DOWLING-EAST
Last Season: Dowling 48, East 21
TJ PICKS—
I choose Dowling with confidence in this one. There seems to be a lot of hype surrounding this particular Maroon team, and I’m buying into it. East returns no starters on offense and will have to prove themselves before I can pick any monumental upset. The only chance the Scarlets have is if Dowling looks past them to their huge showdown with Valley next week; Dowling in a rout.
WILL PICKS—
This is an intriguing matchup. Last year’s score should not reflect who you pick in this one. Dowling no longer has the services of QB Drew Scieszinski and RB Grant Mayfield and those two made up a HUGE chunk of the offense last season. Dowling looks over East and towards Valley, but loses in week one. I’ve got East in the “monumental upset.”
SE POLK-OTTUMWA
Last Season: Se Polk 39, Ottumwa 10
TJ PICKS—
I’m going with what could I guess be considered a slight upset in this one. I’m choosing the Bulldogs. Both made first round exits in the playoffs last season, so both are essentially trying to end a losing skid. Two great quarterbacks, Adam Goodvin and Cody Ingle with battle in this one. I have a gut feeling though that the Bulldogs will make the two hour trip hungry; Ottumwa in a close one.
WILL PICKS—
I can’t believe we open the season picking against each other twice! SE Polk returns Cody Ingle who will open things up this year without running back Jeff Woody. I’ve got SE Polk winning just like they did last year. BIGGGGGGGG.
URBANDALE-LINCOLN
Last Season: Lincoln 13, Urbandale 12
TJ PICKS—
This should be a good game, much like it was last season. I expect no more than 100 passing yards total in this one as two pre-season All-State running backs, Jevoury Weddurburn and T.J. James go head to head. Lincoln takes it by a rail thanks to the energetic south side crown they will have at their dispense.
WILL PICKS—
I’m not for sure about this one. Last year Lincoln got a late score to go ahead and Urbandale was unable to march down the field to provide any late game heroics. By the way, that was one of THREE games that Urbandale lost by a combined 8 points!! The J-Hawks could have easily been 6-3 not 3-6 last season. That leaves them hungry, and you can bet Mr. Weddurburn wants revenge on the Rails after they spoiled the opener of Frerichs Field. I’ve got URBANDALE in this one.
NEVADA-COLFAX-MINGO
Last Season: C-M 37, Nevada 21
TJ PICKS—
Nevada was really bad last season, winning only one game against a really, really bad Saydel team. That being said it’s tough for me to pick a 2A foe to beat a 1A team. However I’m going to have to in this situation. Not a whole lot returning for C-M, and Nevada featured pre-season All-State pick Curtis Borts on the defensive line. This is as much of a shot in the dark as any of these games, but I choose Colfax-Mingo in a tight one.
WILL PICKS—
How can I go against the team that hosted my first EVER Wild Card Game of the week? I can’t. Colfax-Mingo will be voting as much as they can today (I have a feeling) to win and make back-to-back first games of the season. I’m taking Colfax-Mingo.
--TJ Rushing/Will Marchino, KCCI’s High School Playbook
