Mr. Pickem's Football Picks

Overall Record 53-15 Last Week's Record 13-2

Featured Games: 1-1 (4-3)

Week 5 (Oct. 1, 2021)

Game Of the Week

#1 Neville Tigers (3-1) Vs #5 West Monroe Rebs (3-1)

Rarely in today's football does a program have to good fortune to open the season with 5 consecutive games at home, but on Friday night Neville will do just that as they host the West Monroe Rebs at Bill Ruple Stadium in Monroe LA. The venue and its occupants will be well received by the tigers as they look to bounce back from their first loss of the season a week ago. In the loss, RB A..J. Allen had his best game as a tiger, rushing for 350 yards and 4 scores on just 18 carries. However, the gallant effort was not enough as the tigers gave up a last second touchdown sending them to 3-1. Senior QB Brett Batteford had his best game as a passer in 2021 as he threw for over 120 yards of which 60 went to WR Brady Menzina. Defensively, the tigers steel curtain was finally penetrated. After allowing only 38 total points through the first 3 games, the tigers were hit by a very talented St. Thomas More offense for 35 points in week 4. Even still, Neville showed some defensive prowess and even found another weapon in edge-rusher, Nick Gipson as they move into the second phase of the season.

While Neville was engaged in a dogfight, West Monroe was riding on cruise control. The Rebs destroyed 5A Woodlawn (Baton Rouge LA) 27-0, completing their second shutout of the season. After a week 3 loss to national power, catholic, West Monroe went back to the drawing boards and came up with a well-balanced attack that left their visitors from the south wondering what him them. QB Hayden Federico led the Rebs offensive attack with over 70 yards on the ground while also tossing a td pass and senior RB Rayshawn pleasant joined in the fun with 70 yards and 2 rushing scores. "Mr. Pickem's defensive player of the year.", junior Chauncey Llee was a heat-seeking missile to the Woodlawn ball carriers and came away with 11 tackles, 1 sack and a forced fumble.

These teams met just 5 weeks ago to kick off the pre-season at "bayou jamb". The Rebs came away with the win 8-6 after a failed Batteford 2-pt conversion sailed out of bounds, but this affair isn't a jamboree. This game has a ton riding on it. Both teams currently sit #2 in the projected power rankings in their respective classes. Both teams have stout defenses that will have a major part in determining who comes away victorious. Both teams have next level players that are coveted nationwide. But most importantly, both teams have the mentality that they're second to none. After a brief hiatus from 2001-2008 the Rebs and tigers renewed their rivalry in 2009 and it's been literally all Rebs since then. The Rebs own the new series 6-0 with a scoring margin of 185-76 and although it sounds lop-sided, most of those games have been pretty competitive. With both teams being so identical on both sides of the ball, picking the winner of this game is like pulling teeth. The easy way out would be to go with a tie, but in high school football there are no ties and the game won't be won on a coin flip either. However, this game will need more than 48 minutes to decide. In a thriller, the tigers and Rebs trade jabs for 5 quarters, but a double overtime td run by Allen snaps the Rebs streak and sends Neville back into the win column.

Neville 27 west monroe 24 (2ot)

Player Of The Game:

A.J. Allen – 22 Carries, 175 Yards, 2 Tds – 1 Lickoff Return, 1 TD

5A

St Thomas More 42 #4 Ruston 35

#7 Ouachita 27 Covington 14

West Ouachita 35 Loyola Prep 20

3A

#2 Sterlington 38 Jennings 24

Northwood (Sh) 34 #10 Wossman 20

Union Parish 49 Franklin Parish 21

Richwood 28 Woodlawn(Sh) 26

2A

#1 General Trass 48 Vidalia 18

#9 Mangham 50 Ferriday 34

Rayville 45 Delhi Charter 18

1A

#8 St Fred 21 #3 Ocs 20

Oak Grove 30 Tensas 14

Cedar Creek 44 River Oaks 14

D'arbonne Woods 21 Delhi 20

Delta Charter 24 Sicily Island 14

Mr. Pickem's Top 10

Week 5

1. General Trass (4-0) Def. Madison 58-6

Up Next: @ Vidalia

2. Sterlington (4-0) Def. N Desoto 38-35

Next: Vs Jennings

3. OCS (4-0) Def. Cedar Creek 33-22

Next: @ #8 St. Fred

4. Ruston (3-1) Def. Carencro

Next: @ St Thomas More

5. West Monroe (3-1) Def. Woodlawn 27-0

Next: @ Neville

6. Neville (3-1) Lost to St Thomas More

Next: Vs West Monroe

7. Ouachita (3-1) Def. Union Parish 31-28

Next: Vs Dutchtown

8. St Fred (4-0) Def. Delhi 42-0

Next: Vs #3 OCS

9. Mangham (3-1) Def. Delhi Charter 42-0

Next: @ Ferriday

10. Wossman (3-1) Def. B.T.W. 48-8

Next: @ Northwood (Shreveport)

Just Missed It: Union Parish, Rayville, Carroll, Richwood, Oak Grove

MR. PICKEM'S TOP 10

WEEK 4

Offensive Player of The Week

Ladarius Wheeler – Rb

- Rayville Hornets –

30 Carries, 279 Yards, 5 TDs

MR. PICKEM'S TOP 10

WEEK 4

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

CHAUNCEY LEE - LB

- WEST MONROE REBS -

11 TACKLES, 3 TFL, 1 SACKS, 1 FF