When: Saturday October 29, 2011, 7pm
Where: Red Rider Stadium
Series: Wooster leads 50-41-9 (Click here for detail)
Last Year: Orrville won 42-17
Last Week: Orrville beat Clear Fork 20-13, Wooster beat West Holmes 35-14
Coaches: Doug Davault is 48-21 in his 6th season for Orrville, he is 5-0 vs. Wooster. Mike McCreary is 69-62 in his 13th year for Wooster, he is 5-7 vs. Orrville.
TV/Radio: Game will be broadcast on WKVX AM 960 and will also stream at www.wqkt.com
All-Time Records: Wooster is 542-466-53 in their 111th season of football...while Orrville is 594-344-41 in 102 seasons of football. Thanks to Aaron Dorksen at the Daily Record for the Wooster info.
I think we all know the overlying theme to this game...backyard rivals, throw the records out the window, blah, blah, blah. Looking deeper, I believe this has the potential to be one of the better Orrville/Wooster games in recent memory, and local fans would expect nothing less from the 6th longest running rivalry in all of Ohio.
Wooster has been pretty consistent on offense, averaging right around 35 points per game, while the Orrville defense has been just as good, allowing just 16 points per game through 9 weeks.
Wooster features a talented tailback in Devonta Anderson, who missed last year's game with injury. Orrville defends the run like no other team in the area.
Wooster's defense has struggled to stop opposing offenses all season, while Orrville's offense has sputtered this season at times.
Some very interesting matchups will decide this game. Can Orrville's offense get on track against a Wooster D that's prone to giving up points and big plays? Can Anderson run on an Orrville defense that's held down everyone on the ground all season.
One thing is certain, if Orrville continues to turn the ball over like it's done all season, it could be "off to the races" for the Generals offense. To win the game, the Riders have to keep the ball like they did against Madison, and not like they did against Clear Fork.
Orrville has home field wrapped up for the playoffs and Wooster will need a miracle just to get a shot at week 11...but neither team will use that as an excuse to not put their best effort forward...if anything it makes the Generals that much more dangerous. They have nothing to lose.
I love the fact that since 2006, both schools have been led by alumni of their schools. Coaches Davault and McCreary know what this rivalry means because they played in it. There's a deep respect for the rivalry from both, and I think that translates to the kids as well.
I think this game will be back and forth for a half and then it will be up to the defenses and Orrville certainly holds an edge there. This one will be close. And looking back through the records, there has never been an Orrville/Wooster game decided in overtime...perhaps this is the year?
That's what I'm going with...Riders charge into week 11 with a 7th straight win over Wooster....24-21 in overtime.
Daily Record picks Orrville 6 to 3.
Fantastic50.net says Orrville by 5
CalPreps.com says Orrville by 10
Last up...here's a video by the Daily Record previewing the game and also some comments from coaches and players. The DR has done a great job with adding the online piece to their high school football coverage this year.
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