Thursday, October 13, 2011

Week 7 game previews - 10/14/11

It's homecoming for Naselle, while Ilwaco hits the road for a tough one against Toledo

Naselle vs. NW Christian, 7 pm, Friday, Oct. 14, Pentilla Field, Naselle
The Naselle Comets (3-0, 6-0) are the toast of the football world these days, undefeated and ranked third in the state in just about every poll and ranking you can find. The NW Christian Navigators (0-3, 0-6) are essentially the exact opposite.
The Navs could very well be the worst 2B football team in the state this year. They have scored only 20 points TOTAL through their first six games, and have been shutout four of the six. They are second only to Liberty, who have scored only 14 points this year. The Navs do however have the regrettable distinction of having given up the most points of any 2B team in the state — 299. For those wondering, that is a 50 ppg average they're giving up. They are behind only 3A Rogers High School (with 330) for the most allowed in the entire state this year. All this coming off a year where they were still in the playoff hunt when the Comets visited last year in week 7, in an exciting 24-21 win for Naselle.
Speaking of stats, the Comets obviously have a superb chance for their third straight shutout win Friday night. Something tells me that by halftime coach Eaton will have no qualms with his boys staying on the field to watch the Homecoming activities. 
The Comets continue to lead the 2B level in scoring with 289 points through six games (a 48 ppg average). They are third in points allowed with 48 (an 8 ppg average). Of course this all comes with the varsity sitting the majority of the second half of their games. 
On a much less festive note for Naselle, senior lineman Ryley Queener while not be playing this week due to a medical emergency over the weekend that has him hospitalized in Oregon. Queener is on the mend however, as he noted on his Facebook page earlier today.
"Thank you all for the prayers it means a lot to me. I'm definitely getting better little by little. Can't wait to come home!"


*Pacific League notes
• Second place Valley play a pretty thin Ocosta team at home.
• With their surprising win at South Bend last week, North Beach finds themselves in a tie for second place. Naselle travels to North Beach next week in a game that would seal the league for Naselle with a win. North Beach travels out of town for a non-league game with Mossyrock.
• Raymond is still alive and kicking, after two straight blowout wins over terrible teams. They play at South Bend against a team that have slipped out of the running for the Pacific League. South Bend play Valley next week before finishing up with NW Christian.


Don't forget to check back Saturday for a game recap and photo gallery



Ilwaco @ Toledo, 7 pm, Friday, Oct. 14, Toledo
The Ilwaco Fishermen (2-2, 3-3) have already accomplished their best season since 2007, but they're still hungry for more. However, they may have to wait another week to take a big bite, as the Fishermen travel to second place Toledo (3-1, 5-1).
Ilwaco got back to what they are good at last week — running the ball with their speedy backs Josh Berteaux and Justice Schenk. Moving Berteaux back to RB meant taking Matt Wood off the line and moving him to QB, where he serves as the official hand-off guy — the Fishermen attempted one pass last week, an incompletion by Berteaux, who had a mega-huge game, scoring 4 TDs and running for 238 yards.
Toledo is a powerful team, averaging 38 ppg, while giving up only 13 ppg. Their lone loss came at the hands of Trico leader Kalama two weeks ago. Toledo had a number of young players on the field last week at Stevenson, filling in for injured starters, but they still put up a balanced offense on the ground and through the air. Even if the Fishermen secondary can slow the passing game, Toledo features three different running backs who have all been putting up nice numbers this year.

*Trico League notes
• After losing their first two games of the year, Kalama has looked like a juggernaut, winning four straight to take the top spot in the Trico. The Chinooks have an easy one this week as they travel to Columbia.
• Tied with Toledo for second in the league, LaCenter hosts a particularly bad Stevenson team this week.
• Tied for third with Ilwaco is Ridgefield, who host Castle Rock this week. This game should really give the Fishermen a good idea of what they'll face over the last two weeks of the Trico season. 

 Pigskin Pick'em
Oooo, el perfecto again, 2-0 last week,  10-1 this year

W- Naselle vs. NW Christian
If this game isn't over in the first quarter I'll be awfully surprised.
L - Ilwaco @ Toledo
I could see myself picking Ilwaco to win next week ... but not this week.

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