By Cole Mantell (@LightningDragon)
Welcome back to the SEC blog! Week 4 is in the books and conference play has begun. We are halfway through the season and are getting a much better picture of the playoff races around the CFSL. The SEC race is heating up, led in Week 4 by the huge prime-time matchup we had between the Kentucky Wildcats and Alabama Crimson Tide. Let’s dive in!
King Reigns For Kentucky
I miss when Moses King let me make a bunch of royal puns about Kentucky, so thank you King DeMoura for giving me that opportunity once again. Kentucky was dominant in their prime time Week 4 win over Alabama to open conference play. QB TJ Cunnington once again led Kentucky and is making his case as one of the best QBs in the CFSL. Alabama was outmatched on both sides of the ball, with Kentucky in control for most of the contest.
However, Alabama came into the contest boasting a well-functioning versatile offense. Their key to victory was being efficient on offense. And Kentucky’s defense knew that. OLB King DeMoura was a monster for the Wildcats, notching 14 tackles, and being a part of many more. His previous personal best for tackles in a game was 11 tackles. DeMoura exits Week 4 tied for 2nd in the CFSL with 41 tackles. Interestingly, he’s tied with two Georgia players for 2nd. That means the SEC has three of the top four tacklers in the CFSL at midseason.
DeMoura was not nominated for Defensive Player of the Week, which is a snub I was surprised by for the week. Probably it was due to his lack of any other stats besides the great 14 tackles. However, UK WR Ricky Rak did represent the Wildcats on the poll this week, notching an incredible 197 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns. Given Rak only had 8 catches all game, having half of your catches be touchdowns is pretty sweet.
The Jack Schmidt Show Continues
This is not the first time I’ve featured QB Jack Schmidt and the Florida Gators on the blog. And that’s for a good reason. Jack Schmidt had a good start to the season, and I highlighted that before he faced a tough SEC conference schedule where he could fall back to earth. So far, that is not even close to the case.
For Florida to make the playoffs this season, the team needed two key things to go their way. First, they had to play well and ideally win in their tough first-half schedule. They did well, going 3-1 and beating two tough teams in Florida State and Texas A&M. Secondly, Jack Schmidt had to continue to improve. All he has done is become the #1 rated QB in the CFSL in QB Rating. Schmidt and the Gators took care of business against rival Tennessee in Week 4, winning 49-28 at home. Schmidt had 354 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns, compared to just one interception. Limiting turnovers has been key for this Gator offense, and it has made the team competitive in the SEC.
Much tougher tests await the Gators. Florida starts their second half on the road versus Auburn, followed by games against Kentucky, Alabama, and then Georgia. This week will provide a great early test of just how good this squad is. The defense will be tested against a juggernaut Auburn offense. If Florida can go 2-2 in the second half, they are likely a playoff team. Anything less, and they’ll be in trouble. Good luck.
Players That Stood Out This Week
We’ve already talked about a few guys from Kentucky and Florida, so I’ll start this piece with another highlight for Auburn QB Jay Duke. You know how great a QB is when it feels like a nomination for Offensive Player of the Week is routine. For Duke, it was business as usual as he threw 400 passing yards and 4 touchdowns (and rushed for another) in the Tigers’ 45-14 win over Georgia. The SEC has at least three candidates for best QB in the CFSL, and Duke is one of them.
Duke’s teammate, HB Thomas Scally, might be the most underrated halfback in the CFSL this season. Possibly because Jay Duke has taken up most of the oxygen regarding this Auburn team’s hype, Scally is quietly leading the SEC with 479 rushing yards at midseason. He’s 2nd overall in the CFSL, only behind Miami’s Bo Yost. Auburn hasn’t had an 1100-yard rusher in a season since QB Jason Lemmy in Season 15. Is this the season Scally joins that group?
On defense, outside of the Georgia defenders we’ve already talked so much about, I’ll highlight Kentucky DT Perry Harrison. Harrison leads all CFSL DTs with 5.5 sacks this season. His 8 TFLs are also tied for 3rd most in the conference. Alabama CB Roman Ware continues to be the SEC’s best defensive back. He’s 2nd in the CFSL (and leads the SEC) with 3 interceptions this season. Ware also leads the SEC with 5 PDs. I’ll also shout out Alabama OLB Brett Slate, who leads the CFSL with 3 forced fumbles. Auburn DE Travis Hurd and Georgia SS Nic Lee also are tied for the CFSL lead with 2 fumble recoveries.
SEC Results Week 4
Kentucky beats Alabama, 38-17
Auburn beats Georgia, 45-14
Florida beats Tennessee, 49-28
SEC Schedule Week 5
Wednesday
Kentucky vs Georgia (6:30 PM, YouTube)
Florida vs Auburn (8:30 PM, Twitch)
Thursday
Alabama vs Tennessee (8:30, YouTube)
Potential SEC Game of the Week
Apologies to Florida vs Auburn, which should be a great matchup. But it is getting tough to choose an Auburn game considering Justin Duke has yet to lose a regular season game as AD of the Tigers. Instead, my pick is going to be Alabama vs Tennessee. It’s a rivalry matchup, and Alabama is coming off a very tough loss last week to Kentucky. They go from prime time to Thursday and have a lot to play for against Tennessee. Tennessee’s season has not gone as well as they hoped after a big Week 1 win vs Notre Dame, but that provides extra motivation for the Volunteers to get their second win of the season in a rivalry matchup. It should be entertaining to watch, even with Alabama as the heavy favorite!
