Try to 'Beat Pete' by picking winners for week 8 of high school football season
I don’t embarrass easily. I’ve pole-danced, stripped and committed a (Canadian) federal crime for articles in the past and never so much as blushed.
Last week, 65 people “Beat Pete” in our high school football pick ‘em contest. The list of readers (see below) who beat me included -- but was certainly not limited to -- friends, coworkers and, yes, even my wife.
It was flat out humiliating.
I could offer excuses for my epic failure -- like two starting quarterbacks on the sidelines with their arms in slings -- but instead I’ll just eat my humble pie and tip my cap.
"Beat Pete" brought to you by Play It Again Sports.
For another chance to make a fool of me, and to enter in our random drawing for prizes from Play it Again Sports, try to "Beat Pete" by picking this week’s games in the form below. Your record doesn't have to beat mine to be included in the drawing and there’s no purchase necessary. Click here to read the official sweepstakes rules.
Pete’s picks:
Last year, out of 664 high school football teams across the state of Michigan, Lincoln was one of 48 to not win a single game.
Less than a year later, Lincoln is one of just two of those 48 -- along with Plainwell -- that could lock up an automatic playoff berth with its sixth win of the season on Friday night.
What a season it's been.
With a combination of solid defense, smarter offense, a favorable schedule and a little bit of luck, the Railsplitters are now looking playoff bound.
It all starts on defense for Lincoln, which is led by linemen Tanner Brewer (6-foot-1, 270 pounds) and DeJuan Hampton (6-4, 210). Rarely do either of them lead the team in tackles, but according to coach Chris Westfall they are the largest reason Lincoln is allowing just 15.4 points per game, down from 32 last year.
“They’re both fantastic and just disrupt everything the opposing offense is trying to do,” Westfall said. “Our inside linebacker Christian Thomas has been great all year and a large part of that is because of the attention (Hampton and Brewer) demand up front.”
Offensively, after being mostly a return specialist last season, Rare Williams has developed into a true No. 1 receiver (32 receptions, 552 yards, 4 TDs) despite Lincoln passing far less. Quarterback T.J. O’Bryan averaged 21.8 attempts last year and was intercepted 19 times. He’s averaging less than 15 attempts this year, but has yet to throw a pick.
Lincoln's good fortune can’t be ignored. The Railsplitters non-conference games in the first two weeks last year were against Mason and Temperance Bedford, who ended up 8-1 and 9-0, respectively. This year, Lincoln played (and beat) Belleville and Huron, teams that are both 1-6 weeks later.
It also didn’t hurt that Adrian was without starting quarterback Sebastian Johnson last week.
On Friday, Lincoln will have the opportunity to make the playoffs for the first time in school history and will face another 1-6 team when it travels down the road to take on cross-town rival Ypsilanti.
Despite the Phoenix’s record and the fact that they are fresh off blowing a 22-point second half lead against Dexter, Westfall doesn’t expect anything to come easy for his team.
“They’re fantastic on defense. We’ll have to play well offensively to have a chance,” Westfall said after the Adrian win. “We’ll have to match their intensity. ... It will be a very physical game.”
It also leads this week's picks:
Beat Pete Winners
The following people "Beat Pete" last week:
John Benedetto
Tony Bertoia
John Bogi
Jeanne Boyea
Tom Brotz
Steve Brown
Gabriel Burdette
Kevin Connors
Mark Cozart
Katie Cunningham
Brenda Darwin
Lawrence Donnellon
Gary Dosey
Pete Draugalis
Mark Edman
Will Ellis
Dawn Ellyson
David Evanski
Mitch Gasche
Jeff Gillow
Jessica Hafley
Rob Hagood
Matt Hall
Mark Hanselman
Michael Harrison
Lorraine Hergenreder
James Highsmith
Jerry Holley
Nathan Howe
Raymond Howland
Denise Kerrigan
Josh Knapp
Ken Kowalski
Jeff Lawton
George Lesko
Rob Lillie
Bekah Makarewich
Melanie Maxwell
Brandon McDonald
Ed Michowski
Jay Miles
Jana Miller
Betty Jane Mioduszewski
Tom Moore
Timothy Mpanje
Jennifer Mulligan
Mark Musolf
Don Osinski
Molly Pauze
Sean Porter
Bob Rowley
Matt Smith
Duane Spring
Beth Starkey
Susan Striz
Bruce Szcodronski
Josh Tropea
Bobby Tull
Michael Walsh
Aaron Ward
Darrell Weaver
Carly Westfall
Mike Wheelock
Kyle Whitley
Joshua Winn
People who have "Beat Pete" so far: 78.
Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.