Week 9 previews - 10/31

Game of the Week

Naselle @ South Bend, Friday, 7 pm, South Bend High School
It doesn't seem to matter what year it is, what sport it is, in one way or another it always seems to come down to Naselle vs. South Bend for something big. In this case, Friday night's match-up between the Comets (4-4, 3-1) and South Bend (6-2, 3-1) will likely decide who will make the postseason as the Pacific League's other playoff team — the two are tied for second while Valley is a perfect 4-0 in league.

The scenarios of who could make the playoffs is varied and complicated with only two games left. If Valley wins their next two games — which they likely will, as they face NWC and Raymond who are combined 3-7 in league play — the Vikings would be league champs. However, if the Vikings lose one or both for some reason it opens up more possibilities, however unlikely. 

What is more likely is that if Naselle wins Friday night the Comets will have a much easier time securing their playoff spot as they would have the tie-breaker over both South Bend and North Beach and finish at home (where they are 4-0 this year) with last place Ocosta (2-5, 0-4), while South Bend must travel to Ocean Shores to face a very tough North Beach team. A loss Friday would mean that the Comets would have to win their final game and hope that South Bend loses. There is also the possiblilty of playing tie-breaking games on Saturday, Nov. 8 ... but we;ll talk about that later if we have to.

So it's simple for the Comets — win the last two and you're in.

But that is easier said than done. The only team to stop South Bend this year has been the Valley Vikings, who they lost to in a non-league season opener 28-8, and then again two weeks ago 25-14. In their other six games, all wins, South Bend is outscoring teams by an average margin of 26-12.

But while South Bend was beating up on lowly Ocosta last week, the Comets were in a do-or-die struggle with a tough Hyaks team that came down to the wire and most likely helped sharpen the senses of the Naselle team. 

There are some bad omens hanging over the Comets team going into the game though. First and formost, the Comets are 0-4 on the road this season. Their closest road game being a 3-point loss at non-league Seattle Lutheran two weeks ago. Secondly, this is a rivalry game and so far this year the Comets are 0-2 in rivalry games, having lost at Wahkiakum and Ilwaco. And possibly thirdly, it's Halloween night. Now that may be more superstitious than anything else, but we all know how strange things are known to happen. But in this case, perhaps that's just what the Comets need to buck these troublesome trends?

Be sure to check back on Saturday for a photo gallery, player posts and a game recap

Ilwaco  vs. Castle Rock, Friday, 7 pm, Peterson Field, Ilwaco High

The season just hasn't gone the way the Fishermen (2-6, 1-3) would have liked or imagined. After two blowout wins that put them at 2-2, the Fishermen began a steady decline that took them to the bottom of the Trico league last week after losing on the road at Columbia. So having Trico League champ Castle Rock (7-1, 4-0) come to town for the final league game of the season, could be seen as a blessing or a curse. 

On one hand, a seemingly miraculous win over the heavily favored Rockets would be the kind of thing that would give the Fishermen incredible momentum going into their crossover game to end their season next week — as well as something to hang their hat on when they begin practices next summer. But on the other hand, the Rockets are not known for showing mercy to opponents, regardless of their stature — average margin of victory, 39-11. The Rockets have held their opponents to fewer than 10 points on five occasions this year. 

Last week the Fishermen were able to successfully move the ball through the air after inserting David Sinor under center. The senior threw for 289 yards and three TDs. Receiver Justin Short was the recipient of nine catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. One stat that probably stands out the most though is the fact that the Fishermen only gained 9 total yards on the ground while giving up 427 rushing yards to the Bruins.