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  • Jeffersonville running back Austin Hines, left, and wide receiver Jacquari Chandler celebrate after Hines scored a touchdown in the first quarter of their away game against Floyd Central on Friday. Staff photo by Christopher Fryer

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October 4, 2012

H.S. FOOTBALL PICKS: East, Charlestown predicted to win Week 8 showdowns

By GREG MENGELT greg.mengelt@newsandtribune.com

> SOUTHERN INDIANA — With tennis and soccer tournaments taking center stage this week — and time and spaces limited for the News and Tribune sports staff — this week’s picks are going to be short and to the point:



• At Columbus East 34, Jeffersonville 27: One day soon, a team is going to come along and knock Columbus East off of its lofty perch — that’s just the way sports works.

For nine years, several Hoosier Hills Conference teams have come along and thought they would be the ones to do it. Only Bedford North Lawrence in 2006 has done it (and the Stars and Olympians still tied for the HHC crown).

Jeff is good. Really good, in fact. And it just may well be the Devils who do it, but it’s going to take a monumental effort to get it done. The run defense will have to be perfect, as will Tyler Fridley’s passes.

But when it takes a perfect performance to knock a team off, it rarely happens. This one could go either way, but I have to side with the eight-time HHC champions.



• At Charlestown 54, Providence 7: At this point, I’m starting to feel bad for Charlestown’s opponents.

Nothing against the Pioneers, but it’s hard to imagine — after last week’s 47-0 win at No. 4 Corydon Central — that anyone will beat the Pirates until at least the semistate, if then.

We may never witness the 2012 Pirates lose.



• Floyd Central 35, at Jennings County 14: Jennings County showing up on the Highlanders’ schedule couldn’t have come at a better time. Even on the road, Floyd should have no problem with the 1-6 Panthers. Hopefully, this will get the Highlanders moving in the right direction heading into a rivalry game with New Albany and the tournament.



• At New Albany 21, Seymour 14: This is one that could definitely go either way. Seymour has been hard to figure. One week, its running down the throats of Floyd Central, the next the Owls are being throttled by a Class 3A Brownstown team.

On the other hand, New Albany has been steady. The Bulldogs have a nice running game and a solid defense. I’m going with the more consistent team.



• At Brownstown Central 49, Silver Creek 20: Silver Creek’s defense is obviously getting better, but it won’t be good enough to slow down the Braves, who have won six in a row, none closer than a 30-12 win over Seymour.



• At Clarksville 44, North Harrison 6: The way Clarksville has played this year, it deserves to be better than 3-4. The Generals should have no problem handling North Harrison and has a shot at beating Providence a week from Friday.



• Greg’s Picks Record: 48-16

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