Is this the week for upsets and surprises? Or are we headed to the Summit Athletic Conference sectional championship showdowns we’re all expecting?
If all goes according to form, we’ll have sectional title games on Nov. 2 featuring Snider vs. Homestead, Wayne vs. Bishop Dwenger and Bishop Luers vs. Concordia.
But be careful jumping to conclusions. Teams such as Carroll, New Haven, Leo and West Noble will look at this Friday as a big-time opportunity, and the win-or-go-home mentality can shake things up. Now that Bellmont has at last tasted victory, could the Braves be the ultimate surprise team?
I love sectional semifinals. They can be as unpredictable as the weather, which looks dry (for a change) and a bit football chilly this Friday.
Here’s a breakdown of the SAC teams’ matchups and what we can expect:
CLASS 6A
SNIDER (7-2) at CARROLL (3-6)
Snider offense vs. Carroll defense
Much of the regular season, we looked at Snider’s offense as a work in progress because of the inexperience at quarterback. Jon Barnes rectified that, and Snider finished third in the SAC in scoring in the regular season. Barnes numbers: 82 of 137 passing, 59.9 percent, 878 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions. That’s solid. He can also scramble. A’Nyis Lockett rushed for 109.2 yards per game. Carroll’s defense has playmakers in Lincoln Lantz, Collin Beeks, Hunter Mertz and Terell Griffin. They’ll have to slow Lockett and Lenny Bennett, and disrupt Barnes, who has been cool under pressure.
Carroll offense vs. Snider defense
There is no more dynamic connection than Gaven Vogt to Camdyn Childers this season. Vogt has thrown for 1,944 yards (61.8 completion percentage) and 22 touchdowns. Childers has 53 receptions for 887 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Snider secondary will be challenged by Childers, Nathan Harrah and Layton Mitchell, and the Panthers’ Gianini Belizaire and Tavareon Scott will be counted on to put some pressure on Vogt. Snider can’t ignore the run, however, as Carroll’s Rhett Saylor averages 4.5 yards per carry. Snider has also benefited from the energy of Ethan Hoover, who did not play against Carroll in the first meeting.
The edge: Snider has been waiting for this game since being embarrassed by Carroll (something that rarely happens to the Panthers) in Week 2. The Panthers are a different, much better team now.
HOMESTEAD (6-3) at NORTHROP (3-6)
Homestead offense vs. Northrop defense
These two teams met on opening night, with Homestead winning 45-28, and not too much has changed. Both are dynamic offenses capable of putting up points in a hurry. Homestead can still use either Jake Archbold or Luke Goode at quarterback, but the best option might be both on the field at the same time. Between them, they have 1,895 yards passing and 13 touchdowns to three interceptions. That last stat – three picks – might be the most impressive of all. Archbold’s strengths as a runner (4.1 yards per carry) teams with Braeden Hardwick to strengthen the running game. Northrop has given up at least 37 points in each of the last five games. The Bruins need big performances from Nigel Robertson, Antoine Scott and Alex Satterthwaite, who have led the defense.
Northrop offense vs. Homestead defense
With quarterback Bailey Meerzo back at the helm, the threat of big plays abound with running back Jeremiah Green (89.1 yards per game) and receivers Davieun Berry (44 receptions, 723 yards) and Qualen Pettus (18 receptions, 354 yards). Berry and Pettus have seven receiving touchdowns apiece. Homestead’s key on defense is Cam Rogers, but the Spartans have playmakers elsewhere, too, in Nik Martin, Cam Shannon, Kai Johnson and Ryan Burton.
The edge: Homestead is on a four-game winning streak while Northrop has lost four of its last five. Homestead’s superior defense should prevail unless Northrop forces some turnovers.
CLASS 4A
WAYNE (8-2) at NEW HAVEN (5-5)
Wayne offense vs. New Haven defense
The Generals should have the edge here, as New Haven has been vulnerable at times to high-powered and balanced offenses (46 points surrendered to East Noble). Wayne quarterback Brandan Young has done a great job in his decision making (132.1 passing yards per game; 18 TDs to 9 interceptions) and he has plenty of weapons with running back KeShaun Fields, running back/receiver Devonair Kelsaw and receiver Craig Young. The question is whether New Haven has the secondary to deal with Craig Young and friends. New Haven’s Kentrel Thomas is a big-time playmaker but one player can’t slow Wayne.
New Haven offense vs. Wayne defense
The Bulldogs were hit early by the absence of injured running back Stephen Owens, and his return has helped. He rushed for 124 yards in the sectional-opening win over Columbia City, a team that beat New Haven in the regular season. Tim Jordan is a tough, savvy quarterback, throwing for 183 yards per game with 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Thomas and Nick Sexton are his primary targets. If Wayne’s front line can contain Owens and make New Haven one-dimensional, the Wayne secondary will have chances to make quick-change plays.
The edge: Wayne is the superior team on both sides of the ball and should win as long as the Generals avoid penalties and unforced errors.
LEO (7-3) vs. BISHOP DWENGER (9-1) at Luersfield
Leo offense vs. Bishop Dwenger defense
The Lions have one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the area in AJ Restivo, so he won’t be shaken by some tournament pressure. They also have a tough, elusive back in Alex Wertman. Wertman’s strength is reading his offensive line’s blocking and the line works well as a unit in creating the openings. Dwenger’s defense, of course, has been a strong suit all year, with a stout front line and aggressive linebackers in Hayden Ellinger, TJ McGarry and Jared Lee, who has come on strong.
Bishop Dwenger offense vs. Leo defense
Run, run and run some more. That’s the Dwenger way, which makes sense when you have a line anchored by big Joe Tippmann and about 12 quality running backs. But Brenden Lytle has shown flashes of quality as a passer with primary target Griffin Eifert. Leo’s defense cannot let Dwenger’s offense generate long scoring drives and force the Lions’ offense into catchup mode.
The edge: After losing to Snider, Dwenger refocused and found its drive on both sides of the ball. The Saints have the talent to overpower Leo.
CLASS 3A
BISHOP LUERS (6-4) at WEST NOBLE (8-2)
Bishop Luers offense vs. West Noble defense
The big-play ability of the Knights’s offense is fairly phenomenal because of the depth of playmakers. Norman Knapke is an accurate passer (231.5 yards per game, 26 TDs) with a strong arm and a boatload of confidence. His arsenal includes Jamic Johnson, Nate Moore, Justin Gaston and running back Jordan Presley, who can score in every which way. West Noble’s defense has not faced a team even close to the speed Luers possesses, so it will need to find a way to pressure Knapke and force uncharacteristic mistakes. Interesting statistic: West Noble has 13 interceptions, led by eight from junior Josh Gross.
West Noble offense vs. Bishop Luers defense
The Chargers are a running team, there’s no denying it. Brandon Pruitt averages 129.5 yards per game on 6.4 yards per carry and has 16 touchdowns. West Noble has 13 other rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Kyle Mawhorter can throw it, but the passing game is complementary. This means Luers needs to buckle down on run defense, which hasn’t always been its strong suit (see: North Side game). If Luers front line and linebackers bottle up Pruitt, good things will happen for the Knights.
The edge: West Noble is a tough-minded team. It won’t be intimidated and it will have the home crowd on its side. But Luers has too many playmakers to contain. The Knights should move on.
BELLMONT (1-9) at CONCORDIA (5-5)
Bellmont offense vs. Concordia defense
The Braves have long run a triple-option offense heavy on the run game but coach Marty Ballard added some passing flavor in the offseason to avoid being too one-dimensional. After a frustrating season of losses, the Braves beat Garrett 16-6 in the sectional opener. Concordia’s defense has steadily improved, starting with a 47-21 win over Carroll three weeks ago, and is anchored by the toughness of Michael Fairfield and Liam Fletcher.
Concordia offense vs. Bellmont defense
Quarterback Jake Byrd and receiver Kamari Anderson-Drew have a connection which makes the Cadets a threat to score every time they have the ball. Anderson-Drew’s big-play ability is evident in his stats: 42 receptions, 861 yards (20.5 per catch) and 10 touchdowns. Amir Drew is a threat on the ground, averaging 89.2 yards per carry. Bellmont does not have the firepower to come from behind if the Braves’ defense can’t slow the Cadets.
The edge: Concordia is primed for the postseason thanks to its tough SAC schedule and will have too much talent on both sides of the ball for overmatched Bellmont.
Feature photo of Homestead’s Cam Rogers by Josh Gales
