Litchfield football visits North Adams-Jerome for the Week 3 Game of the Week
NORTH ADAMS — Last season, coach Michael Langhann and Litchfield football welcomed rival North Adams-Jerome for a week 3 Military Appreciation game. That Saturday afternoon matchup resulted in a historically significant game and a Terrier 55-48 victory.
2022 Flashback: Litchfield takes down North Adams-Jerome in historic 54-48 victory
Later in the Fall of 2022, the Terriers improved upon that result and dominated the Rams in their second-played game of the year.
2022 Flashback: Litchfield QB Tyler Bills breaks own record in win over North Adams-Jerome
Class of 2023 graduate Casey Loper and the Rams got their revenge against the Terriers in the prep hoops district playoffs in the winter of 2023.
The matchups between the Terriers and Rams have been some of the most exciting to watch for both fan bases every sports season. This is why we will be making the trip out to North Adams-Jerome High School this weekend to watch another battle between the two county rivals.
The Week 3 Game of the Week will have plenty of chances for both teams to showcase their teams to their fans, while also allowing both coaching staffs to work on their weekly goals for their squads.
Vote: Week 2 Football Player of the Week Poll
Scouting the Rams
The Rams head back home after taking a devastating loss at the hands of Pittsford in a 0-50 week two final. Coach Dave Price and the Rams coaching staff are still hard at work developing the core strengths of their team this season.
The Rams have not had the best of luck in their first two weeks of the season. As players, returning and new, get used to the game speed at the varsity level, the coaching staff will look to find a way to get their first points of the 2023 season.
Quarterback Carter Raider and junior athlete Will Thielen will work together to make offensive magic happen on Friday night against a Litchfield defense that can be exploited in the right matchup. The Rams desperately need a playmaker to take a step forward and fill in the shoes of the Class of 2023 RB Casey Loper.
We see this home game as a big opportunity for the Rams to work things out offensively and put their first points on the board this year. Brandon Smith is the lone senior on the team this year, and he will be another player to watch up front on the line and in the backfield for the Rams.
Recap: County prep football teams leave with more questions than answers after week 2
Scouting the Terriers
After an explosive start to the season in a 58-25 win over Burr Oak, coach Michael Langhann and the Terriers ran into a brick wall that was the Cougar defense in week two. The offense could not find their way against a dominant Lenawee Christian team, who rolled the Terriers in a 65-12 final.
Langhann and the Terriers went up against one of the best teams on their 2023 schedule, a state title contender who will represent that next step the Terriers will have to take if they want to compete against the likes of Colon, Pittsford and Camden-Frontier this season.
Week three's trip to North Adams-Jerome will be an opportunity for the Terriers to test their skill players, which we know they have an abundance of, in unique situations.
Junior Alvarez, Miguel Pedroza, Hunter Snyder, Brandon Campbell and quarterback Tyler Bills could be starting players on any 11-player team in the county. Pedroza has started his senior year off with two strong games, including a big night on kick returns against the Cougars.
There's no doubt the Terriers have the advantage against the Rams. The Terriers will be favored by multiple scores. However, every week presents a new challenge for a roster looking to take a leap in competitiveness. The road trip to the Rams will be a strong indicator of where this 2023 Terrier teams stands in comparison to the other SCAA/SMFL-East contenders this season.
More: Week 2 lacked team wins, but these prep football athletes had standout efforts
Prediction
Litchfield should be able to use their talented skill position players to escape North Adams with a double-digit victory. However, this game will be a test for both teams to figure out where things stand as they near the midpoint of their seasons.
Individual battles, offensive improvement and defensive keys will be the main things both fan bases should be on the lookout for. This game will also be the best chance yet to see the Rams add one or more touchdowns to the board for the first time this season, and we believe they will do so.
While it will be a fundamentally different type of game compared to last year's early season fireworks show, the Rams and the Terriers should give both of their community supporters something to cheer about on Friday night.
Winner: Litchfield
For more sports, follow The Daily News Sports Account on X (formerly Twitter) and reporter Joe Flaherty on X
Story Suggestions: jflaherty@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Litchfield football visits North Adams-Jerome for the Week 3 Game of the Week
