Week #4 Bayside Conference Picks:
This week we are into all Conference matchups. Washington is the lone team not in action as they have a bye week. One game is on Thursday and the rest are on Friday. In one instance we have a rivalry game which is usually reserved for the last game of the regular season however the Stephen Decatur and Snow Hill matchup did not survive that tradition. The rest of the rivalries do remain in Week #9. This week also presents matchups that are difficult picks.
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 5:40pm with a kickoff at 6pm…The Friday Night Lights Game of the Week is:
#7 Cambridge (2-1) at #9 Colonel Richardson (1-2)-6pm-When the season started many of us thought that again this year this game would determine the Bayside Conference 1A champion as it has in the last two seasons. However, with Snow Hill starting the season at 3-0 that may not be the case. Colonel Richardson has won the 1A in the last two seasons thanks to their wins over Cambridge. In their win in 2021 it was the first time they had defeated the Vikings since 2005. It was also their first Bayside 1A Championship since 1981. Just as big, it ended an 11-year consecutive championship streak for Cambridge…Flash forward to this season---the Colonels have lost two in a row, but those losses were to quality opponents. Their lone win was against Washington. Cambridge has won two in a row including a big win over 2A Parkside last Thursday. Colonel, it appears has an advantage in the trenches or at least we thought they did but for Cambridge to compete against the lines of Parkside is impressive although a few TDs came in the air not the ground. However, Cambridge who already lost Anthony Hughes to injury in Week 1 lost LaShaun Moody last week and was seen on crutches. His status is unknown, but you have to think he will be out for this one. The Vikings do have depth at the skill positions but both players played multiple positions as two-way starters. It is tough to gauge Colonel who blew out winless Washington and then lost to Woodbridge and Kent Island by wide margins. We know they are still a good team against the 1A, but how good? Given the momentum from last week and having won two in a row, despite the injuries and being at home I am going to go with the Vikings to win this one. This was a tight game that went to OT last season in Cambridge, and this will likely be a similar one. Cambridge should be in better shape at QB position in this one. But this is another flip-of-the-coin game.
Thursday:
#4 North Caroline (3-0) at Wicomico (1-2)-6pm-The Bulldogs are off to a hot start under new head coach Nic McMorris with a strong running attack and blitzing defense. The Indians have had a tough schedule to start the year and in that they have faced some very good defenses which explains in part the lack of offense. This week will be no exception as the Bulldogs are very strong defenders. Both teams are not going to light it up in the air even though both QBs have good arms. This game has the makings for another defensive low scoring game although I tend to think that both teams will be able to do enough scoring to make it entertaining. This matchup is on a short week but both teams have to deal with that challenge. Wicomico is at home, and they are very battle tested. Either team can win this one however, with a strong offensive backfield that can match or exceed WiHi (which is saying something) and defense I think Caroline has enough if not more to defeat the Indians on the road in what I expect to be a close game.
Friday:
#1 Stephen Decatur (3-0) hosting #13 Snow Hill (3-0)-6pm-‘The Route 113 Rivalry’ game or ‘The Battle of Worcester County’ this year (and it looks like going forward) is being played much earlier in the season. The last time these two teams came into the matchup with winning records was 2011 and again that game came at the end of the regular season. Look the Eagles have had a great start to the year, and they will be fired up to play this game to show themselves well. But this Seahawks team is just much further along as a program than the Eagles right now. The home field is a nice bonus for SD but not necessary as they should stay undefeated with another win.
#2 Kent Island (3-0) hosting #7 Easton (1-2)-6pm-The Bucs were going to be a tough enough challenge for the Warriors but now that they have lost QB Mikey O’Connor for the season it makes it even tougher. Again, the home field is a bonus but has no bearing on the outcome of the game as the Bucs are the better team. However, their offensive line against Easton’s defensive line should be a good matchup. The Easton D is good but will be on the field too long and eventually give into the Bucs physical running game.
#3 Queen Anne’s (1-2) at #10 James M. Bennett (1-2)-6pm-The Lions got their first win of the season last week in OT at home against Wicomico. This week they to do the return trip to Salisbury only against another opponent. Last week was just the second game on the field for the Lions as compared to third for the Indians. Now that QA has a couple of regular games under their belt, we will see if the QA offense can get some consistent traction while continuing to be able to rely on a solid defense. Bennett played hard but was shutout at Decatur last week. Both teams are battle tested. I expect it will be tough again this week for Bennett to score points and the Lions should be able to have enough success with their offense against a Bennett defense that has given up 35+ points in two of their three games this season.
#8 Parkside (0-3) at #12 Kent County (0-3)-6:30pm-The Rams have had a tough start to this season against quality competition and even though Cambridge is a talented 1A team, I am not sure many thought the Rams would lose that game last week, but they did. This is a get right game for Parkside against a Trojan team that has also struggled this season and has also played a solid schedule. The defense did do a better job in keeping Seaford’s offense down score wise last week compared to the first two weeks but there is still a lot of improvement needed. The Rams with their size in the trenches and speed at key positions should be more than the Trojans can handle and Parkside should get their first win.
Last Week Picks: 8-2
2023 Season Picks: 24-4
