Week 6. The second half of the season is already upon us. This weeks matchup pits two members of Class 3A Region 6 as the Sylvania Rams take on the Geraldine Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are no stranger to Southern Torch, as this will be their third appearance on the Southern Torch GOTW. But what has happened to that team that we last saw stomping the Plainview Bears? After looking like they would run riot through the region, the Bulldogs turned into a game of Cliffhangers on The Price is Right and are coming off of back to back losses.
There's way too much talent and grit on this roster for the slide to continue. The Bulldogs will look to regain focus and get back to their smash-mouth ways this week against a Rams team that's still looking for an identity.
It will be on the shoulders of All-County RB/LB Devan Totherow (SR) to bring this team back to form and to the top of the Region.
GAME PLAN: Get back to the physical, ground and pound football that got you to 3-0.
Across the field, the Sylvania Rams, under new Head Coach Roger Haynes, have implemented an entirely new defensive scheme that is more complex than some college teams run. This system is being taught through the ranks to even the Junior Varsity squad, as Haynes is looking to build a program for the long haul not just a quick fix.
The Rams are a sneaky pick in this matchup based on the unknown. After starting the season 0-2, the Rams held a 9 point lead against JB Pennington with less than 4 minutes to play. In that 4 minutes, disaster struck and the Rams dropped a heartbreaker at home on a last second field goal.
The next week the Rams took out their frustrations on Holly Pond with a 33-6 drubbing and looked like they were beginning to gel, only to fall to NSM 35-13 in Week 5.
The Rams will need more offensive firepower from Dillon Cambron and Company than they could muster against the Bisons last week if they want to give Coach Haynes a chance for his second win in the Green and Gold.
Unfortunately, Chad Anderson isn't walking through that door.
GAME PLAN: Find a way to keep your defense off the field and protect the football.
PREDICTION: This matchup is wide open based on the inconsistencies of these two programs at the moment, but Geraldine should be a solid favorite.
