By: Zachary Harmuth
CPA (3-0, 1-0 in AA District 12) gets better each week, and stayed undefeated in style against Giles Co this past Friday, blowing them out. This week they end a two-game road trip and come home to play the out-of-district Maplewood Panthers (1-1), who lost by more than two touchdowns to Lipscomb last Friday.
This game could be a trap game for CPA, which is ranked 7th in state, moving up from 18th last week, because the Panthers are ranked 146th in the state.
However, talent-wise and on paper this game should be a no-brainer win for CPA, which is in first place in its district.
CPA destroyed Giles last week with its balanced air-ground attack, and hopes to continue the trend this week, with its offense lead by running back Jay Hockaday (4 TDs on the year) and quarterback Zak Weatherly (3 passing TDs on the year).
The Panthers, on the other hand, beat lowly Hunters Lane at home in week one, had a bye, and then lost on the road to a much tougher team, Lipscomb, last week.
This is the Panther’s second away game in as many weeks, and coming into CPA’s home turf could either fire them up or intimidate them.
It is up to CPA head coach Ingle Martin to not let his team play-down to its less-talented opponent- first place in the AA District II is at state, with also undefeated Cascasde traveling to play a probable puff-cake, winless Community, in Unionville, (0-3, and ranked 328th in the state).
So, the pressure is on: to not play down to its opponent, to not be distracted by the stakes of the game for District standings, and to not let last week’s blowout against Giles Co go to anyone’s head.
A district championship is in sight, but the blinders need to be on for CPA for this game.
