OVFL GAME PREVIEW: Grenadiers, Panthers faceoff

Bye weeks generally present teams with a few benefits. Players can rest, coaches can leisurely prepare for the upcoming game, and deficiencies on either side of the ball can be adequately addressed. But, like in most activities that require strategy and rhythm, there comes a catch. In football, time off sometimes spells the unfortunate case of losing momentum. And with playoffs around the corner, that is the last thing the Grenadiers want.

Luckily, their matchup this week works in their favour.

The Grenadiers are playing a suspect Cumberland Panthers team that they handily beat in their first game of the season. Granted, it’s been several weeks since the teams met, and, usually, as a season progresses, teams follow suit – namely, they improve. And so is the case with the Panthers: the team has won three of their last four. But they’re currently coming off a lopsided 48-3 loss at the hands of the Myers Riders in Week 7 and that is troubling for a team fighting for a playoff spot.

Barring their win against the York Region Lions – whom are fourth in the conference holding a 5-0-1 record – the other victories they’ve tallied have been against below .500 teams (Durham West, Cornwall). In past pieces, it’s been mentioned that when the Grenadiers win, they really win. Well, when the Panthers lose, they really lose.

In their three losses – two against the Riders, one against the Grenadiers – they suffered a combined 137 points. All the more, they collectively netted a mere 20 points for in those contests. They struggle against good teams, but, as such against the Lions, they’ve shown they can also compete against good teams – and that’s where the Grenadiers ought to be careful.

It’s imperative this late in the season for teams not to fall into the confines of a trap game. In other words, the Grenadiers shouldn’t slight the Panthers just because they beat them once nor because they are arguably the better team.

Statistically, the Panthers hover around mid-table in most categories, except for defensive touchdowns – they lead the league with three. For the Grenadiers, it’s about doing what works. And in Week 1, where, as aforementioned, the Grenadiers beat the Panthers 37-7, they excelled in a lot of areas.

The defense – without much surprise, really – held their own. They picked off the opposing quarterback twice and limited him to a shoddy thirty-seven percent completion rate. And, more importantly, they had their best game of the season against the run. The Panthers’ starting RB, Quintin Gregory, was held to just 25 yards. Further, the entire backfield (compiling of six runners) failed to cross the 100-yard mark.

And their good day on defense didn’t just stop there. Offensively, they ran for a season-high 287 yards, and their quarterback, Tanner DeJong, didn’t fare too poorly either. He piled it on posting an 87 percent completion rating, 216 yards and five scores.

Maybe some time off helps the Grenadiers. Maybe it doesn’t. Whatever their fate may be, a winning tempo on Saturday has to be emphasized to set the tone for the imminent playoffs.

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

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