Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

MR PICKEM GRISSOM'S FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

Week 7

Weekly Record: 11-1 Overall 56-16 Featured Games 3-5

#6 Neville Tigers (3-2) @ #10 Bastrop Rams (4-2)

Bastrop suffered their second loss of 2020 last week when they fell to Minden 27-26 in overtime. That loss dropped the Rams from a top 10 power ranking to #17 in class 4A. In a back and forth battle between the district foes the Rams WR tandem of Semaje Tenant and Jabez Thompson did most of the heavy lifting combining for 3 scores in the game. Several turnovers allowed Minden to hang around and a failed 2-point conversion in the first overtime was enough to end Bastrop's 2 game win streak. Prior to the loss, the Rams were hitting on all cylinders averaging over 35ppg in their 4 wins. QB Zy Scott has been wonderful all season long and will a similar performance this Friday night if the Rams have any chance at beating Neville. Thompson, who serves as the team's Swiss Army knife, has been even an impressive as Scott by leading the team in receiving yards, catches and touchdowns while also leading the defensive secondary in interceptions.

Neville received news early last week that their highly anticipated game vs Sterlington would have to be cancelled after Covid-19 restrictions limited the Panther's activities. After some failed attempts at finding a replacement game, Coach Jeff Tannehill used the week to get some of his Tigers healthy. Fortunately, Neville has dodged the bullet that comes with Covid-19, and any time you can go into a game with a heated rival with fresh bodies your chances at success improve drastically. The RB committee of Tim Byrd and AJ Allen added some beef when LB Lane Blue joined the bunch in the win over Minden. Blue, who transferred a season ago from Cedar Creek, rushed for over 3000 career yards for the 1A school in Ruston.

The last time the Tigers hit the field they destroyed the same Minden team that Bastrop lost to by a score of 41-7. The Tigers haven't lost a district game since losing 20-19 to Ruston in October 2010 and if the Rams want any shot of sharing the district title this year then they'll need to bring their A game on Friday night. Against Minden, Bastrop had a tough time neutralizing the Crimson Tide's ground game and gave up over 250 yards in the nail biter. However, when a team has guys like Scott, Thompson and Tenant you can never count them out. In what once was considered one of the hottest and heated rivalries in the state, Bastrop vs Neville has lost a little bit of the luster. Neville as won 11 straight meetings dating back to 2009 and with no offense to the Rams' other opponents, this will be the best team Bastrop has seen this year. The Tigers will be well-rested and ready to go and although crazy things can happen in Morehouse Parish, the Tigers ground game will be way too much for the Rams. Tigers cruise to the win.

Neville 43 Bastrop 16

***Grissom's Star Of The Game***

Allen, Byrd & Blue: 31 Carries, 425 Yards, 5 TDS

Other Games:

5A

#4 West Monroe 51 Pineville 7

#8 Ruston 48 West Ouachita 7

3A

#1 Union Parish 34 Carroll 23

Sterlington 35 Wossman 14

2A

#2 Mangham 58 Vidalia 14

#5 Ferriday 70 Delhi Charter 6

General Trass 20 Grant 18

Rayville 35 Madison Parish 12

1A

#3 Oak Grove 49 Sicily Island 6

#7 OCS 42 St Fred 14

Cedar Creek 28 Delta Charter 21

Grissom's Top 10

Week 7

1 Union Parish Farmers (6-0)

2 Mangham Dragons (6-0)

3 Oak Grove Tigers (5-0)

4 West Monroe Rebs (4-1)

5 Ferriday Trojans (5-1)

6 Neville Tigers (3-2)

7 O.C.S. Eagles (4-1)

8 Ruston Bearcats (4-2)

9 Carroll Bulldogs (2-1)

10 Bastrop Rams (4-2)

Just Missed It: Sterlington, General Trass, St Fred, Cedar Creek, River Oaks

Grissom's G.O.At. Of The Week

Week 7

(Offensive)

Amarea Greely

-Carroll Bulldogs-

22 Carries, 230 Yards, 1TD

1 Rec, 45 Yards, 1 TD

Grissom's G.O.At. Of The Week

Week 7

Dispatch

Neville's #51 Dexter Walker was a beast on the defensive line all evening against Minden. Neville 41 Minden 7

(Defensive)

Jaylen Kincade

-Ouachita Lions-

7 Tackles, 2pbu, 1 Int

98 Yard Interception for TD

Photo Neville Football- Neville's #51 Dexter Walker was a beast on the defensive line all evening against Minden. Neville 41 Minden 7

Photo Carroll Wossman Football- Carroll's Amarea Greely snags a touchdown at the Monroe City Classic. Carroll handled Wossman 32-16.