Week 10 Preview

The following predictions do not reflect bias or favoritism of HogoOnline. All scores are generated using formulas, rankings, and algorithms (which I named Dorothy) that are still in their infant stages. Please be kind to all predictions and remember, if you don't like it, the computer did it. After all, they're just silly predictions, right?

Last week: Dorothy 3-0
2008 Season: Dorothy 33-6

HOLSTON (7-2, 3-2)
at CASTLEWOOD (6-2)

Both of these teams are coming off of gut-wrenching, yet still heart-breaking district defeats. Holston let go of a late lead to Chilhowie in Damascus which banished all hope of a district championship for the Cavs. The Blue Devils took it to the wire against Twin Springs for the Cumberland lead, but a late fumble sealed the deal and Castlewood lost 28-27. Eric Mefford and Jefferey Bramlett have looked sharp in their recent defeats to powerful division 2 teams (Chilhowie and George Wythe). This week the competition is a bit lighter with Castlewood, although the Devils should be taken seriously...a 6-2 record may be easy to come by in the Cumberland but it can be awfully deceiving late in the year. If the Cavs continue to play hard, this game will be a simple tune-up for the Region C playoffs. Castlewood actually leads this old Hogoheegee rivalry, 6-4, in the last ten seasons with Holston winning three of the last four.

• 1998: Holston 8-7
• 1999: Castlewood 18-8
• 2000: Castlewood 39-13
• 2001: Castlewood 41-28
• 2002: Castlewood 29-19
• 2003: Castlewood 16-14
• 2004: Holston 35-12
• 2005: Holston 15-14
• 2006: Castlewood 40-0
• 2007: Holston 34-7
• 2008 Prediction: Dorothy says Holston 27-13

CHILHOWIE (8-0, 3-0)
at RURAL RETREAT (2-6, 1-2)

The quality of play for the Warriors has been in question in recent weeks but one thing is for certain...they're still winning. So maybe it's not pretty all the time but that is ok for them, this is not a beauty pageant. The Warriors managed a late comeback to eek by the Cavs 22-12 in Damascus last Friday, while Rural Retreat outplayed and almost managed an upset against Wythe County foe, George Wythe. The Indians were a 4th down conversion away from perhaps taking the lead late in the fourth quarter but a penalty and an incomplete pass ended the drive. The Indians have certainly improved since the beginning of the year and Coach Quinton Hensley has shaped his young group into an experienced team in just 8 games. The Indians are headed in the right direction and will certainly contend again in the near future. If Chilhowie is not ready, Hensley's Indians, led by QB Jake Whalen, could knock the Warriors clean out of a playoff spot for the second straight season. It won't take much to stall the Warriors' season as tight as Region C D2 is. This orange and black, Native American, Hogoheegee rivalry is older than dirt, but Rural Retreat leads the last ten bouts, 7-3.

• 1998: Rural Retreat 24-21
• 1999: Rural Retreat 35-13
• 2000: Rural Retreat 28-0
• 2001: Chilhowie 22-20
• 2002: Rural Retreat 12-0
• 2003: Rural Retreat 41-14
• 2004: Chilhowie 20-16
• 2005: Rural Retreat 34-6
• 2006: Rural Retreat 24-6
• 2007: Chilhowie 34-29
• 2008 Prediction: Dorothy says Chilhowie 32-7

GEORGE WYTHE (4-4, 3-0)
at NORTHWOOD (0-8, 0-4)

The Maroons almost slipped. Sure, the ground was wet from a rainy Friday afternoon, but nothing prepared the 'Roons for the amount of determination they were going to be struck by at Community Stadium in Rural Retreat. The Maroons season of early struggle with hope was met by an Indians season of struggle and nothing to lose. The Indians outplayed the Maroons on offense and even defense for most of the game but the big plays of Brandon Atwell, Jonathan Turpin, and Will Sawyers demonstrated why the Maroons are still playoff contenders. Northwood was unable to stop Ronnie Groves last week as he lead PH with three TDs over the Panthers. NW did find the endzone three times and have improved on offense over the course of the year. If the Panther D can emulate Rural Retreat's game plan, there is an ounce of hope. The Maroons offense acts like a tug-boat fueled off of big plays. Sometimes it sputters, sometimes it goes 70 yards down the sideline. The Maroons own the last ten years of this one, 10-0.

• 1998: George Wythe 51-19
• 1999: George Wythe 41-0
• 2000: George Wythe 26-6
• 2001: George Wythe 17-6
• 2002: George Wythe 30-0
• 2003: George Wythe 24-8
• 2004: George Wythe 52-14
• 2005: George Wythe 15-6
• 2006: George Wythe 35-14
• 2007: George Wythe 46-0
• 2008 Prediction: Dorothy says George Wythe 28-7