How in the world is it already week 9? Only one more week left to go in the regular season after tonight. There are some teams who are now in desperation mode where they have to win to make the playoffs. Some teams may when region titles tonight, some may improve their playoff seedings, while others will lose ground. Another exciting week of football, can’t wait to see what happens!
Woodruff at Broome is our Spartanburg Nutrition Game of the Week. Two local teams battling it out to try to help improve playoff seedings.
Broome’s win against Union last week helped their playoff chances, but it isn’t a done deal yet. A win over Woodruff would help them secure that spot.
Woodruff on the other hand can still win the region but they will need some help. Realistically thought the Wolverines could finish second with a win tonight and a win over the Clinton Red Devils next week. Finishing second of course means a home playoff game. That is big.
This game is a matchup of two really good offenses with two really good quarterbacks leading them. Both QBs have an excellent set of skills that make them two of the best in our area. Ramirez from Broome has shown us week after week that he can get it done with arm as well as his legs, while Woodruff’s Tucker has a great arm that keeps defenses on their heels as he is always a threat to go deep.
Both defenses have had their struggles this year and have given up some big plays. This game should be a fun one to watch.
Pick: Woodruff
Spartanburg tonight will travel to Riverside for a region game with the Warriors. This is a dangerous game for the Vikings. Everyone knows what is ahead for the Vikings next week, a rivalry matchup with the Dorman Cavaliers, in which the Vikings can win the region with a victory. This is the definition of a trap game.
Riverside is improved from years past. However, since entering region play the Warriors have struggled to score and to make stops defensively. I think Riverside has taken a big step forward but they still have a long way to go.
I think the Vikings win tonight and comfortably enough for them to be able to protect the starters for most of the second half.
Pick: Spartanburg
Boiling Springs at Fort Mill is our first playoff game of the year. The winner of this game is going to get a playoff birth while the loser will be sitting out the 5A playoffs. Both of these teams have had their struggles this year on both sides of the football. I think the Boiling Springs offense has improved just enough for them to get it done this week an earn a playoff birth.
Pick: Boiling Springs
Union is one of those teams in desperation mode as far as the playoffs go. Unfortunately for them this week they have to take on the Chapman Panthers.
Chapman last week beat a really good Clinton team to put themselves in prime position to claim another region title. While the Yellow Jackets were in a tight game with Broome until late when the centurions were able go pull away and claim their first region victory of the year.
While the Panthers are a much better football team than Union another thing works in their favor tonight. The Union Fair is in town and the Yellow Jackets rarely play well when the fair is in town and they are at home. Chapman wins big.
Pick: Chapman
Byrnes hosting TL Hanna is an interesting game to me. Two polar opposite offenses. Byrnes likes to score fast by slinging it around a good bit, while Hanna is going to lineup in a double wing and run, run, and probably run. The Yellow Jackets have perfected the wing-t style offense much like Fairfield Central did back in the late 90’s. Oddly enough the defensive coach for those FFC teams was current Byrnes HC Reggie Shaw. So maybe Coach Shaw has a secret up his sleeve to slow down this type of offense.
Pick: Hanna
Other Picks
I think Gaffney claims another region title tonight with a win over Clover.
Greer gets their first region win of the year with a win over Eastside.
Chesnee will keep their momentum going by beating Blacksburg tonight.
Dorman will bounce back from last weeks loss to Byrnes with a one-sided victory over Wade Hampton.
Landrum will find a way on senior night to beat Legion Collegiate. May I suggest some more of those defensive take-aways and scores?
Week 9 should be fun and I can’t wait until next week!
