Mr. Pickem's Weekly Football Predictions

Week 9 Friday November 1, 2024

Overall Record: 139-25 Last Week: 15-4 Featured Games: 5-3

#7 St Fred Warriors (6-2) @ General Trass Panthers (5-3)

As the season comes to an end, coaches, players, and fans are all in a flurry, scrambling to find their fit in the upcoming postseason. Some teams have secured their spots, while others have a little more work to do. With a win this week, some teams can secure a home game, while a loss can send others traveling or, at worst, home for the holidays. General Trass is one of those teams that can secure a home game with a win this week as they prepare to face St. Fred's on Thursday night. The Panthers are currently ranked #10 in the LHSAA power ratings, but a win over a 6-win St. Fred's would give them enough power points to secure a home playoff game.

Coach Toriano Wells' squad dropped a thriller last week when a 2-point conversion fell short, and the Panthers lost 84-82 to Delta Charter in what may be the best game of the year in NELA. General Trass led by as many as 24 points in that game but couldn't stop a late Storm rally. While the Panthers were in a shootout with Delta Charter, the St. Fred Warriors were completely dismantling Tensas by a score of 56-8. The vaunted Warriors' ground game, along with another great defensive performance, guided Coach Bilderback's squad to the huge win. Jo Jo White led all rushers with 90 yards and two scores, while the Warriors' defense only allowed 45 total yards to the visiting Tensas Bears.

St. Fred is currently on a 4-game win streak and sits at #8 in the LHSAA Select Division IV power ratings. In each LHSAA bracket, the top 16 seeds receive a home game or even a first-round bye for the top four teams. However, in the history of football, a field has never scored a touchdown. These teams have a very short history, dating back to 2009. In a four-year span from 2009-2012, both schools are 2-2, with the Warriors winning the last meeting 32-14 in 2012.

Bilderback has done a great job keeping the Warriors' foundation strong after the departure of several players during the summer, and he has somehow managed to play their way into contender status with a remarkable 6-2 record. On the flip side, Wells, the architect of the restoration of Panther football in Lake Providence, has his squad sitting at 5-3 after last week's gut-wrenching loss. I'm sure practice was intense in Lake Providence, and I don't expect the Panthers to lose another 24-point lead anytime soon.

I do expect a great game. Even though there won't be 166 points scored, overtime is a possibility. In a battle of offense versus defense, I'm siding with the visitors. Bilderback hasn't lost a game since week 4, and I expect that streak to continue. In another thrilling ending, General Trass ties the game 15-15 late, but another failed 2-point conversion ends a Panther rally, and St. Fred's gets away with a win.

St Fred 22 General Trass 21

PLAYER OF THE GAME: JARVIS WALKER – 7/12 155 YARDS, 1 TD – 11 CARRIES, 85 YARDS, 1 TD

Area Scores:

Top Ten

#1 Neville 34 #8 West Monroe 24

#2 OCS 45 Ferriday 24

#3 Oak Grove 56 Madison Parish 22

#4 Franklin Parish 45 Wossman 16

#5 West Ouachita 35 Peabody 13

#6 Ruston 49 Pineville 10

#7 St Fred 24 General Trass 21

Sterlington 39 #9 Carroll 22

#10 Delta Charter 49 Block 16

Other Games:

Bastrop 30 Richwood 12

Jena 41 Caldwell 6

Bunkie 60 Vidalia 12

Delhi Charter 29 Beekman Charter 15

Mangham 56 Rayville 18

Union Parish 60 Magnolia Soe 6

Arcadia 21 Cedar Creek 7

Delhi 39 Tensas 13

Lincoln Prep 43 Plain Dealing 23

Mr. Pickems' Top 10

1. Neville Tigers

2. OCS Eagles

3. Oak Grove Tigers

4. Franklin Parish Patriots

5. West Ouachita Chiefs

6. Ruston Bearcats

7. St Fred Warriors

8. West Monroe Rebs

9. Carroll Bulldogs

10. Delta Charter Storm

Just Missed It: Union Parish, Ouachita, General Trass, Mangham, Bastrop

MR PICKEM'S GOAT OF THE WEEK

PARKER ROBINSON, QB - NEVILLE

27/30, 312 PASSING YARDS, 2 TD, 1 INT

COMPLETED FIRST 16 PASSES CONSECUTIVELY

Vs OUACHITA

Photo Neville Football: Neville Signal Caller #15 Parker Robinson completed his first 16 passes against Ouachita, who transferred from St. Freds.

Photo Ouachita Football: Ouachita #15 Nick Nelson scores a touchdown with a block from #80 Senica Battle

Photo: Neville fans Cen'sere, China, Lynazia and Captain Jansiya Carradine of Flag team, Class of 2025

Photo Ouachita Fans: Silas and Cordarion "D" White among the many Ouachita football fans

On Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 11:33 PM [email protected] wrote: