Rivalry games can mess with a football team, regardless of whether you win or lose, because of the emotion attached to them.
Last Friday’s Aberdeen-Hoquiam game got a bit emotional at the end, but nothing more came out of it than a few pointed comments and an angry look or two.
In fact, for both Aberdeen and Hoquiam, the schedule makers did both of them a favor — Week 2 may be the best time for a high school team to face its non-league rival.
Just follow me on this one:
• With the game in the second week of the schedule, both teams had one game to get the kinks out, gain a bit of momentum and knowledge of what kind of team they are going to be this season. You also get the teams at close to 100 percent as they are going to get this season. Everyone was available last Friday and the best matchups were utilized.
• If the game was held on the opening week of the schedule, both teams would have used the entire off-season to prepare for it. It would have made for a great game, but neither team would have a true idea of what kind of a team they are as they navigate through the rest of the season. What works against your rival may not work on the rest of your opponents later in the season. One week doesn’t make a season, especially the first week.
• If the game was held in the second half of the season, the risk of injury to key players during the season would diminish one or both teams’ ability to field their best lineups against rivals who’ll remember every aspect of the game 20 years later. Other than the postseason, fans of both teams want to see the other team at close to 100 percent. That way, if they win, there are no excuses.
The last two seasons saw Aberdeen and Hoquiam meet up to finish the season in Week 9. Both times Hoquiam was on a roll and ready to enter the postseason, while Aberdeen was tapped out and on the verge of ending its season. It is a tough position, because Hoquiam held out some of its players later in the games to save them for the postseason and Aberdeen was unable to field its best lineups due to injury and attrition.
Historically, Montesano and Elma have met for the East County Civil War in the final week of the season. Only in a few instances have the Bulldogs and the Eagles met earlier, but it was usually in Week 1 when both teams were in different leagues. Historically, the rivalry game has decided postseason berths and league titles. That always intensifies the emotion of the game and players who were injured during the middle of the season return for this one.
Other in-league rivalries, like Willapa Valley (PWV) and Raymond, will meet in Week 9 this year, while Hoquiam and Montesano will meet in the middle of the season once league schedules come into play. The emotions in those games will still be high, but when they play is out of their control.
For now, Week 2 is close to perfect for rivalry games against non-league opponents. It doesn’t diminish the other in-league rivalries, but it provides a great measuring stick for both teams to use for the vast majority of the season.
With that, Hoquiam and Aberdeen will have a bit of an edge as they enter in the next couple of weeks before league play begins.
Quick Pro Hit
It is only Week 1, but there were some stark performances in the NFL. First, the San Francisco 49ers looked a bit better than predicted and the Los Angeles Rams look bad. The New England Patriots were short-handed and beat the NFC West-favorite Arizona Cardinals with backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo on the road. The Cleveland Browns are who we thought they were. The Browns and the Rams were the only teams who were blown out at the end in Week 1. Everyone else either rallied to win — like Seattle did against Miami and Kansas City over San Diego — or were close throughout. This was an entertaining first week of the NFL, but it won’t tell us much about what and where any of these teams will finish.
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Editor’s Note: Remember, these picks are for entertainment purposes only. They are not meant to be taken seriously, just as a conduit for one’s opinion on the games at hand. Have fun.
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Friday
Non-League
Aberdeen Bobcats (0-2) at Elma Eagles (0-2), Davis Field — Something has to give here for two teams who have played better than their records. Elma will have the home edge on Aberdeen by virtue of its offensive performance against White Salmon. Notching 49 points on a super long road trip is a big plus for your offense. … Eagles 28, Bobcats 27.
(4) Montesano Bulldogs (2-0) at Castle Rock Rockets (1-1) — Two weeks in, Montesano can now be classified as a reloaded team for 2016. Running downhill on offense with Carson Klinger, the Bulldogs look just as strong as they did in past championship seasons. … Bulldogs 42, Rockets 7.
(8) Hoquiam Grizzlies (1-1) at Stevenson Bulldogs (2-0) — Rolling off a big win over rival Aberdeen, Hoquiam hits the long road trip to Stevenson. The Grizzlies have a good reputation for keeping their momentum on the road, but three-plus hours by car and add another 90 minutes on school bus one way to Stevenson can wear out any team. … Grizzlies 28, Bulldogs 14.
(10) Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans (1-1) at Mossyrock Vikings (0-2) — PWV found its 2014 and 2015 mojo last week by scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half to beat Morton-White Pass. Mossyrock was thumped by MWP and Onalaska. Edge Titans. … Titans 36, Vikings 8.
North Beach Hyaks (1-1) at Toutle Lake Ducks (0-2) — A hidden Pacific League rivalry gem in North Beach-Life Christian Academy lived up its billing with a tight win by the Hyaks. That can recharge your season. Toutle Lake’s offense hasn’t shown up yet. … Hyaks 24, Ducks 6.
Ocosta Wildcats (1-1) at Winlock Cardinals (0-2) — Ocosta still has a chance to grab some winning momentum in its non-league schedule, despite a tough loss to Wahkiakum last week. Winlock was thumped by South Bend to start the season. … Wildcats 35, Cardinals 24.
South Bend Indians (2-0) at Wahkiakum Mules (1-1) — South Bend has taken full advantage of its schedule and have two wins to its credit. Wahkaikum blanked Ocosta last week. This is a big non-division test for South Bend. … Mules 36, Indians 30.
Taholah Chitwhins (1-1) at (1) Lummi Blackhawks (2-0) — A classic eight-man football rivalry during the regular season, Lummi is one of the region’s favorites to win the state 1B title. Taholah is improved and will get a test from Lummi. This could easily be a basketball-type final score. … Blackhawks 72, Chitwhins 60.
Saturday
Non-League
Raymond Gulls (0-2) vs Friday Harbor Wolverines (0-2), Sedro-Wooley — Raymond is trying to find its wings this season after two games with two state playoff contenders. Friday Harbor has also taken on two state playoff contenders as well to start. Something will give here and a first win will be crucial for both teams. … Gulls 28, Wolverines 21.
Rob Burns: (360) 537-3926; rburns@thedailyworld.com; Twitter: @RobRVR.
