NEI Gets In The Mix With Oregon Live’s Rankings and Predictions: By Jordan Johnson

For those of you that don’t already know Oregon Live is one of the leaders nationwide with regards to high school sports coverage and beyond. If you go on a state by state basis the chances you will get consistent scoring updates and coverage the likes of which they provide is slim.

The last couple seasons we have been one of the voters on their 6A/5A Top 10 Weekly Poll, where you will see a host of relevant people from within the northwest making their picks. Taylor Barton and myself have joined in on the fun, and are now making selections with four of the Oregon Live members separately on the top games each week.

Tim Brown and the rest of this group spend countless hours making sure things get done the right way. We wanted to extend our appreciation to all of O Live, as they have set a high standard for news organizations all over the country. Have a look at the Oregon Live Weekly Poll and the voters that participate, along with the selections that we release each week. The Poll is as credible as they come and the picks are fun for everyone involved.

Jordan Johnson-NEI

* Check this out weekly as we will continue to make our predictions…

By Sean Meagher, OregonLive.com

on October 10, 2012 at 3:50 PM, updated October 11, 2012 at 1:37 PM

Each week, OregonLive.com’s high school sports crew will meaninglessly pick the winners of 10 meaningful high school football games. Picking with us once again is Jordan Johnson and Taylor Barton of Northwest Elite Index . On to our Week 7 predictions:

 

Thursday

 

McMinnville (4-2, 3-1) at Tualatin (5-1, 3-1), 7 p.m.: McMinnville and Tualatin are locked in a four-way tie for second place in the Pacific Conference. Both teams come into Thursday night’s game with 3-1 league records with their lone losses to first place Tigard.

 

A win means the inside track for second place in the conference while a loss likely means a fight for third at best. McMinnville is averaging almost 48 points per game in wins, but just 23 in its two losses. If the Grizzlies are going to get a road win this week, they’ll need to put up points against a stingy Tualatin defense that hadn’t allowed more than 14 points in any game before last week’s 41-0 thrashing at the hands of Tigard. — Mike Richman

 

Sean Meagher: Tualatin
Tim Brown: Tualatin
Mike Richman: Tualatin
Pete Christopher: McMinnville
Jordan Johnson: Tualatin
Taylor Barton: Tualatin

 

Oregon City (3-3, 1-1) at West Linn (2-4, 0-2), 7 p.m.: For the first time this season, Oregon City is coming off a two-game losing streak, dropping consecutive contests against Three Rivers League foe Canby and an out-of-conference meeting with Grant last week. In the two losses, both by double digits, the Pioneers allowed 40+ points. West Linn nearly snapped a three-game slide last week in a back-and-forth affair with Clackamas but a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions by the Lions sealed the win for the Cavaliers. But, as they say, throw out the records for this rivalry game — the oldest high school football rivalry west of the Mississippi. A win by West Linn would even the league records for both teams at 1-2, while an Oregon City ‘W’ would further the distance and keep the Pioneers in the hunt for second place. West Linn edged Oregon City 28-27 in the final minute in last year’s “Battle of the Bridge.”

 

Meagher: Oregon City
Brown: Oregon City
Richman: Oregon City
Christopher: Oregon City
Johnson: West Linn
Barton: West Linn

 

Lakeridge (2-4, 0-2) at Canby (2-4, 1-1), 7 p.m.: Lakeridge snapped a four-game losing streak with an offensive outburst last week in a 56-30 win over Lincoln. Pacers running back Nick Yun and quarterback Eric Dungey combined for 449 yards of total offense and 6 total touchdowns to lead Lakeridge to the non-conference win. It was the first time since an opening week win over Eastlake (WA) the Pacers didn’t allow the opposition a 200+ yard rusher. Canby hung with defending Class 6A champions Lake Oswego, for a quarter, in a 41-20 loss to the Lakers last week that snapped a two-game win streak. After mustering just 23 points in their first three games (all losses), the Cougars have scored 104 points in their last three.

 

Meagher: Lakeridge
Brown: Canby
Richman: Canby
Christopher: Canby
Johnson: Canby
Barton: Lakeridge

 

Churchill (5-1, 3-1) at Marist (5-1, 4-0), 7 p.m.: Churchill survived a potential shocker by Midwestern rival Willamette last week in a 29-26 nail-biter. Senior Ian Boozer kicked a 24-yard field goal with 2.3 seconds left to save the Lancers from a 2-2 league record. Churchill led 24-0 heading into the fourth before allowing a 24-point final quarter by the Wolverines in the near upset. Marist pitched its second 47-0 shutout in four games in a win over Eagle Point. Senior Austin Baird racked up over 260 yards rushing and receiving in the win.

 

Meagher: Marist
Brown: Marist
Richman: Marist
Christopher: Marist
Johnson: Marist
Barton: Marist

 

Friday

 

Grant (3-3, 0-0) at Aloha (6-0, 3-0), 7 p.m.: Grant continues its non-league tour of Class 6A with two games remaining until its Special District 2 showdown with Lincoln. The Generals have had an up-and-down season thus far, trading wins with losses each week. Last week Grant exploded on offense with a 28-point second quarter and closed with 14 in the fourth to outlast Oregon City, 49-34 . Sophomore quarterback Sam Davis threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns and senior running back Bryant Peek added 159 yards and two touchdowns. Aloha remained perfect and Thomas Tyner continued his torrid pace with 300+ yards and five touchdowns … on just 15 carries … in just one half … as the Warriors improved to 6-0 with a 42-22 win over Beaverton. Tyner has 1,971 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns on the season.

 

Meagher: Aloha
Brown: Aloha
Richman: Aloha
Christopher: Aloha
Johnson: Aloha
Barton: Aloha

 

Jesuit (5-1, 2-0) at Southridge (3-3, 2-0), 7 p.m.: Last year’s meeting between these two Metro League opponents came down to Jesuit missing a game-tying extra-point to give Southridge a share of the league title. This year, both teams are again locked at the top of the Metro League standings heading into the game. Jesuit lost top running back A.J. Glass to a broken collarbone two weeks ago, but showed its ground game will still be a factor in a win over Westview . Chase Morrison and Joey Alfieri combined for 336 yards and five touchdowns on the ground as the Crusaders improved to 5-1 overall with a blowout win. Southridge ground out a 10-3 win last week against Sunset, forcing six turnovers and getting a late touchdown from senior running back Devin Martinez . — Mike Richman

 

Meagher: Jesuit
Brown: Jesuit
Richman: Jesuit
Christopher: Jesuit
Johnson: Jesuit
Barton: Jesuit

 

Crater (3-3, 3-1) at Thurston (3-3, 3-1), 7 p.m.: Second place in the Southwest Conference is on the line when Crater travels north to Thurston. The Comets of Crater had their three-game win streak snapped by No. 1 Sheldon last week, 48-0, as starting quarterback Chase Mackey was limited to 5-of-9 passing for 40 yards by the Irish defense. Thurston has won two of three after holding off North Medford last week, 26-20. Quarterback Corey Weick has 1,400 yards of total offense and 10 touchdowns for the Colts, who host Sheldon next week.

 

Meagher: Thurston
Brown: Crater
Richman: Crater
Christopher: Thurston
Johnson: Thurston
Barton: Crater

 

Posted by Jordan Johnson

Website: https://www.northwesteliteindex.com