On occasion, the Sun Journal sports staff will pick high school football topics to discuss — sometimes the discussions will turn into spirited debates.
Agree? Disagree? Let us know via Twitter (@WilTalkSports and @FunkFlashyRob) or email (wkramlich@sunjournal.com and arobinson@sunjournal.com).

WIL KRAMLICH: This discussion is going to be like night and day. Well, more specifically, it’s going to be about night and day. You had the honor of covering Lisbon’s first Friday-night home game at Thompson Field, and then you got to cover a traditional Saturday afternoon home game at Oak Hill. So my question to you this week is: Which one’s better, Friday night under the lights, or a Saturday matinee?

ADAM ROBINSON: I think Friday nights are the way to go. They are what every football player dreams of, what they strive for, what they watch shows about. Friday night at Lisbon’s Thompson Field was a special moment for the community, being able to watch a home football game under lights for the first time. I spoke with many generations of Lisbon football players, all excited that kids get to play at home at night, finally. Saturday afternoons are great, as well. However, I think there is a clear difference.

So, on the field, are there any teams that have maybe solidified in your mind as teams to beat? Two weeks is a small sample size, but I want to know if you thought of any teams like Dennis Green once did: “They are who we thought they were.”

KRAMLICH: I’m happy for the Lisbon players that they now get their own Friday night lights feeling at home, but there’s a part of me that’s sad that Saturday afternoon games at Thompson Field are probably a thing of the past. Those games always felt kind of special. Granted, in my brief playing days I enjoyed the Friday night games better. There’s a spotlight-on-you feeling, and it feels like a rock concert as opposed to Saturday afternoons feeling like a trip to the county fair (don’t get me wrong, I love fairs).

As far as teams to beat, it’s Leavitt. The Hornets always seem like they lose big pieces but bring in new ones and just reload. And head coach Mike Hathway always knows what to do with his skill guys, whatever their skills may be.

ROBINSON: I heard some people longing for the Saturday afternoon games, and they are fun to go to and have a bowl of chili at Thompson Field, or chicken tenders at Stacen Doucette Memorial Field at Oak Hill, but it’s all about Friday nights.

Leavitt is the team I would go with, too. They have reloaded everywhere, Noah Carpenter is a stud at QB and the defense looks stout. I also will shout out Oxford Hills, which took down defending Class A champs Thornton Academy on Saturday with Eli Soehren out for much of the game. Huge win for the program.

KRAMLICH: Absolutely a big win for the Vikings, winning on the road (on a Saturday afternoon, by the way …) against a stout opponent like Thornton. That will go a big way in Oxford Hills being a “team to beat” in Class A this year.

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

Football notebook: Ramblers finally on winning end of instant classic

Next »

Weekend Blitz: Big showdowns in 8-man football