Mr. Pickem's Weekly Football Predictions

Week 3

Friday Sept. 15, 2023

#10 Richwood Rams (2-0) Vs West Ouachita Chiefs (2-0)

Not many folks gave Richwood much of a chance in 2023 after the abrupt resignation of former head coach, Marcuz Yanez. Although the Rams returned a good nucleus of players from last year's second round team, the search for Yanez's replacement had to come quicker than most coaching searches to keep the program at a respectable space. What would be quicker than to higher in-house and that's exactly what the Rams did when they promoted defensive coordinator Bakari Guice to lead the boys in red and white. In the beginning, a shortage of on-campus coaches left Guice doing a lot of rebuilding with very little help, but if there's anyone that's up to that challenge my vote would go to HIM! Fast forward to now and he has his guys in prime position to start the year 3-0 for the first time in the school's re-opening. Last week, the Rams destroyed Rayville 46-14 and improved to 2-0 on the season led by a surprisingly potent offense that featured over 300 total yards. Andrew King was once again unstoppable as he accounted for over 175 yards with 2 TDs and RB Andrew Williams eclipsed the 100 yard plateau while also scoring twice.

Meanwhile, the upstart West Ouachita Chiefs were also improving to 2-0 by demolishing Jonesboro-Hodge 44-12 at home. The Chiefs capitalized on big play, after big play, after big play in every facet of the game. None of which were more electrifying than All-Grissom's RB Antonio Ford's 75-yard jaunt in the 1st quarter. Minutes later, Luke Jones would take a punt return 55 yards to paydirt and the onslaught was on from there. Matthew Lee's 70-yard pick-6 in the 3rd quarter slammed the nail in the coffin for the visiting Tigers, giving head coach Mike Rainwater just the momentum he needs heading into a showdown with Richwood.

A season ago, these teams battled back and forth at Chiefs Stadium until eventually the home standing Chiefs came away victorious 27-26 and something tells me that this game will be just as close. Guice lays his hat on the defensive side of the ball and anytime his offense can spot him a 46 burger like they did last week, he'll get the win 99% of the time. On the other hand, Rainwater has brought new life to the fans in western Ouachita Parish and his old-school I-formation package has proven to still give defenses fits. Both teams have proven that they can win on both sides of the ball and through 2 weeks both teams have scored in every facet of the game which leads me to believe that this game will be decided late. Richwood will be playing up 2 classes and in my humble opinion the sheer numbers game was the difference maker a year ago, with several guys playing both ways, fatigue may hinder the Rams chances at a win. Chiefs RB Ford is perhaps the most hidden gem in the area, and he will have a huge impact in this game, but when any team faces a Guice-led defense, nothing will come easy. I expect the Rams to utilize the run game a lot while using a vast amount of clock and Andrew King and Williams are more the capable of doing so. In the end, the Chiefs will take a late lead, but a kickoff return by Williams and a 2-pt conversion by King will give the Rams the win, sending Richwood to 3-0.

Richwood 15 West Ouachita 14

Player Of The Game: Andrew Williams – 17 Carries, 125 Yards, 1 Kickoff Return Td

AREA SCORES:

TOP TEN

#1 NEVILLE 48 HUNTINGTON 14

#2 WEST MONROE 58 DELHI CHARTER 6

#3 OCS 44 MANSFIELD 12

#4 RUSTON 28 CABOT, ARK 20

#5 FRANKLIN PARISH 51 RAYVILLE 20

#6 CARROLL 30 SOUTHWOOD 18

CONWAY, ARK 31 #7 OUACHITA 20

#8 WOSSMAN WILDCATS 43 HELIX MENTORSHIP ACDY 6

STERLINGTON 28 #9 OAK GROVE 26

#10 RICHWOOD 15 WEST OUACHITA 14

OTHER GAMES:

MANGHAM 26 CALDWELL 20

BASTROP 16 FERRIDAY 12

HOMER 34 GENERAL TRASS 27

ST FRED 21 JENA 20

MADISON PARISH 38 LAFAYETTE RENAISSANCE

DELHI 23 CAPITOL 8

VIDALIA 43 BLOCK 6

D'ARBONNE WOODS 34 BEEKMAN CHARTER 14

RINGOLD 12 TENSAS 8

CEDAR CREEK 22 WINNFIELD 21

OBERLIN 33 SICILY ISLAND 0

Mr. Pickems' Top 10

1. Neville Tigers

2. West Monroe Rebs

3. OCS Eagles

4. Ruston Bearcats

5. Franklin Parish Patriots

6. Carroll Bulldogs

7. Ouachita Lions

8. Wossman Wildcats

9. Oak Grove Tigers

10. Richwood Rams

Just Missed It: Sterlington, West Ouachita, St Fred., Madison Parish, General Trass, Mangham,

MR PICKEMS G.O.AT. OF THE WEEK

JAVION WHITE – ATH

FRANKLIN PARISH PATRIOTS

4 CATCHES, 153 YARDS, 2 TD

2 RETURN TD'S (78YD KICKOFF & 56YD PUNT RETURN)