Not only will we be crowning some conference champions over the next three weeks, every coach around is hoping his team peaks at the right time by playing their best football entering the playoffs.
Rarely does that happen, of course. The ebbs and flows of the season are not discriminatory or predictable. Some squads play their most complete game on a random Friday in August. Some never live up to their potential.
But a chosen few will enter the playoffs at their strongest, hardened over nine weeks of regular-season football. Those teams have the best opportunity to make deep playoff runs.
Who will put these final three weeks to good use and put it all together for the most important part of the season?
Even more important, will Blitz get his pick-making ability back before the playoffs? Because last week was not kind…
Last week: 14-6 (.700)
Overall: 109-27 (.801)
CONCORDIA AT WAYNE. The Cadets have not held a single opponent under 35 points so far this season. Wayne’s pass catchers should feast in this one. BLITZ SAYS WAYNE BY 26.
BISHOP DWENGER AT BISHOP LUERS. After non-conference struggles, who would have thought this game would be on anyone’s radar in terms of the impact in the SAC? Yet here we are, with Bishop Luers the lone undefeated left and Dwenger with just one loss in its division. Both have proven they can win close games. The edge goes to the Saints, barely. BLITZ SAYS BISHOP DWENGER BY 1.
NORTH SIDE AT SOUTH SIDE. The Totem Pole Game. These two rivals meet for the 97th time with North Side on a five-game winning streak against the Archers. It is expected Brauntae Johnson misses this game after being ejected in Week 6. No matter, even with the positives vibes after the Archers’ first win last week, the Legends hold the edge in talent. BLITZ SAYS NORTH SIDE BY 21.
HOMESTEAD AT CARROLL. Does anyone know what to expect each Friday from Homestead? Blitz doesn’t either. Carroll hasn’t looked sharp in recent weeks, while the Spartans pulled off a huge win last Friday against Snider. A rivalry game is all about throwing out the records, but the Chargers are still the better team. BLITZ SAYS CARROLL BY 8.
NORTHROP AT SNIDER. This isn’t a good time to play Snider. It has surely been a challenging week of practice off of Reed Rd. for the Panthers after last week’s loss. They will take that frustration out on ‘rival’ Northrop, which hasn’t won in the series since 1999. BLITZ SAYS SNIDER BY 30.
EAST NOBLE AT COLUMBIA CITY. Two teams aiming for a piece of the NE8 title if New Haven slips up. There is no team in the league more physical than East Noble, but can it bring the intensity for a full four quarters against a vengeful Eagles squad looking to get a dub after last week’s loss? BLITZ SAYS COLUMBIA CITY BY 9.
LEO AT HUNTINGTON NORTH. For those penciling in Brock Schott at tight end, the junior has 12 tackles for loss and six sacks through six games for Leo, both team highs. He should add to those numbers on Friday. BLITZ SAYS LEO BY 34.
NEW HAVEN AT BELLMONT. A trap game for the Bulldogs? There is a chance that New Haven comes out sluggish against the Braves after last week’s emotional victory, but Bellmont isn’t a good enough team to take advantage even if it happened. BLITZ SAYS NEW HAVEN BY 39.
NORWELL AT DEKALB. The Knights have allowed 30 or more points four times this season. That’s already the highest for a year since 2017. That vaunted defense for Norwell the last few years feels like a very distant memory. BLITZ SAYS DEKALB BY 15.
ADAMS CENTRAL AT SOUTHERN WELLS. This isn’t going to end well. BLITZ SAYS ADAMS CENTRAL BY 52.
BLUFFTON AT HERITAGE. Congrats to Bluffton, the No. 1 team in the land in Class 2A. Does that ranking survive a trip to Monroeville? The key in this one is Bluffton’s defense against the best offense it has seen all year. Get the stops, get the dub. BLITZ SAYS BLUFFTON BY 8.
JAY COUNTY AT SOUTH ADAMS. The first game on the brand-new turf at South Adams. There’s no way the Starfires drop this one. BLITZ SAYS SOUTH ADAMS BY 9.
WOODLAN AT CULVER ACADEMY. Tough road assignment after a tough home loss to Jay County last week. BLITZ SAYS CULVER ACADEMY BY 7.
CHURUBUSCO AT CENTRAL NOBLE. Two wins each. Both against Prairie Heights and Fremont. An even matchup! Cougs in a close one. BLITZ SAYS CENTRAL NOBLE BY 4.
EASTSIDE AT FREMONT. The Blazers are averaging over 250 yards per game on the ground. Fremont’s inability to stop the run has been an issue. Not a good combination. BLITZ SAYS EASTSIDE BY 20.
FAIRFIELD AT GARRETT. The defense of the Railroaders has been stout for the better part of the month, despite West Noble’s ability to break open last week’s game after the break. Garrett does enough on D and creates a few turnovers to earn the win. BLITZ SAYS GARRETT BY 6.
LAKELAND AT WEST NOBLE. The big one in the NECC. Both teams are littered with underclassmen filling huge roles and have exceptional offensive firepower for their conference. Can Lakeland slow down the West Noble rushing attack? Key on the run and take your chances everywhere else. BLITZ SAYS WEST NOBLE BY 12.
MISHAWAKA MARIAN AT ANGOLA. Can we get the Hornets a win? BLITZ SAYS ANGOLA BY 2.
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS AT BREMEN. Interestingly, Prairie Heights’ last three program wins have come on the road. It won’t make it four this Friday, however. BLITZ SAYS BREMEN BY 21.
WAWASEE AT WARSAW. After suffering loss No. 1 of the season, the Tigers get back on track at home. BLITZ SAYS WARSAW BY 23.
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN AT OREGON STRITCH (OH) (SATURDAY). Can the Braves get their first win over in the Buckeye State? It’s an opponent more Blackhawk’s level. BLITZ SAYS OREGON STRITCH BY 10.
These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH
Be the first to comment