We've never done this before--maybe it's an easy way out--but we've got two Games of the Week in Week 2. Both of these interdivisional rivalry games are huge for bragging rights, tiebreakers at the end of the season, playoff points, and momentum.
We're talking about Ansonia at Woodland and Derby at Naugatuck, both happening on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Ansonia-Woodland
Remmy's Keys to the Game: Ansonia will have to keep Woodland's defense off-balanced and guessing throughout the night. Woodland's passing game against Ansonia's sketchy pass defense, especially in the secondary, will be something to watch.
Kyle's Keys to the Game: Woodland needs to control the time of possession. The less time Arkeel Newsome has the ball, the better chance the Hawks have to win. Woodland will also have to be able to move the ball in chunks with the passing game because the Ansonia front seven is tough. The Hawks have to be careful, though, not too become too reliant on the passing game and stay balanced, even when the running game isn't picking up big chunks of yardage.
Remmy's Key Players: The Woodland defensive line will be key in this game as it needs to prevent Ansonia from doing damage on the ground. Woodland quarterback Tanner Kingsley will need to have the game of his short career if Ansonia plays a clean game with no turnovers. For Ansonia, wide receiver Andrew Matos will need to start catching passes from Elliot Chudwick.
Kyle's Key Players: The Woodland linebackers are going to be crucial to the Hawks' defensive effort because they'll have to be able to stop Newsome before he gets running on full steam, especially around the corner. Woodland running back Matt Zaccagnini might not always be able to make positive gains on the ground, but he'll have to keep plugging away. The two playmakers to watch could be Woodland wide receiver Anthony Scirpo and Ansonia utility player Tyler Lester. Both can line up in different spots on the field and are among the most athletic players on their teams.
Derby-Naugatuck
Remmy's Keys to the Game: Without question, it's Derby's Ray Kreiger and that great passing game versus Naugatuck's stifling defense. Naugy's defense must contain Kreiger's targets. But more importantly, Naugy's defensive front will need to pressure Kreiger and limit him from rolling out of the pocket on pass plays. That's where Derby will really punch teams in the mouth and hit them for big plays and scores.
Kyle's Keys to the Game: This game has the potential to be as high-scoring as the Derby-St. Paul game last week. Derby seems like the constant in this game--we know the Raiders are going to be committed to passing the ball and we know they're not going to have the best defense Naugy will see this season (although it was better than expected against the Falcons). Naugatuck's defense passed a test against East Longmeadow's running game, but the secondary wasn't tested. That will probably be the key matchup of the night--Derby's passing game against the Naugatuck defense. Pressure on Kreiger--while not letting him run for positive yardage--will be paramount for the Greyhounds. Keeping the ball out of Kreiger's hands by controlling the running game will also be important for Naugy. If Kreiger is as accurate as he was against St. Paul, the 'Hounds will have to try to keep up on offense.
Remmy's Key Players: Derby quarterback Ray Kreiger and wide receiver Dillon McMahon are the obvious stars. However, Red Raiders tailback Tyrae Small is my dark horse in this game. Derby will need to establish some kind of run game to beat the 'Hounds. If Small rushes for less than 80 yards, I don't like Derby's chances. On the other side, Naugy's Jake Yourison will need to take command of his defense and pound Derby when he is on the offensive side of the ball. It will be interesting to see how much quarterback Zac Mercer contributes on offense and whether or not he can be consistent throughout this game. Naugy may very well elect to run the ball 90 percent of the time if it is successful early in the game. Derby better be ready to get physical.
Kyle's Key Players: We know that Kreiger is going to be the big weapon for Derby and we know that Yourison is the most important player on both sides for Naugatuck. To me, this game comes down to what the Greyhounds do. I'm not sure that the 'Hounds want to get into a passing war with Derby, so heavy doses of Yourison and Mike Schebell can be expected. Still, we know Rob Plasky likes to throw, so Mercer will have to be careful with the ball and not turn it over. The Naugatuck secondary is going to be huge in this game. It's the one part of the defense that was especially ravaged by graduation losses and it wasn't tested against East Longmeadow. If the Naugatuck defensive line can get pressure on Kreiger, it might make things a little easier on the secondary.
Predictions
Ansonia-Woodland Picks: Remmy- Ansonia, 40-21. Kyle- Ansonia, 35-21.
Derby-Naugatuck Picks: Remmy- Derby, 36-32. Kyle- Naugatuck, 41-35.
