It's the Civil War all over again as the teams in the NCL I North face off against the NCL I South. Here are the games:
Lower Lake (0-3) at Cloverdale (2-1) Friday night.
Though a Division III school, Lower Lake is down from last year and will likely struggle against Cloverdale on the road. Cloverdale will try to rebound from last week's 35-14 loss at Middletown.
My prediction: Cloverdale wins 35-7.
Clear Lake (2-0-1) at Middletown (2-1) Friday night.
Although some think Middletown will win easily, I think this game will be close -- at least for the first half. Clear Lake beat Willits by nearly the same score that Cloverdale did the week before, but I don't think that translates to a similar outcome in this game. I expect the score to be tied or within a touchdown at the half, with Middletown pulling away in the second half, but not by much.
My prediction: Middletown wins 28-17.
Fort Bragg (2-1) at St. Helena (2-1) Friday night.
This game will be a great barometer for the NCL leagues because neither team has faced a common opponent this season. I do believe that Fort Bragg is the tougher team, having played a close game against a good St. Vincent team that is better, in my opinion, than anyone St. Helena has played. I think it will be a wild one with lots of points scored, but most of those by Fort Bragg.
My prediction: Fort Bragg wins 48-28.
St. Vincent (3-0) at Willits (0-3) Friday night.
Division V St. Vincent is a good team having squeaked by the top two NCL I North teams in back to back weekends at home. Usually Willits is a difficult place to escape with a win, but Willits is down this year. A surprise outcome would be if the rain hinders the St. Vincent passing game and the score ends up closer than blowout proportions.
My prediction: St. Vincent wins 35-0.
Kelseyville (1-1-1) at Upper Lake (2-1) Saturday afternoon.
Kelseyville, who opened the season with a blowout loss to Berean Christian, rebounded the next two games. Clear Lake was expected to win handily against Kelseyville, but the game ended in a 7-7 tie. Then Kelseyville followed that with a 37-21 win over previously undefeated St. Helena. Upper Lake surprised everyone when they beat Lower Lake 28-14 on the road last week. How good are these teams? Except for the fans of both, I don't think anyone knows for sure.
My prediction: Kelseyville wins 28-21.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Predictions
Don't agree with my predictions below? Then post who you think will win by what score in the comments section.
Preview of Games this Weekend
Bay League:
Salesian (2-1) visits Division II Castlemont (1-1-1) Friday night.
This looks to be a tough game for Salesian. Castlemont is a larger school who is competitive with the top Division II teams (tying undefeated Concord). Their only loss came against a Division I team, Berkley (2-1). Salesian is the only Division IV team on their schedule this year.
My prediction: Castlemont wins 35-14.
Berean Christian (2-2) visits Northgate (1-3) Friday night.
Northgate is a Division II school in Walnut Creek. This game will be close. Though Northgate is a larger school, this is a down year for them and Berean Christian is much better than their 2-2 record would indicate. If Berean Christian can pull off the upset, they may slide back into the top eight rankings.
My Prediction: Berean Christian wins 20-14.
Harker (2-1) is off this weekend.
Bay Shore League:
St. Marys (1-2) visits Piedmont (1-2) Friday night.
Both schools play in the Bay Shore league, but Piedmont is a Division III school. St. Marys is a tough team, having lost by close margins to both Salesian and Acalanes by a score of 14-9. Piedmont runs the crazy A-11 offense where every man on offense can be a potential ball carrier. Gimmicks aside, I give the edge to St. Marys.
My prediction: St. Marys wins 14-7.
John Swett (1-2) hosts St. Patrick-St. Vincent (2-1) Friday night.
Both teams are tough, but St. Patrick-St. Vincent -- though down from last year -- looks to be a bit tougher. If John Swett does lose at home, their playoff hopes are likely dashed.
My prediction: St. Pat/St. Vin wins 28-20.
Marin County League:
Justin Siena (3-1) hosts San Marin (0-3) Friday night.
Justin Siena can't afford to be caught looking ahead to next week's game against Marin Catholic. San Marin has not been competitive in any of the games they've played this year and Friday night's game should be no different.
My prediction: Justin Siena wins 38-7.
Humboldt Del Norte Little Five:
Ferndale (4-0) hosts Fortuna (3-0) Saturday afternoon.
In a battle of the unbeatens, Ferndale (really a Division V school) looks to have the slight edge against the Division III school. Last year's game in Fortuna was a tight one, with Ferndale escaping with a 15-7 win. Fortuna has improved from last year, but winning at Ferndale is next to impossible.
My prediction: Ferndale wins 7-0.
Freelance:
Dougherty Valley (4-0) visits Dublin (0-3) Friday night.
In only their second year at the varsity level, Dougherty Valley is making an impact in Division IV. They beat a good Berean Christian team 30-27 and defeated John Swett 20-13. But Dublin is a bigger school (Division III) and they are looking forward to their first win of the season. Most of Dougherty Valley's players are on the small side, but they do have speed. This will be a tight game.
My prediction: Dougherty Valley wins 28-21.
Thursday: NCL I North and NCL I South
Salesian (2-1) visits Division II Castlemont (1-1-1) Friday night.
This looks to be a tough game for Salesian. Castlemont is a larger school who is competitive with the top Division II teams (tying undefeated Concord). Their only loss came against a Division I team, Berkley (2-1). Salesian is the only Division IV team on their schedule this year.
My prediction: Castlemont wins 35-14.
Berean Christian (2-2) visits Northgate (1-3) Friday night.
Northgate is a Division II school in Walnut Creek. This game will be close. Though Northgate is a larger school, this is a down year for them and Berean Christian is much better than their 2-2 record would indicate. If Berean Christian can pull off the upset, they may slide back into the top eight rankings.
My Prediction: Berean Christian wins 20-14.
Harker (2-1) is off this weekend.
Bay Shore League:
St. Marys (1-2) visits Piedmont (1-2) Friday night.
Both schools play in the Bay Shore league, but Piedmont is a Division III school. St. Marys is a tough team, having lost by close margins to both Salesian and Acalanes by a score of 14-9. Piedmont runs the crazy A-11 offense where every man on offense can be a potential ball carrier. Gimmicks aside, I give the edge to St. Marys.
My prediction: St. Marys wins 14-7.
John Swett (1-2) hosts St. Patrick-St. Vincent (2-1) Friday night.
Both teams are tough, but St. Patrick-St. Vincent -- though down from last year -- looks to be a bit tougher. If John Swett does lose at home, their playoff hopes are likely dashed.
My prediction: St. Pat/St. Vin wins 28-20.
Marin County League:
Justin Siena (3-1) hosts San Marin (0-3) Friday night.
Justin Siena can't afford to be caught looking ahead to next week's game against Marin Catholic. San Marin has not been competitive in any of the games they've played this year and Friday night's game should be no different.
My prediction: Justin Siena wins 38-7.
Humboldt Del Norte Little Five:
Ferndale (4-0) hosts Fortuna (3-0) Saturday afternoon.
In a battle of the unbeatens, Ferndale (really a Division V school) looks to have the slight edge against the Division III school. Last year's game in Fortuna was a tight one, with Ferndale escaping with a 15-7 win. Fortuna has improved from last year, but winning at Ferndale is next to impossible.
My prediction: Ferndale wins 7-0.
Freelance:
Dougherty Valley (4-0) visits Dublin (0-3) Friday night.
In only their second year at the varsity level, Dougherty Valley is making an impact in Division IV. They beat a good Berean Christian team 30-27 and defeated John Swett 20-13. But Dublin is a bigger school (Division III) and they are looking forward to their first win of the season. Most of Dougherty Valley's players are on the small side, but they do have speed. This will be a tight game.
My prediction: Dougherty Valley wins 28-21.
Thursday: NCL I North and NCL I South
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)