To go along with all that, let’s write the Final Chapter to what has been a very exciting and memorable 2005 MWL Season! RileyWrong tips his hat to every participant, every team, for a job well done!  There are so many lessons learned in this crazy sport.  Some are very tough, and many carry through to many aspects in life.  Again, I raise my glass to each of the players, stars and sideline teammates alike!  We have 3 teams that will carry the flag into the playoffs!  Root for each of them to succeed!

All eyes will be focused on Silke Field Friday Night!  The outcome of one game will affect the playoff picture of as many as four teams.  Sheldon is the MWL STAR once again!  North Eugene will be rooting heavily for an unlikely victory by Lebanon at South Eugene to have a shot at The Dance.  Thurston and Marshfield hold their own Trump Cards in a MONSTER MATCH between the TWO.  I won’t go deep into what happens if South loses. (flip coins, draw straws, pick numbers, hold séances etc.)  Let’s just say to the Pirates and Colts: “YOU WIN-YOU’RE IN!”

Thurston 22 Marshfield 21  One Point game?  Somehow, I think it may be even closer than that at the end of regulation.  The weather may very well make a Frightful Friday Night once again, and this looks to be Ground Duel! Two very effective Rushing Offenses square off, and I believe the winner will be the team with the fewest wet-ball turnovers.  I love Thurston’s offense.  Coach Starck has done a FANTASTIC job of integrating this T-E-A-M! The Colts have a slug of Running Backs (Albert Mckee Newman Wopert AND Cochran!) all “Tote the Rock” very well….. to the tune of 1400 yards combined.  Pirates counter with Souder and Thompson, who have about 1250 yards.  This fact alone, ever-so-slightly tips the scales to THURSTON, whom, with this win will take the #2 Flag and post it right there at Silke Field for a showdown with Mount Hood Conference #2.  Lose? they’re out and Marshfield will Travel as #3 Rep, likely to McNary.  Wow!  What a Game!  Good Luck!

South Eugene 34 Lebanon 21  Probert and his gutsy teammates would love to bump the always precarious canoe that seems to hold this year’s Axemen afloat!  Last week, the Axemen had a solid win against Willamette (late Wolverine score did not reflect),  but still!, this teams loves to flirt with disaster!  The Mighty Warriors will take advantage of South’s tendency to overlook competition early, but will have a difficult time matching up physically.  Even if the offense sputters, Josh Tobar would love to have a shot at running back another Kick or two.  The Axemen take care of business and hope their “brothers in PURPLE” upset (well, they would be UPSET!) the Colts.  Win and the Axemen are guaranteed a playoff for the third year in a row.

North Eugene 42 Springfield 18  The Highlanders have a FINE team! It is unfortunate thet there is not a #4 this year.  RileyWrong is guilty of writing North Eugene off early, after their horrendous loss to 3A power Elmira.  In Winterstein THEY TRUST, and they are only a play short at South Eugene of being in the playoffs.  They have mathematical hope if South Eugene loses, and this will drive them into a Highlander Fury as they take their frustration out on the Millers.

Sheldon 28 Churchill 14  Yes, Sheldon is capable of putting up big numbers in the game,,,,, but why?  I see Our League Champion,  Sheldon, controlling early and coasting to a victory, while seasoning some needed depth for their run DEEP into the Playoff Bracket.  Again!,  RileyWrong sings praises to Mystical Magical Marty and the ever-powerful Green Machine.  Good Luck in the Playoffs Irish!

Marshfield 24 North Eugene 22 Strength against Strength for this game folks!  North’s formidable Rushing Game against Marshfield’s tough Rushing D.  Marshfield gave away the game last week in the second half. Throwing the ball to the Defense is always a bad idea, and a tough mistake to overcome, neither of these teams will throw often this week. Marshfield will have to take care of the ball to beat North’s game control offense, but, their Defense at least, should be up to the task.  Winterstein is a near shoe-in for All League RB, but I think Marshfield’s Souder will show why he should get some consideration. At home, Wigle’s Irate Pirates are tough to beat, and North will go home, minus their Playoff chances.

South Eugene 20 Willamette 14 The Axemen have their backs to the wall, the Wolv’s have nothing to lose, except their Home Field Pride.  Willamette’s Senior QB is the 3^rd leading rusher in the League!  That’s great, but I am not sure that is what he had in mind before the season started for his veteran launcher. The Axemn have had two weeks to chew on their last travel.  It will be a very tough night if Hughes is to run up against a Axemen defense that has probably been blistered and challenged for the entire two weeks since they succumbed to Thurston.  Look for South to bounce back and put up some pretty good rushing numbers of their own.

Thurston 31 Lebanon 21  The Warriors have shown a pretty capable offense this year. Unfortunately their defense has not quite been up to the task.  This week, they take on the best Rushing Offense attack in the league and a pretty fair defense,,, as in #1 Rushing Defense in the MWL.  Man! Thurston has hit its stride AND they are one team that could make a dent in the playoffs if they can cruise through the last two weeks.  Best of Luck to both!

Marshfield 26 Sheldon 21 If the odds makers were involved, I’m sure the Irish would be about 8 point favorites.  In actual odds, we might be looking at 3-1in fav of Marty and the Miracles. The facts are --the Pirates have been a little schizoid and if they bring their A-Game they might just run over the Irish.  Souder, Thompson and gang absolutely have their act together and are rolling over and through the competition.  Will Sheldon be able to hold together on their Defensive Front?  I am not so sure, let’s just say RileyWrong will Sell the Irish Defense and he will Buy the Marshfield Running Game.  What a great game this will be! The Weather and Clock management look to be key in this matchup.

Churchill 22 Springfield 14 Schumacher and Trautman hope to hook up again, after being severely hampered on the Coast.  Miles Haley is a fine Running Back, but, the Lancers will go back to their ball hawking ways and make it a rough night for the Millers.

North Eugene 42 Lebanon 22 The Highlanders have shifted into High Gear and Lebanon is looking to find a way to stick one in the W column.  One way or the other the OSAA will be shaking the current MWL apart next year.  The one team that is almost certain to hook up with a completely different group is the Warriors.  I’m guessing they won’t be shedding any tears.  Go Warriors!

Thurston 30 Willamette 18 Thurston chalked what may be the upset of  the year Friday night with it’s season changing win against South Eugene!  The stats were much more lopsided than the score as Thurston was able to run at will between the 20’s.  Jerred Hughes is putting up an awesome 200 all purpose yards per game, but Thurston does it TEAM style, including over 200 yards rushing alone,,, well spread among a Full House of Running Backs.  The celebration continues for the Colts.

Enjoy the games!  RileyWrong , over-and OUT!
 

Marshfield 35 Churchill 21 Churchill improved and revved up their offense last week, but this week they have the daunting task of taking on the league’s most improved and balanced team…those dastardly Pirates! The Lancers have shown themselves what they are capable of, even more what they could be if not for a missing piece or two. Schumacher is a gem of a QB, and the Lancer defense attacks the ball as well as any in the league. The Pirates, on the other hand, have continued to trim the sails. Marshfield’s league-leading offense is clipping along at 360 yards a game, an impressive 225 yards (see Stouder and Thompson) on the ground! They ballast their ship with a stingy defense, giving up only 227 yards a game. Marshfield will need their A-Game, but ultimately this game will serve as one heck of a tune-up for next week’s big showdown, as they visit the Green-Meanies of Sheldon

North Eugene 34 Willamette 21 Both of these teams find themselves in the thick of the hunt for the #3 playoff spot. The facts are, only one will still have sights on it after this week, even then, that team will likely need some help. North Eugene has proven themselves very capable of surprising somebody this year, while Willamette has yet to play up to the caliber of a good opposing team. The Highlanders have also shown that they utilize their players as well as any team in the league. The Wolv’s better step up early, or this one could get away from them in a hurry.

South Eugene 30 Thurston 28 This game is very iffy for the Axemen---again. Two very taxing OVERTIME matches in a row have left the league’s #1 defense injured, angry, and maybe even doubting. Now comes a refreshed Thurston team that has had two weeks to prepare. South Eugene’s first match on grass this year will need to feature some key adjustments on both sides of the ball and preparedness for a squad that has few secrets, but is capable of doing exactly as they wish. South Eugene’s big defensive line will need to rule this week or that short trip home across the river could flood the Willamette with tears, and open the league up… Wide OPEN!

Sheldon 51 Lebanon 28 Is this Homecoming for Lebanon? On paper it looks to be a House-Burning. Go Warriors!

Enjoy the games! High School Football Rocks!

Sheldon 40 Willamette 28 If the rain will stay away this match could really pad the stats of both teams!  Corey Moran is gun slinger and Jared Hughes is a slinger with wheels.  The question is who has the defense to stop the opposition?  When it comes down to deciding the game, the Sheldon defense will step up.

Marshfield 30 Springfield 18 Springfield has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they want nothing to do with the cellar of this league, but, they may be the league’s version of “the not ready for prime time players”.  This game is a match of two up and down teams, and, the most senior of coaches against the rookie.  If Coach Kanach wants to provide a HighWater Mark for his Millers, a win at the Coast would be a banner time to do it.  Coach Wigle says- “Not on my watch.”

Sheldon 34   Thurston 24   The Irish didn’t exactly walk over North Eugene and now comes The Colts who bounced back to 1-1 in league.  Sheldon has shown itself to be susceptible to the run and Thurston is All About running.  Moran and company will find throwing the ball well to their liking.

Springfield 21 Willamette 20   The Millers paved their way to a 94 yard drive against the Axemen last week, but needed to do it five more times to match the suddenly prolific South Eugene offense.  This week the Wolv’s visit after walking The Plank and getting blanked against the Pirates last week.  Springfield’s D is not as tough as Marshfield, but Willamette will come up just short of offensive weapons in their trek across the river.

South Eugene 37 Churchill 7   Coach Mehl is missing some stars and Cmill and Co. are only too pleased to oblige.  A late TD keeps Churchill from being scoreless against their 19^th Avenue rivals. 

Marshfield 28 Lebanon 14   The report of Marshfield’s demise was greatly exaggerated!  Marshfield bounced back in a very big way against Willamette.  This is one MWL fan that thinks they may be in line for the #3, maybe even #2 spot.  Coach Wigle and his crew of deck swabbers would love to pack their cannon for this one; Their 28 points come in the first half before next years crew takes over.

North Eugene 44 Woodburn 21   Winterstein leaves the field with 250 yards and wishes they played a 3A school every week.  Oh, wait!  Woodburn is a 4A school!  It was Elmira that was 3A!…… Nevermind!

Eagle Point 45 Lebanon 21  Wow, Lebanon’s winning streak gets stymied at 1 and in comes a very surprising SOC team.  Eagle Point is on roll with two big wins in two weeks, but has not yet played a powerhouse…. They don’t this week either, unless Probert goes berzerko and gains even more passing and rushing yards.!

Thurston 38 Churchill 21  There is a new 3 headed Running Back in town,,,, And IT is AWESOME!  Junction(JCT) New-al-pert is the name and it resides in Thurston.  With over 300 yards rushing in week 1 and Churchill coming to their Not-Really Home Field JCT is looking at another huge outing!  This threesome could stretch some team rushing records in a hurry.

Marshfield 21 Willamette 20 After going 0-2 at home these Pirates are actually looking forward to going for a boat ride up the Willamette.  They had their chances last week against the Axemen and they will find just enough paydirt to pull out a victory in the fictitious City of Bethel.

South Eugene 34 Springfield 14  Thurn and Haley are good, but Springfield is about to run into a Train named David Nutting.  What the young ManBeast softens (see Miller Defense) Logan Beal and Coach Miller will exploit.  Look for the Axemen passing game to begin to light up.

Sheldon 40 North Eugene 20  A great turn around victory by the Highlanders and a disappointing loss by the Green Men(or were those BLACK unis I saw?), means,,,,,  exactly what we have come to expect….. Sheldon rocking its league opponents.  The Irish defense will be grumpy, and Winterstein will find the roaming rough.