Rantings of a Lunatic

Well, how good does that feel?!? Wish we could do that every year! Well, it’s been one of those weeks out of your nightmares (talking about AFTER Saturday mind you). I have wanted to write much more this week, but, alas, I feel fortunate to be employed. If anyone wants to hire a controls engineer (or football website developer) give me a call. Due to the timing, I limit my thoughts this week to just some scatterbrained stuff…..

Interesting Statistic:

Of Walton’s last 35 games, they have lost a mere 3. But the cool part of that statistic is that 2 of those 3 losses (and 3 of their last 7) have been to our Bulldogs. They have gotten the better of us overall, but we must be doing something right!

Season-to-date MVP, maybe MFTWP:

Our defense has been the story of the year in my mind. We pitched a shutout against Liberty. After the first series we did extremely well against Hancock. And allowing Walton a mere 5 first downs is just crazy. Obviously defense is even more team oriented than offense. But I tell you, I see some tremendous individual efforts going on out there. While he may not lead the team in tackles, I think my Most Fun To Watch Player (MFTWP) has to be Zach Newkerk. I for one am glad I’m not Hancock’s QB, or for that matter any QB on our schedule. He has been so punishing this year. Yes, we knew Fletcher and Cole were going to be great, but so are so many others…..among many that come to mind, Rich Ennist and Jacob Sackett are right up there as well.

Don’t fall off the ladder:

I like how I schedule develops the next few weeks. I don’t at all discount Harpursville, but I like it that we play Harpursville, who lost to next week opponent Oxford, who lost to following week opponent Deposit. It’s a nice little ladder to climb up. It allows us to gradually increase our game. We’re looking good, but there are bits and pieces all over where we can be better. This gives us that developmental path. Following Deposit, we face Seton, who started out tremendously, then lost 2 key players to injury, and fell off dramatically. I’m not sure what to say there, hard to say what will happen. I am guessing those guys are done (which is terrible, they were an awesome QB/WR pair). Our last regular season game will be BG, which should be a great, tough game to test our refinement and be ready for the (hopefully) playoffs.

OK, picks. I knew the cliff was coming. I went a very poor 16-7 (0.696). Amazing how I can do better at the beginning of the season when I don’t know anything! Cumulatively, I’m 56-16 (0.778). Bye bye 0.800. This week, I am banking on…..UE over Binghamton, Oneonta over Sus Valley, SVE over Odessa, Sidney over Unatego, Greene over Whitney Point, Waverly over Trumansburg, Windsor over Norwich, Oxford over UVE, Tioga over Candor, Dryden over Watkins Glen, Hornell over Vestal, Ithaca over Southside (will Ithaca really start 4-0??), Maine-Endwell over Owego, Corning West over Horseheads, Corning East over EFA, Johnson City over Chenango Valley, Lansing over Southern Springs, Newark Valley over END, Groton over Moravia, Forks over Walton (wouldn’t mind the other way), Deposit over BG, Newfield over Edison, Seton over Hancock. Another tough week!