#5 Manual (5-1) will host #4 Saint Xavier (4-2) after having an open week. St. X is coming off a 54-36 win over Ryle.

Last year, St. X won 21-10.

This is a key district game that will have playoff seeding ramifications. Both teams aren't as good defensively as have been in past and could be a higher scoring game than in past. Manual has only beat St. X twice in the last 30 years which was 1993 and 2019. St. X has given up over 30 points three straight games and Manual gave up 54 and 35 points in last two games. Hope the scoreboard light bulbs are ready to handle some points. Who wins this key district game?

This is a big time game for both teams. 

On 9/30/2023 at 1:23 PM, Tigerpride94 said:

Manual has only beat St. X twice in the last 30 years which was 1993 and 2019.

That's... Something.

2 hours ago, Hungover_in_Andover said:

That's... Something.

Been some close games over the years but St. X managed to win most of those including St.X hail mary pass as time expired back in 2020.

Looking at St. X stat report from Ryle game, St. X defense held Ryle to -15 yds rushing but game up 422 yards passing. Had to look twice when saw that number. That's huge amount of yards to give up. I expect Manual to see that and be focused on passing.

1 minute ago, Tigerpride94 said:

Looking at St. X stat report from Ryle game, St. X defense held Ryle to -15 yds rushing but game up 422 yards passing. Had to look twice when saw that number. That's huge amount of yards to give up. I expect Manual to see that and be focused on passing.

Ryle stat report shows 12 yds rushing and 420 passing.

On 9/30/2023 at 1:23 PM, Tigerpride94 said:

Manual has only beat St. X twice in the last 30 years which was 1993 and 2019. 

 

4 hours ago, Hungover_in_Andover said:

That's... Something.

Things were different in the before times. C-J pregame story from 1960 - the year after Manual won their first title. The Crimsons once led the series 19-2-1.

Love those old newspaper write-ups. Miss those Earl Cox & Bob White stories. 

Calpreps ratings show St. X 5 pts better.

Apparently St. X doesn’t do well against the pass is this something Manual can exploit I don’t know enough about them to know what kind of offense they run.

11 minutes ago, Tkinslow said:

Apparently St. X doesn’t do well against the pass is this something Manual can exploit I don’t know enough about them to know what kind of offense they run.

CB James Burnett who was out for Ryle game will be back for this game so should improve the pass defense some. 

Gut feeling, but it's telling me Manual pulls this out. Both teams are a little unpredictable, but the Crimsons will have had two weeks to shake off the CAL loss. Good timing. And Creech is playing really well right now. Seems to have hit his stride after only getting half a season last year.

Should be a close game for a while

But in the end X pulls it out 35-21

Great game here!  I'll be flipping burgers for it to help the Manual lacrosse program.

Anyway, the big question for me is will either of Manual's RBs return for this game?

ZahRon Washington has only played in the first 2 games this year.  His backup and standout SO RB Gerian Traynor got hurt in the South Warren game and didn't play vs CAL.  Aiden Blakey WR/S is a strong player for Manual as well that didn't suit up in the CAL game.  Are they back or not?

With them, Manual has a real shot here.  Without them, X makes Manual 1 dimensional and will be hard to win that way.

Good luck to both teams! 

Heard ZahRon was at the JV game Monday night and seen throwing the ball around with his teammates on the sidelines and was looking good. I'd expect to see him out there tomorrow night.