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 BiasedGuy |
#21 | |||
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All-Searn 1st Team
Posts: 2240 11/03/09 7:08 PM Forum Donor |
prepseer wrote: Good pts Prep. But how about what EGR did to Lowell in week 9? That was no illusion. Man, I think they'd win again. I also think they have OLSM's number. |
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windwardho |
#22 | |||
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Junior
Posts: 133 11/04/09 8:14 AM |
BiasedGuy wrote: Good pts Prep. But how about what EGR did to Lowell in week 9? That was no illusion. Man, I think they'd win again. I also think they have OLSM's number. While many a armchair coach has called for an unfettered Bolden arm this season, the St. Marys coaching staff has continued to pound away at finding a combination of running backs that keeps OLSM's "ground game first" threat. While spreading out and letting the Eaglet's Papa Joe bound prospect do his thing is without a doubt a potent part of the OLSM offense, the lack of a running threat is exactly the reason why EGR won that game way back on week one. A 14-7 EGR halftime lead easily could have been 14-0 St Mary's, save a called back Earnest Thomas touchdown pick and a near halftime pick by EGR's McEwen, that set up a TD just before intermission. With that 14-7 lead in hand, the EGR coaching staff adjusted at halftime by noticing that St. Marys had virtually no yards on the ground other than their one trick pony wearing a Penn State t-shirt under his uniform. And starting with their first play of the second half the Pionereers D blitzed on every play like they were storming the beaches of Normandy. And OLSM couldn't find a ground game, nor did Bolden have time to throw. Since that 43 yard rushing effort, the Eaglets have spent the season finding ground yards for Pardo, McInnes, Thomas and Lucas and have managed to put up 200 plus yards on the ground against everyone except Catholic Central. GP has been here before and he knows to get deep in the post season you can't saddle up a one trick pony. The Eaglets game has improved because they are finding a ground game, giving opposing defenses something to think about other than Bolden, thus opening up his big play potential. If (and it's a big if) OLSM can find themselves in a second EGR showdown, the Pioneers will be facing a much different team than they saw in week one. I don't think an OLSM win prediction is one without credibility. |
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BiasedGuy |
#23 | |||
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All-Searn 1st Team
Posts: 2241 11/04/09 9:38 AM Forum Donor |
Sweet. Great insight Ho. I did not recall reading that lowdown on how the EGR game played out.
I know the Eaglet defense was ratcheted up a notch at Prep Bowl. And while I love me some pound the rock, defensive, CHSL football, that game was challenging to get into. I'd love to know the number of punts. So on defense alone, the Eaglets look much improved. |
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windwardho |
#24 | |||
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Junior
Posts: 134 11/04/09 10:49 AM |
Personally, I found that game interesting, knowing that every nuance was going to be important. It was a pound it classic, with the difference, then near
counter difference literally being one offensive play (4th quarter pass deep into the OLSM zone and the subsequent kick return) for both teams.
After the Hunter return, CC brought it home by continuing the physical aspect of the game, making the big stop deep in their own end. I loved it. except the result of course. Still a heckuva game. |
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SnoozeToMe |
#25 | |||
windwardho wrote: Thanks windwardho. I was really wondering if somebody would say that OLSM's running game has improved. Frankly, if it hasn't improved (a lot) since week 1, I think we would see the same result as week 1. First things first though... Both teams have some work ahead before thinking about the finals. Good luck to the Eaglets, and Go Pioneers!
Last Edited By: SnoozeToMe 11/04/09 12:08 PM.
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kaycob |
#26 | |||
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Senior
Posts: 234 11/04/09 11:27 AM Forum Donor |
As much as I would love to see CHSL success in the playoffs, culminating in some State Championships - until the final whistle blows in a
"hypothetical" OLSM/EGR championship game with OLSM on the positive side of the scoreboard, EGR is and should be the clear cut favorite. (sorry for
the run-on sentence). Nothing done on the field, at this point, indicates anything else.
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Searn |
#27 | |||
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All-Searn Hall of Fame
 Posts: 7846 11/04/09 8:23 PM Board Owner |
Good luck to the Eaglets .. and I'm sure they have improved ...
But I wouldn't take anyone in D3 even if you spotted me 10 pts against EGR. |
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windwardho |
#28 | |||
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Junior
Posts: 135 11/04/09 9:46 PM |
Searn wrote: Of course Mr. Searn, I do post with my heart as well as my head. Still, it is safe to say that the Eaglet ground game has improved. The four kids that have taken the lion's share of the handoffs are tough, gritty ballplayers that take failure personally. None are great running backs, but as a group are tenacious and athletic enough to have succeeded in improving the ground game. I can't argue with the 10 point spot, but their efforts give the Eaglet hopefuls legit hope. It's the stuff of which makes high school football such a sweet addiction. |
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windwardho |
#29 | |||
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Junior
Posts: 136 11/04/09 9:52 PM |
But then again, as much as a hypothetical EGR/OLSM final is interesting, the question first posed by this thread is...is there a combination of CHSL wins THIS
week, that the CHSL fans can call a proof of league dominance?
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prepseer |
OLSM vs. EGR | #30 | ||
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One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that OLSM just might have been the best team EGR has played this year. We'll know more about Lowell after this
week's Musky game, but for now, Lowell hasn't played anyone either--other than EGR. The first EGR vs. OLSM game was a decisive win, but not a blowout
like last year. Since that game, OLSM has improved and has played the state's toughest schedule (according to the MHSAA SOS numbers). Not only are the
Eaglets improved, but also they improved playing some very good teams. EGR cannot make that same statement. The first meeting was close enough that it
wouldn't take much to reverse the outcome in the Championship Game. I had EGR ranked a lot higher than OLSM so I guess I should be picking the Pioneers.
But, rankings are skewed heavily by record and OLSM didn't have the record. But, they are playoff-tested and peaking now. We'll see what happens.
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Mr NCAA |
#31 | |||
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Just for prepseer, I don't believe in the MHSAA SOS numbers since a 9 - 0 Class D team is rated the same as a 9 - 0 Class A team when doing those winning
percentages. Don't fret though since the NCAA organization does their SOS numbers wrong, too since they think that a 12 - 0 D1AA team should be treated
the same as a 12 - 0 D1A team.
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prepseer |
SOS | #32 | ||
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I understand the flaws in the SOS numbers, but they're the same flaws for all the teams. Another hiccup in the numbers is it penalizes the better teams
because they don't get the advantage of playing themselves. Thus, CC and EGR, with 9-0 records help the SOS of their opponents, but don't get the same
benefit in return. Forget the numbers (which do favor OLSM) and just look at the actual opponents of OLSM and EGR. Big difference: OLSM: CC (twice), BBR,
DLS, HP, UDJ, Davison, plus EGR. Much tougher than EGR's schedule which included only two playoff teams, plus OLSM. It had two 1-8 teams and a 2-7 team.
The White and their non-conference GR area opponents were down this year. The OK White had two playoff teams--EGR and Lowsell. The rest of the conference was
so weak, these two good programs really got a free pass into the playoffs. I think it's possible that Lowell may be way over-rated. We'll find out
tonight. If Muskegon wins big, it takes away from EGR's big win over the Arrows. Even EGR's District draw is very soft (Forest Hills Eastern and
Byron Center). With Mt. Pleasant/Linden in the wings, not to mention some good teams from the Southwest, it's not a certainty that EGR makes it to FF.
While it's easier to get beat up on the way to the finals, I like the preparation that OLSM is getting a lot more than EGR.
Last Edited By: prepseer 11/06/09 10:53 AM.
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MrObvious2 |
#33 | |||
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Junior
Posts: 99 11/06/09 1:33 PM Junior Varsity |
Byron Center is not soft. They are not on the level of OLSM and EGR, to be sure, but to say that's a gift win is incorrect in my eyes. In some other draws,
BC would have a chance of advancing.
http://www.westmichiganprep.com/FB/helmet/Hamilton.GIF
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EastGuRu |
#34 | |||
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Senior
Posts: 404 11/06/09 1:40 PM |
Given enough time and word-space Prep, I believe you'd have yourself convinced that OLSM really beat EGR 2 out of the last 3 times they played and was the
better team in the third game! Look, I stated after the this year's game that I thought OLSM was a very good team and wouldn't be surprised to see them
back at Ford Field. They went on to lose week 2 and most people poo-poo'd that notion. Well, here they are after some respectable showings and everyone is
back on their bandwagon. I think all of this EGR-OLSM discussion revolves around one thing and that is that many CHSL dieharders just can't for the life of
them fathom that maybe, just maybe EGR, is as good or better than ANY of the top CHSL teams. Yes, OLSM's sched was more difficult and they probably are a
better team than at the beginning of the year......somehow EGR isn't??? EGR's schedule may not have been formidable but what did they do with
it?.......running clock at halftime on 7 of their last 8 opponents, so they did what they could with the cards they were dealt. If the two make it to FF again,
we'll see. But, I suspect even if EGR wins again, the reason will be something like OLSM "wasn't really much except Bolden" so it really
wasn't a true test of how good EGR is.
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windwardho |
#35 | |||
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Junior
Posts: 139 11/06/09 2:19 PM |
Not meaning to speak for Prep. but as a CHSL fan, I don't think anyone is taking anything away from EGR. It's a fine program and judging by the most
excellent people I met the year my own son was on the field when St Mary's lost the 5 overtime game at FF, they are a fine group of people as well.
But, the CHSLers have a long tradition of pretty tough scheduling, that often leaves a couple CHSL teams out of the playoff mix that are as good as a large part of the field that makes it in. So with all of the big four sneaking in this year, Catholic league fans are excited to have a little proof positive of the strength of their league. That doesn't always happen and in no way shape or form does that imply that EGR is not deserve the powerhouse status that they have earned. Prep, in my mind, is only pointing out some of the prognostication that led to my original thread query. Yes indeed, a great team can still have a few coasters on their schedule and still be a great team. And no doubt, that is the EGR case. And that's not to say that come next week, there may not be any CL teams still practicing. So my question still stands. Can there be a combination of CHSL victories or losses this weekend this weekend that either buttress or lay to rest a claim of CHSL strength of schedule makes it one of the states toughest leagues? Somehow this became an EGR/OLSM finals thread. I'm thinking they both have a lot of work to do first??? But a EGR/OLSM final would be sweet! |
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EastGuRu |
#36 | |||
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Senior
Posts: 405 11/06/09 2:55 PM |
IMO if all 4 win this weekend, then the overall strength of CHSL will be (once again) validated. Specifically, it will be no easy task for BBR or OLSM to win.
The other two SHOULD win so I don't know how much stock you put in that. If two (or more) lose then it's reasonable to argue that the CHSL wasn't
quite up to their usual broad strength this year.
That would be my answer (opinion). |
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diesel |
#37 | |||
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Sophomore
Posts: 52 11/06/09 3:13 PM |
I think all four have to win this weekend, two of the four have to make it to the semi-finals, and one has to win a state title. That would validate the
league! You have to bring home the big one. Second best is the first loser.
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ss429 |
#38 | |||
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Junior
Posts: 105 11/07/09 10:02 AM |
Mr NCAA wrote:Why do you two refer to those numbers as: MHSAA SOS? They are simply: Opponents Winning % Nothing More than that! Does nothing to signal SOS as noted above. |
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Searn |
#39 | |||
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All-Searn Hall of Fame
Posts: 7854 11/07/09 11:29 PM Board Owner |
I guess the CHSL did ok this weekend ...
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pavlov |
#40 | |||
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All-Area
Posts: 427 11/08/09 11:02 AM |
Searn wrote: Searn, you might be the absolute king of dry, subtle, understatements. Yes, they did OK. |
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