8-0 Valley @ 8-0 Wheelersburg SOC2 Championship

[Burg_Grad_77]

What Everyones excuse be when Valley spanks Burg again? If the refs stay out of this game, Valley will butcher the pirates. JMHO. I honestly think this is Valleys best, deepest and most athletic team ever. The same can't be said for Burg. This is no where near their best team. Burg does have some outstanding ball players. I am impressed with a few individual players from Burg. But as a team, I think Valley has the better team.

Enlighten us as to just when Valley has ever SPANKED the Pirates. Last years win was a 2 point victory. WOW!! That's really a spanking right there. They year before was a back and forth game with Valley outscoring the Burg. By God, that's another spanking there as well. lol

Yes, Valley has beaten the Burg two years in a row, after losing around 40 straight to the Pirates mind you, and they may very well win again this year. But as far as I can recall, they have never SPANKED the Burg. At least not since I have lived here since 1971.

[Burg_Grad_77]

Double post.

[Dr_Know]

The thing that worries me about my Pirates is the Coal Grove outcomes. I had a family member in KDMC the night Valley played Coal Grove and Burg played Portsmouth, so I stopped at the Valley game on the way home instead of heading into Portsmouth. I witnessed Valley manhandle a Hornet squad that was very physical with the Pirates and ran the ball right a them the week before. Clearly the Pirates are playing better since then, but after seeing how Valley played against West I can't help but think they are hitting their stride too. I do not believe at all that my Pirates will be able to stop Valley's running game, but they must tighten up in the red zone. Eddie will hit some big passes but he must have a big night throwing because I think the Pirates will struggle to run the ball. I think Burg will have to force a fumble or two, and not give it back themselves. I think Pirates can win this game but it will require 2-3 big pass plays because I'll be surprised if Valley doesn't control the ball and score at least 21-28. Should be a great contest and I'm sure both teams will represent the SOC well in the playoffs.

[datchillicav]

I have seen both teams play this season (Burg twice) and I have no rooting interest in either team. In my opinion, Valley is the better team by the slimmest of margins. Miller is a great QB and Burg's offense is excellent. Valley has the best defense in the area by a wide margin (Burg probably has the second best defense but IMO is not on par with Valley's). This is what I think the game will come down to though...

When Burg has the ball:
Valley has not seen a passing attack even half as good as Burg's so far this season. If Valley is able to defend the pass, Burg's offense will sputter. No way they will run at all against that defense.

When Valley has the ball:
I think it will be fairly even. Valley should be able to sustain drives and play mistake free but I expect very few big plays as Burg can match them athlete for athlete and is very disciplined. I say Valley works very hard but ends up with between 20 and 30 points. But as I said when Burg has the ball it's more of a toss-up. I expect Valley's D to find a way to pressure the QB and contain the pass and when something along the lines of 21-14, 28-21 or so. But if Burg is able to exploit Valley's DB's and LB's like they have everyone else, look for Burg to win 35-24.

[nutronron2012]

I have seen both teams play this season (Burg twice) and I have no rooting interest in either team. In my opinion, Valley is the better team by the slimmest of margins. Miller is a great QB and Burg's offense is excellent. Valley has the best defense in the area by a wide margin (Burg probably has the second best defense but IMO is not on par with Valley's). This is what I think the game will come down to though...

When Burg has the ball:
Valley has not seen a passing attack even half as good as Burg's so far this season. If Valley is able to defend the pass, Burg's offense will sputter. No way they will run at all against that defense.

When Valley has the ball:
I think it will be fairly even. Valley should be able to sustain drives and play mistake free but I expect very few big plays as Burg can match them athlete for athlete and is very disciplined. I say Valley works very hard but ends up with between 20 and 30 points. But as I said when Burg has the ball it's more of a toss-up. I expect Valley's D to find a way to pressure the QB and contain the pass and when something along the lines of 21-14, 28-21 or so. But if Burg is able to exploit Valley's DB's and LB's like they have everyone else, look for Burg to win 35-24.

I think you are right on. Couldnt agree more. Should be a great game by two great teams

[Crab's Brother]

I have been busy doing nothing, so this is the first chance that I have had to chime in on this topic. First things first, to address a few things put on here already:

1. nutronron2012 doesn't speak for me or any of the other Valley posters that I know personally when he talks about not being impressed with Wheelersburg. The Pirates are a very good football team and they are very impressive. I have seen Burg in person (Coal Grove), on the web (Ironton), and twice on TV (Portsmouth and Minford). This team can play. Eddie Miller is a very good quarterback, but as someone who has watched a ton of local football, Dylan Miller is the best player that will be in orange and black on Friday. That kid is just a gamer. Eddie deserves every accolade bestowed upon him, but he owes a few of those player of the game pizzas to #1. The Pirates have weapons, but Dylan is the one that concerns me. I think that with the Indians strength in the front 8, Valley can do enough to somewhat slow Eddie. Dylan presents a different challenge due to him playing with more space.

2. Madd_dogg: Any respect that I may have had for you as a poster is gone. You have turned into a whiny b####. There are no other Pirate posters saying jack about officials and whatnot, yet you sound like a teenage chick whining when her boyfriend fogs up his windows with the school tramp. Get over it! Valley has won 2 in a row over Wheelerburg after not winning in nearly 50 years and 30 some odd games. None of that crap has any place in this topic.

As for the game, man it sure looks like it is going to be a great one! I could not agree more that this one may very well come down to which team makes the biggest mistake at the biggest time.

I have faith in my Indians

Valley 24
Wheelerburg 21

[Buckeye-4-Life]

I agree this will be a great game! Burg has better team speed than anyone in southern ohio, add that and they are playing at home, I give them the edge, 35-21 Burg. Good luck to both teams in the post season! Always root for southern ohio teams in the tournament!

[The Oaf]

I have been busy doing nothing, so this is the first chance that I have had to chime in on this topic. First things first, to address a few things put on here already:

1. nutronron2012 doesn't speak for me or any of the other Valley posters that I know personally when he talks about not being impressed with Wheelersburg. The Pirates are a very good football team and they are very impressive. I have seen Burg in person (Coal Grove), on the web (Ironton), and twice on TV (Portsmouth and Minford). This team can play. Eddie Miller is a very good quarterback, but as someone who has watched a ton of local football, Dylan Miller is the best player that will be in orange and black on Friday. That kid is just a gamer. Eddie deserves every accolade bestowed upon him, but he owes a few of those player of the game pizzas to #1. The Pirates have weapons, but Dylan is the one that concerns me. I think that with the Indians strength in the front 8, Valley can do enough to somewhat slow Eddie. Dylan presents a different challenge due to him playing with more space.

2. Madd_dogg: Any respect that I may have had for you as a poster is gone. You have turned into a whiny b####. There are no other Pirate posters saying jack about officials and whatnot, yet you sound like a teenage chick whining when her boyfriend fogs up his windows with the school tramp. Get over it! Valley has won 2 in a row over Wheelerburg after not winning in nearly 50 years and 30 some odd games. None of that crap has any place in this topic.

As for the game, man it sure looks like it is going to be a great one! I could not agree more that this one may very well come down to which team makes the biggest mistake at the biggest time.

I have faith in my Indians

Valley 24
Wheelerburg 21

Great post crab! Well said! Now if I can just get the # of that tramp, I'm about due!

[nutronron2012]

Just want to apologize to anyone who had their feelings hurt by my opinion. I do not speak for any Valley posters except my self. When i said i was not impressed, what i meant is I was not impressed with the overall team in the two games a seen (and that is just my opinion and thats all it is). In the 2 games i watched. Burg took care of Business and blew their opponent out. But it was not a PHYSICALLY DOMINATING performance. But, like I also said about that above. I am VERY IMPRESSED by a few individual players. I think Burg will have the 2 best players on the field, but I think Valley will have the better team. As Crab's brother said above. One of them is Dylan Miller who is an absolute beast on the offensive side of the ball. Just hope we can contain him and keep pressure on Eddie Miller and maybe force some bad throws.
Like I said. I didnt mean to ruffle any feathers (Maybe just a little). But its all in good fun and sportsmanship. Everyone trash talks sometimes. I just feel very strongly and passionate about this Valley Football Team. But, if I am wrong, I will be the FIRST one on here to say I am wrong and congratulate THE BURG.

[Burg_Grad_77]

The thing that worries me about my Pirates is the Coal Grove outcomes. I had a family member in KDMC the night Valley played Coal Grove and Burg played Portsmouth, so I stopped at the Valley game on the way home instead of heading into Portsmouth. I witnessed Valley manhandle a Hornet squad that was very physical with the Pirates and ran the ball right a them the week before. Clearly the Pirates are playing better since then, but after seeing how Valley played against West I can't help but think they are hitting their stride too. I do not believe at all that my Pirates will be able to stop Valley's running game, but they must tighten up in the red zone. Eddie will hit some big passes but he must have a big night throwing because I think the Pirates will struggle to run the ball. I think Burg will have to force a fumble or two, and not give it back themselves. I think Pirates can win this game but it will require 2-3 big pass plays because I'll be surprised if Valley doesn't control the ball and score at least 21-28. Should be a great contest and I'm sure both teams will represent the SOC well in the playoffs.

Some teams match up better and that could be the reason for that disparity. The Burg struggled a little against Coal Grove but still won by 19 points. I know previous matchups don't really mean much, but look at the difference in the Portsmouth, Waverly, and Northwest games between what the Burg did to each and what Valley did. Valley struggled a little with Portsmouth and the Burg pretty much dominated them all night. Portsmouth only hit 2 big plays all night and anyone that watched the game on Time Warner could see that both times the PTown player was out of bounds before scoring. But it was a judgement call and the officials called them TD's. Take those away and the Pirates shut them out.

These two teams will play to their strengths, the Burg passing and Valley running, and it will be up to the defenses to try to get some stops along the way and the offense make the big plays to get some scores.

I can't wait. It will be crazy on the hill this Friday. I just hope it's an injury free game so both can make some noise in the playoffs.

[jagered]

rankings (after week 4) by clicking here.



Rank W-L ID # City School Average Level 1 Level 2 L2 divisor Playoff Status
(unofficial) max Avg
(win out) min Avg
(win out) max Avg
(lose out) min Avg
(lose out) L2 divisor
(final)
1 8-0 220 Columbus Bishop Ready 21.2125 38.5 164.0 100 clinched playoff spot 33.1848 26.6697 27.2338 21.3247 99
2 8-0 1586 Lucasville Valley 15.3250 35.0 109.5 100 clinched playoff spot 27.2000 24.3000 19.9500 16.1500 100
3 6-2 182 Bellaire Bellaire 14.6471 29.5 108.5 99 clinched playoff spot 23.5975 22.2843 17.9500 15.7783 99
4 8-0 334 Centerburg Centerburg 12.8000 32.0 88.0 100 clinched playoff spot 21.5000 19.4500 16.6500 13.8500 100
5 7-1 1090 Newark Newark Catholic 12.3875 33.5 82.0 100 control own destiny 22.8500 18.6500 17.2000 13.0500 100
6 7-1 1186 Oak Hill Oak Hill 10.9625 28.5 74.0 100 control own destiny 17.3500 14.7000 14.4500 11.8500 100
7 5-3 1063 Woodsfield Monroe Central 8.8875 19.5 64.5 100 control own destiny 15.0232 13.4071 11.5460 9.2227 99
8 6-2 598 Beverly Fort Frye 8.6625 22.5 58.5 100 . 13.3030 10.4242 11.2904 9.2702 99

[jagered]

L2 divisor Playoff Status
(unofficial) max Avg
(win out) min Avg
(win out) max Avg
(lose out) min Avg
(lose out) L2 divisor
(final)
1 7-1 218 Columbus Bishop Hartley 16.7564 36.5 119.5 98 clinched playoff spot 31.8949 25.2622 22.2214 16.3541 98
2 8-0 1696 Wheelersburg Wheelersburg 16.5750 37.0 119.5 100 clinched playoff spot 28.4000 23.6000 22.1000 16.5500 100
3 7-1 1344 St Clairsville St Clairsville 15.8542 31.0 115.0 96 clinched playoff spot 23.1125 19.6750 20.0271 16.5375 96
4 7-1 968 Martins Ferry Martins Ferry 15.6521 33.5 113.5 99 clinched playoff spot 26.2908 22.6173 20.3908 15.8500 98
5 7-1 866 Baltimore Liberty Union 14.9500 36.0 104.5 100 clinched playoff spot 24.7500 20.6500 20.0500 15.0500 100
6 5-3 556 Proctorville Fairland 12.2125 22.5 94.0 100 control own destiny 17.1500 15.1500 15.3500 12.4500 100
7 4-4 1676 Williamsport Westfall 7.1625 16.5 51.0 100 . 13.3500 12.1500 8.5000 8.3000 100
8 6-2 1458 South Point South Point 7.0833 30.0 33.0 99 . 15.1631 9.8601 11.9899 6.7879 99

[yabbadabbadoo]

After reading through this thread everyone is saying pretty much the same thing. Valley's strength is there running game and Burg's is their passing game. Everyone seems to be be in agreement on this. Here is what needs to be looked at who is better at the other aspect of there offense. Can Valley throw enough to keep Burg from loading up the box. Can Burg run enough to keep Valley from pinning their ears back and bull rushing every down. This game is not going to be won by the team that does what they do best it will be won by the team that can keep the other teams defense honest and off balance.

I can't see Valley sending 6-8 guys on every pass play leaving their CB's in one on one against the Burg receivers. I know what Valley people are thinking that is what Liberty Union did to the Burg in the playoff game last year and completely shut down the Burg. The problem with that game is Burg was trying to throw the deep ball to much and Eddie didn't have time for that. Minford tried to send the house on just about every pass play and he ate them up with little 8-10 yard passes that Minford couldn't defend. They had no one that could cover Dylan Miller and Burg exploited it. When they did double up Dylan he found Claxon or May, who he hit on a bomb for a TD.


Crab, as for maddog, we are on the same page. No way in the world the refs cost Burg that game last year. I think we know what cost the Burg that game. Burg played right into Valley's game plan by only throwing 12 times up until that last drive. Still to this day that game just amazes a lot of fans in Burg land in why they would go away from something that has worked all season. Hopefully that doesn't happen again. Burg has two receivers in the top 25, regardless of divisions in receptions and yardage. They must use them and make Valley defend the pass.


Like someone said, Valley hasn't seen a passing attack like this all year and everyone is saying Valley will run it down the Burg's throat. Well, so did CG and fairland and Burg won those games.


I like Burg in this matchup. They have already faced run dominated teams and have prevailed in all of them.

[local superstar]

This thread is starting to sound like previous Valley threads! haha. So typical! :122245 That said, the team with the most "talent" at this level of HIGH SCHOOL generally pulls out the win...and to me that team is Valley. So they should win, if not, something is wrong! and that can be debated afterwards! (Just having some fun)

[4thgoal]

Valley's running game will be a problem for Burg, just like Burg's passing game will be a problem for Valley.....we all know that. In addition to D. Miller's receiving, I don't think he gets enough credit for his defense. He comes up from safety and makes some nice tackles every week and is possibly the best fundamental tackler on the team. A couple of sophomores are also making some nice plays for Burg. Howard is getting better finding the gaps on his runs and is a huge weapon on the swing passes, which Burg added into the play book against Minford. Davis is also making some really good plays on defense and had a huge interception against Minford last week.

The early forecast for Friday is calling for a high of 48° and partly sunny, so weather conditions shouldn't be a huge factor (except for us in the stands). Lots of hot chocolate and coffee will be sold this week!!

[Endzone_Warrior]

IMO the QB play for Valley will be a big key for them winning this one. If he can help keep the Burg defense honest then I can see this one being a Barn burner.

I’m going with Burg in this one based on what I’ve seen. One things for sure... Ed Miller Stadium will be packed and rocking Friday night! :aaaaa59

[Jesco White]

Burg Grad 77,
The last time Valley "spanked" Burg was waaay back in 1964, by a score of 32-0 (I think, but I'm recalling from memory without my notes). You know I wouldn't be me without offering that info up 8)

As far as the posts discussing how Valley will defend the pass...

I don't expect the Indians to blitz a lot, because they typically don't have to. The Indians front four (where they have plenty of bodies to rotate) features some kids who are exceptionally difficult to keep out of any quarterback's face. The 3 kids that come to mind are Dunn, Hodge and Loop. They are all 3 tremendously athletic and hard-nosed. Watching West double team Hodge two weeks ago said a lot about how far that kid has come from last year when he was primarily a rush end. All 3 of those kids will win enough individual battles to significantly hinder Burg's ability to throw over the top. Obviously, the Pirates are great at just taking what they are given, which is where the individual match-ups in coverage will be HUGE. Burg won't have to run the ball effectively if they're able to have consistent success throwing underneath 5-7 yards a pop.

It ought to be a great game Friday night!!

[Paladin]

My pick is Burg. Should be a good game but just expect Burg to pull away, probably by at least 2 scores. Both Valley & Burg move on to playoffs but neither get out of the region.

[rxburgfan]

Agree with 4th and goal. Running game will be problem. If valley can throw at all and keep burg guessing could be Long night for pirates. If valley can't defend pass could turn out to be who has the ball last. Great soc matchup

[wobycat]

Burg will win convincingly. Why? Because, what does Valley have? A Wendy's, a pizza place, a worn out dairy bar, local coffee shop...yawn :12224 . Where as Burg has Wendy's, McDonalds, Pizza hut, Taco Bell, Burger King, Arby's, Sakura! Hello!

Joking aside. No one is talking Valley's passing game. My guess is Burg will try to force the sophomore to have to win the game for the Indians. Load the box, run blitzing, cover the guards, etc. If he can convert those third down plays, Valley has a great chance of a three peat.