HIGH SCHOOL HYPOTHESIS:

QUARTERFINAL EDITION

Last Week      Will: 2-3          TJ: 2-3

Overall            Will: 26-18      TJ: 26-18

DOWLING (11-0) vs. URBANDALE (8-2)

WILL PICKS-Dowling

This game is a match up between two teams that shut-out their last opponent (Dowling 41-0 East/ Urbandale 48-0 Valley).  Dowling’s defense is just too good for Urbandale’s rushing attack.  I’m taking the Maroons, as they continue on their track to bring the ’09 Class 4A state title back to Des Moines. 

TJ PICKS-Dowling

Urbandale’s thumping of Valley on Monday was remarkable. And the same can be said for Chad Gilson and Jevoury Wedderburn. Unfortunately for the J-Hawks, they run into a Dowling Catholic team who is having there best season in a decade. I’ll take Michael Hudson and the Maroons, but in a close one.

ANKENY (10-1) vs. MARSHALLTOWN (11-0)

WILL PICKS-Marshalltown

Does the Bobcat bus stop here?  Can Marshalltown continue this dream run towards a state championship?  I think the Bobcats overcame a HUGE hump when they defeated Waukee Monday night after trailing early on 12-0.  Ankeny is good, at running the football, but Marshalltown’s defense is the unheard bunch in this story…they are really good.  I’m taking the Bobcats in an upset (yes, it is still considered an upset because Marshalltown has NEVER had a season like this one!).

TJ PICKS-Ankeny

Ankeny’s defense has give up just 10 points in its two post-season games. Marshalltown’s offense has scored 80. So something has got to give. I have to go with my gut here and say that Ankeny’s D will be able to suffocate Chanse Creekmur and company. I’m going with the tradition of Ankeny to ruin the dream season of Marshalltown, and the Bobcats first loss will be their last.

CLEAR LAKE (11-0) vs. CARROLL (11-0)

WILL PICKS-Carroll

A couple of weeks ago I threw my pick for the Class 3A state champ in a hypothesis.  My mind hasn’t changed; I’m taking the Carroll in this one.  This game is at Carroll and they have the necessary tools to raise the trophy at the end of this whole thing.

TJ PICKS-Clear Lake

Clear Lake’s defense has five shut-outs this season, and has given up only 80 points in 11 games. Those are some impressive numbers. Carroll’s offense has put up 40 or more points five games this season themselves. So what to take, offense or defense? Ethan Tindell will lead the Clear Lake defense to yet another big victory and the Lions will be one step closer to playing for the 3A championship.

PELLA (8-3) vs. CENTERVILLE (11-0)

WILL PICKS-Centerville

This game is a no-brainer to me.  Centerville is undefeated this year and continues to ride the same offense from back in 1912.  But guess what?  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”  I’m taking Centerville, as they will match up with Carroll in the Class 3A state championship game to feature an all Central Iowa match up. 

TJ PICKS-Pella

What a game we have here. It’s a rematch of the 44-43 week three thriller that Centerville won. In that game Tanner Susin, one of the state’s best, ran for 190 yards and had 10 tackles for Centerville. Meanwhile, Pella’s Blane Forsythe threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Richie Bales. In the rematch, I’m going to have to take Pella. They seem to be peaking right now in their season; they haven’t lost since October 2, when Grinnell beat them. The same Grinnell team they just upset in the quarterfinals. Pella upsets the Big Reds and moves on to the semis.

IKM-MANNING (10-1) vs. KUEMPER CATHOLIC (9-2)

WILL PICKS-Kuemper Catholic

When these two teams met earlier this year, Kuemper Catholic took the match up by seven points.  I think this game will be close again, but once again Kuemper Catholic wins, but just by a thread.

TJ PICKS-IKM-Manning

Kuemper Catholic started out the season 0-2 and they haven’t looked back since. Well, I’m afraid the streak stops here. IKM-Manning won its last three regular season games by a combined score of 175-0, yowser! IKM-Manning’s Jared Croghan will be tough to stop offensively and defensively. And Kuemper’s senior QB Brandon Boldt will put up a heck of a fight, but the Wolves will take this one.

WOODWARD-GRANGER (9-2) vs. PRAIRIE VALLEY, GOWRIE (11-0)

WILL PICKS-Prairie Valley

When Emmetsburg was upset by South Winneshiek Monday night (I’m not sure how you call that game an upset?  South Winneshiek has one loss, Emmetsburg was previously undefeated) that opened up a shot for Prairie Valley to win the whole thing.  Anytime you have two guys that have amassed over 4,000 career total yards (Cole Jaeschke and Jon Elmore) you have a special team.  Prairie Valley wins this one.

TJ PICKS-Prairie Valley

With all the hits that the Prairie Valley fanatics have been giving this Web site the past two weeks I’d be a fool to say anything negative about their team. Good news for me and them, there isn’t anything negative to say. They’ve amassed 2600 rushing yards this season, with nearly 1500 passing yards to boot. Although Woodward-Granger is playing great football right now, especially after whooping Panorama on Monday, I’m going to have to take the Warriors in this one. By the way, P.V.’s last five offensive point totals have been 41, 42, 41, 41, and 40, that’s strange. Who wants to bet they score in the low 40’s in this one?

TJ Rushing and Will Marchino, High School Playbook

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