rushed and passed for over 500 yards in each category. The Bulldogs defense has a few early standouts this season; MarKavion Thompson picked off three passes in a single game and is second on the team in tackles with 42, behind Corbin Scroke’s 47. Sophomore Ricky Pendleton has proven to be a versatile player, having recorded 38 tackles as a defensive standout, while also catching eight passes for 136 yards and four touchdowns on the offensive side.
Keys to the Game:
It’s all on Aquilla. In my opinion (which isn’t worth much), they have to keep the ball out of Taron Smith’s hands, by limiting Milford’s time of possession and grinding it out moving the chains, while on offense. In addition, the Cougars will have to play mistake free and force a turnover or two themselves. It will be an uphill fight if Aquilla wants to get to 5-0, but I think they have a chance to do it. Milford can not be looking past this team or they will get burned. This game is an intriguing matchup for sure and a game worth going out to see…it’s two undefeated teams and one is a big underdog, looking to make a statement. However, in the end, I think Aquilla has more than they can handle to keep Milford and Smith at bay, and the Bulldogs’ defense has to many obstacles standing in the Cougars path to the end zone, thus I don’t see Aquilla pulling off the upset.
