Game Preview: Week #10 Blacksburg Ballers @ Forumopolis

Blacksburg Ballers (9-0)
@
Forumopolis Fighting Llamas (8-1)

Canada Day will certainly be a day worth celebrating in the Canadian AAA #2 league as fans will be treated to one of the biggest games so far in the regular season between the undefeated Blacksburg Ballers and the 8-1 Forumopolis Fighting Llamas. Forumopolis lost a tough matchup to the Phoenixville Kings in week 1 of this season but has since rebounded with 8 straight victories including a 9-0 shutout of the Thunder Bay Storm. The Ballers are coming off their biggest win (points wise) against the Los Angeles Trojans that saw many club records get smashed. The Ballers are certainly going to have their work cut out for them this week and are hoping for much more than just fireworks.

The History So Far...

The Ballers and Llamas have only met once before and that was in week #2 of season #2. Khari Jones went 21 for 29 with a TD and 170 yards passing in one of his finest performances of the season and Troy Westwood went 3 for 3 on field goals but the big star of the day was the defense who picked up a fumble recovery and two interceptions, one returned all the way for the score by Beast Baily as the Ballers emerged victorious 30-16. That would be only one of two losses that the Llamas would suffer in the regular season, the other at the hands of the Mooresville Anglers.

Team Stats

Blacksburg Ballers

Points Per Game: 49.6 (3rd in League)
Points Allowed Per Game: 7.4 (2nd in League)
Passing Yards Per Game: 274.6
Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 189.9
Rushing Yards Per Game: 173.6
Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 34.1 (No Touchdowns Allowed)

Forumopolis Fighting Llamas

Points Per Game: 26.6
Points Allowed Per Game: 9
Passing Yards Per Game: 196.8
Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 163.1
Rushing Yards Per Game: 155.6
Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 34.3

Key Ballers

Khari Jones

Its a given that anytime Khari stops on the field he will have to be a key player but this week more so than ever. The Llamas are coming off a shutout victory against the Thunder Bay Storm and that has to leave Khari just a tad bit worried. Khari's season has certainly taken a turn for the better in the last few weeks capping a 7 TD on 24 pass performance against the Trojans. Khari has only been picked off 10 times this season which is very low amongst starting quarterbacks. He's going to need to bring the drive to help make sure that his team does not get shut out.

Elite Rusher

Coming off a tremendous performance that included 11 hurries but no sacks, Elite Rusher will play a large role in making sure that pressure is put on Rocket McCannonarm and making him make bad decisions.

Slasher Evans

The Interception King as of late will need to be in top form against this tough wide receiving corps but Evans has what it takes to keep up with them and knock down a few balls and even pick a few off. The Ballers are still leading the league in interceptions with 30 and hope to shut down the air attack from Forumopolis.

The Ballers Offensive Line

The Forumopolis front line is beastly! Forcing 57 hurries and 26 sacks, Khari could be in for a long day but the o-line certainly has something to say about that. Khari has only been hurried 26 times and sacked 4 times so this is an offensive line that can hold their own and if they want to win, they better.

Record Watch

So many records got broken last week that there is hardly any room for anymore to be broken this week so there won't be. Atleast, not they were aware of as of yet. Hopefully next week we will get to see Khari chase another record, this one for passing yardage in a season which he is quickly closing in on.

Summary

The Ballers have proven that they can hang with the best taking victories over Phoenixville, Mooresville and Thunder Bay. They also have proven in the past that they can hang with Forumopolis delivering only one of two regular season losses last year to them. Both teams are riding high on momentum and only one will get to continue on this path. If the Ballers can get the ball rolling, Forumopolis might just be another pin that gets knocked down.