South Fork week 6

[Burkeforreal]

This one is best one yet, I’m sure people will be posting on the individual games especially since it’s conference play and Maiden and Bandys are going at it this week so things are starting to get tight, every play, every yard, every down, and every turnover or even a sack or Int is gonna count or determine the outcome of a game. Could be some 2 way or 3 way ties for conference crowns. Hope to see my first game this week, I’ve been pretty busy. So let’s hear it.

Bandys n Maiden- ranks up there with the Maiden/Newton game and the old days of Freedom and East Burke as far as attendance, hype, food and gate sales. Bandys is moving the ball, Maidens D had kept them in games, get there early. Could go either way. Not even throwing a prediction in this one scorewise. Bandys in a thriller. 1 score or less win.

Lincolnton n Newton Conover- not exactly rivals but great classy game going way back. Newton shows even against Hibriten they can move the ball. Lincolnton in a down year but still have the athletes and heart to keep them in it. This game could ALSO go either way. I’d bout flip a coin on this one and call it a day. I’ll give Newton Conover the slight edge in another thriller.

West Lincoln n North Lincoln- so many choices and this is another one. West slips by with a W last year in a super close one and this year on paper shouldn’t be AS close. Can’t believe these guys aren’t getting as much respect and attention. Sure they havnt played anybody but neither has Hibriten. North will HAVE to create fast running lanes for Cribb and O as a whole will need to play conservative mistake free ball with D getting tight on WL 1/2 punch running backs just for ANY upset potential whatsoever. An important game for both teams none the less. Going with WL 21 NL 7 in a defensive battle.

East Lincoln n LNC- “hey Jeff, who’s East playing tonight?” “ Lake Norman Charter” “You going?” Ehhh I might check out the Bandys Maiden one if I get out of work on time but I think Martha wanted me to help her and her mom with something”

 

[Burkeforreal]

Wolf you mighta clicked on the wrong one, you went to week 5. That’s ok though. Wolf said he wasn’t sold on Bandys and WL as they have played in some weak games thus far. I dunno man, West hasn’t faced good track star teams yet but usually Foard has some speedys and they handled them steadily. Keep in mind too, Bandys faced one of the best in a long while Hickory teams and only lost by a point. I’d say they are battle tested. If they were to up and beat AC or lose by a low score then I’d be a big time believer.

To the WL NL game I’ll throw a few more comments. North D has really stepped it up compared to last year. Can they contain West rushing attack, possible but questionable. West typically play the big linemen push the pile and wear them out method. Not sure what they got going on in the passing game but they tend to play Butch Carter/coach Lewis(Hibriten) type football. If the running works, why stop it. Especially if your big up front and I think they are. Cribb for NL has been a machine as far as what I can see on game recaps. If he can get those 1 to 2 yard gains to keep chains moving in critical moments it might ice the WL momentum and make for an interesting game.

 

[Wolf4Lyfe]

I'm gonna have to go with Maiden in a close one against Bandys but to me both teams are equal. I looked at Bandys schedule and other than Hickory I don't see any sort of real competition, same thing with West as they haven't played anybody with speed. Foard isn't what they were last year so I don't put a whole lot of stock into that game.
As far as the other games I think Lincolnton will get it figured out and beat Newton by abusing that defense on the ground but it will be a good ball game. I'll go with West against North in a close one and the East game isn't even worth mentioning.
I really think that anybody could win the conference this year and all teams are sort of in the middle of the pack, which one is going to step up? I think if Lincolnton can make a few personnel adjustments and learn how to play with a little confidence we will be right there in the conversation for a conference title.

 

[Wolf4Lyfe]

Even Maiden hasn't really played anyone in the nonconference schedule. I believe that Lincolnton and East Lincolns nonconference schedule will serve them well and have them prepared.

 

[Burkeforreal]

Even Maiden hasn't really played anyone in the nonconference schedule. I believe that Lincolnton and East Lincolns nonconference schedule will serve them well and have them prepared.

I can’t go against the grain on that one. Soild non conference games can either bring out the best in teams during the important games later on or tear down confidence and moral alittle. Depends on the players I guess.

North with 2 good nonconference games and 2 breather games to get game play level and soild and figure out their direction. 2 quarters against Bessemer city without a score definitely don’t help their stock at all. Not sure what happened or BC just came to life and will be playing soild rest of season. If North keeps defense up which has vastly improved from last year and can do a shorter passing game and not sling it downfield cause they don’t have track star wideouts for that then they can stay in the mix too. It’s not over and this West game will determine that.

Can’t gage North off AC game. Those boys would put up some numbers on EL, Lincolnton, Maiden, and Bandys too if they played.

 

[Burkeforreal]

Too ads to the other games I gotta go with Bandys. Much better team speed and it’ll show. Newton and Lincolnton can go either way. Newton did keep the Hibriten game respectable for at least a quarter

 

[Gary29]

Maiden and Bandys definitely the best game. Everybody is so down in this area right now. Usually when people start talking about parity in a conference...it just means the conference is bad lol. It does make for some excitement when trying to figure out who will come out on top lol. Look what happened to Maiden last year. Most years that maiden team would have been 3rd or 4th in conference.

Maiden looks good this year but haven't played anyone. Bandys looks pretty sharp and tonight will tell a lot. Lincolnton is plain bad for them. West is in the same boat as Maiden...look good but played terrible teams. N Lincoln I think has improved some but not a conference champ this year. East Lincoln has played Gaston county and went 2-2. They are decent I suppose but like Lincolnton, you expect more. Newton is just OK.

Not trying to be negative. I guess i'm just spoiled by the level of football we had in this area prior to last year lol. It will get back to that level again. too many good programs in this conference for that not to happen.

 

[wecribb]

North won in a defensive battle last night 7-6

 

[Burkeforreal]

North won in a defensive battle last night 7-6

I was gonna be there but had to take care of business in Lenior. After leaving I thought I’d catch the end of the South Caldwell Watauga game and when I turned on the radio to catch the score....just went on home lol. Buddy of mine went to see Bandys Maiden. That’d been my 2nd choice. I know Watauga ain’t on this forum but those guys are for real. A stinky program of the 90s and some of 2000s and has really picked it up under this coach.

Apparently WL has got it going on on both sides of ball for who they are. They might take 3rd or 4th. Being they destroyed everybody they played so far I wondered if North was gonna pull it off. Both these guys have stepped it up on defense but how can they do against teams with speed based on your observation mrCribb?

 

[Burkeforreal]

Kinda wondering how this offense is gonna hold strong if BC and WL kept them limited. Let me know what’s been going on there.

 

[Burkeforreal]

Kinda wondering how this offense is gonna hold strong if BC and WL kept them limited. Let me know what’s been going on there.

As far as rest of conference it looks like Bandys/EL/Maiden/NL/NC in a super tight battle. Expect maybe a 2 way tie or more. 3 way possibly at worst. Bandys showing speed from what I’ve been told and that can kill. Newton still with life after the drama and talent departure. Very interesting stuff. Looks better than the neighbor conference Hibriten sits in ha ha. Battle of the toilet bowl for 2nd place. Looking like Foard might take that one after a bad start. Beat Patton last night. Send LNC over there we’ll put Foard in this one lol.

 

[Wolf4Lyfe]

To be completely honest this conference is so watered down this year the winner will have at least one or two conference losses imo. I think it'll come down to Newton and Bandys. Lincolnton has got to find some sort of offense the defense didn't play bad against Newton but it's hard when you're on the field the whole night and the offense puts you in bad positions. Something has to change offensively for us and fast or I'm afraid we won't even make the playoffs.

 

[Burkeforreal]

To be completely honest this conference is so watered down this year the winner will have at least one or two conference losses imo. I think it'll come down to Newton and Bandys. Lincolnton has got to find some sort of offense the defense didn't play bad against Newton but it's hard when you're on the field the whole night and the offense puts you in bad positions. Something has to change offensively for us and fast or I'm afraid we won't even make the playoffs.

I’d go with Bandys and EL tie or Bandys outright. I think East will take Newton down to the wire and win in a close one. My best guess but North and West defenses if they hold up they might be in that mix for 2nd.

I’m loving how Bazzle has taken this group in a good direction. Looked it over last night at ACentrals opponents. North put more points on them than any team so far. Next week should AC slay the Watauga dragon they should be in the running for another conference crown making Norths game with them look even better for North in that they lost to a good team and should stand up to anyone else in conference play- win or lose.