We are down to just two weeks left in the regular season. This week there are many Thursday night games with just a few Friday night games. A pair of 6-1 teams do battle as North Caroline hosts Kent Island.
Week #8 Bayside Conference Picks:
We are down to just two weeks left in the regular season. This week there are many Thursday night games with just a few Friday night games. A pair of 6-1 teams do battle as North Caroline hosts Kent Island.
Our Overtime Live ‘Game of the Week’ presented by ‘Preston Ford’ can be heard on 94-3 WINX-FM on the Mid-Shore, on the WINX-FM App and streaming at forevermidshore.com…’The Roto Rooter Pre-Game Show’ is at 6:40pm with a kickoff at 7pm…The Thursday (Friday) Night Lights Game of the Week is:
#2 Kent Island (6-1) at #3 North Caroline (6-1)-Two very similar teams that take pride in their trench play, that love to run the football and play great defense. Both have played #1 Stephen Decatur in the last two weeks, KI lost at home by 18 and NC on the road by 24. Outside of that both teams have played well this season. Kent Island has become a more balanced team this year in throwing the football more with QB Austin Henry. Caroline has many strong backfield threats in running the football and that has been their main attack offensively which is no change from previous seasons under former HC James McCormick. Outside of their issues defensively against Decatur both defenses have been strong this season. They should be able to pull it out. Both teams are battle tested, experienced and capable of winning. First down efficiency on offense will be important for both teams. Despite Caroline being at home I am going with the Buccaneers in this one because of the Bucs being able to be more multiple in scoring offensively and their defense being equally as good as Caroline.
Thursday:
#1 Stephen Decatur (7-0) at #9 Wicomico (1-6)-6pm-Decatur is the best team in the Bayside and has proven it over the last two weeks beating the #2 and #3 teams in the Bayside in Kent Island and North Caroline handily. While Wicomico has been good defensively this year and kept the team in many games, they have had a very difficult time defensively. Decatur has faced bigger teams in the trenches and has fared well. Their offensive line will get a test upfront against the Wicomico front seven, but the Seahawks should win this one without too much issue.
#4 Queen Anne’s (4-3) hosting #9 Parkside (3-4)-6pm-Both teams have good trench play, Queen Anne’s more on defense and Parkside more on offense but both sides are physical and have talent. The Lion’s defense is strong and while the Rams have the speed, size, and skill to score I think the Lions defense will be too much. I think the Rams will have similar challenges as they did against Wicomico last week. But they showed last week they could win with Special Teams and defense. They have played well at Queen Anne’s in years past. That said the Lions have just as much offensive skill as the Rams and are more balanced. The Lions are also at home on Senior Night and should come out the winner.
#6 Colonel Richardson (3-4) hosting #12 Kent County (1-6)-6pm-The Colonels are looking to bounce back after a bad loss last week. Despite the record this is still a good Colonels team that is at home. Now they need this win to give themselves some sort of chance at hosting a playoff game. Kent County has been playing better in the last few weeks including getting their first win last week. Colonel will get a tough test from the Trojans, but I believe is the better team overall, some of that evidenced by similar matchups and the outcomes. Colonel at home should come away the winner but must play strong.
#11 Snow Hill (4-3) hosting Northampton, VA (3-4)-6:30pm-The Eagles have lost three in a row, but all have come against very good teams, so they are battle tested. They must get better in the trenches but have a lot of skill although the depth got tested last week. Assuming they get enough players back that they did not have last week, I like the Eagles at home to bounce back against a team that has given up 214 points this season, an average of 30 points per game.
Friday:
#5 Cambridge-SD (5-2) hosting #13 Washington (0-6)-6pm-The Vikings are the hottest team in the Bayside behind Stephen Decatur including 2 wins over 2A teams this season. They have speed and skill with depth at WR and RB. QB Blake LaBelle has been hot throwing the football. Washington has shown a lot of progress in the last two weeks. However, the Vikings are still at a much different level and a much better team. That said it will be interesting to see how well the Jags compete. The Vikings should win for the sixth time in the last seven games.
#7 James M. Bennett (2-5) hosting #10 Easton (1-6)-6pm-The Clippers have lost two in a row but have faced tough teams in Queen Anne’s and Kent Island. They have shown the ability to score both on offense and special teams while their defense, which is young, has shown flashes but has lacked consistency. Easton has had to resort to a heavy ground game due to injuries and get creative including using DL Marvin Foster as a RB last week. Expect to see that again. The Clippers will get a test from the Easton defense, but they have more offensive firepower and should be able to get enough stops to come out with the win at home.
Last Week Picks: 6-1
2023 Season Picks: 45-7
