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Week 10 predictions
November 6, 2008The beauty of high school football, or pretty much any level of football, is that nothing is planned.
There are endless possibilities on every Friday night. You begin to expect the unexpected.
I really don't like the phrase "anything can happen under the Friday night lights" because let's face it, there is no possible way City View will beat Holliday this week. And Archer City is not going to lose to Electra.
But the principle is still there that no team should ever be counted out. Which is why I will be traveling to Olney on Friday night.
If you would have told me that I would be covering Olney during its six-loss stretch in seven games, I would have given you a crazy look.
In fact, Olney had some pretty good (on paper) non-district matchups against area teams that I thought I would probably cover, like Windthorst and Munday.
But they lost their best two players, and it took a long time for things to get going. When they opened district with a 42-6 loss to Holliday (the Eagles were up 35-0 at the half and the second half was played with a fast clock), I thought the Cubs were totally done.
But then they hung with Henrietta, beat Nocona and trounced City View. And now is a big-time showdown with Bowie for the last 5-2A playoff spot.
I would think Olney making the playoffs would be the second-biggest surprise turnaround in the last five years (Hirschi making it in 2006 is first), but in my opinion, Bowie has too many weapons on offense. I am not sure Olney can keep up with them. The Jackrabbits are going to the playoffs after a seven-point win.
Here are the area's other games this week:
Rider vs. WFHS: You have to give Coach Ponder credit for winning six straight, the majority of which came with most of his skill players hurt. The Raiders have too much depth for the Coyotes, who are thin at some positions. Rider by 28.
Hirschi at Burkburnett: The Bulldogs in a big, big way. At least five touchdowns.
Iowa Park at Vernon: The Lions really proved their mettle by shutting out Decatur in the second half last week. If they can do that, then they should be able to slow down the Hawks. This is a game Vernon could lose, but I think they get the job done.
Breckenridge at Graham: The Steers will be rooting hard for Brownwood to beat Snyder, but they also need to win this game. I think they will, but it may be closer than you think.
Henrietta at Nocona: The Bearcats have nothing to play for, but after the loss last week, I just got the feeling from Coach West that they were going to come out and play everybody and enter the playoffs on a winning note. If they do that, then they will win.
City View-Holliday: Eagles win huge.
Archer City-Electra: Ditto.
Windthorst at Seymour: Another pretty good matchup, but it has no importance except second in the district. Windthorst has a couple of good freshmen that have really come on strong. It seems like I say this every week, but if the Trojans can not turn the football over, they win by 10.
Munday-Petrolia: The Moguls are not going to the playoffs, but they end on a good note.
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