Warren East is led this season by QB Dane Parsley who has thrown for 1788 yards on the season and rushed for another 532 yards. RB Jackson McCool (723 yards), is the leading rusher for the Raiders. The Raiders have allowed 1833 yards rushing on the season. 

John Hardin is led by all everything RB Cavalli Pittman (2353 yards). They have allowed 725 rushing yards and 570 yards passing on the season. 

The stat that jumps out at me is the amount of rushing yards that Warren East has relinquished this season. 

I think that the John Hardin defensive secondary needs to play better against a balanced offense in Warren East that can throw the ball effectively.

This is a sneaky good first round matchup that could very well come down to the turnover battle and who has the ball last. 

My Prediction: John Hardin 34 Warren East 31

Warren East is soft against the run. I think JH can get in it’s power run game and WE will never really have the time to play offense.

Pulling for Warren East in this one, but I don't like the sound of the rushing stats above.  John Hardin is the favorite and I think East will need to win the turnover battle by a couple to stay in this game, unless Parsley pulls some magic out of his SR hat.

Warren East will have the best player on the field, but I’m not sure it will matter if they only get 2 possessions a half. 

This is a very good 1st round matchup; spent some time this morning watching the Bulldogs and felt like I was back in the 00s, big fan of the smashmouth brand of football. I know the Raiders have been susceptible to the run this year but in saying that you have to be able to throw the ball as well, which John Hardin hasn’t done much of at all this year. Believe it or not I do believe this is a good matchup for this Raiders defense, but if the John Hardin QB Austin Richardson is able to make some throws against a defense that is selling out to the run it could turn into a big problem for Warren East.

After what the Raiders did last week offensively I have a hard time believing they don’t run Parsley 20 times in this game, similar to the dosage Pittman will get on the other side. This one has the potential to turn into a basketball score type of game, and since they proved me wrong last week I’ll have to pick the Raiders this time around. The best player on the field will takeover in the biggest moment of the game, and I think it’ll end somewhat similar to last years 21-17 1st round victory on the road at Nelson County where Parsley busted a 70 yard TD run late in the 4Q to propel East to victory.

 

WE 43 JH 36

Bump.

Raiders will receive the kickoff to start the game. 

Warren East starts their drive at their own 17.

WE QB 37 yard TD run. . Xtra point good. 

WE 7

JH 0

JH stars their 1st possession at the 39 yard line. 

JH 3 and out. Punting from their own 40.

WE takes over after the punt at the 22 yard line. 

First down Raiders out to the JH 34

Parsley 33 yard TD pass. Xtra point good. 
2.22 left in the first qtr. 

WE 14

KH 0