Prep football picks: Confidence grows after perfect week

Published 11:35 pm Thursday, September 25, 2014

We have to deal with names regularly in this business. Makes sense, right? But some names are better than others.

Mount Pisgah Christian will visit Christian Heritage tonight with quarterback Aaron Winchester pulling the trigger for the Patriots’ offense. How much better of a name can you get for a quarterback?

“That Winchester kid, he’s got a rifle for an arm.”

North Murray quarterback Hinton McConkey’s name sounds like he could be your attorney. Murray County quarterback Justin “Jug” Smith? His towing company is on the corner at the red light. Northwest Whitfield quarterback Caleb Shiflett? He owns the company that does your landscaping. Dalton quarterback Payton Veraldi? Let’s just say he is in “waste management” and leave it that before someone gets hurt.

I pick those four not to make fun of them, but because I know all can take a joke and make fun of me on Twitter.

Chris Whitfield? He should be picking high school football games, not playing them. And I do it oh so well. After getting off to a slow start, at least by my lofty standards, the Guru of Gridiron Guessing was like the Dalton defense last week in throwing up a perfect score. (I like a good Moon Pie, too, Catamounts.)

Your Prep Pigskin Prognosticator was a stellar 6-0 even though Murray County (a heartbreaking loss) and Christian Heritage (an inspiring comeback win) both gave me some anxious moments.

On the year, my mark is 18-5; there’s nothing but picking nirvana ahead for this week:

• Game of the Week — Murray County at North Murray: If the Indians don’t win any other game this season, Murray County’s year would be made with a win over those newcomers on the other side of Highway 52. For North Murray, this has to be a game in which it can assert its dominance from the start in what promises to be a great rivalry.

Welcome to the real era of high school sports in Murray County. Cousin against cousin. Grass versus turf.

You know Pam in that cubicle down the hall? She is going to be bragging about how your son lost to her son all year long. You know your boss that you really don’t like? You can hold this over his head for the next 52 weeks. That is what a rivalry is all about.

On the field, the Indians are still hurting from a close loss, while the Mountaineers are recovering from a thrashing at the hands of Calhoun. How quickly you get back on the horse or climb a mountain will be the key this week.

I hope the first time, with the stands packed and Fort Mountain in the distance, is a good one.

Whit’s Pick: North Murray 38, Murray County 21

• Southeast Whitfield at Heritage-Catoosa: I am scared to pick the Raiders because of the sabbatical they have taken due to back-to-back open dates. Plus, their 3-0 record isn’t as impressive as it should be.

I am scared to pick Heritage because I keep waiting for them to return to their losing ways.

But Southeast is as healthy as it has been all season, with starting quarterback Will Swantic seemingly back to full speed after breaking his arm in the preseason, and a lot of other players having been able to use the time off to get over some early-season dings.

I will say that the first eight minutes of this game will tell the tale. If Southeast comes out hot and rested, then it is the Raiders’ game to win. If Heritage secures a two-touchdown lead, I don’t know if the Raiders can come back.

Prove me wrong, Southeast, and make me a believer.

Whit’s Pick: Heritage 35, Southeast 33

• Dalton at Sequoyah: Don’t sleep on these Chiefs, Dalton. That 1-3 record Sequoyah is toting around is mighty deceiving.

All three of Sequoyah’s losses have come against state-ranked competition, and those three schools are all undefeated.

Still, while this is not your typical 1-3 team, Dalton should win this game. But in recent years, it seems the Cats have a way of losing one game a season they shouldn’t.

Could this be the one? All of the variables would seem to line up, with a road game against a team that is better than its record suggests and Dalton coming off a 35-0 win over Cass to start Sub-region 7B-4A play last week.

Still, I think the Dalton defense makes the right plays at the right times.

Whit’s Pick: Dalton 31, Sequoyah 10

• Northwest Whitfield at LaFayette: You looked great in the first half against Dade County, Northwest.

You looked like Clemson in the second half.

Which team are you? Unfortunately, we probably won’t find out this week against the Ramblers.

Whit’s Pick: Northwest 42, LaFayette 13

• Mount Pisgah at Christian Heritage: Even though the Lions are 14th in the Class A private school power ratings, one spot ahead of the Patriots, I don’t think Christian Heritage’s defense can stand up to Winchester.

Take that as a challenge, though, because I would love nothing more than to come home with another Christian Heritage seat cushion with a score written on it.

Whit’s Pick: Mount Pisgah 35, Christian Heritage 21

Chris Whitfield is a general assignment reporter and columnist for The Daily Citizen. His name actually sounds like he should be a German pharmacist. All German pharmacists offended by that remark can write to him at chriswhitfield@daltoncitizen.com and follow him at twitter.com/@cwhitfi7.