Sept. 7 - Lafayette-Smithfield

[Lynn Burke]

Pick the winner and discuss the game ...

[Packer Smithfield]

This may be the game of the year in the BRD Lafayette beat Courtland and Smithfield looked good in the game against Surry defense was great I would say Smithfield is the underdog this week but I think it is a hard game to call all the great players Smithfield has the most talent and speed in the BRD and Lafayette the most solid team that plays well every week and the most well coach team in the BRD but I know Smithfield will be ready.

[GraftonDad08]

Defense wins games. So with that said, I predict that Lafayette will defeat Smithfield. This is a big game so early in the season. It should also be an exciting game with Lafayette winning 21-17.

[Packer Smithfield]

Smithfield defense is pretty good to Smithfield and Lafayette are two best teams in the BRD.

[AnotherGraftonDad]

I haven't seen either team play but believe that if the Rams can beat Courtland and totally shut them down, they can do the same to the Packers. Of course, the Packer crowd should be out in force but Lafayette will get the job done.

[Packer Smithfield]

We will see Courtland is a good team but in the playoffs they were not that quick we had alot of injuries last year at the end of the year but I think that Lafayette or Smithfield can both win but I think that Smithfield will win I see that everyone is picking against the Packers and thats good will see friday night. These are the best two teams in the BRD baring injury.

[GraftonDad08]

Didn't you mean to say that Lafayette and Smithfield are two of the best teams in the BRD?

[observer]

No, he said the two best.

[Lafayette]

Two very talented teams collide early in the season. The homefield advantage will mean little here. Lafayette's defense looked awfully solid against Courtland and should do well again. The key will be the progress Lafayette's offense makes in week 2. It improved from Kings Fork and I expect it to improve some more after one full regular season game under their belt. Smithfield is a motivated team, but Lafayette remembers last year when turnovers turn victory into defeat. I see Lafayette winning 17-7.

[Packer Smithfield]

Two best teams Smithfield Bigger with more playmakers so Smithfield wins 21 to 10 over Lafayette. Pack hold to the ball and run the offense and we will be ok defense just keep the heat turn up for 48 min and that will get the job done.

[Smithfieldpack]

This game will come down to the wire, but the winner will be the one who gets the most push from the O-line. And I think Smithfield has the advantage over Lafayette as long as they stay away from the yellow flags.
My prediction Smithfield wins 20 -17.

[Ram-bo]

Lafayette by more than one touchdown, but less than two. Lafayette's adaptability during the course of the game will negate any early edge shown by Smithfield. Unless the Rams give it away in the form of turnovers.

[Packer Smithfield]

Lafayette feeling good about the Courtland game if their is no turnovers on either side Smithfield wins.

[yorkathlete9]

is the game at smithfield or the new stadium?

[08SHS]

smithfield

[cheermom]

SMITHFIELD!!! :clap2:

[Ddw]

Whichever team converts more on 3rd down will win this game.

Lafayette- 29 Smithfield- 14

[Packer Smithfield]

Pack just play good football no turnovers not alot of yellow flags and the talent and speed and size of the packers should be to much.

[packerdad1]

haven't seen lafayette yet. heard good things about them, however gotta go with the pack because these are kids who have been together for a long time (dyrell included) and they know each other very well. 80% of the team played pop warner and at least 60% of them have made trips to florida during pop warner. these boys luv each other and don't want to let the other one down. they know how to motivate each other to play and they know how to pick each other up when the going gets tough. so of course my score is smithfield 31 lafayette 0. yes i think the pack will pitch another shut out:o

GO PACKERS!!!!

[Lafayette]

Lafayette ain't Surrey.

[Packer Smithfield]

Well said packdad these boys have been winners all their life and know how to play and win. I would like to say that the pop warner coaches have been doing a great job teaching the kids the game and Smithfield just keep putting out good players with more coming every year.

[packerdad1]

dont matter. those boys play according to their competition. one thing those gus have learned through pop warner is, they don't worry about who they play, they jus make sure they do what their suppose to do. when they do what they know they can do, there is noone that can stop them. oh yeah, they also have a kid named dyrell roberts. you eva heard of him.:cool:

[packerdad1]

oh and by the way to the lafayette fans, these boys are not just a team, they are a family!!!!! thats what happens when you are together as long as these boys have been together:)

[cheermom]

Well said!!!!!!

[OLESCHOOL]

I am looking forward to great game free of injuries. I know Smithfield will give 100% for 4 quarters and thats good enough for me. GO PACKERS

[packerdad1]

Thanks "cheer mom." we gotta make sure people understand about how it is with our boys in smithfield. a lot of people have waited a long time for these boys to get to high school and now that they are there we gotta support them because we all kno what they can do:)

[Lafayette]

Yet with all that, if not for Lafayette turnovers last year, Smithfield would have lost. As it was, it was a 14-10 Smithfield win, not quite 31-0. That prediction shows very little respect for your opposition. We will see how that plays out on Friday.

[packerdad1]

Last years team was not the complete pop warner team. i feel that roberts will score at least 3 touchdowns and someone else will come up big. i have all the respect in the world for lafayette. i just feel that once roberts gets to the second level with the linebackers and defensive backs, they will not stop him. he is an amazing force for smithfield. once you combine him with the other kids that have a wealth of winning football experience. they will be very hard to beat. the only one that can stop them is themselves. you don't kno how good roberts is until u face him.

[packerdad1]

and as for smithfields defense, they are very solid with a very under estimated secondary. when smithfield's offense begins to click, that will take the air out of lafayette's defense and everything will fall into place.

[Packer Smithfield]

Pack stay focus Lafayette is a good team but if Smithfield play their best they will be to much. these are the two best teams in the BRD this year. and this may be the best game of the season.

[GameEngineer]

I guess being family wasn't good enough for Smithfield.....did sound like a good game
________
Lovely Wendie99 (http://www.lovelywendie99.com/)

[Packer Smithfield]

Smithfield coaches have got to mix it up better use the whole field and come up with more plays and stop always shifting the Tightend and Dyrell where ever you are going to run the ball too. Play Dyrell on Defense at safety and put Quan at Corner and wideout Spread the field use the speed that we have Dyrell and Quan Montrell , RJ and CJ as weapons on offense and let CJ play defense the kid is a hitter. Lafayette you guys played good are the Best in the BRD until some knocks you guys off you guys are a great team. Come on coach make adjustments and play the best kids on both sides of the ball and play the other guys in spots.

[GraftonDad08]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Lafayette and Smithfield are two of the best teams in the BRD. Grafton and Tabb are the other two. As I predicted, Lafayette would prevail because of their defense. Defense wins games.

[cheermom]

Family is always a good thing!!

They played a great game!! close all the way to the end!

Dyrell, Antonio .... ALL the boys fought with their heart and did a great job.... no one ... NOT A SINGLE one should feel any shame!!!

Keep on playing hard you will have no worries!!

GO PACK!!!!!:cheer2:

[Lafayette]

There were times after the fumble on our own 13 yard line that lead to an easy Smithfield score, the 99 yard punt return and the fumble on the 2nd Half KO by Hayes of Lafayette that things looked to being down to a loss again. But this year the Lafayette defense is playing like the defenses of old- simply excellent. Roberts other than the punt return was held in check until their final series. To his credit and great talent, he turned it up a notch and was outstanding on that drive. I knew, Lafayette knew he was running right but he was still getting the yards- until the last set of 4 downs when the defense stiffened significantly. I thought Smithfield called a good game, except for the last play. Roberts was used all over the field- direct snaps, pitches, passes, etc.- even on defense in the 2nd half. He was doing it all. But the last call, was, well.... an example on being too smart and trying to cross a very good defense up. Better to just run your best play of the night and win/lose with a good call- not a stretch. But one play is just one play. The Lafayette offense had a few very good series with nice runs, but too often got good field position near mid-field or so and stalled- without even a first down. Still some kinks to work out, though the Smithfield defense was excellent and had very good size. Roberts punt return?? Excellent punt but Lafayette's coverage team seeing Roberts intially back off and going to the one yard line slowed down a little- seeing this Roberts scooped it up and in the open field going to the left sideline, it was all over. very fustrating from my perspective, and nearly fatal. Lesson to be learned? Never give your opponent even an inch. On to Poquoson.:D

[AnotherGraftonDad]

Packer Smithfield, it's disappointing how you're calling out your coaching staff, especially after reading your previous posts about how well the team plays and how the guys have been playing together since Pop Warner. It seems to me that your coaches know what they're doing and I suggest you stand by your school. Obviously it was a tough loss but it sounds like everyone played their hearts out. Next thing you know, Packer Nation will start booing the coaches. I suggest you follow Cheermom's lead. Good luck.

[observer]

Never thought I would say this, but I agree with a Clipper........

Don't call out Fraser and crew, they are doing a good job (now). 4 years ago, yes, you could of bad-mouthed Fraser and had plenty of support. Even from the school administration and players.

I will say this, Coach Fraser has always been hesitant in the kicking game, but why on earth do you run a trick play when the 3 points is a chip shot. Not much more than a PAT from that distance. I guess Smithfield is going to miss Enslen and Crawford more this year than they thought they would.

[Packer Smithfield]

Coach is ok but put the players in a position were they can be sucessful he is a good guy and real good to the kids but in AA football your best players play both ways like they do in pop warner and work the other players in for rest for the starters All BRD players like Dyrell and CJ and RJ need to play both ways few changes and everything will be ok and speard the field and use all of our weapons to many playmakers not being use. Be great coach and make the adjustment I didn't call anyone by name but because you are a good person I am not going to say you are doing great when the best players aren't on the field. But I support the pack and the coaches and I hope he can see what he needs to do. If any of you was a coach and had a wideout 6'4 with 4.5 speed would you want to get him on the field on offense and not just wait to Dyrell gone the weapons they put around Dyrell the better they all can play.

[PUGSLEE]

Who is 6'4 with 4.5 speed at wide out? I am not aware of that player on the packer's team. I saw the game Friday night and if you were referring to the safety then I know for a fact he doesn't have 4.5 speed! I think the coaching staff is doing a good job with a lot of inexperienced player. Remember most of the starting line up are kid who have little to no varsity experience. Including CJ, RJ, Roderick and half of the o-line. If you look at the D-fence most of those guys are in the same boat. I am not jumping on the Smithfield band-wagon but if you give it time pack I see good things in your future.

[Packer Smithfield]

He runs a 4.5 and play the players both ways and everything will be ok. Use the whole field on offense

[Packer Smithfield]

I know he doesn't play both ways but some more of you guys need to play both ways if you are going to continue to have all the success that you guys want. SHS player keep playing hard and do your best because you have what it takes to reach your goals as a team just a few changes.

[packerdad1]

o.k. lets stop for a second. i have read all the comments on the game friday night. first i want to say that the boys all played well and i take my hat off to lafayette. GOOD TEAM!!! i still feel we were in a position to win the game. for the record, we ran 98% of our plays to the right. Not Good!!! and the one pla we ran to the left, we scored. next, i still say we are not using certain players enuf in certain areas. for example: rodreick bowser is 6'2or3 about 245 250 n he is a fullback!!!! everytime he touches it he gets no less than 5-6 yards. thats a lot n more important that will wear down an high school defense. then we can go outside with dyrell effectively. its little things like that that i feel we need to work on.

now so far as the notion about dyrell and cj playing defense. we have to ask ourself, where is dyrell most needed, scoring points n wearing down defenses or playing free safety running from sideline to sideline. for the record, he and frazier agreed that he would only go one way. now so far as cj, his shoulder has been hurt several times in the past and guess where it got hurt, ON DEFENSE!!!! so is that really where we want him???? i think the defense is fine. the problem is we are not penitrating enuff and stopping things before they get going. the secondary is solid. warren and jonathan are playing fine back there. quan is to but he is too hit conscience and needs to remember his coverages. he made too many tackles too close to the line of scrimmage friday night. thats trouble. play action is going to kill us down the middle of the field. we gotta coach him up.

the pack will be fine and i think that game was a learning experience for everyone. we got move forward and get ready for jamestown

GO PACKERS:o