Locals make Super Bowl picks

Published 10:53 pm Thursday, January 31, 2019

The New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams will face off in Super Bowl LIII this Sunday.

This game will be somewhat of a rematch, as the teams met in Super Bowl XXXVI 17 years ago. That game resulted in a win for the Patriots, and now the Rams have a chance to avenge themselves. Coaches and players around the Suffolk area recently chimed in on who they believe will win the big game.

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“I’m going with the Patriots because of experience,” King’s Fork High School Coach Scottie Littles said. Littles cited that it’s hard to go against Tom Brady and Coach Bill Belichick, who have combined to win five Super Bowls together.

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King’s Fork All-Region senior defensive lineman Jay’Ree Hardy is going with the Patriots as well. Tom Brady has won five of his nine Super Bowl appearances, and he believes that speaks for itself.

“You can’t go against Brady,” he said.

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Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Coach Mike Biehl is going with the Patriots. He believes their experience will boost the Patriots above the Rams.

“It’s really tough for me to pick against Brady and Belichick in a big game against guys with little to no experience in the big one,” Biehl said. “I believe Belichick’s defense will do some things to confuse the Rams offense, which will lead to turnovers. I think that will ultimately decide the game.”

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NSA All-State sophomore offensive lineman Griffin Duggan believes the Patriots will win the game. Like his coach, Duggan also feels that it is tough to bet against what the Patriots have done with this being their third consecutive Super Bowl.

“Belichick has more experience than (Rams Coach Sean) McVay,” Duggan said. “The players have more experience than the Rams players too. It will be hard for the Patriots to stop Aaron Donald, but I think they can do it.”

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NSA senior and State Co-Offensive Player of the Year Ehron Knight is going with the Rams. His thinking is that the Rams have too many playmakers on defense, which will give them the edge.

“The Rams defense has so many dogs on it,” Knight said. “They are going to get after Brady.”

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Nansemond River High School Coach Justin Conyers is going with the Rams.

“I think the Rams will win because of their explosiveness and creativeness,” Conyers said. “They will be able to put points on the board because of it.”

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NRHS All-Region senior Kevin Johnson will roll with the Patriots. Johnson believes New England simply has too many playmakers.

“Their offense is crazy,” he said. “The amount of confidence they have in their offense and the chemistry between the quarterback and the receivers is crazy.”

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Lakeland High School Coach Kevin Knight is going with the Patriots. He believes that coach Belichick will make any necessary adjustments during the game. He also believes that Tom Brady is the best quarterback ever.

“New England has a well-experienced team,” Knight said. “Rams are a great team, but I believe the Patriots will be well prepared.”

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Lakeland defensive coordinator Ronald “Coach Big” Richardson is going with the Rams. He too believes that Brady is the best quarterback ever, but he believes the Rams have the right formula to be successful.

“Tom Brady has fits when facing a good d-line,” Richardson said. “The Rams have two Hall of Fame d-lineman, and I believe they have their way with the Patriots’ offensive line.

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Lakeland junior defensive back Notouris Knight is going with the Rams.

“I’m going with them because of their defense,” Knight said. “I think it can be successful against the Patriots.”

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Most of the Suffolk natives mostly believes that Tom Brady and the Patriots will be too much for the Rams. However, those that chose the Rams believe they have what it takes to knock the Patriots off.

The Rams and Patriots will face off at 6:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.