| Hutchs Hit List — Gridiron Guru riding wave of remarkable run |
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Posted: Thursday, November 1, 2012 7:00 pm
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You can’t win ’em all.
Don’t tell that to the Hitman.
Attempting to defy the age-old adage, the game’s greatest gridiron guru was indeed a practically-perfect prep pigskin prognosticator while extending his spectacular second-half showing last week.
The fabulous Friday football finals foreteller followed up a flawless 25-0 forecast two weeks ago with an effort thisclose to repeat perfection — a 24-1 mark that only Halls’ upset of Lake County spoiled. Coupled with the three previous weeks, the unequivocal all-knowing augur was a remarkable 114-7 (.942) over the second half of the regular season, easily cementing a 26th straight year of shattering the once coveted .800 percentage with a present 222-33 (.871) worksheet.
Running out of superlatives for his splendid psychic showing, the sensational sideline soothsayer now turns his attention to the higher stakes of the playoffs, knowing that winning isn’t everything.
It’s the only thing.
See you at the game.
LAKE CO. @ HUNTINGDON — The Mustangs — given their three victories over state-ranked teams including Union City during the regular season and higher ranking — are not real happy about having to play a first round game nor the prospects for a second visit to War Memorial Stadium in Round 2. Given its performance against Halls last week that dropped LC to the sixth-seed in the West Quad, one has to question the Falcons’ interest level of playing anyone in the postseason. The first six minutes will be telling. If Huntingdon scores twice in that time, the mercy rule clock could run continuously in the second half. If Lake County can hang around early, though, its athleticism and big-play abilities are the ingredients playoff upsets are made of. Or maybe not — HUNTINGDON.
HUMBOLDT @ TRENTON — Here’s another of a handful of first-round rematches that the state’s confusing postseason playoff system was supposed to prevent. Peabody’s win over the Vikings three weeks ago signaled the changing of the guard atop District 14A, and with a battle-tested bunch that has lost only to state-ranked teams — two in larger classifications — the Tide has the look of a team nobody wants to face in the postseason. And even though the Vikes’ Nic McLilly ran wild in their first meeting, the blueprint to stop such a second explosion was authored by Union City last week when the Tornadoes held the H’boldt flash to just 65 yards. Roll Tide — TRENTON.
HALLS @ GLEASON — After beating Halls in Week 3, the shoe is on the other foot this year for the Bulldogs, who avenged a regular season loss in 2011 with a first round playoff victory over South Fulton. While the favorite’s role is something new for Gleason, Noah Lampkins’ team won a home playoff game for the first time ever a year ago and has its eye on a rematch with West Carroll next week after the War Eagles ended their campaign last season. The Tigers certainly pass the eyeball test in uniform and got the signature win head coach Chris Hurt was looking for last week with an upset of Lake County to enter the postseason with a break-even record. Here’s a hunch, though, that the ’Dawgs edge in the speed department could be the difference in a close game that’ll go to the wire. — GLEASON.
In other games, it’ll be — Gleason over Halls, Trinity Christian over Booker T. Washington, Camden over JCM, Milan over Manassas, South Gibson over East Hickman, Lexington over South Side, Maplewood over Crockett Co., White House over Chester Co., Covington over Hillcrest, Trezevant over Dyersburg, Henry Co. over Hamilton, Jackson Northside over Munford, Liberty over Sycamore, Holy Cross over Fulton Co., Ky. Country Day School over Fulton City, Mayfield over Caverna and Murray over Union Co.
Published in The Messenger 11.1.12 |
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