Vic vs. Odom: High School Football Pick’em Playoff quarterfinals

By Michael Odom | November 22, 2024 |

Milan’s Markel Cunningham (12) and Mikkel Cunningham (15) make a tackle against Jackson Central-Merry during a second round game in the Class 2A playoffs at Johnnie Hale Stadium on Nov. 15, 2024.

Author Howard Schultz said, “In times of adversity and change, we really discover who we are and what we’re made of.”

Well, the Milan football team was forced to meet adversity head on last Friday against Jackson Central-Merry. With the season on the line, the Bulldogs’ offense couldn’t get in a rhythm and didn’t score in regulation.

But Milan’s defense showed what it was made of as interceptions by Markel Cunningham and Dee Kelley made all the difference.

So now that Milan has faced adversity, what are the Bulldogs made of? This Friday will tell if the Bulldogs are ready to be an elite team in Class 2A.

And I picked up another win over Victor Parkins. I went 12-2 last week, while Parkins went 11-3.

We both missed Melrose’s win over Haywood and Springfield’s upset over Henry County, but Parkins also missed Columbia Academy’s win over Trinity Christian Academy.

Parkins is now 156-33 (.825 winning percentage) with a 23-6 (.793) mark in the playoffs. I am now 151-38 (.799) with a 26-3 (.897) mark in the playoffs. Parkins holds an overall six-game lead on the season.

Only six matchups this week in the quarterfinals:

Huntingdon (10-2) at Milan (11-1)

The Milan defense held Huntingdon to 40 yards rushing earlier in the season, and that defense came up big against JCM. Expect the Bulldogs to get a big stop in the second half that could propel them to a victory.

Odom’s Pick: Milan 21, Huntingdon 14

Vic’s Pick: Milan 28, Huntingdon 21