Hattiesburg at West Jones.

[Vott]

Since becoming regional opponents this game has always determined the regional title. This should be another good one. Hattiesburg defense has been totally dominant the past 3 games mostly impressive vs George Co. (No offense to Jim Hill and Forest Hill). Gotta make sure they can get pressure on Tootie. Seems like he's been at WJ forever. Lol

[maroontide06]

I'd like to think West Jones has the advantage in this one.  With the veteran guys they have on offense and getting Pierson back, I just think things may be starting to gel at the right time for them.  I feel like West Jones can get some stops on defense, but they are going to have to capitalize on them.  I can also see this being a shootout type game as well.  The X-factors in this game will be how the West Jones and Hattiesburg defenses perform in this one.

[David44]

The one we all been waiting for. West will sink or swim with the high powered offense. I will say defense has improved

thru the course of the year. Lindsey seems to be healthy again, so that's very important. Offensive stats are impressive,

as good as any I remember in the Pierson era.

Lindsey over 2250 yards passing, averaging 250+ a game. Senegal and Watson both over 900 yards receiving, each averaging

100+ a game. 25 passing TD's , 16 to Senegal/Watson, 9 to others so you can't just totally key on stopping those 2 guys

in the red zone.

Rushing attack has been good enough, 1495 yards, averaging 166 per game. Mostly Jones and Lindsey being 1100 of that.

 

Don't know/can't find stats for Hattiesburg. Maxpreps only shows around 4 games for them.

 

Edited Monday at 07:21 PM by David44

[Merlin]

WJ’s offense has played 2 bad half’s this season.  2nd half vs Laurel, and 1st half vs George County (without about 5 starters btw).   I don’t look for them to have a bad half this week.  They will score. 
 

WJ’s defense however, I don’t know if they played more than 2 quarters of good defense against any opponent they will end the season with a .500 or better record.  I would be a liar if I said I had confidence they would keep Hattiesburg from scoring 30. I simply do not at all trust the defense. 

 

 

[Vott]

10 minutes ago, Merlin said:

WJ’s offense has played 2 bad half’s this season.  2nd half vs Laurel, and 1st half vs George County (without about 5 starters btw).   I don’t look for them to have a bad half this week.  They will score. 
 

WJ’s defense however, I don’t know if they played more than 2 quarters of good defense against any opponent they will end the season with a .500 or better record.  I would be a liar if I said I had confidence they would keep Hattiesburg from scoring 30. I simply do not at all trust the defense. 

 

 

Watch it be a 13-10 game now. LOL

[Rawcones]

2 minutes ago, Vott said:

Watch it be a 13-10 game now. LOL

Bingo!!! 

[David44]

Does anyone have anything or willing to share anything about Hattiesburg’s offense season stats? Are they balanced, rush heavy? The WJ stats are listed above. Hattiesburg’s stats apparently a state secret.

[maroontide06]

24 minutes ago, David44 said:

Does anyone have anything or willing to share anything about Hattiesburg’s offense season stats? Are they balanced, rush heavy? The WJ stats are listed above. Hattiesburg’s stats apparently a state secret.

The stats on MaxPreps only give the stats for 4 games which is incomplete.  For the cumulative stats that it gives it has Ducksworth with 968 yards of passing and has them with 439 yards rushing with McQueen as the leading rusher at 208 yards. I realize that doesn’t paint the picture, but I reckon it’s a snippet.

[Vott]

9 hours ago, David44 said:

Does anyone have anything or willing to share anything about Hattiesburg’s offense season stats? Are they balanced, rush heavy? The WJ stats are listed above. Hattiesburg’s stats apparently a state secret.

HHS offensive numbers are not eye popping. They did get a little inflated against Jim Hill and Forest Hill. If I had to guess I would say they avg maybe 300yds per game. Also Meridian probably held HHS to less than 100yds after you factor in the QB sacks and tackles for loss. 

[slicklizard]

It's hard to get a read on this game because both teams are going to come in  trying to stop what the other one hangs their hat on offensively..

WJ's whole RB room was injured at one time I think and IDK how many of them has gotten back healthy. HHS best strategy on defense might be to just play back and keep the WJ passing game in front of them . If they try to man up and pressure Lindsey by bringing more people he's just going to roll out and throw it up to the rebounders they have playing receiver. A losing strategy for a defense IMO. Lacey is a defensive guy and I suspect he will try to disguise pressure and stop Lindsey from setting up and throwing. 

Honestly what Hattiesburg is hanging their hat on right now as an offense I'm not familiar with. Whatever it is WJ will almost certainly make them do something else. That's what Pierson does. Slow down the time the QB has to make a decision. So getting production running with something they haven't put on film would go a long way.

I've said this before . Scott Pierson is a top five coach in the state . Lacey has been kind of hot and cold since last season so this is a chance for him to elevate his game again.  If I had to make a pick I would say WJ just because of Pierson who loves to pick apart the special teams of the other side. Remember that.

Teams are pretty evenly matched  so it should be close with a turnover or special teams mistake deciding it.

They are going to finish 1 and 2 in the region anyway so big picture a loss doesn't set either back . Facing PRC, Gautier or Pascagoula at home in R1 is not a make or break.

[Vott]

3 minutes ago, slicklizard said:

It's hard to get a read on this game because both teams are going to come in  trying to stop what the other one hangs their hat on offensively..

WJ's whole RB room was injured at one time I think and IDK how many of them has gotten back healthy. HHS best strategy on defense might be to just play back and keep the WJ passing game in front of them . If they try to man up and pressure Lindsey by bringing more people he's just going to roll out and throw it up to the rebounders they have playing receiver. A losing strategy for a defense IMO. Lacey is a defensive guy and I suspect he will try to disguise pressure and stop Lindsey from setting up and throwing. 

Honestly what Hattiesburg is hanging their hat on right now as an offense I'm not familiar with. Whatever it is WJ will almost certainly make them do something else. That's what Pierson does. Slow down the time the QB has to make a decision. So getting production running with something they haven't put on film would go a long way.

I've said this before . Scott Pierson is a top five coach in the state . Lacey has been kind of hot and cold since last season so this is a chance for him to elevate his game again.  If I had to make a pick I would say WJ just because of Pierson who loves to pick apart the special teams of the other side. Remember that.

Teams are pretty evenly matched  so it should be close with a turnover or special teams mistake deciding it.

They are going to finish 1 and 2 in the region anyway so big picture a loss doesn't set either back . Facing PRC, Gautier or Pascagoula at home in R1 is not a make or break.

True about round one. But if the no.2 seed makes it to round 2 of playoffs its a road trip to Picayune.

[Merlin]

1 hour ago, slicklizard said:

WJ's whole RB room was injured at one time I think and IDK how many of them has gotten back healthy.

Wayne County and Petal games.  WJ was down 2 o linemen, the backup to one of them was hurt 2bd half against Wayne, the starting rb, backup rb who is also starting d end, and Lindsey was not supposed to play against Wayne but came in when the backup got hurt the first drive. The starting rb played some against Terry but got injured again and did not play 2nd half. He had only a handful of carries against Forrest hill. Defense was down the de, a lb, and a corner that was moved to offense as rb against petal. It’s been a rough stretch.  They moved up 2 jr high rb’s, a jr high lb and a corner. 
 

It became apparent that west has quiet s few seniors, very few juniors ( like 4 get any playing time), and a bunch of 10th graders getting playing time. With about 6 freshmen lumped in the last 3-4 weeks. West will be very young next year. 

[Dubaction]

An abundance of injuries seems like a reoccurring issue at West Jones every year. At least based on what I read here.