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MWLNOW Predictions

 MWLNOW Predictions

1.Yes, Churchill has two losses, but look who they lost to: South and Sheldon.  Churchill hosts Willamette this year, so I'll lean towards the Lancers.  Churchill begins league play traveling to Marshfield.  We'll find out if the Lancer's are really top 10 material. 
2. I love Loper and Willamette.  The Wolverines host the Pirates and travel to Churchill (short trip). 
3.Marshfield's overall record looks poor, but they lost to some tough teams, Ashland and Marist. Coach Wigle knows how to improve week by week.
4.  The next three teams could be a lot more than spoilers.  Thurston is coming off of a bye to host North.  The Colts played a tough non league schedule.  Look for that to pay off.
5. Springfield hosts North and Thurston.  Okay, it's not much of a home field advantage over Thurston.  But the Millers host the Highlanders week 2 of league.  Gotta go with the Millers.
6.  North is a lot better than a 6th place team.  They will win at least a couple, but who and when is tough to say.  They host Churchill and Marshfield.  When you are on the bubble you don't want to use your home field for the toughest games..... but maybe they are more than on the bubble.

News that might effect predictions:
Danny Urness of Thurston appears to be out until October with a broken arm.  Please, not another season of injuries for the Colts.   Silver lining - league games don't start until October 5 and the first baseball practice isn't until February 18.  Urness can hit the ball.
If you know of any other impact issues, transfers or injuries, please email [email protected].

2007 was a rough year for the MWL with the league going 0-3 in the playoffs, the closest loss being by 10 points.  After a year like that, you might think 2006 was a building year.  But there are very few returning all stars on any team.  Don't be surprised if Thurston goes to the top of the heap with just three returning all leaguers.  They were hard hit by injuries last year and had to move people out of position.  They were on their way up before injuries took over in the very first game.

1. Churchill.  I don't know how you replace Schumacher, he may have been more important on D than he was on O.  Fortunately, whoever tries to take over at QB will have two great receivers and an all league center to work with.  Almost all of the various sports at Churchill are thriving in the new 5A division.  That tells me the school is on a roll and winning breeds winning.  This will be a telling year for Lancer football.  Was last year's title a sign of a new attitude finally gaining a foothold at Churchill, or a one time shot?  Keep your eye on two way all leaguer, junior Eric Knapp this year (21 catches, 292 yds).  I'm sure he'll improve on O, but make sure you spend some time tracking him on D.  Making life even easier for the new QB will be Justin Hoffman (22 catches, 348 yds).  Reyna's kicking gives the Lancer's an edge in a league that was light on kickers last year.

2007 Returning Player Stats from 2006 League Games

2. Marshfield.  Head coach Kent Wigle will be inducted into the Pirate Hall of Fame this summer.  He'll have to put those well earned accolades to work right away.  The Pirates will be rebuilding their backfield as Simpson and Stacey graduated.  Pirate hopes ride on new quarterback Brogan Oswald and returning all league receiver John Parrish.  Oswald can run and throw and will have four non league games to get up to varsity speed.  Parrish is coming off a knee injury suffered during basketball.  Oswald will have another exciting receiver in Alex Alletson.  Alletson knows how to find the open spaces. 

2007 Returning Player Stats from 2006 League Games

3.  Thurston  I think Thurston could be the surprise team of the MWL.  Their offense was suspect last year, but that had a lot to do with injuries.  Odds are that won't happen again and there won't be major personnel changes after the season begins.  The Colts have the opportunity to put a big line on the field.  Coach Starck won't do so unless they are in shape.  If you see some beefeaters out there, that means they are ready to go, so look out.  Tym Pearson passed for over 800 yards in 9 games last year.  The Colts will need to improve their TD to INT ratio if they want the title.  The Colt's QB will have two of the best receivers in the league in Michael Akins and Tim Autele.  Their experience doesn't end there, with Danny Urness and Colin Shaureman having caught quite a few last year.  The Colt D took a serious hit via graduation - four first and second team all leaguers.  Look for Autele and Akins to lead the D this year.

2007 Returning Player Stats from 2006 League Games

4. Willamette

Willamette's O went south in one game last year and it cost them the final league playoff spot.  Don't expect that to happen again.  The Wolverines return a second team all league center, Kenny Wagner (5' 10", 220 lat year), and HM running back junior Craig Loper (5' 10", 170).  I think Loper was more than a HM running back at 4.8 yards per carry, but to the victor go the spoils.  Senior Nate Brownlee (6' 0", 190 pounds) will provide some running wallop out of the backfield.  A new Wolverine QB will be throwing the pigskin into the capable and experienced hands of senior Michael Calef (9 league catches).  A concern to me is that the Wolverines don't return a lot of players who made many visits to the end zone.  A positive is that this is Coach Fritz's second year, and teams usually see a big improvement between the first and second years.

2007 Returning Player Stats from 2006 League Games

5. Springfield

The Millers lose Haley, but they return a back who knew what to do with it when he touched it.  Donovan Ramsdal only got 10 carries in league, but he averaged 16.6 per carry.  Mike Travess was fourth in league as a receiver.  The Miller's return two all league O linemen, Patrick Fisher being 6' 5", 285 last year..  So a new QB should be set with a  good running back and receiver and two all  league linemen.  Like Thurston, Springfield's D was decimated by graduation.  Those that do return know how to sack QB's though.  LB's Jonny Dougherty and William Hamilton both had three sacks last year (you gotta love having returning linebackers) and all leaguer Zady Navarro had a couple of sacks as a DB.

2007 Returning Player Stats from 2006 League Games

6. North Eugene

I have to believe if the Highlanders could develop some linemen, then they would have a great football team.  They have lot's of baseball and basketball players to play the skill positions.  They just need some beef to protect the Qb and open some holes for the RB.  Brandon Saboe and Derek Duman both played QB last year and Scott Womack did a fine job at receiving.  Returning all league DB senior Shane Kirkpatrick (6' 3", 165) will once again bothering opposing QB's.

2007 Returning Player Stats from 2006 League Games
 
Don't agree or have an insight, correction or player information?  E-mail your comments to [email protected]