The Beechwood Tigers (8-1) travel to the Bracken County Polar Bears (7-1) for a district showdown, game time 7:30 pm. Both teams enter this contest with 4-0 district records and both teams have dominated their previous four district opponents. These two are #2 and #3 in 2A in scoring, Beechwood averaging 54.2 points per game and Bracken County just behind them averaging 43.5 points per game. It will be a contrast in style with the run focused Polar Bears trying to control the clock and keep the explosive Beechwood passing game off the field.

Beechwood's offense is led by Sr. QB Clay Hayden who threw his 100th career TD pass in his previous game. Hayden leads the entire state with 33 TD passes against only 3 INT's. Those numbers come with one of his top targets injured for most of the season. Sr. WR James Cusick has stepped up with 33 receptions, over 600 yards receiving and 10 TD receptions. Cusick is now in the top 10 in 2 A in receiving. Sr. Luke Erdman, the fastest player in 2A, has missed some time also but is back now and just behind Cusick with 10 TD's. Sr. RB Chase Flaherty is averaging just under 100 yards rushing per game and is also a receiving threat out of the backfield. The Tigers defense has not allowed a TD to a district opponent in the last two years. That streak is under serious threat this week against a high scoring Bracken County offense.

Bracken County is on a roll. Their only loss was a close contest in game 2 against Sayre, who is undefeated on the season. The Polar Bears offense is run dominated and Jr. RB Daulton Tarter is the leader. Tarter is 2nd in 2A in rushing averaging 182 yards a game and almost 11 yards per carry. Jr. QB Jackson Whitten keeps defenses honest. He has only thrown 57 passes on the year but he is completing almost 75% of the passes he throws. The Bracken County defense is the top scoring defense in 2A, only allowing 7.6 points per game. They will need to be at their very best to hold down the Tigers offense.

Bracken County has a strong resume that looks like they can challenge the Tigers. What are your thoughts? Can Bracken County pull off the huge upset on their home field?

Tigers name the score!

43 minutes ago, Bluebird said:

Tigers name the score!

I know SOS of schedule has to be considered, but I think you are selling Bracken County short.

3 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I know SOS of schedule has to be considered, but I think you are selling Bracken County short.

Agree with VOR.  This will not be a shutout nor a running clock.  Dalton Tarter is a load and the type of challenge the Tigers D needs.  BW will win by something like 35-12 (probably 2 failed X pts).  Anybody know how close Fryman is to returning?

Beechwood has a running clock by half. They have far too much speed for Bracken to keep up and Bracken doesn't have a strong passing attack. I think this will be like every other district game Beechwood has played thus far. 

Much as I support my friends from the immediate west, I picture a score along the lines of 44-12 Tigers.  I hope it’s a lot closer. 

1 minute ago, BigTuna6 said:

Beechwood has a running clock by half. They have far too much speed for Bracken to keep up and Bracken doesn't have a strong passing attack. I think this will be like every other district game Beechwood has played thus far. 

Beechwood did not have a running clock on Owen County in the first half and Bracken County just beat Owen County 48-7. I will be very surprised and impressed if Beechwood has a running clock in the first half. You all are not looking at this year's Bracken County team. You are just going by name, reputation and past teams. Average score in Bracken County's 7 wins is 48-5. SOS is not good but they are crushing these teams. 

Polar Bears are not a finesse team.  Smash mouth right out of the starting blocks.  Taulbee one of best power backs in 2A.  On D will bring the house often and took Sayre’s Luke Pennington  into 2nd half to buy time to find open receivers.  BC led Sayre 14-7 at half (I recall?), but didn’t score themselves and lost 26-14 to RPI #2 in 1A.  One thing to look forward to is weak kicking game (both punting and XPTs/kickoffs).  Great field position will be a BW bonus.

Tiger fans will probably be disappointed in Polar Bear facilities.  Grass crowned field with poor PA system and very few stands for visitors.  Hamburgers are good, but overall concessions are sparse.

29 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Beechwood did not have a running clock on Owen County in the first half and Bracken County just beat Owen County 48-7. I will be very surprised and impressed if Beechwood has a running clock in the first half. You all are not looking at this year's Bracken County team. You are just going by name, reputation and past teams. Average score in Bracken County's 7 wins is 48-5. SOS is not good but they are crushing these teams. 

Bracken was only up 21-6 on Carroll Co., with 9:00 left to go in the game. Beechwood could have beaten Carroll by as many as they wanted to last night, so can’t really compare scores. Beechwood’s varsity ran 13 plays last night and scored 49 points. Bracken runs the ball well, but if they get behind and have to play catch up, their passing game is not great. Looks like Whitten has moved positions and is no longer the QB. Bracken will try and ground and pound and control the clock, if they can do that successfully, they can stay in it, if they can’t do that and have to play catch up with the passing game, it could get away from them.

BW O-line going to get good experience on stunting, blitzing BC on almost every pass play.  Polar Bears lead 2A in multiple defensive stats….fewest points allowed, sacks, interceptions and pick sixes.  Have both #1 and #2 players in sacks and Taulbee has 3 pick 6s himself.  By far the best 2A team Tigers will play to date.  Good prep for playoff building D against strong ground game.

TP94 Power Ratings from last week:

Beechwood 71.36
Bracken County 48.21

I am thinking 2nd half running clock. 

Is Fryman back yet?

I think Beechwood wins but Bracken County will likely challenge them some. This will be Beechwood’s toughest game on the second half of the season.

2 hours ago, MaddenCurse44 said:

Is Fryman back yet?

No. My completely uninformed guess is we see him in round 2 or 3 of the playoffs.