North Laurel @ Madison Southern Predictions

[MountainThunder]

Last year, the Jaguars overlooked Mad Southern, and got routed by a VERY solid Madison Southern team at The Jungle. This year, they will not make that mistake again. They will be ready and last week's win showed yet another week of improvement on both sides of the ball. These young Jags will have their hands full, especially with the new Air Raid attack offense that Madison Southern has put into play. I think North wins a squeaker by going for 2 at the end of regulation. Those tough first opponents in JCHS and Louisville Western will pay off this week for NL.

 

North Laurel 29

Mad Southern 28

[SLINK]

N. Laurel 27-20.

[Boucher]

I think the Jags want some revenge over last year's debacle. With the return of Asher, NL should get a boost on both sides of the ball. If they can minimize turnovers, I see NL winning this one.

 

NL 27

MS 19

[MountainThunder]

I think the Jags want some revenge over last year's debacle. With the return of Asher, NL should get a boost on both sides of the ball. If they can minimize turnovers, I see NL winning this one.

 

NL 27

MS 19

 

North has to do a much better job of blocking against MS than they did last year. There were numerous times that MS got in the backfield as fast as lightning when they were dropping 7 or 8 into coverage and only had 3-4 rushing. It is too easy to defend the pass when you have 7 or 8 players covering 4 receivers and can put pressure on the passes with 3-4 guys. However, the line play has improved drastically over the past few weeks and that is a HUGE positive for the Jags. I think they young guys are beginning to step up and see what needs to be done.

[Son of Bear]

This isn't the same MS team that won 50-0 last year.

 

NL will pull it out 34-24.

[MountainThunder]

This isn't the same MS team that won 50-0 last year.

 

NL will pull it out 34-24.

 

They don't have Stocker (thank goodness) and I have to tell you that he was the best defensive player I saw play all of last season. He was the total package. When NL ran their midline sets, he would step deep into the backfield forcing the QB to make the handoff then was so quick that he could catch the FB within 1-2 yards of the LOS. Very impressive. Wish he would have picked UK over UT, but at least he graduated!

[3wishes]

This is a hard game to predict, if NL had not had the win they had last week I would've picked Southern. However, something must be happening at NL.

 

NL 31

MS 29

[MountainThunder]

This is a hard game to predict, if NL had not had the win they had last week I would've picked Southern. However, something must be happening at NL.

 

NL 31

MS 29

 

They started running Maggard more and when Asher comes back, I suspect that he will be back at TE/WR, which is where he can be the most effective. This is a huge boost to the offense as well as the young line starting to find their groove and understanding their responsibilities a little more.

[JC Alumni 76]

Looks like NL is finally starting to gel into the team many thought they could be. Last weeks win over a solid Leslie Co. team i believe has given this team they spark they needed to go out a compete in every game. Madison Southern was very solid last year in its win over NL but has been desimated by graduation. They are also coming off a win in a shoot out win LCC. I believe with this game being at NL, that will be the deciding factor. My prediction:

 

NL: 28

MS: 21

[Boucher]

I believe with this game being at NL, that will be the deciding factor. My prediction:

 

NL: 28

MS: 21

 

The game is being played AT Madision Southern.

[Jim Schue]

They started running Maggard more and when Asher comes back, I suspect that he will be back at TE/WR, which is where he can be the most effective. This is a huge boost to the offense as well as the young line starting to find their groove and understanding their responsibilities a little more.

 

Why not a 1-2 punch at RB? They struggled last year to get Asher the ball in good situations, and I would be concerned that putting him back at WR/TE would limit his touches.

 

Then again, with the expansion of the offense that Wardrup seems to be bringing, maybe putting Asher back at WR/TE would work better than it has in the past. I would be hesitant to take any carries away from Maggard, given how tough he's been running the past two weeks.

 

I don't know; I'm just thinking out loud. Since I'm doing that, this game needs to be a good one so as to justify my decision to go to Berea rather than stay at home. But you guys know me — I always look for what seems like it will be the best game of the week.

[MountainThunder]

Why not a 1-2 punch at RB? They struggled last year to get Asher the ball in good situations, and I would be concerned that putting him back at WR/TE would limit his touches.

 

Then again, with the expansion of the offense that Wardrup seems to be bringing, maybe putting Asher back at WR/TE would work better than it has in the past. I would be hesitant to take any carries away from Maggard, given how tough he's been running the past two weeks.

 

I don't know; I'm just thinking out loud. Since I'm doing that, this game needs to be a good one so as to justify my decision to go to Berea rather than stay at home. But you guys know me — I always look for what seems like it will be the best game of the week.

 

I agree that Asher has to get touches. However, he should be more successful with the emergence of Maggard (who probably should have gotten more touches last year as well). Asher is not that 'hit the hole and find a seam guy' inside the tackles, ... he is the bounce it outside and outrun people guy. Having Maggard be successful inside the tackles will open up the outside opportunities as the DE, OLB, and CB will have to respect the inside running, forcing the defense to play tighter and helping Asher out on the sweeps, reverses and short passes. Plus he can be the deep threat they need to help the Jags offense continue to improve this season. You can still put Asher on a wing or slot position and run him in motion for the outside stuff or just to use him as a decoy to keep the middle more open. They started doing that last year with Cessna and it was starting to work, then the very game they implemented this (Mercer) was when he injured his knee.