I can't hide from the fact that it's been a mediocre season for me in the picks. As I mentioned to my competitor last night, big freakin' deal.

I just do this for fun each week. It makes me laugh how some schools take it personally and take anonymous shots at me when I pick against them. Whatever. They can deal with those issues on their own.

This week I'm taking on my co-blogger John Coon. He beat earlier this season, and I'm trying to get my win back.

JC: I know what Andrew is thinking in wanting this rematch. He's thinking I've been on the girl's soccer beat so long that I can't tell the difference between a soccer ball and a football now, let alone correctly pick a slate of football games. Well, that's simply not true. I know the difference. A soccer ball is round like a globe. A football is . . . football shaped. Right?

AA: Yes it is! Like I said, I want my win back, but that didn't quite work out for me last week.

JC: Well, anyway, here are my picks. To paraphrase an ancient Roman gladiator greeting: We who are about to beat Andrew salute you.

AA: Thanks. Good luck.

Mountain Crest-Sky View
JC: I've seen the Mustangs in action and they impressed me with how well they shut down Bountiful. Mountain Crest is on a surge defensively after allowing only 21 total points in four region games. The Bobcats did not impress me with their loss to the Braves. I think Alex Kuresa has a solid day and sends Sky View home with their third straight loss. Mountain Crest 28, Sky View 14.
AA: Utah State should be begging J.D. Falslev to play football at the school. If you look at all the talent in Cache County, then see USU struggling like it does, it makes no sense. That sentence didn't make a lot of sense either, but whatever. Anyway, I don't get what the Aggies are trying to do right now. They need to bring in more local guys like Falslev.

And now for my pick. This is a tough one, and I think I have to go with the home team. The Bobcats are on a two-game losing skid, and are playing a strong team in Mountain Crest. The Friday Night Rider won't like my pick, but I know he's reasonable enough to understand it's nothing personal. Sky View 21, Mountain Crest 20

North Sevier-Kanab
JC: Andrew you're really trying to test my prep football knowledge with this one. Kanab has been a dominant force in 1A in recent years, but seem to have lost a step this season. North Sevier has beaten all the other would-be contenders in 1A. But the Wolves have played close to the edge the past couple of weeks. They fall over the cliff this time. Kanab, 27 North Sevier 26.
AA: I write a lot about signature wins – ones that help propel football programs to another level. I'm calling for North Sevier to get one here. North Sevier 21, Kanab 20

Juab-North Summit
JC: I really want to pick Juab in this one. The Wasps are off to their best start in 3 years and have wins over Manti and Morgan to their credit. But North Summit is always tough to beat in Coalville. Who prevails? Heads it's Juab, Tails it's North Summit. I got heads. Looks like the Wasps. Juab 24, North Summit 21.
AA: As I said in a previous week, a good 2A source told me that Manti would beat North Summit in Manti, Juab would beat Manti in Nephi and North Summit would beat Juab in Coalville. Works for me. North Summit 21, Juab 20

Jordan-Skyline
JC: Jordan has won four straight. When you see who they beat in those four weeks, the immediate response is: 'So what?' The Beetdiggers are 1-3 against Deseret News top 25 teams. Skyline has wins over East, Bingham and Kearns. I'll go with the Eagles at home on this one. Skyline 31, Jordan 20.
AA: I originally was going to pick Jordan in this game, but John has convinced me otherwise. Skyline 21, Jordan 20 (Yes I like that score this week)

Northridge-Davis
JC: The Knights have fallen off in recent weeks and conventional wisdom suggests they would struggle in a road game with the Darts. Davis needs to actually find an offense sooner or later for me to believe in them fully. Still, I think they do shut down Northridge enough to get a victory here. Davis 13, Northridge 10.
AA: Davis' defense is the real deal, but so is Northridge's offense. I should be banned from picking Northridge games because I never seem to get them right. I like Davis more in the state playoffs, but I'll take Northridge tonight. Northridge 14, Davis 13

Riverton-Kearns
JC: I'm amazed that the Cougars can win any games. Their offense is just so awful that watching it should be used as a form of corporal punishment. I'm kidding. But thankfully Kearns have a good defense and is at home. For Riverton, the late-season fade into a third or fourth seed continues. Kearns 16, Riverton 9.
AA: These are two of my favorite coaches in the state. Wait, can I write that? Of course I can. Miller and Cosper are two of the most likable guys I deal with. But that doesn't have anything to do with who will win. I think Riverton rebounds from last week and wins a close one. Riverton 21, Kearns 20

Grantsville-Ogden
JC: How about those Tigers? It wasn't too long they were dealing with a massive losing streak. Now they are only two games out of 1st place in Region 11 with two to go. Both games are at home against inferior opponents. And, as Ogden has proved at different times, it can score in bunches on inferior opposition. Ogden 34, Grantsville 14.
AA: Ogden is a tough team to figure. The Tigers look good at times and bad at times. So I'm going to go with Grantsville and I don't really have a great explanation as to why. Grantsville 21, Ogden 20

South Sevier-San Juan
JC: Another pair of hot 2A teams. This isn't as hard as it was with Juab - North Summit in picking a winner though. The Broncos are at home and unbeaten and have an excellent coach in Monty Lee and that should give them the edge. San Juan 27, South Sevier 20.
AA: I'd like to pick another signature win, this time for South Sevier, but I just can't do it. San Juan is too tough. San Juan 14, South Sevier 13

Olympus-Murray
JC: When these two teams play, we all lose. I'm kidding. Put down the blunt objects. It's been a rough season for both programs. This is probably Murray's last chance to avoid going 0-10 with Highland up next week. I'd like to pick the Spartans, but they don't have enough on either side of the ball to win even against a bad Titans team. Olympus 20, Murray 12.
AA: It looks like our friendship is over after those comments. I thought I had a thankless job, but I've realized in my brother's second season as Murray's head coach that coaches have jobs that are way more thankless than mine. I see the time he puts in and how hard the kids have worked this year. I compare scores to last year and see that progress has been made. But people will make anonymous comments wondering about Murray football, and blah, blah, blah. So today, I'm giving the Spartans a vote of confidence and picking them to shut people up and pick up a victory. Murray 21, Olympus 20