7A second round playoff games.

[David]

My guys are eliminated, but I’m hoping to get y’all talking about these games. Can Meridian upset O.G., who won a close one last month, and can Brandon continue their win streak against an improving Pearl?. Add your north side games if you’d like. 

Edited November 13, 2023 by David

[Vott]

46 minutes ago, David said:

My guys are eliminated, but I’m hoping to get y’all talking about these games. Can Meridian upset O.G., who won a close one last month, and can Brandon continue their win streak against an improving Pearl?. Add your north side games if you’d like. 

How crazy would a pearl/meridian south state final be?

[David]

19 minutes ago, Vott said:

How crazy would a pearl/meridian south state final be?

Normally I’d say “crazier things have happened”, but I don’t think that anything that crazy has ever happened. It would be cool for the underdogs, though. 

[ccbulldog]

i went to the first Meridian - Oak grove game and Oak grove could not stop Hill but Meridian could not stop oak groves passing game. It depends on if either team is able to improve its efforts in the first game. The real difference in the first game was Meridian turnovers. For Meridian to win it must eliminate turnovers and figure out a way to slow down Oak Grove's passing game. It not, it will be a long night for the wildcats. 

[ccbulldog]

Isn't it appropriate that the 7A quarterfinals are 4 of the biggest rivalries in the State.

[coastfootballfanman]

I think Oak Grove has a better game plan this time around to slow Meridian down. Multiple D1 players on that defense. Time to put up or shut up in my opinion for them. I expect Oak Grove to win in a 42-21 game. 

Brandon took care of business last time vs. Pearl, I see this one being a little closer but Pearl being young and inexperienced is the difference here. I see Brandon in a 35-24 type of game. 

[Dubaction]

OG is playing much better defensively than they were earlier in the year. It’s like a switch went off after that Brandon game. Especially the defensive line. Hoping we make a statement this week.

 

Pearl has the ability to make the game much closer with Brandon This time around. It actually was a pretty decent game the first time but I believe Brandon had a kid go off for 3 or 4 touchdowns . 
 

Both are rivalry games so anything can happen but I expect OG and Brandon to meet for yet another south state rematch. 

[ogwarriorbandman]

Oak Grove and Brandon will win big at home.

South State in Brandon will be a good one that you don’t want to miss!

[Bulldogs4]

All the metrics point to a Brandon & Oak Grove South State Final. But football is a quirky game and these are two games that feature one really old rivalry and one rivalry that only developed over the last twenty years. Beating a team twice can prove to be difficult but can be done and Brandon/OG are certainly more than capable of accomplishing that. Both of the favorites are at home which is usually an advantage. Both overall are better and more balanced teams. 
The big danger for Brandon/OG is if the games get to the fourth quarter and the issue is still in doubt. Then the pressure of holding on to win or of scoring late to win can be tough obstacles for 16-17 year old kids to overcome. 
 

As Mout noted, just glad to see our Wildcats back in the playoffs and after last Friday’s win, we are playing with house money now. Let’s tee it up Friday and see what happens. 
 

As Coach Richard Williams noted many years ago, after State beat the number 1seed UCONN in the NCAAT, we only had to beat them once. In a series of games we would have no chance. Similar situation for Pearl and Meridian Friday night. Just have to win once against teams that would probably beat them 8 out of 10 times. 

[mout25]

If Meridian’s offense can limit the turnovers and the defense slows down the run or pass then this should be a good game.

[ccbulldog]

I wouldn't mind seeing Boyles play Daniel Hill selectively on defense too for this game. 

[mout25]

Preferably CB,OG killed our secondary last game.I’ve seen Hill play CB at the end of a game.  OG also ran the ball better than they usually do last game.

[ogwarriorbandman]

4 hours ago, ccbulldog said:

I wouldn't mind seeing Boyles play Daniel Hill selectively on defense too for this game. 

Did Hill play both ways against OS? 

[ccbulldog]

4 hours ago, ogwarriorbandman said:

Did Hill play both ways against OS? 

I was at the game Fri. but never noticed Daniel on defense but his brother Dane plays defense. But it was raining so it was sometimes harder to see.

[ogwarriorbandman]

Andrew Maddox has been finally playing up to everyone’s expectations the last couple games.  Yes, Meridian is playing on house money but I am going with the Warriors in a big way at their house.  Meridian will get it handed to them tomorrow night!

[David]

On 11/14/2023 at 10:43 PM, ccbulldog said:

I was at the game Fri. but never noticed Daniel on defense but his brother Dane plays defense. But it was raining so it was sometimes harder to see.

As much pain as Daniel Hill was in, there was no way he could have played on defense. In fact, they put him out at WR to give him a break. I truly believe that the only way Meridian has a shot is by limiting his plays to keep him healthy until the fourth quarter, then giving him a chance to win the game if the Wildcats are still close. I’m afraid that it won’t be that close. 

[Dubaction]

On 11/14/2023 at 11:42 AM, Bulldogs4 said:

All the metrics point to a Brandon & Oak Grove South State Final. But football is a quirky game and these are two games that feature one really old rivalry and one rivalry that only developed over the last twenty years. Beating a team twice can prove to be difficult but can be done and Brandon/OG are certainly more than capable of accomplishing that. Both of the favorites are at home which is usually an advantage. Both overall are better and more balanced teams. 
The big danger for Brandon/OG is if the games get to the fourth quarter and the issue is still in doubt. Then the pressure of holding on to win or of scoring late to win can be tough obstacles for 16-17 year old kids to overcome. 
 

As Mout noted, just glad to see our Wildcats back in the playoffs and after last Friday’s win, we are playing with house money now. Let’s tee it up Friday and see what happens. 
 

As Coach Richard Williams noted many years ago, after State beat the number 1seed UCONN in the NCAAT, we only had to beat them once. In a series of games we would have no chance. Similar situation for Pearl and Meridian Friday night. Just have to win once against teams that would probably beat them 8 out of 10 times. 

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t fully confident OG will win but we do have a tendency to start slow. But when we start fast you’ll look up and you’re down 4 scores. There’s no In between with us really 

[mout25]

I think Boyles’ game plan to start against OG will be to be run heavy and keep OG’s offense on the sideline.  On defense, Meridian’s game plan should be to play Cover 2 with CB’s in bump and run to disrupt the timing of OG’s quick passing game.

Edited November 17, 2023 by mout25

[ogwarriorbandman]

It will be interesting to see for me how well that the Meridian run game works tonight.  Yeah Hill will get some big plays but I think it will be much different than the first meeting based on how we played our last two games more aggressively up front . 

[Bulldogs4]

OG has been playing very well as of late and will be difficult to beat tonight. The Meridian kids are playing with a lot of confidence and as Mout noted , Coach Boyles will try to shorten the game to the extent possible. 
Turnovers and penalties will tell the tale as well. Meridian can ill afford turnovers or any critical penalties. 

[mout25]

As far as OG goes,on offense they should try to throw it as much as possible because Meridian’s secondary struggled the last game.  Their defense should go with a 5 man front and play man to man to stop Meridian’s running attack.  As we all know,anything can and will happen in these playoffs.

[ccbulldog]

As proud as I was by Meridian last week, I am equally embarrassed & disgusted tonight. Yes, Oak Grove is good, but Meridian was flat as a pancake all night. It was a repeat of the Pearl game two weeks ago. I really don't understand it. It seems a lot of Meridian's players really don't care. Getting beat is one thing, but sleepwalking thru a playoff game totally unacceptable. I said last week I thought this team was back but I was wrong. I'm afraid it's been so long since Meridian was a winning program, Boyles is going to have to completely re-teach this team how to compete and have pride in your effort. 

[pancho]

who hosts the 7A south championship next week?

[Vott]

16 minutes ago, pancho said:

who hosts the 7A south championship next week?

Brandon

[Bulldogs4]

As much I thought we might see a different game tonight, I am not too surprised by the score. I was concerned that Meridian put so much effort in to last week’s game that there was not going be anything left in the tank tonight. Plus Oak Grove is a better team right now. 
The future does look brighter. Obviously, Hill is not replaceable but there is a good core of JR. High kids coming along and I think we are going to be a much better football team in the next several years overall.