Tuesday, September 11, 2012

GI's Picks Week 2

Gridiron's Picks Week Two
 

Week 1 Storyline

Number 2 Ranked AA Varsity Barsby and #1 Ranked AAA Mt. Douglas played a game at Nanaimo's Merle Logan Field that will go down as one of the classic contests all time between the two Island programs and easily as one of the best that 2012 will have to offer.  Barsby drove early into Mt. Douglas territory and fumbled the ball.  Mt. Doug answered with a big pass on third down for a 35 yard score to open up the scoring.  The next series the Dawgs drove down the Ram 20 and threw one in from the 20.  After that it was a see-saw battle with big, big hitting.  I cannot recall 4-5 helmets knocked off heads and rolling on the ground in a half, ever.  At half-time the game was 21-21.  Opening the 3rd quarter Mt. Douglas was frustrated at the Barsby 8 and the first snap that the Dawgs took to open their drive, the ball went sailing behind the Dawg  RB on an errant pitch and Davis scooped it in the end-zone for an easy score.  At the end of the third quarter Barsby led 28-27 and with less than two minutes remaining the AA squad was ahead 36-33.  Marcus Davis capping a huge day broke loose on a draw play to score putting the Rams ahead for good.  Barsby finished on the Mt. Douglas 25 yard line to end their comeback attempt.  Great Game!!

Barsby MD Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/casualeye37/sets/72157631490918616/

Elsewhere the short benched #1 Mission Roadrunners took care of  business on a road trip to Carson Graham showing just how fast and talented their core roster is.  The Ballenas Whalers dropped one vs the AAA Centennial Centaurs up in Parksville by a pretty good score and South Delta had a big day in the air vs the visiting Nanaimo District Islanders.  Up on the North Shore, Rick-Hansen won by a big score against the Handsworth Royals sending a message that this program is back on the rise and announcing in dramatic fashion that the Hurricanes are crashing the top 5 provincially.

**Of note: BC AA Varsity...send your pics and team hi-lite videos this way for posting!!

GI's Week 2 Top 5

1. Mission Roadrunners
2. John Barsby Bulldogs
3. South Delta Sundevils
4. Carson Graham Eagles
5. Rick Hansen Hurricanes

Week 2 Picks

Thursday, 13 September

Bert Church Alberta @ Kalmalka: The host Lakers are picked a good week 2 match-up in the Bert Church Chargers. The Lakers are fast this year and a mature group all-round. GI's Pick: Lakers by 11

Friday, 14 September

College Heights @ Correlieu: The Cougars played some decent ball vs perennial conference powerhoue Nechako Valley. Correlieu is overmatched in this one. GI's Pick: Cougars by 10

South Kamloops @ Robert Bateman:  I like this game for a lot of reasons. Firstly, this could easily be a playoff match-up in November as both squads have the athletes and experience to earn their way into the post-season. Bateman played a tough match versus Mouat in the season opener. This won't be nearly as tough for the Timberwolves and if they are healthy on Friday, their running game is going to be hard to stop. The Titans will find out what kind of defense they have on this road trip. GI's Pick: Bateman by 16

G.P. Vanier (Tier 2) @ Nanaimo District: This has become a rivalry game between these two Island schools over the past four or five years. Both squads like to run the football and the contest will say a lot about the toughness of the respective defenses. Offensively, the Islanders played well against a tough South Delta squad this past Saturday and if they can tighten up pass defense and special teams play, they ought to come out on top. I think they will. GI's Pick: Nanaimo District by 14

South Delta @ Kelowna (AAA): This ought to be a stellar game. Kelowna seems to be tuning-up its game on AA competition this year and they may be getting more than they bargained for from the Sundevils. GI's Pick: South Delta by 6

Abbottsford Collegiate @ John Barsby: In a short year's time these two programs have met twice. Once in exhibition and once in a playoff setting. Both contests were very physical with Barsby managing to pull away in the second half after a see-saw opening quarter or two. This year's game promises to again be a physical affair that ought to benefit the victor and the vanquished in terms of cohesion and battle testing.  Barsby is going to be a juggernaut this year while the Panthers are in a bit of a rebuild.  GI's Pick: Barsby by 18

Earl Marriot @ Westsyde:  Earl Marriot is primed for its first victory in some time as it travels to Kamloops in search of a positive.  The Mariners have played a tough schedule the past couple years and are going to be playing at a pace unfamiliar to their hosts.  This said, the Blue Wave has the numbers out and no bus legs.  GI's Pick: Marriot by 8

Argyle @ Langeley: Good match-up here.  The Pipers are maturing as a program and Langley is itself on a bit of a rebound.  Look for some big plays offensively both ways as the best athletes on each squad do their thing against defenses that have not quite gelled to mid-season form.  GI's Pick: Langley by 6

Belmont @ Windsor: Belmont has made strides this off-season, but so has Windsor.  The Dukes have a more consistent running game and are the home squad.  Look for some big, big plays via the air from Windsor's star receiver as well.  GI's Pick: Dukes by 18

Valleyview @ Rutland (AAA): Rutland is playing some tough ball of late and draws from a much larger student base than the visiting Vikings.  At the end of the day, the Voodoo will grind their way to a wide margin of victory.  GI's Pick: Voodoo by 22

Handsworth @ Hugh Boyd: Both teams lost by big scores last weekend.  I think the Trojans lost to a better team in AAA Earl Marriot than Handsworth did to an admittedly good Hansen squad.  This said, the Royals just cannot match the Trojans up front and this will be a significant handicap for the North Shore squad.  GI's Pick: Trojans by 12

Carson Graham @ New Westminster (AAA): Wow, this is going to be a lights out game between these two former divisional opponents.  New Westminster has their run game primed and delivering some serious horsepower this year. The Hyaks can really get off of the ball up front on offense and are pressuring well on defense.  Carson is no slouch either with some great run-pass balance and a deep passing game that is just about zero'd in to do some real damage.  The big play will factor in on Friday.  Whomever makes em, will be celebrating at game's end.  GI's Pick: Hyaks by 7

Saturday, 15 September

WJ Mouat (AAA) @ Mission: A rematch of last year's Mission upset of then #2 ranked WJ Mouat on the Hawk's home turf.  Mouat has been smarting about that game ever since and are surely looking for redemption against this year's AA #1 ranked Roadrunner squad.  It is going to be an uphill battle for the men in green as they enter play short benched and minus their best player in Kevin Weins.  Ethan Horton however has picked-up the slack for his team and is surrounded by great speed and talent at all the "skill positions".  Coach Watrin is a disciplined fellow and has likely rested everyone he can for this game so the Roadrunners enter it in as good of shape as possible.  The Hawks are showing their terrestrial side in 2012 running the ball hard behind a very good offensive line.  I think that this places them in a position of advantage come Saturday as the visitors ought to wear down the tough, but short benched home squad.  This said, great running is going to have to be accompanied by superb pass defense as Mission can strike big on any given play.  GI's Pick: Mouat by 12

Ballenas @ West Vancouver (AAA): This annual affair between the two squads has em each at a bit of a crossroads.  The Highlanders are coming off of a season opening victory and are on an upwards trajectory.  Ballenas has endured a coaching change and got crushed in their opener vs AAA Centennial.  Week two is truly a character game for the visitors.  A win for the Whalers and hope will spring eternal.  A close loss, ok gang, we are righting the ship.  A blowout loss, time to see who has the jam to endure and succeed.  I think the Whalers are solid ballers at heart and have good leadership.  They will step-up their game on Saturday from the week prior.  GI's Pick: West Van by 8

Dutchess Park @ Rick Hansen: Dutchess Park continues to play a schedule that helps with their rise to the top of the North on a long-term basis.  They better have their A game packed with them on Saturday as the Hurricanes have served notice that they are going to be one of the better AA squads in 2012.  The offensive and defensive lines of the Hurricanes will carry the day as they pound the rock and pressure all afternoon long.  GI's Pick: Hurricanes by 18

Pitt Meadows @ Seaquam: The Marauders opened with a win and the Seahawks with a loss that involved a near miss at a dramatic comeback vs AAA West Vancouver.  I think that the Seaquam squad has a more talented roster and will make the jump into the victory column this week.  GI's Pick: Seaquam by 18

 

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