Week 12 Region 9: #1 Athens vs. #4 Tri-Valley

[Paladin]

Not long ago I watched some game film on Athens and said they had problems and were over rated. This game should expose their flaws. The OL isn't that good and as Logan Elm exposed, the D isn't that great either. Burrows is a talent but he is surrounded by average talent that played in a weak league. Very weak. And no matter who wins here, Marion-Franklin is the dominate team in the region. This game will come down to who controls the trenches and Tri-Valley should shine on both sides of the ball. They have also played in the much tougher league, so they'll be better prepared. Burrows is going to get hurried and hit. Like most games , mistakes will prove critical. TV should get the win.

[TigerBacker#1]

I can think of no worse game plan than thinking your team will score enough to overcome a weak defense. Hopefully next year Athens will have a defense that will help what shoud be a good offense next year. How many of the skilled players for Athens go both ways. Logan Elm truly exposed the Athens defense. I expect TV has plans to score on every possesion. Not just hopes but plans. Should be a shootout.

[93Bulldog]

Ryan Luehrman and Trae Williams are the only two that go both ways.

Sure hope we don't get embarrassed Friday.

[93Bulldog]

Tri-Valley - 400 boys
Athens - 297 boys

about the same difference between Athens and Alexander.

According to most posters on preps, since Athens is the small fish, they have no chance of winning.

count how many times someone complains about being so much smaller than Tr-Valley ... I bet it is ZERO.

[Binary]

Tri-Valley - 400 boys
Athens - 297 boys

about the same difference between Athens and Alexander.

According to most posters on preps, since Athens is the small fish, they have no chance of winning.

count how many times someone complains about being so much smaller than Tr-Valley ... I bet it is ZERO.

Just remember, "numbers don't mean anything."

[93Bulldog]

Burrows is a talent but he is surrounded by average talent that played in a weak league. Very weak.

Its quite obvious you have never seen Trae Williams or Ryan Luehrman play football.

[questionmark]

Burrows is a talent but he is surrounded by average talent

And that was all I needed to read to see you have no clue about the players on Athens Offense...

Trae Williams is a D1 Prospect with amazing skills...
Season Stats - 127 carries for 1483 yards (27 TD's)
Round I Stats - 24 carries for 147 yards ( 4 TD's), 2 catches for 117 yards (2 TD's), also had a Kick Return TD...(7 TD's)

Ryan Luehrman is a D1 Prospect with amazing size...
Season Stats - 38 catches for 958 yards (15 TD's)

Heath Wiseman is only a Sophomore with 11 TD's.
Adam Luehrman is Ryan's twin brother and is also as effective as a receiver at 6'4''...

Burrow hit 5 different targets for TD's last week...a pretty balanced attack and one of the best Offensives in the State...

[93Bulldog]

Those are regular season stats. The updated version is about to be uploaded, questionmark - if you needed them.

[TigerBacker#1]

I for one do not doubt the skilled players at Athens. If the line does a good job Williams will have a nice night. He will have more trouble should the dawgs be fortunate enough to win Friday. That is where the elephant in the room no one from Athens wants to talk about. The line play on both sides of the ball. This will be the problem of the week for Athens.

TV will control the ball and the touches of the skilled players. TV will have enough superior line play to cause troubles for the skilled players of Athens on offense.

I for one do not care about the numbers. Each team can only play 11 people at a time. Unfortunately for Athens some of those playersinclude down linemen.

[CavsFan08]

Tri-Valley - 400 boys
Athens - 297 boys

about the same difference between Athens and Alexander.

According to most posters on preps, since Athens is the small fish, they have no chance of winning.

count how many times someone complains about being so much smaller than Tr-Valley ... I bet it is ZERO.

Your own AD has been against Logan coming to the TVC because he worries "about the size difference"
Go play Tri-Valley in every sport you have and see if people complain. I bet you do not have 90% of TVC titles if you have a school that size in your league.

Tri- Valley has played 6 teams that have made the playoffs
Athens has played 2-

Question is how beat up is Tri-Valley after having to play outstanding Philo and New Philly teams back to back.

[93Bulldog]

Go play Tri-Valley in every sport you have and see if people complain.

Played in the same league as Logan for years, which is bigger than Tri-Valley.
Didn't complain then and won't complain now.

[G.W.A.]

Go play Tri-Valley in every sport you have and see if people complain.

Played in the same league as Logan for years, which is bigger than Tri-Valley.
Didn't complain then and won't complain now.

How is the SEOAL doing thus far in the playoffs? Paladin may know

[bucks_09]

Go play Tri-Valley in every sport you have and see if people complain.

Played in the same league as Logan for years, which is bigger than Tri-Valley.
Didn't complain then and won't complain now.

Didn't complain about the seoal just tucked and ran from it when you finally realized you couldn't compete in it. Athens has turned their program around playing smaller schools like wahama, and tvc ohio teams and are now beating bigger schools and winning playoff games. But where will they be in 5 or 10 years. Will they be back to getting their ass kicked by Ny and most of the non league games they play or will they stay where they are. As for the game Friday it's going to be a high scoring game but tv will win by 14, then get killed by Marion Franklin

[saintsfan]

I have seen both Athens and Tri-Valley play this year. Athens will have their hands full with Tri-Valley on both sides of the ball. Athens will score points but unfortunately for Athens so will Tri-Valley. They have a very balanced attack and can run the ball very well. I watched the Athens Logan Elm game and what many people are not taking into consideration about that game is the field position. Logan Elm returned a kickoff down to the 3 yard line and two others past the 50 into Athens territory. They also recovered an onside kick and had a personal foul added on to that and put the ball around the Athens 30 again. Athens also muffed a punt and fumbled twice around their own 35. That put the Athens defense on the field inside their own 40 or 30 5-7 times in the game. The best defenses in the state would have trouble stopping any team that many times considering the circumstances. Athens is young on D as most people know and not a lot of experience other than the games this year. I think in the Logan Elm game they faced a lot of adversity and responded some of the time. They will have to be better than that. I think if you take out the turnovers and bad field position the score is much more lopsided. I still think Tri-Valley takes this one by 2 td's.

[moonshine]

I have seen both Athens and Tri-Valley play this year. Athens will have their hands full with Tri-Valley on both sides of the ball. Athens will score points but unfortunately for Athens so will Tri-Valley. They have a very balanced attack and can run the ball very well. I watched the Athens Logan Elm game and what many people are not taking into consideration about that game is the field position. Logan Elm returned a kickoff down to the 3 yard line and two others past the 50 into Athens territory. They also recovered an onside kick and had a personal foul added on to that and put the ball around the Athens 30 again. Athens also muffed a punt and fumbled twice around their own 35. That put the Athens defense on the field inside their own 40 or 30 5-7 times in the game. The best defenses in the state would have trouble stopping any team that many times considering the circumstances. Athens is young on D as most people know and not a lot of experience other than the games this year. I think in the Logan Elm game they faced a lot of adversity and responded some of the time. They will have to be better than that. I think if you take out the turnovers and bad field position the score is much more lopsided. I still think Tri-Valley takes this one by 2 td's.

Right on point, Tri-Valley if they can run bullets at the QB and cover the short game Yes I will agree Tri-Valley by 10-21 points!

[ONE OF A KIND]

I have seen both Athens and Tri-Valley play this year. Athens will have their hands full with Tri-Valley on both sides of the ball. Athens will score points but unfortunately for Athens so will Tri-Valley. They have a very balanced attack and can run the ball very well. I watched the Athens Logan Elm game and what many people are not taking into consideration about that game is the field position. Logan Elm returned a kickoff down to the 3 yard line and two others past the 50 into Athens territory. They also recovered an onside kick and had a personal foul added on to that and put the ball around the Athens 30 again. Athens also muffed a punt and fumbled twice around their own 35. That put the Athens defense on the field inside their own 40 or 30 5-7 times in the game. The best defenses in the state would have trouble stopping any team that many times considering the circumstances. Athens is young on D as most people know and not a lot of experience other than the games this year. I think in the Logan Elm game they faced a lot of adversity and responded some of the time. They will have to be better than that. I think if you take out the turnovers and bad field position the score is much more lopsided. I still think Tri-Valley takes this one by 2 td's.

That is all part of the game. Face it, Athens defense was exposed Friday night, and they looked bad. I think that trying to play so many different players on defense than what they do on offense caught up with them. It will get worse for them this week unless they start putting the better players on defense too. Looks like from what you are saying you think Athens also has to not only worry about their defense, but also special teams play.

[saintsfan]

I agree with you groundbuck Athens does have to worry about their special teams play as well. As I stated in my earlier post I had said the Athens defense faced some adversity and handled it some of the time and that they will have to do better. All I was saying is that it is tough for a young D to face that much and not give up points. I don't think Athens Defense is very good which I know many people will agree with me on that. I am not sure who else they could put on D that would make them that much better. I am sure Burrow could step in and play some DB but then he runs the risk of getting hurt. I know the Garlock boy played some D earlier in the year but plays OL only now. I don't think there is anybody on the sidelines that can help them any more than the kids that are already on the field. I know they had some injuries earlier in the year to the Mack and McDaniels boys. I think they wish they had them now, they would help. I don't think any of the O-line could do much better on the d-line. With all that said I think Athens needs to play their best game if they want a chance, cause some turnovers, take care of the ball on O, and play great special teams. Then they might have a good chance at winning.

[maniac66]

Going to be a tough match up for Athens I do hope they win.
And they can with ball control allowing Tri-valley to have the ball and dictate will prove to be bad for Athens this is one where they need to control the clock and the ball running up and down the field like last week could prove to get them in trouble.
Tri-Valley has improved every week they played it seems against what most would perceive as better competition and it may well be but Athens is 11-0 for a reason and not by dumb luck or by not playing well. Good Luck Athens tough game ahead but winnable if you play to your strengths and smart.

[PHS75]

I am going with Athens on this one. Good luck Bulldogs.

[Ny92]

I think tri valley will be a hand full for the dogs. By far the best team they have faced. But, its really hard for me to pick against athens in this. Nobody has slowed down that O yet. Last game may have been the test they needed to wake them up.