It is here. Gameday has finally arrived for the 2011 edition of the Cannon Game. Two games every year bring out the same question asked to me over and over. So who's gonna win? It is no secret I am a South Alum and at times have accused of being too much of a "fan" in the booth for the Black and White. I beg to differ on most accounts as I think I call it pretty fair except on those occasions I offer to sing the fight song for Joe Cervi and our viewing audience at the end of another Colts victory. With that said one of the more amazing things about my 30 year broadcast career is the fact that I have never been in the booth calling the game, doing color or sideline reports when East has won the Cannon Game. Of course at first glance this seems impossible. East had a nice four-year run from 1993-1996. The Eagles also won five straight from 1978-1982. Well in '81 and '82 I was just cutting my teeth in the field and was assigned to doing live reports of Pueblo County football. 1992 was my last full season doing high school broadcasts on the radio before my industry imposed hiatus (I refused to work for free LOL). So in years '93 to '96 I was nowhere to be found on the airwaves. 1997 was my first year doing play-by-play for Channel 19 which just so happens to be the first year of South's current 14-game winning streak. Most years during this span it was pretty much a given that South would win the game. Hell there was even talk of doing away with the series alltogether. But starting under David Ramirez and now with Paul Andrada at the helm there is a renewal of Eagle pride. Part of this is because of the drop to 3A where East has been able to experience something that South football fans have become used to and that is success. And the old saying is success breeds success. Last season East narrowly missed a playoff berth. This year they are right in the thick of it again at 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the 3A South-Central League. South on the other hand has fallen on hard times. They wont make the playoffs this year. They are beat up both mentally and physically. Sure they do get a handful of players back this week for this game but will that be enough. Now that we have covered all the background here is how I see the game unfolding. In years past East had to rely on going around or over the top of South. The past two seasons East had closed the size gap with the Colts but this year it is my opinion they have closed the pure physical and toughness gap. Eagles possess a dynamic playmaker in Rico Ramirez. South in some ways is still a mystery on offense going into this game. Quarterback Branden Mondragon is back in the fold although his true health is perhaps iffy at best. Branden Castro is a good strong runner. Clayton Smith is a potential gamebreaker if given enough touches. On defense South played a fantastic game last week at Cheyenne Mountain and probably should have won the game against the 6-0 Indians. I see this game unfolding as a slugfest. East must not be tempted into trying to trick the Colts. They must be patient early and then take their shots with Ramirez down the field. South on the other hand must be willing to take some shots down the field to loosen up the Eagle defense. I envision sophomore Garrett Krage coming up big on a deep slant/post pattern. QB Mondragon must come up big when this/these moments occur. Being a Colt means I give them an automatic seven points. My prediction is South in overtime 21-20. The difference will be the Colts converting/stopping a two-point play in overtime.