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Preview: Mason at Colerain

A mid-season clash between the Greater Miami Conference’s top two teams promises to be a precursor to what promises to be an exciting finish to 2016. Our U.S. Marines Battle of the Gridiron Series has Mason on the road at Colerain and looking to do what no other league rival has done since 2008, beat the Cardinals.

Mason RB Matt Sora (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Mason RB Matt Sora (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Colerain is the class of the GMC knocking them from their perch is no easy task. The Comets will look to upset the Cardinals nest by playing good old fashioned smash-mouth football. Matching the home team’s toughness is going to take a high level of intensity. Mason is capable of pulling off the upset but it is going to take a herculean effort. No matter what the outcome the victors will have earned and be left with the scars that prove it.

MASON COMETS (4-1, 2-0) at COLERAIN CARDINALS (5-0, 2-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., Cardinal Stadium
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PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mason has one intention on offense and that is to beat their opponents with the run. Junior RB Matt Sora is the team’s workhorse. He has 585 yards rushing. Teammate RB Michael Kopaygorodsky has run for 307 yards. Each has six rushing touchdowns. The Comets defensive line is getting good push led by DE Alex King. The secondary has benefited from that pressure with eight interceptions led by DB Jalen Johnson with three.

Colerain RB JJ Davis (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Colerain RB JJ Davis (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Let us introduce you to Colerain’s super sophomores – QB Deante Smith-Moore, RB JJ Davis and RB Syncere Jones. The trio has accounted for 455 of the teams 1,089 rushing yards and eight of their 14 scores on the ground.

Cardinals junior LB Dan Bolden is off to a monster start. He leads the teams in tackles and has two sacks and two interceptions. The secondary has sparkled even without star DB Amir Riep, who is nursing a bad hamstring. Seniors DB Darrian Beavers and DB Keontae Jones each have a pair of picks.

TEAM TRENDS: The Mason defense has not given up more than 17 points in a game. The Comets are allowing just 11.6 points per tilt. The offense has scored 28 points or more on four occasions. The team has found the end zone 22 times, 17 of those on the ground.

Colerain has set the bar in the GMC having won the last 16 league titles. The Cardinals are riding an unheard of 55-game conference winning streak. During that span the program has averaged 41.2 points per game, had an average margin of victory 28.7 points per contest while holding 27 of those 54 foes to seven points or less. True domination.

The five teams that Colerain has beaten are a combined 17-4 excluding their losses to the Cardinals.

MASON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Comets need to convert on third down, something they did not do well last season against Colerain. Moving the chains should be easier behind Sora. The fewer passes Hutchinson has to throw the better Mason’s chances to win are.

COLERAIN’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Cardinals have to play smart football. Penalties, mental mistakes and lack of focus will be something a good team like Mason can capitalize on. The last thing Colerain wants to do is allow the Comets to build any kind of confidence. This team has had explosive scoring first halves the past two weeks another will put this affair away earlier and let the defense bring it home after intermission.

Prediction: COLERAIN 20, MASON 10

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