Upon Further Review

It wasn’t pretty for this sports columnist-turned-all-local blogger last week. But hey, why make picks if you don’t put yourself out on a limb every now and again?

I mean, come on people, this is high school football. It’s fun for the players, it’s fun for the fans so why shouldn’t it be fun for us pencil-neck keyboard pushers when it comes time to make picks? Heck, I could pick the hands down favorite every week if I wished, but where’s the fun in that?

Nobody told me they’re handing out I’m-A-Stat-Geek-And-Can-Pick-All-The-Winners Award to us sports writers. Or, if they are, I haven’t received my invitation to that banquet yet. But, really, would I want to show up?

Have you ever hung around sports writers? For the most part (and, yes, there are plenty of exceptions out there), it’s about as much fun as a night on the town with John McCain, sans the adult diapers and popping Viagra like it’s a hallucinogenic.

OK, time for the picks:

You know me, I’m a Robert Casto nut case. I think this guy should run for Mayor of Greenville (is there such a thing? Or does Joe the Barber already hold that position and, if he does, you gotta think Joe would gladly give up his seat to let Casto run that town or enclave or whatever the heck you wanna call that place). I think this guy should be first-ballot hall of famer at the high school (and the VHSL for that matter, assuming they do take ballots in both of these).

Most of all, I think this guy could take the most rag-tag bunch of football players and turn them into winners. But there’s nothing rag-tag about the Gladiators and, when they play at home, they are a force. (And have the force, and fireworks, and tons of fans, and, most of all, the Middlebrook Volunteer Fire Company letting the mars lights and sirens loose after every score.)

So, in summation, this one goes to Riverheads and sets up the Showdown in Swoope on All Hallow’s Eve against Buffalo Gap. Oooh, how ghoulish.

The Green Hornets are small and young but, man, do they work their tails off. It was evident in last week’s loss to Buffalo Gap. Don’t let that 35-9 score fool you. While Gap did control that game, the Hornets made the Bison work for it.

Wilson deserves this win against Page. The Hornets need this win against Page. Derek McDaniel, no doubt, it letting his players know that right now.

And I think they’ll produce. Wilson by three as the struggling Ben Hopewell hits a last-second kick to zip his confidence, and foot, back into the stratosphere.

The Bison are primed and ready for a deep run into the Group A, Division 1 playoffs for the second straight year. Are they state-title material? Well that remains to be seen. (Namely, if Wilson’s McDaniel is right and this team will miss Travis Morris at that point in the season.)

Any team coached by Dickie Krol is dangerous, but Krol doesn’t have Pickle Nuckols, Michael Johnson and the largest place kicker in the history of the game. (Exaggeration alert! Exaggeration alert!)

Gap wins easily and picks up its 23rd straight victory. Man, am I the only one that can’t wait until next week?

Coming off a much-needed bye week, the Cougars are hoping they’ve gotten all those Week 1 mistakes done in Week 8 that cost them a win over R.E. Lee. The Indians are hoping they can hold onto the ball and put more points on the board than they did against the Little Giants. Oh and, I don’t know, maybe stopping the run every now and again might help too.

But the Cougars run and run well. And they’ll pick up their second Southern Valley win of the season at a time they need it — with a playoff berth still in their sights.

And finally . . .

District title on the line? Check. Two explosive teams hammering away at each other? Check. One team looking to come back from an embarrassing loss to Turner Ashby? Check. Another team, already having lost to the Knights, looking to make a huge statement? Check.

Good football? You know it.

Everybody wants to stop Lee’s Dae’ Quan Scott (well, except for the Leemen) and that’s much easier said that done (just ask Stuarts Draft, Waynesboro, blah, blah, blah, blah). And while I don’t expect Scott to be stopped, I expect the Wildcats to stymie everyone else on the offensive side of the ball.

If Lee wants to win, its defense is going to have to step it up big time. Not an easy task against Rockbridge.

The Wildcats by three, count ‘em, three points.

You’ve been great. Enjoy Styx.