The Luck of the Draw

The luck of the draw.

Sectionals for high school football start tonight & some sectionals are tougher than others, with enough competitive teams scrambling for the same prize: a championship & a chance to advance further into postseason play.

But no sectional, I feel, is going to be more challenging than in Class 2A, Sectional 27, where defending 2A state champion Harding (5-4) takes on Fairfield (9-0); top-ranked Jimtown (9-0) plays Woodlan (5-4); Garrett (8-1) plays Central Noble (5-4) & Bishop Luers takes on Prairie Heights in a battle of 5-4 squads.

Yes, the competition is that loaded. And what some folks don't realize is that the two SAC (one of the more competitive conferences statewide) teams in this thing are 5-4 but they're pretty awesome 5-4 ballclubs, given the fact that they've taken on much larger schools & are all the better for having played the 3/4A (i.e. larger schools) competition come sectional time. If that's not enough to have some folks worried, the coaching squads @ Fairfield & Prairie Heights have been if not on edge, really focusing on their more physical opponents all week, knowing that you can't emulate the speed of Luers or Harding in practice...it's that impossible once you get on the field & actually meet them head on.

Here are my picks for this week on who's going to beat who:
Harding over Fairfield - upset special; Harding a bit down this season but looking to set things right now that they're in sectional action against a formidable opponent
Luers over Prairie Heights - SAC does it again; no contest here since Luers is smarting over their loss to Dwenger last week
Garrett over Central Noble - ACAC champs keep on the right track but proceeding with caution
Jimtown over Woodlan - Jimmies run, run, run away with win...& I thought playing Adams Central was tough enough for the Warriors; Jimtown is ten times as good as AC though

Nothing beats the joy of Friday nights under the lights playing high school football; for every team involved, it's do or die. And may the last team standing move on!!