MLC’s biggest strength is its o-line, which in high school ball might be more important than a good qb. They’re not going to roll over, and they have us in their house. They want revenge for the last two meetings, their first win over PNG in school history, and to prove the last two were flukes. They’re going to be amped. And, for all he’s been criticized, they have a good coach. He’s solid teaching fundamentals, they’ve tended to be good tacklers in his tenure, and I don’t know that conditioning has ever been a problem for them. They only lost three district games last year and two of them were by one score. They were only one play away from beating us. So, even if they don’t seem quite as potent as in the past it’s all relative and last year’s MCM is a painful reminder that being “better” is only on paper until you’ve proven it on the field. We’ve got a lion by the tail, and better go into it like it’s the district championship.
All of that being said, all we have to go off is records to-date and whatever limited game film we have. That shows me a struggling defense and an offense that (though it can find opportunities) is more limited than the last two years. I’m comfortable predicting a 35-17 PNG win.
I’m hoping to be able to attend in-person, but that depends on work schedule. Two hours away isn’t easy with a 9-5. Go Indians.