Before I get started on previewing week 3 of the Magic Valley Game of the Week, let me first acknowledge our Players of the Game for the first two weeks.
Skyview vs Twin Falls: Our Jerome Cheese Player of the Game was quarterback TJ Ellis. His calm under pressure allowed the Bruins to score late in the game to squeeze out the win.
Bishop Kelly vs Minico: In a losing effort it was hard not to notice the play of Edgar Espinoza. While BK shut down nearly everyone else, they didn’t have an answer for Espi. Both offensively AND defensively he was all over the place.
Magic Valley Game of the Week: Middleton at Jerome
Has anyone heard of Harold “Tubby” Raymond? Didn’t think so. Bill Brock has.
Has anyone heard of Rusty Russel? Didn’t think so. Gary Krumm has.
These two worlds collide this Friday in Jerome, as the “old school” Wing T meets the “new school” spread offense in a speed up, slow down, where the heck is the football type of game. When Jerome has the football, be ready for a track meet. When Middleton has the ball, be ready for “Where’s Waldo.”
Middleton Viking coach, Bill Brock, entering his 11th season, returns a gaggle of offensive starters including the entire offensive line (Austin Hall, Tyler Brock, Domingo Urquiaga, Matt Arnold, Andrew Marker), their quarterback (Mason Foote), and two tight ends (Andrew Spencer and Cody Jessup). An offense who rushed for over 2,500 yards last year, and is poised to eclipse that number this year, wants to throw the ball more. Why not? I’m sure they’ll figure out a way to run a circle of death with every pass play. Defensively, the Vikes return 5 starters to a hardnosed style of play that has become a staple of their program.
The Tigers on the other hand return, well…..uh…they return…uhm…well, coach Krumm is back. Jerome returns just a small handful of starters sprinkled amongst the offense and defense. Second year starter Jake Hollifield has moved from receiver to quarterback in hopes of completing a couple of passes to himself. Seriously, the Tigers are in a rebuilding year and thus far the young Tiger cubs are coming along nicely. Sure there are some seniors in the mix (senior receivers DJ Worthington and Spencer Parker, linebacker Meliton Hernandez, defensive back Joe Carey, and defensive lineman Dylan Dowton) but the overall outlook for the Tigers is learn, and learn fast. However, you can never count out the young guns of any Jerome football team.
This week’s Magic Valley Game of the Week will be a clash of old versus new: The Wing T vs The Spread. Atari vs Xbox. Craigmont Soda vs Mt. Dew. 8 track vs cd. A rotary phone vs a Droid. Buster Browns vs Luckys. A Cugnot Steamer vs a Saab. Scooby Doo vs Spongebob. I could do this all day.
It’s the Magic Valley Game of the Week with Scott Burton and Mike Savage!
Catch all the action “LIVE” at 7pm Friday night, right here on www.idahosports.com!