Outside the Lines: Defense will be difference for Raiders

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 5, 2006

Predicting the outcome of football games is not easy.

That&8217;s because there are things like turnovers (interceptions and fumbles), penalties and strange bounces of the ball that can take what appears to be a win for one team on paper and turn it into a loss on the field.

There was definitely some of that this past week as I went 7-5 in my prognostications (I just like that word). The previous week I was 3-1. So, my record now stands at a dismal 10-6 or 62.5 percent.

Kingwood beat Meadowview 27-12 last week while Shelby Academy blasted Open Door 55-0. This week the two AISA schools will do battle at Kingwood.

While 2A Kingwood has a potent passing attack with some tall receivers, the Lions&8217; defense seems lacking. The 1A Raiders of Shelby County also have a host of speedy runners.

-Game of the Week prediction: Shelby Academy 28, Kingwood 14.

Briarwood fell to Vestavia Hills at home 20-13 last week. This week this set of Lions plays host to regional opponent John Carroll, which fell to Pleasant Grove 28-14.

-Prediction: Briarwood 28, John Carroll 14.

Calera beat Vincent 49-24 on the road in a game that got sloppy toward the end. This week the Eagles hosts regional opponent B.B. Comer, which fell to Childersburg 45-7.

-Prediction: Calera 42, B.B. Comer 7.

Chelsea went on the road and stung Dallas County 41-6. This week the Hornets host regional opponent Talladega, which beat Lincoln 27-12.

-Prediction: Chelsea 35, Talladega 14.

Coosa Valley got its first win at home last week over West Alabama Prep 21-18. This time the Rebels travel to regional and area opponent Open Door, which got trashed by Shelby Academy.

-Prediction: Coosa Valley 35, Open Door 0.

Cornerstone (Region 1 Area 1) lost to South Choctaw Academy (Region 1 Area 2) 26-7 in a turnover-plagued contest. This week the Chargers host Central Christian also from Region 1, Area 2), which beat Warrior Academy 48-13.

-Prediction: Cornerstone 28, Central Christian 21.

Montevallo struggled at Billingsley, but pulled out a win 36-30 on the road in overtime. This week the Dawgs travel to regional opponent LaFayette, which beat Loachapoka 20-6.

-Prediction: Montevallo 28, LaFayette 21.

Oak Mountain fell to Fairfield 15-12 at home. I felt Fairfield was a little too much for the Eagles, but I thought I was being a little too hard on them and gave them the nod. This week Oak Mountain goes to regional opponent Vestavia, which whipped Briarwood. No nod this time.

-Prediction: Vestavia, 28 Oak Mountain 14.

Pelham fell to Spain Park in a heart breaker the Panthers could have won. A fumble, a roughing the kicker penalty made the difference in a hard fought contest. This week Pelham hosts regional opponent Paul Bryant at home.

-Prediction: Pelham 24, Paul Bryant 12.

Shelby County traveled to St. Clair County and won on the road 13-6. The Wildcats host regional opponent Bibb County this week, which beat Greensboro 19-8.

-Prediction: Shelby County 14, Bibb County 7.

Spain Park defeated Pelham in the game of the week last week 26-21. This week the Jags travel to regional opponent Mt. Brook which fell to Bob Jones 17-14.

-Prediction: Spain Park 36, Mt. Brook 14.

Thompson traveled to Florence and won 28-15. This week the Warriors host regional opponent Hueytown at home, which beat Shades Mountain 41-13.

-Prediction: Thompson 14, Hueytown 28.

Vincent fell to Calera in a tough contest, but never gave up. This week the Yellow Jackets host 2A regional opponent Cleveland.

-Prediction: Vincent 14, Cleveland 0