Locals make Super Bowl picks
Published 10:30 pm Friday, January 31, 2020
The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs will match up in Super Bowl LIV Sunday evening in Miami, Fla. The 49ers were the top-seeded team in the NFC for the playoffs, while Kansas City was the No. 2 seeded team in the AFC.
Both teams were among the best in the NFL as the league celebrated its 100th season. Players and coaches around Suffolk gave their predictions for who they think will win this year.
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Coach Joe Jones of Lakeland High School wants Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid to get a ring.
“I’m going to go with the Chiefs,” Jones said. “I am an Eagles fan, and I really want Andy Reid to get him one. That’s my guy. I am also a big fan of (Chiefs safety) Tyrann Mathieu. I think he is a big part of that Chiefs defense.”
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King’s Fork High School defensive back Garrett Williams said is choosing San Francisco over the Chiefs offense.
“I’m going to go with the 49ers, because I don’t think the Chiefs offense can hold on with them,” he said.
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King’s Fork High School offensive lineman DeVaughn Orr is going with the Chiefs based on the 49ers’ winning Super Bowl history.
“I got the Chiefs, because I like the Steelers and I don’t want the 49ers to win their sixth Super Bowl,” King’s Fork High School offensive lineman DeVaughn Orr said.
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Nansemond River High School standout X’zavion Evans is choosing the best defense.
“I’m going with the 49ers,” he said. “They have the best defense in the NFL and defense wins championships.”
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Nansemond River Coach Justin Conyers is placing his confidence in coaching experience for the big game.
“I got the Chiefs,” he said. “Andy Reid has experience being in the Super Bowl and knows how to handle that situation.”
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Nansemond River High School standout Rashawn Washington is picking the Chiefs for their victory over adversity this season.
“I believe the Chiefs got this in the bag,” he said. “The Chiefs have faced some heavy adversity this season but seemed to still come out victorious. Pat Mahomes and his dominating offense is something I would want to see in person.”
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Nansemond River High School standout Joeziah Autrey is rooting for the Chiefs so that the 49ers won’t have six Super Bowl wins.
“I’m going with Kansas City,” he said. “I have no horse in the race, because I’m a Steelers fan, but I don’t want it to be a three-way tie for six Super Bowls if the 49ers win with the Steelers and Patriots also having six.”
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Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Coach Mike Biehl is excited to see how the game plays out but ultimately is cheering for the Chiefs.
“I think the 49ers will give the Chiefs something they probably haven’t seen in the first half before the Chiefs figure it out and explode,” he said. “The Chiefs have so many weapons, and it’s not just one guy you can stop. I’m rooting for former Eagles head coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs.”
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Nansemond-Suffolk Academy standout offensive lineman Griffin Duggan said thinks the 49ers will be victorious.
“I’m going to take the Niners with something like 31-23,” he said. “I think the Niners will be able to hold down Mahomes just enough to get the win. I think Jimmy Garoppolo will be able to get the job done on offense for the Niners with George Kittle and company.”
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Nansemond-Suffolk Academy running back George Pettaway has confidence in the Chiefs offense.
“I’d have to go with the Chiefs,” he said. “Their offense right now is on fire and they have defense with players who can ball.”