Sectional football finals are here, with two rematches and one highly unlikely – and now unpredictable – game for the Summit Athletic Conference teams still alive.
Snider (8-2) travels to Homestead (7-3) in Class 6A, Bishop Dwenger (10-1) travels to Wayne (9-2) in Class 4A and Bishop Luers (7-4) travels to Bellmont (2-9) in Class 3A.
Snider-Homestead and Dwenger-Wayne, we expected. Luers-Bellmont, not so much. Bellmont was 0-9 in the regular season and demonstrates the true meaning of every team entering the postseason 0-0.
Let’s prepare for the three big SAC-related game with seven burning (or simmering, at least) questions:
Does the first-game loser have an advantage in the rematches?
Snider and Dwenger won the regular-season games by significant margins. Snider beat Homestead 23-7 and Dwenger beat Wayne 22-0. In both games, the high-powered offenses of the losing teams were uncharacteristically quiet. The extra motivation almost always lies with the team that lost the first time. It’s human nature. Homestead regrouped after that loss and has won five straight. Wayne’s only loss since was to Homestead.
Can Wayne’s offense get going against Dwenger?
Even given the sloppy opening-night conditions, it’s hard to believe Wayne was shut out by Dwenger. Credit the Dwenger defense. That was the first indication the Saints had something special on that side of the ball. Wayne was without Devonair Kelsaw in that game, and he has been a huge catalyst as a multi-talented weapon. Dwenger’s defense has held all but two opponents under 20 points (they beat South Side 47-20 and lost to Snider 21-13). Wayne spent a season playing in lousy weather, so even if it rains Friday, I can’t see the Generals being shut down again.
Will playing on turf be an advantage for Homestead?
Not much. Snider rarely plays on turf, but its players are likely to be upbeat about the opportunity to make even more use of the speed of A’Nyis Lockett, Alonzo Derrick and others. The Panthers are probably glad they don’t have to play on the tundra at Spuller Stadium. If Homestead has an advantage, it’s in playing at home in the familiar surroundings. This game is fascinating because both teams have become much stronger over the second half of the season. They’re both peaking. A trio of talented quarterbacks (Homestead’s Jake Archbold and Luke Goode and Snider’s Jon Barnes) create great challenges for defenses.
Will Bishop Luers be overconfident against Bellmont?
I don’t see it because of coach Kyle Lindsay. He is one of the most unflappable coaches in the SAC. He’s never too high, never too low and he keeps his players’ minds in an even-keel place. The fact Bellmont is coming off a win over Concordia – which Luers needed two overtimes to defeat – reinforces the need to take the Braves seriously. Interestingly, Lindsay has been on the other side of this scenario. In his first season as head coach in 2013, Luers was 0-9 in the regular season, then beat West Noble and Heritage to reach the sectional title game, where it lost to Concordia.
Does Bellmont have enough to pull the upset?
I haven’t seen Bellmont play in person but it you can’t discount a team finding belief in itself. If Bellmont’s defense allows big plays early, I don’t see the Braves being able to come from behind. Luers’ forte is quick strikes, with quarterback Norm Knapke using his wide range of playmakers to put opponents in a hole. However, if Bellmont could gain a lead and use ball-control offense to limit Luers’ touches, then it could have a chance. One wildcard about this Bellmont team is the fact it has two playmaking receivers in Aaron Lehman and Noah Macklin and a quarterback, John Wilder, who can air it out.
Who are the key players for each of the remaining teams?
No football game rides on a single player, but these are some players who always help set an emotional tone for their teams: Snider’s Ethan Hoover, Homestead’s Cam Rogers, Dwenger’s TJ McGarry, Wayne’s Craig Young, Luers’ Jordan Presley and Bellmont’s Caden Friedt. These are great examples of passionate players. Wayne will be without intense linebacker Tristian Pernell, who posted on Twitter that he is out with an injury.
Who will win?
Snider wins if it plays error-free offense and its defense forces Homestead into a one-dimensional passing offense. Homestead wins if it comes up with takeaways on defense and executes on offense in the red zone.
Dwenger wins if its secondary controls the matchups with Wayne’s receivers and its line, anchored by big Joe Tippmann, wins the battle of the trenches. Wayne wins if its defense bottles up the Dwenger run game, and the Generals deliver strong special teams play.
Luers wins if Knapke spreads the ball around and comes up with big plays to build a lead. Bellmont wins if it forces turnovers, extends drives and keeps Luers’ offense off the field.
