As published on Recruit757.com --
Woodside (3-2) VS. Bethel (3-3), Sat. 2:00 PM, Darling Stadium –
Saturday’s Peninsula District clash at Darling Stadium features a pair of contrasting teams who are both in need of a win to bolster their playoff seeds.
The visiting Wolverines will be rested for Saturday’s game after last weekend’s contest against Kecoughtan was rained out and postponed until the first weekend of November. The unplanned “bye” week allowed the Woodside players extra time to heal their bumps and bruises.
By contrast, the home team, Bethel, also had their schedule altered to make adjustments for the passing of Hurricane Joaquin. However, their game was merely postponed by four days, forcing them to play Peninsula District leader Hampton on Tuesday, a game which they lost 20-3. With only three days to prepare for Woodside, the Bruins will surely be feeling the after effects left from the Crabbers.
However, a look at the District stat sheets offer a more glaring contrast, and one which will determine the winner on Saturday.
This will be a classic showdown between a powerful offense against a stingy defense. Woodside leads the Peninsula District in offensive yardage (355.2 yards per game) and is second in scoring (35.8 ppg). The Wolverine attack is driven by two main weapons – running back Tamir Walker and quarterback Tyhier Tyler. Through the midway mark of the 2015 season, Walker has 461 yards on the ground to go with 316 receiving. In Woodside’s last game, a 42-0 victory over Warwick, Walker tallied five rushing touchdowns – all in the first half.
Tyler, also a threat to run with the ball, is currently second in the district with 129.8 passing yards per game.
On the other side, the Bruins are powered by their defense. Despite giving up 20 points to Hampton, the Crabbers only gained 217 yards. For the season, Bethel has allowed a mere 93.8 yards per game.
In addition, the three Bruin losses have all come to undefeated teams – Indian River (14-6), Phoebus (7-0 in triple overtime) and Hampton. After this Saturday, their schedule will get softer and should allow the Bruins a realistic opportunity to grab three more wins before the playoffs.
First, they must face Woodside with only three full days of preparation and rest.
The question that will decide Saturday’s outcome is this one. Bethel, which held Hampton and its 42 points-per-game offense to 20, is capable of holding Woodside to three touchdowns. Can they score four?
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