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| Hutch's Hit List — Guru calls out all in hiding to home base |
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Posted: Friday, October 5, 2012 6:19 am
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Come out, come out wherever you are!
Having made child’s play out of a game where there has never been but one true winner, the Hitman is seeking the handful of those now in hiding after questioning his status as king of the schoolyard.
The game’s greatest gridiron guru answered the name-calling of a small gang of would-be bullies who counted far past 10 when listing his uncharacterstically-high number of misfires that had dropped him below his customary .800 mark by tagging home base last week like only he can.
Playing his own version of ‘kick-the-can,’ the fantastic Friday football finals forecaster responded with his own version of show-and-tell with a 24-1 (.960) effort that — coupled with a 22-3 (.880) performance the Friday before — now has him comfortably above (132-27 — .830) a mark he has shattered 25 consecutive years and running.
Hoping to continue that merry-go-round of success, the sensational sideline soothsayer pulls out his best ‘rock-paper-scissors’ formula while picking this week’s games.
See you there.
UNION CITY @ LAKE CO. — First one to 50 wins? Given the recent history of this series in which the victor has scored at least 42 points in the last five meetings between the two, that might not be a stretch. The Tornadoes could be hamstrung if that’s the case, though, playing without their starting backfield due to injuries and a defection that’s taken a bruising fullback and two speedy slots from their lineup. To overcome those losses, UC will certainly have to be more methodical, not turn the ball over and dominate the line of scrimmage in an area where they showed signs last week of living up to their preseason promise with nearly 500 yards of total offense vs. Trenton. The Falcons, meanwhile, have had an extra week of preparation with last Friday’s open date and are eager to prove they shouldn’t be judged by their relatively-soft schedule to-date. LC has a plethora of offensive weapons and is no doubt capable of putting up points in bunches — especially against a Twister defense that has been shaky at best against lesser skill sets this season. The word ‘character’ is often thrown around in such situations of adversity that UC currently finds itself in, and a senior-laden bunch will surely circle the wagons in the face of such circumstances. And while conventional wisdom says the Reelfoot Lake boys have to be considered the heavy favorites, it should be noted that the Falcons were also the odds-on choice on their homefield in the playoffs last season when the Purple and Gold pulled off a surprise that only this space and a handful of others foresaw. Tempted to pull that trigger again, the Hitman resists and instead takes a wait-and-see approach. — LAKE CO.
SOUTH FULTON @ TRENTON — Instead of rolling over and playing dead when challenged with their grave standing, the Redmen showed some signs of life with their most complete performance of season last week vs. Greenfield. While acknowledging that the ’Jackets aren’t in the same conversation with at least three of the four teams to have earlier beaten SF, the Devils still got a much-needed shot of confidence with the victory and have a renewed sense of faith that they’re not ready to go belly-up where their playoff hopes are concerned. Peabody got the signature win it had lacked last week when holding on to edge a Union City team that won everywhere except the scoreboard, and the Tide is unquestionably battle-tested with already games vs. Milan, Huntingdon, Dyersburg and Lake County. Left battered and limping a Friday ago in their tooth-and-nail victory over the Tornadoes, Trenton could be ripe to be picked if it overlooks South Fulton to next week’s district showdown with two-time reigning champion Humboldt that could decide the 14A championship. And while tempted to play that upset card, the Hitman begrudgingly acknowledges Peabody’s experience in close games — with two of their three victories coming by three points or less — likely will trump his homeboys’ still-beating heart and desperate state. — TRENTON.
In other games, it’ll be — Milan over Huntingdon, Humboldt over Greenfield, Gleason over Fulton City, Dyersburg over Westview, West Carroll over Scotts Hill, Dresden over Riverside, Trinity Christian Academy over McKenzie, South Gibson over Gibson Co., Covington over Haywood, USJ over First Assembly Christian School, Jackson Northside over Cordova, Jackson Central-Merry over McNairy Co., Jackson South Side over Liberty, Hardin Co. over Adamsville, Lexington over Chester Co., Bolivar over Fayette-Ware, Camden over Montgomery Central and Murray over Crittendon Co.
Published in The Messenger 10.4.12 |
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