By Robert Morgan | Published Thursday, November 15, 2007
The football season has ended for four local teams, but it continues for three others as the 2007 state playoffs begin Thursday. After getting all seven picks right last week, I hope Boyd, Bridgeport and Decatur are in the same postseason form as the local sports dude.
The football season has ended for four local teams, but it continues for three others as the 2007 state playoffs begin Thursday. After getting all seven picks right last week, I hope Boyd, Bridgeport and Decatur are in the same postseason form as the local sports dude.
Going perfect for the second time in three weeks is nice. Moving to 52-11 in picking the winners this year is even better. The best news, however, is that I hope I'm wrong on one pick this week.
Unlike in years past, at least one local school has played creampuffs in the early part of the playoffs. Not this year, my friends, and this will likely be a short run for all three schools. If that is the case after the first week or two, I'm gonna expect to see some good basketball this winter with the additional practice time.
Whether you think your hometown team has a chance to win or not, do your best to show your support - the Eagles, Bulls and Yellowjackets will need all the support they can get.
Lace 'em up, boys!
Boyd vs. Holliday
These two teams have had one of the most evenly-matched rivalries of any in the area. Thursday night's game will be the 20th in 30 years since coach J.G. Cartwright has been in charge.
The Yellowjackets have a 10-9 record in the series. The last meeting, coincidentally, was in 1999 when Boyd won 20-14 and went on to play for the state championship against Mart.
Could this be a repeat pattern? If so, Boyd has to play better offensively in a hurry as the Eagles have an impressive defense.
Boyd should be able to handle the Holliday offense even with a couple of injuries.
I also like the coaching advantage that Boyd has in this one. Cartwright's staff is always in top form during the playoffs, and that is enough to get past an Eagle team that struggled in a pair of one-point district wins in the past month.
Boyd by 14
Decatur vs. Wylie
Do I really need to say much about this one? Wylie has knocked the Eagles out of the playoffs in two of the last three years with a pair of one-point decisions.
Just as Decatur fans taunt Bridgeport with "Curse or Tradition" T-shirts because of its five-game wining streak over the Bulls, I'm now asking myself the same question when it comes to the Bulldogs. In my humble and biased opinion, Decatur has fielded the better teams in both losses, including last year's game that Wylie stole in the last second.
There is no doubt in my mind this year - Wylie is better. Does that mean Decatur should win since the better team has not won the last two meetings?
I don't think so. Injuries have stacked up higher than any other season since coach Kyle Story arrived nine years ago.
That has led to problems in every area but special teams. Wylie has improved greatly since the year started, while Decatur has taken a step back the last three weeks.
Maybe the upcoming realignment will split these teams further apart in the payoffs because this is getting old.
Wylie by 21
Bridgeport vs. Sweetwater
This game has the makings of an offensive shootout between two teams that have improved since the start of the season. It could be a repeat of the last time these two met in 2000 when the Mustangs held on for a thrilling win.
Sweetwater loves to run the ball and Bridgeport is not a run-stopping team. The Bulls have a solid passing game and the Mustangs have had trouble containing the spread offense.
And coaches from both schools are going to attack those weaknesses. Which one will be more successful? Show up Friday and find out.
All indications point to the fact that Sweetwater is going to take care of business based on media forecasts and Harris Ratings.
This media outlet, however, believes that Bridgeport has more weapons.
The Bulls are plus-16 in the turnover ratio and that is proof that this defense likes to be active.
