Game Preview: Hawk Stars Look to Spoil Ballers Season

Blacksburg Ballers (13-0)
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Mt. Oread Hawk Stars (11-2)

BLACKSBURG, VA - When the teams hit the field in Mt. Oread on Wednesday, one of the most heated rivalries in AAA will be re-ignited in what many players are proclaiming as the game of the year. The Blacksburg Ballers will put their winning streak on the line for a chance to clinch 1st place in the Western Conference against the Mt. Oread Hawk Stars. The Ballers have wins over Forumopolis and Thunder Bay; a win over Mt. Oread will lock up 1st and home field advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.

"This is huge, this is the game of the year! This date has been circled on our calendar since the preseason because the rivalry between our teams is so intense. Now that so much is on the line, its going to heat it up even more because our boys are fired up and can't wait to get to Mt. Oread," Ballers Owner Mike.

The Hawk Stars are looking to throw a wrench in the Ballers plans as they are fighting for the best playoff position possible. The Hawk Stars are coming off a 26-0 shutout win over Sudbury after dropping back-to-back games against Forumopolis and Thunder Bay. A Hawk Stars victory would be a poetic finish to the Ballers winning ways; after all, Mt. Oread, Thunder Bay and Blacksburg all started the season at 7-0 before Blacksburg defeated Thunder Bay to end their streak. 4 games later, Thunder Bay ended Mt. Oread's undefeated season so it would only be fitting for Mt. Oread to end Blacksburg's streak.

"People always want to talk about the streak and its alot of pressure, but there's always pressure for us every time we step out there. We're just going to do what we do best, we'll go out there and lay it all on the line. The streak is awesome but we can't let it play mind games with us because if it does, Mt. Oread will definitely take advantage of it. Their guys are intent on giving us our first loss and we're going to give them the fight of their lives," Quarterback Khari Jones.

The Ballers are living the dream season and a victory over Mt. Oread will help them cruise into the playoffs. They bring an explosive offense and one of the league's best defenses to the table and is a tough matchup for any team. The Hawk Stars are no pushovers either. The Hawk Stars have another of the league's best defenses, allowing only 9.8 points per game and holding teams to an average of under 50 rushing yards per game. This will be a tough challenge for the Ballers offense who have outscored their opponents 566-83 with 54 more touchdowns than their opponents. As good as this offense is, this will be a defensive struggle and every point will be very well earned.

The History So Far...

The rivalry started exactly two seasons ago in week 14 of Season 1. This turned into a defensive struggle with each team punting 12 times and each losing a fumble. Khari Jones would strike first in the 2nd quarter with a 7 yard touchdown pass to Joe Pascone; Khari would finish the game 27 of 46 for 207.5 yards and the 1 score. Bill Whittmore would tie the game up in the 3rd quarter with a 6 yard pass to Gordon Charles. Whittmore would finish the game 39 of 63 for 247 yards and a touchdown. The Hawk Stars running game was held to 42 yards on 23 carries. This game would remain tied at the end of regulation and head to overtime. Both teams would exchange punts before the Hawk Stars would press into Ballers territory but a missed 41 yard field goal would give Blacksburg the opportunity they needed to march down the field with backup QB Tom Mason and a 36.5 yard field goal by Troy Westwood would seal the deal and give Blacksburg a 10-7 victory.

The two teams would meet again in week 13 of season 2 with another defensive battle that swayed in the Hawk Stars favour. Blacksburg would be held to 130.5 yards overall, 32 rushing and 98.5 in the air including an interception while Mt. Oread would total 299.5 yards, 97.5 yards on the ground and 202.5 in the air with one turnover. The Hawk Stars would have to settle for 4 field goals but did manage a 1.5 yard rushing TD by McAnderson Brandon in the 2nd quarter. The Ballers only score would come from a 23 yard field goal by Troy Westwood. Bill Whittmore finished the game 32 of 44 while Khari only managed 18 of 35.

Team Stats

Blacksburg Ballers

Points Per Game: 43.5
Points Allowed Per Game: 6.5 (1st in League)
Passing Yards Per Game: 275.7
Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 181.9
Rushing Yards Per Game: 160.2
Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 34.3 (No Touchdowns Allowed)

Mt. Oread Hawk Stars

Points Per Game: 22.6
Points Allowed Per Game: 9.8
Passing Yards Per Game: 216.1
Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 189.3
Rushing Yards Per Game: 127
Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 48.7

Key Players

Khari Jones, Quarterback, Blacksburg Ballers

The lifeblood of the Ballers offense has never looked great against the Mt. Oread Hawk Stars and is coming off back-to-back average games including his first game of the season without a TD. Khari will need to be perfect if this offense is going to score and he will need to get back to the playing form that he was in a few weeks back when he was playing against Forumopolis and Moose Island. Khari has certainly improved since the last time these two teams met and is now third in the league for passing yards while scoring 29 TD's and only throwing 13 picks. The new additions to the Ballers receiving corps have certainly helped Khari become a marquee QB in the Western Conference.

Beast Baily, Cornerback, Blacksburg Ballers

The Ballers defense will need to be hot against this tough team and it all starts with the secondary. Beast Baily leads the team in interceptions with 9 and pass deflections with 39. The team as a whole leads the league in interceptions with 38 and this could spell trouble for QB Bill Whittmore. Beast is a ballhawk of a corner that has the potential to make a game-changing play. This game could come down to a battle of turnovers and Baily is ready to get his share.

Bill Whittmore, Quarterback, Mt. Oread Hawk Stars

Although seeing a dropoff in performance from last season, Bill Whittmore is still one of the best QB's in the Western Conference and has averaged 203.3 yards per game. Whittmore has thrown 14 touchdowns but has thrown 15 interceptions with 4 of those coming in the loss to Forumopolis. Whittmores got the stars and the skill to get it done and has seen previous success against the Ballers secondary. If they can't stop him, Whittmore could have a very big game.

Phuck Mizzou, Defensive End, Mt. Oread Hawk Stars

The key to the Hawk Stars defense is the front line and these guys are fantastic, especially Phuck Mizzou who has 35 tackles, 2 sacks, 16 hurries, an interception, 9 pass deflectiosn and 3 forced fumbles. Mizzou is a threat to every QB not only in the backfield but also downfield as well as he is a great coverage DE as well. Khari would like nothing more than to not have to meet Mizzou who can deliver quite a punishing blow.

It's a rivalry showdown that has gotten more intense every year and this will definitely be the biggest matchup of the year for both teams as fans have flocked to Memorial Stadium for a game that they will never forget.

Ballers DE Speed McLovin' - "It's time to show them how the West was won."