|
Blogs -
MWL/SWC Blog
|
|
Written by DRH
|
|
Saturday, 20 September 2008 18:40 Hits: 335 |
A slightly different format this week gives you Springfield sitting atop the MWL, Thurston beating South Eugene in a thriller, Sheldon does something it hasn't done since 2000... and what's that I hear? Ah. Yes. Power rankings!
MWL
Springfield beat North Eugene 34-14 at NEHS, shaking off a sluggish first quarter to post a 34-7 lead at one point in the 4th quarter. The Millers are 4-0 for the first time in school history, and have their eyes on a MWL title for the first time since 1967.
For the next two weeks, at least, they’ll be all alone atop the league at 1-0.
Thurston, trailing South Eugene 35-28 early in the 4th quarter, rallied to score 21 unanswered as they tripped up their second 6A opponent in as many weeks. QB Tym Pearson finished 19/32 for 278 yards and 3 TDs, but it was RB Devan Anderson who stole the final quarter, rushing for huge yardage on the go-ahead and final touchdown drives. He finished with 139 yards on the ground, his second straight 100+ yard game.
Willamette took to the road and beat their second SSC school this season, this time a 42-34 decision over Ashland. RB Craig Loper ran for 222 yards and 3 scores, as the Wolverines dismantled Ashland on the ground. Rafael Hidalgo punched it in twice for Will-Hi as well.
Churchill beat Mazama 34-14 to improve to 3-1 on the season, still undefeated against 5A opposition. The Lancer offense continues to impress, as the QB Eric Knapp-to-WR Blake Determan express has yet to be contained (against teams that don’t rhyme with “Sheldon”).
Marshfield was shut-out by Grants Pass 35-0, never finding an answer for the Cavemen’s swarming, suffocating defense. It was the first time Marshfield has been shut-out since the 2005 regular season finale, when Thurston blanked them 21-0. QB Kyle Tedder was 11/15 for 119 yards, but obviously could not find the endzone.
The MWL stole a game from the SWC for the second consecutive week, and Thurston becomes the first MWL school to win on a SWC school’s home turf. Tym Pearson vs. Dustin Haines was exactly the QB dual I was expecting it to be, but Thurston’s defense took over in the 4th quarter.
The MWL playoff race looks like it’s going to be a dandy. There are three remaining unbeaten teams (Thurston, Willamette, and Springfield are all 4-0), Churchill is 3-1 with a loss to Sheldon, and Marshfield is 2-2. Only North Eugene looks to be done, but there are still going to be 2 quality teams on the outside looking in.
Power Rankings
1. Thurston (4-0). Beat a quality South Eugene team on the road, and put up 49 points while doing it. (Last Week: #1)
2. Springfield (4-0). North Eugene isn’t very good, but it’s a league win. Ashland is up next, then a trip to #3 Sherwood. (LW: #2)
3. Willamette (4-0). A quality win on the road against a possible league champion. Probably worth a move up, but the Springfield schools just aren’t losing. (LW: #3)
4. Churchill (3-1). Another win for the high-octane Lancers. They are flying under the radar, which is probably exactly where they want to be. (LW: #4)
5. Marshfield (2-2). No shame in losing to a Top 10 6A school, but you never like to be shut-out. (LW: #5)
6. North Eugene (0-4). Well… it’s almost basketball season. (LW: #6)
MWL Standings
1. Springfield 1-0
2. Churchill 0-0
2. Marshfield 0-0
2. Thurston 0-0
2. Willamette 0-0
6. North Eugene 0-1
SWC
Sheldon lost to Southridge, 20-17, in a game that pitted the state’s #3 and #4 teams. It definitely lived up to the hype, and the end results are electrifying – Sheldon loses two games in the regular season for the first time since 2000 (!!), and find themselves 2-2 on the season. Let’s not kid ourselves, though – losing to nationally ranked Skyline (WA) and Southridge – who now has the be the odds-on favorite in 6A – isn’t the end of the world. The Irish will regroup and will attempt to extend their 56 game league win streak in two weeks, at home against Roseburg.
North Medford shut out McMinnville, 45-0, to remain unbeaten against 6A schools in ’08. In the ever-shifting scramble to land the SWC’s 4th playoff berth, NMHS looks about as good of a contender as there is. Who knew?
South Medford lost to Foothill (CA) 15-13 on a late field goal that erased a 1-point Panther lead, which was built by a pair of big downfield plays by EJ and Mitch Singler.
Roseburg lost 30-28 on the road to Aloha, again coming up just short in an offensive shoot-out. Where, oh where, is the defense? Attn: prep historians… when is the last time the Indians were 0-4?
The SWC’s top two contenders are a combined 5-3, but they’ve played two extremely difficult schedules – which is why I still have both ahead of 4-0 Grants Pass, who is still looking for a challenge. Did Southridge map out a blueprint for any of the SWC contenders to use against Sheldon? Perhaps, but the more pressing question is – do any of the SWC contenders have the horses to pull such a feat off? Southridge will probably be ranked #1 or #2 in 6A in the next AP poll. Not sure if anybody in the SWC has the same stockpile of talent.
GP remains a viable threat to both Sheldon and South Medford, though. They play great defense, and get a bye week before opening up league play with the Panthers. While I don’t think GP will beat either… you never know.
QB Dustin Haines really impressed me last night against a rock-solid Thurston defense. The Colts brought the house time and again, but Haines made solid decisions all night and showed a great knack for finding targets downfield, not to mention the necessary toughness to scramble for big yardage. While I fear for SE during poor weather – they have almost no running game – I think the Axemen continue to remain legitimate contenders for the SWC’s final playoff berth. Why wouldn’t they be? They should drop 40 on Roseburg, and they get to host North Medford. They’re still very much in the game, despite all of their preseason defections and rough start to the season.
Power Rankings
1. Sheldon (2-2). Yes, they’re .500 – but South Medford lost, too, and I still think both teams are superior to Grants Pass. (LW: #1)
2. South Medford (3-1). Undefeated against Oregon (and Washington) competition. (LW: #2)
3. Grants Pass (4-0). Undefeated and looking strong, but… who have you played, Cavemen? (LW: #3)
4. North Medford (2-1). A 3-point loss at 5A #6 Willamette is the only speed bump along the way; look to finish strong next week against. (LW: #5)
5. South Eugene (0-3). Looked good against one of the best teams in 5A yesterday. They’ll go as far as QB Dustin Haines will take them. (LW: #6)
6. Roseburg (0-4). The offense seems to have figured things out. The defense…? Might have just missed out on their best bet for a win this season. (LW: #4)
|
|
MWL/SWC Blog 
