GAME OF THE WEEK

Powell Valley at Clintwood ? OK, not so fast. The peerless picker?s pleasure of leaving week five behind is now quickly tempered with this call ? another D1 versus D2 pail kicker.

I?m taking a pass for now, but I can tell you that Pound and Lee High will be taking tonight off and feel solid with that prediction.

St. Paul at Castlewood ? OK, another battle where records mean nothing! Later, Tater.

Patrick Henry at Appalachia ? OK, I?m not saying this one is easy, but I truly would like the Dawgs to help the Dope Bucket get off the bottom side of the pail with a little bit of a happy Appy party in Dawgtown. The pups will run like a starved pack of pooches past the Rebels. Appy 36, PH 18.

Bluefield at Gate City ? Not saying this game is a gimme either, but the boys in blue are finding their game and for sure it?s a devilish attack. I just don?t think the boys from just across the line will have a fun time when they cross over to the gate dwellers? domain. GC 24, Bluefield 10.

Coeburn at J.I. Burton ? After falling from the ranks of the undefeated, J.I. Burton will not be in a festive mood, despite all the fun planned for homecoming. That?s not good news for the Blue Knights of Coeburn. When the Knights roll into town, the boys in blue will find a ruffled batch of Raiders. Burton 35, Coeburn 18.

Haysi at Thomas Walker ? I?m still thinking the Tigers of Haysi are a pretty good football team. The problem is that the Tigers, who will play seven road games this season, face a tough, long drive to Ewing to play a pretty good platoon of Pioneers. I?ve been wrong a lot this season, but I?m looking for a little Colley Cat throwdown in the far end of Lee County. Shocker? Maybe I?ll make my love happy picking the Tigers of her hometown. Or maybe she will just say I?m hexing her Haysi homeys. Tigers 27, Pioneers 20.

Twin Spring at Ervinton ? How about this Cumberland confuser! The Bucket?s pulling for the Rebels to get on a little roll. Two in a row would be wonderful for the boys from Nora, but I?ve been beaten up plenty picking with my heart. I?m sticking with my brain, but of course that?s not been working out too well lately either. TS 18, Rebels 12.

J.J. Kelly at Rye Cove ? I?m not wondering at all about this call. That sigh you just heard was the tribe trackers screaming in pain. Kelly 21, RC 12.

St. Paul at Castlewood ? I?m running no longer. The Dope Bucket feels fall at his feet and it?s time to pick up the pail and play better. A cute kid reference would go a long way, but I think my kids would prefer that the ol? football forecasting pop would pick a little better before singling them out. Mark Palmer would simply love for his purple platoon to perform well again on the road. Deacons get it done in the grand old rivalry on the banks of the Clinch. SP 39, CHS 32.

Powell Valley at Clintwood ? OK, the weather looks somewhat clear, the Bermuda turf is about to turn brown and, well, the Greenwave is a little miffed that they are no longer perfect. Meanwhile in Powell Valley, the ship sailors are feeling a little better after their Bucket buster.

I just don?t think the Wave is happy, and I?m not sure the Vikings pack enough ammo on the ship to ride over the Wave at Ralph?s house. Clintwood takes the lead in the LPD race with a huge win over the Vikings. Wave 21, Vikings 19.

THE CAVS

Georgetown at UVa-Wise ? Go Cavs, go. Welcome home, alums. Enjoy the weekend. We?re all glad you came back to the mountains.

It?s never easy being peerless and to make things even tougher, the boys at UVa-Wise again have chosen Georgetown for their homecoming opponent this weekend. Yikes! Get to Highland country early and support the fellows in red and gray. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. and all youngsters get in free, so at least that?s easy on the wallet.