Mr. Pickem Grissom's Football Predictions

Pickem Grissom | Dec 03, 20200

Round 2 - Lhasa Playoffs

Weekly Record: 14-5 Overall 89-27 Featured Games 7-5

#4 Neville Tigers (5-2) Vs #13 Westgate Tigers (6-3)

After a week 8 bye due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Neville Tigers returned to the field last Friday with a well-rested group and it showed. The Tigers raced out to an early 22-0 1st quarter lead before eventually shutting out the visiting Peabody Warhorses 50-0 at Ruple Stadium. The Tigers were excellent in every facet of the game and scored in a multitude of ways. Offensively, Neville went for 400 yards of total offense and 4 scores with 275 of those yards coming on the ground. Junior RB A.J. Allen led all rushers with 100 yards and 1 TD on just 7 carries. Senior RB Tim Byrd only managed 19 rushing yards but was able to score twice with one of those coming via kickoff return. QB Brett Batteford’s 2nd quarter 14-yard toss to Billquarious Goodin would be the final TD for the starters as Coach Jeff Tannehill deployed the reserves the entire 2nd half. Ironically, the first TD of the night came via the Tigers defense when junior DB Griffin McGee intercepted a pass and took it 15 yards for the score. The Tiger defense also came away with two safeties and 3 takeaways in the game.

The 13th seeded Westgate Tigers were also huge winners on Friday after destroying Assumption 42-8. Similar to Neville, Westgate also scored in various ways. After a forcing a safety on a botched punt snap, the Tigers ground game would score on a 25 yard score to give the home team an insurmountable lead. Backup quarterback, Ja’Quialen Allen substituted for injured starter Brennon Landry and took a carry 61 yards to get the Tigers night started. The Westgate special teams also came up huge on Friday causing Assumption to botch 3 punt attempts which all led to Tiger scores.

Since losing to Neville a season ago, Westgate has been on a mission to become a program heralded around the state and a road win on Friday vs Neville would be a huge step in the right direction. Neville defeated Westgate 26-24 in 2019 and after the game the Westgate coaching staff took pictures of the scoreboard and forewarned their team that better days were coming. After Friday’s win, as a reminder of what’s next, they posted last season’s quarterfinals score vs Neville on the scoreboard. As fate has it, they’ll get their chance at redemption on the same field this Friday night. As mentioned earlier, Westgate may be without their starting QB and if that’s the case there’s no way they could expect to beat a Neville team that’s been lights out the past 5 weeks. Westgate has taken a similar playoff path as they did in 2019. Last year, the visiting Tigers defeated Assumption before traveling to Neville for a quarterfinals battle and although the deficit was only 2 points, Neville completely controlled that game and neutralized LSU-commit, Kayshon Boutte in the process. There won’t be a Boutte-type talent on the field this Friday for Westgate and with a huge question mark at the quarterback position, this game could get ugly in a hurry. However, I give good coaching bonus points when I predict scores. I’m sure all week long they’ll keep that same score on the scoreboard as motivation but sometimes all the motivation in the world isn’t enough. Westgate keeps it close early but eventually Allen and the Tigers ground game takes its toll on Westgate and Neville eases into round 3.

Neville 32 Westgate 13

***Grissom’s Star Of The Game***

A.J. Allen: 17 Carries, 177 Yards, 3 TDS

#2 Mangham Dragons (9-0) @ #18 Kentwood Kangaroos (5-2)

We can call it over-confidence, sluggishness or maybe we can call them playoff jitters but for whatever reason, Mangham’s start to the 2020 playoffs weren’t as good as expected. Good thing for them is that football games are decided after 4 quarters instead of one. After destroying Madison Parish in the final week of the regular season, most people thought that the Dragons would mop up the Jaguars early in the rematch game, but boy were we they wrong. Leading by only 3 at halftime, the Dragons would eventually pull away for the win 55-18. Finding themselves in an early 18-6 deficit Mangham turned to senior RB Cam Wilmore to get the offense going. The big 5’11, 200lb running back rushed for 160 yards and 2 scores before being yanked late in the blowout win. Dragon’s stud QB Kaleb Pleasant couldn’t get much going but still managed to accumulate over 100 total yards and 2 scores. The Dragons defense was superb as well creating several takeaways while the special teams added a touchdown when senior athlete, Tae Gayden took a Jaguars kick 80 yards to the end-zone.

Kentwood is a familiar name to playoff success, but most of it came in Class 1A. After winning the 1A title in 2018, the Kangaroos made the jump up to 2A where they would find themselves as a #6 seed heading into the playoffs. They would eventually lose a thriller in the semis to Many but gained big respect around the state after making the jump in class. This is year 2 for the Roos in Class 2A and it has been very similar to year 1. While sitting at the #18 seed, Kentwood is nowhere near being a middle of the road team and their only 2 losses came to 5A Live Oak and Dunham. Senior QB Otis Elzy has led the Kangaroos all season long and continued his dominance against Jonesboro-Hodge a week ago. The dual-threat athlete accumulated over 200 yards offense including 3 scores on the road vs the Tigers.

This will be a classic small school battle where you’ll get to see star athletes play on both sides of the ball. Mangham’s Pleasant also platoons in the Dragons secondary and will be needed to slow down a well-balanced Kentwood. On the other hand, Elzy can also be as effective on the defensive side of the ball for the Kangaroos while lining up at safety. Nothing in sports can substitute for experience and although Mangham has a big senior class their playoff experience has been limited. Since 2015, the Dragons have not made it past the 2nd round when they were upended by Kinder in the championship game. During that same span, the Kangaroos have made 5 semi-finals with 3 title game appearances that also includes 2 titles (2015 & 2018). Obviously, most of that success came in the bracket, but it’s a testament to how good of a program Coach Jonathan Foster runs in south Louisiana. Athlete for athlete, I’d expect the Dragons to have a slight edge in this game, but sometimes it takes a little more than athleticism to win games. Mangham was good enough to take some early punches from Madison and came back with a knockout blow. If the Dragons want any shot at winning this game, they can’t get behind early and expect those same kind of heroics. I love what 2ND year coach, Scott Wilcher is doing in Richland Parish. He’s restored the pride to a once prominent program that made 3 consecutive title game appearances from 2013-2015. However, sooner or later all good things come to an end. Kentwood capitalizes early on some costly Dragon turnovers and hold off the visiting team late. Mangham’s undefeated season and quest for the school’s second title comes to an end. Elzy runs wild and the Kangaroos advance.

Kentwood 30 Mangham 24

***Grissom’s Star Of The Game***

Otis Elzy: 10/13 178 Yards, 1 Td – 15 Carries, 135 Yards, 2 TDS

Other Games:

#10 West Monroe 24 #7 Central (BR) 23

#12 Ruston 31 #4 Ponchatoula 21

#2 Union Parish 36 #18 Booker T Washington (N.O.) 19

#5 St James 34 #12 Sterlington 21

#7 Ferriday 32 #10 Port Allen 20

#12 General Trass 28 #5 North Caddo 18

#1 Oak Grove 55 #16 East Beauregard 6

#3 Grand Lake 54 #19 Delhi 14