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Ship righted, Hitman aims to sail ahead
Posted: Friday, September 2, 2011 10:18 am
Now that’s more like it.
The Hitman — Friday football’s fabulous finals forecaster — refuted all beliefs that he was something other than the game’s greatest gridiron guru with a second week showing that has again defined him as a simply sensational sideline soothsayer.
The practically-perfect prep pigskin prognosticator posted a 22-3 (.880) percentage to negate an uncharacteristic opening to the year, and righted a ship that now appears back on track and sailing (37-8 — .822) toward a 25th consecutive season of the smooth .800 waters.
Hoping to do more than tread water and not to be drawn under or be sunk by upsets, the all-knowing augur wades to the deep end and makes this week’s picks.
See you at the games.
OBION CENTRAL AT WESTVIEW — A lot more will be known about each of these two after what will be the most stern test for both so far. The Rebels have appeared in mid-season form — albeit against inferior competition — but need a win against a program with the pedigree of well-respected Westview before they can truly be considered among the upper echelon in rural West Tennessee and beyond. The Chargers have not measured up to preseason expectations on offense with a veteran front and proven skill folks, but have survived widespread ineptness on that side of the ball with a rugged defense that has already made 13 tackles for losses in two games. Though the majority of the talk so far has centered around its offense, it will be the OC defense and how it stacks up against Westview’s “pound the rock” trademark scheme that has been the cornerstone of nearly two decades’ worth of success and a weakness of Central for a while that determines the outcome. But if this is indeed the Rebels’ year — as many long-suffering fans of the county locals believe — a win here by any margin would be one that moves them on the high end of the roll. — OBION CENTRAL.
UNION CITY AT HALLS — Rocked by two blowouts, the Tornadoes will stagger into what has to be considered a “must-win” district opener vs. a young Halls team that would like nothing better than to land an early knockout blow to what was once the bully of 14A. UC has, in fact, been left bruised and battered by a pair of quality foes and has had even more wounds opened with injuries and defections. Twister cornerman Darren Bowling has stood up in the face of such adversities before, though, and — like it or not — won’t buckle his own knees in the area of compromising methods that have been proven tried and true. And whether by split decision, a majority or flat-out KO, the odds here still favor a proud program that can get off the canvas and show some fight. — UNION CITY.
SOUTH FULTON AT HUMBOLDT — The revolving door of players has continued in Red Devil country over the last couple of weeks, with one quitting the program for a second time, another returning after leaving more than a year ago and a third joining the ranks for his senior campaign after not playing since junior high. SF coach Kelly Spivey insists he needs both the numbers the additions provide after dressing just 20 players last week vs. West Carroll. While the wisdom of that decision can be debated from both angles, any roster add-ons will likely need some practice reps to be in a position to provide immediate help. And, unfortunately for South Fulton, that won’t be of any aid this week against a fleet-footed bunch of Vikings that appear early-on to be 14A’s best entry. — HUMBOLDT.
In other games, it’ll be — Milan over Gibson Co., Crockett Co. over Haywood, South Gibson over Ripley, Covington over Dyersburg, Lake Co. over Greenfield, Dresden over McKenzie, Gleason over West Carroll, Huntingdon over Bruceton, Adamsville over Riverside, North Side over Dyer Co., Liberty over McNairy Co., St. George over Jackson Christian, USJ over Rossville Christian, South Side over Bolivar, Chester Co. over Jackson Central-Merry, Lexington over Fayette-Ware, Hardin Co. over Munford, Fayette Academy over Tipton-Rosemark, Henry Co. over Kenwood, Fulton City over Jackson Prep and Reidland over Fulton Co.
Published in The Messenger 9.1.11
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Hitman aims to sail ahead, Ship righted
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