What Remmy has seen:
Woodland- It's no surprise Woodland is finally turning heads this season. I've witnessed this team in action three times thus far and they have improved without a doubt. With DeBiase being the first man touching the football on offense, anything can happen. And that's why this team is so dangerous. Its run defense has improved drastically since its opening week. The Hawks' pass defense is still its achilles heel.
Naugatuck- Naugy has firepower everywhere. What more can I say? Many of our bloggers thought Naugy was overrated because they shellacked a wounded Wildcat team in Week 1. But no, no, no. These Hounds are the truth. I don't think I've seen a more balanced team than this group all year. Passing, running, defense, and outstanding special teams. They bring it. Hey, Dad, please pass me the gravy.
What Kyle has seen:
Woodland- Woodland has played perhaps the best defense in the NVL over the last six weeks of the season. The Hawks have allowed just 26 second-half points since the opening-week loss to Ansonia, which is by far the best in the league. Woodland's offense is also looking better by the week, having scored 66 points in its last two wins. Its running game is one of the most diverse in the Valley and Jack DeBiase can throw the ball when necessary. Woodland's forte is keeping the ball on the ground and playing hard-hitting defense. The one thing that could really hurt the Hawks is how atrocious their PAT game has been recently. Woodland hasn't converted a PAT in its last two games--11 touchdowns.
Naugatuck- I've been saying Naugatuck is the best team in the league since Week 1 and there's no reason for me to back off now. The Hounds haven't been as dominant in the last two weeks as they were over the first half of the season, but they're still playing very well. They have the most balanced offense in the NVL with an impressive stable of running backs and an excellent passing game. Erich Broadrick suffered a knee injury against Kennedy but should be ready to go. The couple of vulnerabilities I've seen this season have been Naugy's passing defense and its sometimes-unpredictable temperament.
Remmy's keys to the game:
Woodland- The Hawks will likely slow down Naugy's run game. But stopping both Naugy's pass and run are a difficult task. The main issue for the Hawks will be how to stop Freeney, Berger, Conklin, Broadrick, and Yourison. The Hawks' talent does not match up well with Naugy's talent. Woodland must find a way to create turnovers and take advantage of these turnovers by turning them into points. Knock Naugatuck back on its heels.
Naugatuck- We are all waiting to see how Naugy responds when it's in a war. I don't think the Sacred Heart game had Naugy too worried. The Hounds need to hold on to the football. What are the Hounds going to do when they face some real adversity? Will it happen this week? Naugy must play the run first. If the Hawks run the ball on you, they win. While DeBiase is a phenomenal player, Naugy must contain him and force him to air it out and the Hounds have a great shot at winning the Copper division title. Pass the cranberry sauce. I think Naugy is on upset alert this week. C'mon, Hounds. What's this Thanksgiving gonna be like?
Kyle's keys to the game:
Woodland- The Hawks really need to control the ball in this game. The less Naugatuck is on the field, the better for any team playing against the Hounds. It looked like the last time we said Woodland needed to pound the ball (against Torrington), they tried to throw throughout the first half and it didn't yield great results. I would be surprised if the Hawks took more than a couple shots down the field. Woodland's secondary is going to have to play better than it has previously this season. Broadrick can really burn the Hawks if they don't step up. The way I see it is this: Naugatuck is capable of blowing out Woodland, but Woodland isn't capable of blowing out Naugatuck. The Hawks are experienced and have a certain intensity in close games while Naugy is unproven in such situations.
Naugatuck- The Naugatuck players really need to keep their heads on straight. I've seen a couple times this year where little arguments have burst out here and there and the Hounds can't afford emotional letdowns against an intense and fundamentally sound team in Woodland. Naugy has to stay with the balanced offense they've used the entire season and hit with the Hawks. Woodland has been called by many as one of the most intense and hardest hitting teams in the league and Naugy has to match it.
Remmy's pick: Woodland, 28-26.
Kyle's pick: Naugatuck, 34-31.
