Budding Pioneer-Skyline rivalry highlights week 5 high school football matchups
Trying to stop the Skyline High School football team’s passing attack has proven to be an exercise in futility this season.
Jordan Woods will get open deep. Andrew Copp will hit him in stride. Woods will catch it and score. This will happen, whether you like it or not.
The duo has already connected for nine touchdowns in four games this season. They’re certain to do it many more.
Double team Woods and fellow senior Theron Wilson, or junior Jack Clark, will be on the receiving end of Copp’s bombs. That is, if Woods doesn’t just flat out beat the double team.
Even in last year's 62-40 shootout win, Pioneer demonstrated it can lay the wood when needed against Skyline's skill players. AnnArbor.com file photo
“Our goal is to contain Skyline’s offense, you’re not going to stop it,” Test said. “Woods and Wilson and Clark, all those guys can get behind you in a hurry. ... If you make a mistake, Copp can burn you in a second and turn the game into a track meet.”
To keep pace with the high-powered Skyline offense, Pioneer will no doubt rely heavily on senior running back Drake Johnson, who has rushed for 607 yards and eight touchdowns. For the past two weeks, Skyline has allowed running backs well above the 200-yard rushing mark.
There’s no reason to believe Johnson won’t be the third.
Plus, Pioneer limited a diverse Saline team to just 14 points and 211 yards of offense last week and Ypsilanti to six points and less than 200 yards the week before. As much as the Skyline offense will thrill on Friday -- and trust me, they will -- Pioneer's defense has shown it can come up with big stops and will make enough of them on Friday to allow its offense to outscore the high-flying Eagles.
"It'll be difficult, it won't be easy, but we certainly are up to the challenge," Test said.
Pick: Pioneer, 45-35.
More picks:I was 8-2 with my picks last week, as were the readers as a whole in our interactive polls.
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Huron (1-3) at Monroe (4-0): Skyline proved that Monroe is vulnerable to the deep ball last week, but Skyline seems to prove that every week and Huron doesn't have those types of weapons. Monroe added Gaetano Paolino to an already strong rushing attack and he gained 239 yards in his first start. He may have a field day against a Huron defense that has yielded an average of 51 points the past two weeks. Monroe, 41-24.
Adrian (3-1) at Chelsea (3-1): To clear up any confusion, Saline High School athletic director Rob White -- who is in charge of all matters football for the SEC -- assured me that divisional crossover games played in week 3 count toward official standings. Chelsea won its crossover with Skyline and Adrian lost to Temperance Bedford, meaning Chelsea is one game up on the Maples. No matter the rules, the Bulldogs won't consider themselves league champs unless they can avenge three consecutive losses (two in overtime, one in the playoffs) to the Maples. Adrian, 35-32. Dexter (1-3) at Lincoln (3-1): Dexter quarterback Michael Mioduszweski is racking up the yards (891 passing, 548 rushing), but turnovers continue to the plague the Dreadnaughts. Lincoln, 30-25. Temperance Bedford (3-1) at Saline (2-2): Bedford has given up 77 points in two weeks, but somehow escaped with wins over Adrian and Huron. This isn't the Kicking Mules team of a year ago. Saline, 38-35. Tecumseh (1-3) at Ypsilanti (1-3): After opening the season against four opponents that made the playoffs last year, the Phoenix have just one remaining in the final five weeks. Ypsilanti, 21-10. Monroe St. Mary (1-3) at Milan (1-3): For the first time since 2002, this is more than likely a matchup of two non-playoff teams. Milan gets there first. St. Mary, 24-21. Manchester (4-0) at Hanover Horton (4-0): The Comets are out to their first 4-0 start in the history of the program. Manchester, meanwhile, has done so five times since 2003 and knows the drill. Manchester, 45-28. Detroit Allen Academy (1-3) at Willow Run (1-3): Willow Run quarterback Kareem Lovelace showed he can make plays with his arm (234 yards passing) and legs (131 yards rushing) last week, and both will be key for the Flyers on Friday. Willow Run, 35-22. Sand Creek (3-1) at Whitmore Lake (0-4): The return of one of Whitmore Lake's more athletic players, sophomore Sam Paniccaci, helps the Trojans on special teams, offense and defense, but that won't be enough against the Aggies. Sand Creek, 28-14.SATURDAY
Livonia Clarenceville (1-3) at Father Gabriel Richard (3-1): Gabriel Richard senior running back Nick Pauze already has two games of over 200 yards rushing and would likely have a third if a certain Canadian team had showed up to play in Week 2. Clarenceville won't be able to stop him and the Fighting Irish. Richard, 24-17.
Last week record: 8-2 (.800); Season: 29-12 (.707); Readers' week: 8-2 (.800); Season record: 28-13 (.683).
Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.