Game of the Week: Can Lake View Hold Off the Football Powerhouse in Sweetwater?

SAN ANGELO, TX-- Last week, the Lake View Chiefs (0-2) seemed to get their offense rolling in the second half of their 34-27 loss to a sizeable Fort Stockton. They'll look to roll that momentum over to this week against the 2016 4A-D2 state runner-up, 14th-ranked Sweetwater (2-0), this Friday in the Mustang Bowl for our Friday Night LIVE! Game of the Week.

Lake View was down 34-7 in the third quarter before rattling off 20 unanswered points to close out the third period. Unfortunately, the offense stalled out in the fourth quarter and was unable to tie the game. The defense also seemed to figure things out, which brings promise to the coming weeks.

The 27 points scored by Lake View against Fort Stockton also marked the third time in consecutive games, dating back to the Abilene Cooper game in November, that the Chiefs had scored over 20 points.

However, this week will be tough for the Chiefs. Sweetwater seems to have picked up where they left off in their 2016 run to Arlington, despite bringing in new Head Coach Ben McGehee.

McGehee's offense runs an uptempo spread offense that has stymied the likes of Wichita Falls and Big Spring so far this season. Last Week, Sweetwater hung 56 points against a respectable Big Spring Steers team. In week one, Sweetwater's defense held Wichita Falls, a larger 5A school, to just 10 points.

A win from Lake View would be hands down the upset of the decade. But pump the breaks on any of that for the time being. There's much needed to happen this week for the Chiefs' upset over Sweetwater ot happen.

Offense: Advantage Sweetwater

The Mustangs' high powered offense can run rampant over a Chief's defense still trying to figure out a new scheme. Not to mention, senior quarterback Chris Thompson has over 600 yards passing through the first two games combined. Both teams are relatively inexperienced in the trenches. However, with Sweetwater still operating the spread offense and Lake View moving to the spread, it will be tough sledding this week for Lake View's offense.

Defense: Advantage Sweetwater

This side of the ball is where the Chiefs return five of their nine starters from a year ago, and the experience has started to creep through for Lake View. However, Sweetwater has a defense that has held opponents to 20 points or less in 12 of their last 18 games, going back to 2016. This will be, by far, the best defense the Chiefs see in 2017.

A score prediction doesn't feel quite right for this game. So, in lieu of the score, watch for how well the young Lake View team can hold back the football powerhouse in Sweetwater.