Which score or result surprised you the most?
Chris: Erie Mason taking Madison out to the woodshed 46-6. The Eagles made me look like a clown after picking the Trojans to win this game.
Gary: Most surprising score for me was the way Monroe handled Jackson from start to finish. Monroe now sits at 2-0, awaiting the big showdown with the Hornets of Saline.
Frank: Did anyone expect Monroe to take Jackson to the woodshed? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? All kidding aside, a 42-14 win over the Vikings was statement win for the Trojans, as they held All-State running back Dorion Riley of Jackson to 134 yards and no touchdowns. That wasn’t all for the Trojans’ defense, as they recovered four fumbles to give them ten takeaways on the season. Special mention to Dundee, as they responded from laying an egg in Week 1 with a 30-8 win over Onsted to give Ross Crow his first win as their head coach.
Which team is trending up?
Chris: Monroe is definitely on an upward trajectory. Whether the Trojans remain in that direction will be determined on Friday when Saline comes to town.
Gary: The upward green arrow for me this week goes to the Erie Mason Eagles. They put a beat down on what we thought was a pretty solid Madison team. I’m having a hard time finding 10 better teams in D6 than the Eagles.
Frank: Hard not to pick Monroe here. Nick Notario and company have recorded back-to-back wins on the road, and his defense has really become a group of ball hawks with ten takeaways in two games. Can they keep that play up with the meat of the schedule upcoming?
Which game appeals to you in week 3?
Chris: Huron at SMCC jumps out to me. The Chiefs have only beaten the Falcons twice in 51 attempts. If Huron has any intentions of winning their first-ever Huron League title in football, they will have to exorcise those demons at Navarre Field.
Gary: As mentioned above, the biggest showdown this week is Monroe v. Saline. With both teams coming in 2-0, is this the year the Trojans exact some revenge on the SEC RED Champion Hornets?
Frank: Make it Saline at Monroe for me. The Hornets have a 35-game winning streak in the SEC Red, and have had their way with the Trojans over the last decade. The last time Monroe won in the series? September 30, 2011. This could be the biggest game at Bunkelman Field in a long time.
I can tell you first hand Monroe has a lot of pieces but what really stands out to me is their Offensive and Defensive line. The O-line is all juniors and is very large averaging close to 300 pounds. Add in a speedy QB and athletes all over ( some that don’t even get the ball much), there is many ways they can score. The defensive line has played great and is continuing to get better. Saline will take a top notch game plan to beat. They are a well coached team that don’t make many mistakes and if the Trojans don’t beat themselves up and count themselves out before the game even starts, they has a great chance to win. Gotta believe! Go Trojans!