2A Football Championships set

Just got back from one of the 2A state semifinals. River Hill (Clarksville) rolled Elkton 28-0. Junior RB Malek Redd broke 55- and 70-yard TDs in the first half. River Hill pretty much grinded out the clock in the second half. They tied a state record with their 11th shutout of the year.

If you want to see these guys in action, they will play Eastern Tech (Baltimore) in the 2A final at 3:30 on Saturday at M & T Bank stadium.

Howard County's other representative in the semis, Wilde Lake, lost at Damascus 35-6.

More tomorrow morning.

--Nate Sandstrom

Leave of absence

If you've been here for two weeks you've probably noticed that I haven't posted. It was going okay for a while, but during the holidays I couldn't keep it. Might try to resurrect this this weekend — I hope to have early scores for state high school football playoff games, I should be at either River Hill-Elkton or Wilde Lake-Damascus.

R.I.P. Sean Taylor

--Nate Sandstrom

NFL Power Ratings-Nov. 15, 2007

1. New England (9-0). At least they finally didn't cover.
2. Indianapolis (7-2). Loss to San Diego knocked them out of AFC two seed.
3. Pittsburgh (7-2). Steelers fans don't take well to talk of trap game.
4. Dallas (8-1). Should move to 9-1 against 'Skins. Let the hype continue.
5. Green Bay (8-1). -9.5 vs. Carolina. Lock it down.
6. San Diego (5-4). Even when they win, they lose.
7. Jacksonville (6-3). Can they avoid a melt down this year?
8. Tennessee (6-3). Vince Young's passer rating is 62.2.
9. Cleveland (5-4). I had this team in the league's bottom three to start the year.
10. Seattle (5-4). Perhaps the league's most inconsistent team.
11. Buffalo (5-4). Lee Evans has been hot, can he win for Bills w/o Marshawn Lynch?
12. N.Y. Giants (6-3). Gutcheck game against Detroit.
13. Tampa Bay (5-4). Not losing NFC South.
14. Detroit (6-3). Gutcheck game against Giants.
15. Arizona (4-5). Still control destiny in the West.
16. Philadelphia (4-5). Westbrook is a one-man show.
17. Washington (5-4). Gibbs-speak explained.
18. Carolina (4-5). How has this team won four games?
19. New Orleans (4-5). Expect a shootout aginst Houston on Sunday.
20. Denver (4-5). Finally, a win that wasn't close.
21. Chicago (4-5). Rex is back. Is that good or bad?
22. Houston (4-5). Andre Johnson is back and they are immediately more dangerous.
23. Kansas City (4-5). Wow, there are a lot of 4-5 teams.
24. Cincinnati (3-6). Wish they could play the Ravens a lot more.
25. Baltimore (4-5). 1-8 ATS.
26. Oakland (2-7). Daunte loves playing his old teams.
27. Minnesota (3-6). No Adrian Peterson? Uh-oh.
28. Atlanta (3-6). Things are getting quietly better.
29. St. Louis (1-8). Backup O-line getting used to each other.
30. N.Y. Jets (1-8). Maybe Curtis Martin will put on a uniform.
31. San Francisco (2-7). No comment.
32. Miami (0-9). A team after Jim Mora's heart: "I just hope we win a game!"

--Nate Sandstrom

Heisman Watch-- (almost) Nov. 13, 2007

The Heisman Race is winding down, in what has been one of the least memorable races I can remember. Last year was also boring although that's because Troy Smith led almost wire-to-wire.

I think the games and upsets have been so good this year that many players from many teams are popping up. Heisman Pundit calls it a three-man race. I mostly agree with his analysis.

ESPN has Dixon in the lead as well, for some reason people are still voting for Matt Ryan. I would think the losses would hurt D-Mc more, especially since Felix out-stats him.

Chase Daniel, Sam Bradford and Todd Reesing were all near misses on my Top 10, but whichever of those three emerge from the Big 12 as champ certainly have a good shot.

1. Dennis Dixon, Sr., QB, Oregon — Runs nation's best "O." 20/3, 163.1; also 549 and 8 TD rush.
2. Tim Tebow, So., QB, Florida — 7 TDs against SC! 23/5, 177.1; 718 and 19 TD on ground.
3. Pat White, Jr., QB, West Virginia — Game winner agains L'ville. 157.7 and 803 for 10 rush.
4. George Selvie, So., DE, South Florida — Sick numbers. 14.5 sacks, 30.5 TFL.
5. Jordy Nelson, Sr., WR, Kansas State — All over. 99 rec, 2 TD pass, 2 PR TD.
6. Leodis McKelvin, Sr., CB, Troy — 3 PR TD and all over in the defensive backfield.
7. Darren McFadden, Jr., RB, Arkansas — 143 ypg and versatile, but has bad games in Ls.
8. Felix Jones, Jr., RB, Arkansas — 103 ypg and 9.1 ypc. Also averages 32.7 KR, with 2 TD.
9. Jordon Dizon, Sr., LB, Colorado — Tops in solo tackles with 93. Plus 11 TFL, FF, 2 PD.
10. Chris Long, Sr., DE, Virginia — Faces lots of blocks but still has 12 sacks, 7 PD.

Top 25 Rankings -- Nov. 12, 2007

Well, it's getting to that time of year where talk about college football needing a playoff cranks up, even though I'm betting the several of the eight teams still in it will take an L between know and the start of bowl season. I've always like college football for the way it is, when a few rivalry games are almost equivalent to championships (see the smile on my face for Wisconin's win over Michigan in this train wreck season.

I put a poll on the sidebar to see how you feel about it.

My ballot this week is definitely different from the AP, USA Today and BCS polls.

I put Oregon on top of LSU because I think LSU lets too many inferior teams hang around. I want to put Ohio State ahead of LSU (setting up what I think would be a match-up of the nation's best offense vs. best defense) but LSU has more quality wins than the Buckeyes.

Oh, that's right. They play in the "weak" Big Ten with 10 of 11 teams bowl eligible.

I am apparently the only one who puts any stock Ohio State. Both other polls have them at #7. I'm still looking for anyone to make a strong arguments about why they should be behind West Virginia.

I have the Big 12 teams at 4-5-6, but I'm not that worried about the order of those three that much because they will all go head-to-head-to-head the next few weeks. You want playoffs, it's about to start in the Big 12.

Not that any of these teams have a margin for error, but I feel like Kansas has the least with no quality wins. And even though they take on a 3-8 Iowa State team at home, this game has all the markings of a trap-door a la Rutgers fiasco vs. Cincy last year.

The Cyclones aren't scared. "They're beatable."

Arizona State and West Virginia are the two other teams with an outside shot at the title game, but both need help, in addition to running the table.

In honor of how ridiculous it was when writers were voting for App. State in the Top 25 earlier this year, I am considering doing so for the Northern Iowa Panthers. They are actually #35 in the Sagarin ratings, and if ISU (who UNI beat) were to top Kansas the Panthers would sail upward.

These were my thoughts about Randy Shannon too. How many people do you think stuck around to the end of the last Orange Bowl game with the Miami Hurricanes going down 48-0 to Virginia? Have a look. Pathetic. This year is shaping up to be worse than 1997.

Team (W-L, last week)
1. Oregon (8-1, 2). Can raise profile in Thursday game against Arizona, who hates them.
2. LSU (9-1, 3). Tops in the nation, but can they win me over. Not before SEC Title game.
3. Ohio State (10-1, 1). It's still Michigan week. And they own Carr.
4. Oklahoma (9-1, 6). No scoreboard watching here, Stoops says. Texas Tech looks to kill giant.
5. Missouri (9-1, 7). Next is reeling Kansas State. Pinkel won't run up score.
6. Kansas (10-0, 8). Dodd says Kansas is #1. I guess Hawaii is #2.
7. Arizona State (9-1, 4). Escaped a banged-up UCLA team.
8. West Virginia (8-1, 5). Louisville came way too close.
9. Georgia (8-2, 10). Have chance to lock up parity-plagued SEC East.
10. USC (8-2, 11). Could still wind up in the Rose Bowl, but hope for more.
11. Virginia Tech (8-2, 13). Miami gives them chance to pound Fla. team for 2nd straight week.
12. Florida (7-3, 17). Having a good season for what they lost.
13. Clemson (8-2, 15). Looking as good as anybody right now.
14. Boston College (8-2, 9). Finally, a Boston team is losing.
15. Auburn (7-4, 12). Look to take advantage of off week.
16. Michigan (8-3,16). Henne and Hart didn't play. Bad coaching or good excuse?
17. Illinois (8-3, 21). About three plays from playing for national championship.
18. Penn State (8-3, 18). Bowl picture murky, but shouldn't look past hot Spartans.
19. Cincinnati (8-2, NR). Hiccup against Pitt really costing them.
20. Virginia (8-2, NR). Embarrassed Miami, who should ask for 2nd last Orange Bowl game.
21. Tennessee (7-3, 22). Tough to beat at home.
22. Texas (9-2, 24). I'm looking for a way to drop them out, like winning via ref.
23. Hawaii (9-0, 25). Came out hot, but wound up with another mediocre, close win.
24. Wisconsin (8-3, NR). Where was that team all year. Will finish 5th in Big Ten w/o help.
25. California (6-4, 19). Should still finish 8-4.

My absence

I hope my blogs' few readers didn't abandon me for good after I took a week off. I had a horribly busy work week, and then I was off to Wisconsin to watch the Badgers whup Michigan (don't give me those backup excuses Wolverines fans, did you really want to finish 8-4?). Then I was up at 3:15 a.m. so I could fly back to watch the Redskins collapse against the Eagles at FedEx today.

I spent a lot of time on the plane working on things to cover write about this week, including how the college bowls are lining up. So I'm back and I'm here to stay.

Monday I will do a bigger Top 25 breakdown, but as you can see on the sidebar I already posted my vote. I'm also going to do a longer breakdown on the stretch of the Heisman race, although I feel like it is Dennis Dixon's to lose at this point.

Be back here posting in a few hours......

--Nate Sandstrom

Lockdown Saturday

Alright, this is the day I've been waiting for since last year. Wisconsin at Ohio State.

Now, as I dreamed of this day, I was expecting Wisconsin to be undefeated not the Buckeyes. But if the Badgers win today and against Michigan next week, I would still rate 2007 a quality season.

Will they do that? Their defense will decide. I think if they can finish +2 in the turnover ratio they can win. The defense had their first good game against a team with a good offense against Indiana last week.

I think the first quarter will be key. The defense needs to come up with stops the first two drives and build confidence.

The Badgers have won three straight in Columbus. I don't know if anyone has ever won four in a row in the Horseshoe. But I'm a homer, and this week's upset special is Wisconsin (+550/+16) at Ohio State, winning 16-14.

Also at noon, Northwestern looks to get to bowl eligibility at home against Iowa. Northwestern has done well in this series in recent years, and I like that trend to continue against an injury-riddled Iowa team. Northwestern (-1) wins this one 24-10.


Texas heads to Oklahoma State, who, since getting embarrassed at Troy, has been playing great. I've consistently called Texas the most overrated team in the country, and I think they get exposed in Stillwater today. Oklahoma State (+3) pounds the 'horns 37-17.

The South Florida Bulls' season is on the line. They've gone from #2 in the country to a team with a two game losing streak. Today they get another team that's fallen from grace in Cincinnati, who had an embarrassing loss to Pitt. I think the Bulls were victimized by a hangover effect, but their defense will be too much for the Bearcats' O-line. South Florida (-5) wins it 28-14.

--NS

Nate's NFL Power Rankings: Post-Week 8

The Colts-Pats game is reminiscent of a #1 vs. #2 regular season college football match-up. I've strategically avoided ESPN much of this week, so I am not so sick of the hype that I don't want to watch the game.

I'm starting to notice I'm not moving teams that much. I guess the biggest question is whether I would move the Steelers ahead of the loser of Colts-Pats, and the answer is not likely.

1. New England (8-0,1). What 'skins D? Another week, another blowout.
2. Indianapolis (7-0,2). Can they afford to start slow against the Pats?
3. Pittsburgh (5-2,3). Total lip service. They are not playing '06 Ravens.
4. Dallas (6-1,4). Pats-Colts give Dallas-Philly least coverage in years. T.O.?
5. Green Bay (6-1,5). Seem like team of destiny.
6. San Diego (4-3,6). Outscored opponents 104-27 in last three.
7. N.Y. Giants (6-2,7). Players council? What is this, Survivor?
8. Tennessee (5-2,8). Margin doesn't matter much in NFL.
9. Seattle (4-3,10). Seeking to shake up run game.
10. Jacksonville (5-2,15). Won battle for best in Fla.
11. Tampa Bay (4-4,9). Turnovers killed them against Jags.
12. Carolina (4-3,12). Indy blows out a lot of teams. They may be back to Carr.
13. Washington (4-3,13). New England blows out a lot of teams.
14. Baltimore (4-3,14). Still looking for first division win (0-2).
15. Detroit (5-2,16). Is Kitna the new Nostradamus?
16. Denver (3-4,11). Falling out of playoff picture.
17. Cleveland (4-3,19). Win against Seattle and they move up big.
18. Arizona (3-4,17). Trying to snap two-game skid.
19. Buffalo (3-4,18). Lee Evans gets in the end zone!
20. Kansas City (4-3,21). Who thought they'd start November in first?
21. Chicago (3-5,22). They've got to get better right.
22. Cincinnati (2-5,23). Is there honor in being NFL's best 2-5 team?
23. Philadelphia (3-4,27). Wins in next two (Dallas/Washington) can get them back.
24. New Orleans (3-4,26). Can move into first place tie this week.
25. Oakland (2-4,25). Another blown half time lead.
26. Minnesota (2-5,24). Now the Brooks Bollinger show.
27. Houston (3-5,20). I don't think David Carr was the problem.
28. San Francisco (2-5,28). Again, has a team that started 2-0 finished 2-14?
29. N.Y. Jets (1-7,29). Man-genius spent too much time on Sopranos.
30. Atlanta (1-6,30). Found way not to lose bye week.
31. Miami (0-8,31). Have mastered losing games by three points.
32. St. Louis (0-8,32). At least Steven Jackson is back. Oooooh. Yikes.

High School Weekend -- November 2

Two more weeks to the start of the football playoffs, and there are some games with major seeding implications this afternoon in the city. Both could wind up being playoff previews.

A link to the playoff standings.

However, perhaps the best team in the state, Friendly (PG), may be on the outside looking in because of an ineligible player.

I keep looking for a chance to sneak away and check out Tavon Austin, but I'll be in the capital covering tax bill hearings tomorrow.

For more on Digital Harbor (down the road from my house) see the Sun's Milton Kent's article here.


Here are capsules from the Sun (I inserted standings, top four qualify).

Digital Harbor (#2 1A South)
@ No. 2 Dunbar (#1 1A South)
When // Friday, 2:30 p.m.

Outlook // This game matches the Baltimore City League leaders in the Division II Rams (7-1) and the Division I Poets (8-0). Tavon Austin and Dunbar have outscored city opponents 36.6 to 8.0 per game, including a 44-34 victory over Poly (7-1), which dealt Digital its only loss, 23-6. The Poets are averaging 40 points compared with 8.8 by their foes, with Austin recording 23 touchdowns and 1,477 rushing yards. Jeron Lewis, who has 12 sacks, leads the Rams defense, which hopes to slow Austin. Trae Higgins and Aaron Hargraves look to run the ball against the Poets' defense, led by linebacker Keon Redhead. Four-year-old Digital has outscored its city foes, 24 points to 8.6 and would love to avenge last year's 36-0 loss in its first meeting with Dunbar.

Poly (#2 2A North)
@ No. 7 Edmondson (#3 2A North)
When // Friday, 2:30 p.m.

Outlook // This game is crucial to the Class 2A North region qualifiers. City (6-2) holds a slim lead over Edmondson (6-2) for fourth place and the final playoff berth. The visiting Engineers (7-1), who are second in the region behind Eastern Tech (8-0), can help City, which hosts Mervo (5-3), and hurt the Red Storm. Next week in the last games of the regular season, City visits Poly and Edmondson will travel to Lake Clifton (1-7). The game showcases two of Baltimore's top running backs in Poly's Lee Reynolds and Edmondson's Terence Wilson.

In Howard County, there are not really any headline games, although the River Hill-Howard battle next weekend will certainly draw interest. Glenelg (#5 1A South) needs to stop Hammond if they want to qualify for the playoffs. However, it's an uphill battle, and based on the numbers they may be out even if they run the table.


Here's TronBlaster's HoCo take this week: (team, W-L, PF-PA)
The elite
1. River Hill 8-0 343-14 Intriguing match-ups with the second best D
in the league this week, and the second best offense (Howard) next week
(Last week: beat Marriotts Ridge 49-6; This week: Reservoir at)
+2. (3.) Howard 7-1 232-146 OK, get excited. They're playoff bound and
if not for a week 3 loss at Atholton, they'd be 8-0 (beat Wilde Lake
21-14; at Long Reach)
-3. (2.) Wilde Lake 6-2 213-96 A few costly turnovers led to the
Howard loss, these two could have a great playoff battle (lost to
Howard 14-21; Oakland Mills at)

The good
4. Marriotts Ridge 5-3 174-210 Hovet is squeezing every win possible
out of this team (lost to River Hill 6-49; Centennial at)
5. Atholton 5-3 132-114 One-trick offense is keeping them from being
elite (beat Oakland Mills 26-20; at Mt. Hebron)
6. Reservoir 4-4 145-96 They need their incredible defense to score
more, like the 2000 Ravens did (beat Centennial 13-8; at River Hill)

The respectable
7. Glenelg 4-4 113-179 Four game winning streak to get back to .500,
good chance to win out (beat Mt. Hebron 21-14; Hammond at)
+8. (9.) Oakland Mills 2-6 172-264 Good show taking Atholton to double
overtime, two near-misses could have had them 4-4 (lost to Atholton
20-26 (2OT); at Wilde Lake)

Just go out there and have fun kids
-9 (8.) Long Reach 3-5 113-188 Puzzling loss to Hammond has to cost
them, I don't know what to make of this team (lost to Hammond 19-32;
Howard at)
+10. (11.) Hammond 2-6 186-253 Offense starting to come around, if only
they could stop someone (beat Long Reach 32-19; at Glenelg)
-11. (10.) Centennial 2-6 98-207 Only team in the league that hasn't
scored 100 points yet (lost to Reservoir 8-13; at Marriotts Ridge)
12. Mt. Hebron 0-8 115-269 Starting to play better, but 0-10 season
is inevitable with A and WL ahead (lost to Glenelg 14-21; Atholton at)

--NS/TB