 |
| PHOTO BY DON CALLAHAN |
So why this game as opposed to others in the PAC-6? Easy, it should be the one game in the PAC-6 with the most on the line and with the highest chance of either team pulling off the victory. Sure, Riverside is in a similar boat, they need to win this evening, but they are also playing the Hornets and the likelihood is slim that they pull the upset. Not so similar is East Chapel Hill, they still have three games on the schedule and have two wins. The Rockets and Falcons are the 50-50 game and for both, the chance of getting to the playoffs is all about picking up a Playoff Win - TONIGHT!
Articles on the playoffs:
the Work Week Quarterback (WWQB) - Thoughts and Notes [Link to Article]
Talking Playoffs and Conference Winning Percentages [Link to Article]
When Does 4 Wins Not Equal 4 Wins? [Link to Article]
Multiple Endowments, Oh My! [Link to Article]
PAC-6 Match-up, Friday, 10/14/2011
Jordan (1-7 overall, 0-4 conference) at Person (1-7 overall, 0-3 conference)
The visiting Falcons are currently on a six game slide, but have arguably taken on the top of the conference with games against one win Person and Riverside still remaining to help in getting back on course. They will also travel to Panther Creek for an out of conference match-up next week. Compared to what they've faced so far this season you would expect that the close of the regular season sets up well for the Falcons to try and make that final push for playoff contention. Offensively the Falcons have been sporadic at best, with 30+ point outputs against Orange, Enloe and East Chapel Hill, where they went 1-2, while only managing seven points or less in the remaining five games. On the defensive side, teams have had success, scoring 34+ points or more in six of their contests and 21+ or more in seven or more. The lowest point total allowed was against Northern Durham, in a 14-7 loss.
With a loss this evening, the Falcons will effectively be out of playoff contention. They will be unable to reach the four win qualification plateau. With Northern Durham, Hillside and Southern Durham all with three wins in conference, and Jordan only having two conference games remaining, it is impossible for them to secure an automatic bid so the at-large berth scenario is the only option available. If the Falcons can string together a three win conclusion to the regular season they'll be at 4-6 reportable and 2-4 in conference. At that point, they'll simply have to wait until Selection Saturday and see how the numbers work out to see if they have one more week to play ball.
Person is coming off their first victory of the season a week ago against South Granville in a come from behind thriller. The Rockets, aside from blow-outs against Southern Durham, Hillside and Orange have been essentially in every game, losing the remaining four games by a total of 17 points. The story for the Rockets has been holding onto the ball or at least trying to hold onto the ball. They'll need to get the turnover margin into their favor tonight to give them a solid chance of getting the victory or staying in the game as emotions will be running high on both sidelines and the momentum associated with turnovers will be amplified this evening with what is on the line. Aside from the 38 points the Rockets put up this past Friday, they've hovered around 20 points a game in non-conference play, while being shut-down in their opening three PAC-6 contests for a total of seven points, including two games where they were shut-out. Defensively, they've given up 25+ points or more in every game but one, against Northern Durham (sound familiar, see above for Jordan), where they allowed just one score.
Playoff implications for the Rockets are bit more variable as compared to the Falcons situation. Yes, a loss this evening would effectively put the Rockets out of playoff contention as they would be unable to reach the four win plateau. And, with just two conference games remaining after tonight, they would only be able to reach 2-4 in conference, eliminating them from automatic berth contention. But, if the Rockets are able to win this evening, unlike the Falcons, that will be unable to contend for an automatic berth, the Rockets will still have the chance of getting to 3-3 in conference play. With games against Riverside and East Chapel Hill still on the schedule. A 3-3 mark could sneak them into the third place finish assuming a few things happen. First, they win out. Second, they get help from the rest of the PAC-6. Southern and Hillside both have three wins in conference, with Southern having two conference games remaining and Hillside with three. If either of those squads can lose out, then the Rockets will find themselves in a tie for third. But, there is one caveat. If they finish tied with either Southern or Hillside, they would lose the tie breaker and be pushed to an at-large situation based on head-to-head. So the key is East Chapel Hill! The Rockets need the Wildcats to catch fire for one more game ideally and take out Southern tonight. If that happens, and if Northern knocks off Southern next week, the Spartans would fall to 3-3 in conference. If East were then to lose the following week to Hillside and Person. The season would end up with Northern and Hillside in the 1-2 slot depending on the final game and a three way tie for third between Southern, Person and East Chapel Hill. Because all of the teams would have beaten one another (Southern over Person, Person over East and East over Southern) a random draw would take place to determine which of those three would be designated the third place finisher. Everyone get that...good!
If you don't have a game to see - get some blankets and head north to Roxboro to see this game! The Rockets have only had three home games so far this season and one was moved to a Thursday, while the other was moved to a Monday due to conflicts. As a result the gates have been hit a bit and the reality is that those football gates not only support football, but every other sport. What better way to help a community and help programs that we all know benefit youth throughout our country then going to a high school game on a Friday night - a game that should be a great one!
If you simply can't make it out to the game - be sure to listen to Jeremy Clayton, Ben Hollerman and Brandon Vernon on 96.7 or via their live-stream as they broadcast every Rockets football game. [Live Stream]
When Does 4 Wins Not Equal 4 Wins? [Link to Article]
Multiple Endowments, Oh My! [Link to Article]
PAC-6 Match-up, Friday, 10/14/2011
Jordan (1-7 overall, 0-4 conference) at Person (1-7 overall, 0-3 conference)
The visiting Falcons are currently on a six game slide, but have arguably taken on the top of the conference with games against one win Person and Riverside still remaining to help in getting back on course. They will also travel to Panther Creek for an out of conference match-up next week. Compared to what they've faced so far this season you would expect that the close of the regular season sets up well for the Falcons to try and make that final push for playoff contention. Offensively the Falcons have been sporadic at best, with 30+ point outputs against Orange, Enloe and East Chapel Hill, where they went 1-2, while only managing seven points or less in the remaining five games. On the defensive side, teams have had success, scoring 34+ points or more in six of their contests and 21+ or more in seven or more. The lowest point total allowed was against Northern Durham, in a 14-7 loss.
With a loss this evening, the Falcons will effectively be out of playoff contention. They will be unable to reach the four win qualification plateau. With Northern Durham, Hillside and Southern Durham all with three wins in conference, and Jordan only having two conference games remaining, it is impossible for them to secure an automatic bid so the at-large berth scenario is the only option available. If the Falcons can string together a three win conclusion to the regular season they'll be at 4-6 reportable and 2-4 in conference. At that point, they'll simply have to wait until Selection Saturday and see how the numbers work out to see if they have one more week to play ball.
Person is coming off their first victory of the season a week ago against South Granville in a come from behind thriller. The Rockets, aside from blow-outs against Southern Durham, Hillside and Orange have been essentially in every game, losing the remaining four games by a total of 17 points. The story for the Rockets has been holding onto the ball or at least trying to hold onto the ball. They'll need to get the turnover margin into their favor tonight to give them a solid chance of getting the victory or staying in the game as emotions will be running high on both sidelines and the momentum associated with turnovers will be amplified this evening with what is on the line. Aside from the 38 points the Rockets put up this past Friday, they've hovered around 20 points a game in non-conference play, while being shut-down in their opening three PAC-6 contests for a total of seven points, including two games where they were shut-out. Defensively, they've given up 25+ points or more in every game but one, against Northern Durham (sound familiar, see above for Jordan), where they allowed just one score.
Playoff implications for the Rockets are bit more variable as compared to the Falcons situation. Yes, a loss this evening would effectively put the Rockets out of playoff contention as they would be unable to reach the four win plateau. And, with just two conference games remaining after tonight, they would only be able to reach 2-4 in conference, eliminating them from automatic berth contention. But, if the Rockets are able to win this evening, unlike the Falcons, that will be unable to contend for an automatic berth, the Rockets will still have the chance of getting to 3-3 in conference play. With games against Riverside and East Chapel Hill still on the schedule. A 3-3 mark could sneak them into the third place finish assuming a few things happen. First, they win out. Second, they get help from the rest of the PAC-6. Southern and Hillside both have three wins in conference, with Southern having two conference games remaining and Hillside with three. If either of those squads can lose out, then the Rockets will find themselves in a tie for third. But, there is one caveat. If they finish tied with either Southern or Hillside, they would lose the tie breaker and be pushed to an at-large situation based on head-to-head. So the key is East Chapel Hill! The Rockets need the Wildcats to catch fire for one more game ideally and take out Southern tonight. If that happens, and if Northern knocks off Southern next week, the Spartans would fall to 3-3 in conference. If East were then to lose the following week to Hillside and Person. The season would end up with Northern and Hillside in the 1-2 slot depending on the final game and a three way tie for third between Southern, Person and East Chapel Hill. Because all of the teams would have beaten one another (Southern over Person, Person over East and East over Southern) a random draw would take place to determine which of those three would be designated the third place finisher. Everyone get that...good!
If you don't have a game to see - get some blankets and head north to Roxboro to see this game! The Rockets have only had three home games so far this season and one was moved to a Thursday, while the other was moved to a Monday due to conflicts. As a result the gates have been hit a bit and the reality is that those football gates not only support football, but every other sport. What better way to help a community and help programs that we all know benefit youth throughout our country then going to a high school game on a Friday night - a game that should be a great one!
If you simply can't make it out to the game - be sure to listen to Jeremy Clayton, Ben Hollerman and Brandon Vernon on 96.7 or via their live-stream as they broadcast every Rockets football game. [Live Stream]
Follow the DurhamFBFan on Twitter
No comments:
Post a Comment