It's easy HolyFrog to look at individuals plays. But, that goes for both schools. Lee left some points on the board in the first half, but Appo left some points on the board in the second. I said before the game and that is.....the moment will NOT be to big for Lee, but the moment will be "just big enough" to give a TD difference between the two. In my opinion, that was the case. The moment not being to big was evident by Lee scoring first and moving the ball by gashing Appo running in the first half, and Lee has the talent to be in the game and make it close down the stretch which is what they did, but......why I felt the moment was just slightly to big for Lee? From the very first time Lee kicked off. It suggests playing not to lose and playing not to lose is an often a sign that the moment is a slightly to big. You have to play to win, and Lee did just that on O and D, but on special teams, those kicks accounted for lots of "free yards" for Appo and it gives the momentum from a recent score right back to Appo, or at least it hurts some of your psychological momentum that you had just gained from a score, but then give to Appo at midfield or near the Lee 40. Also, the time to shine and take the game over for Lee, or get the possible winning score and winning a title was the last series when two guys on two different plays were wide open with the one post route and one fly route in which the WR scores if the ball is placed, and the ball was overthrown twice. This can be attributed to nerves which any High School Player would have, but guarantee ya, Scruggs completes that pass or "passes" in the last series if its him in that position. This is only my opinion on the moment being slightly, not by much, but slightly just to big and it showed with key-critical near misses in the last series and near misses are often a sign of the moment being slightly to big, or at least one can agree that nerves are in play here. However, the overall game was not to big for Lee as the QB is special and has a nice game.
Finally, there is no question that the adjustments by Smith at the half were the difference. They were monumental and Appo absolutely took that game over after halftime and Lee was holding on. Appo was blowing holes open left and right in the second half and it was noticeable. This was one heck of a game. The best team did win in my opinion. Appo absolutely put their foot down the second half and their physicality, size, strength, and leadership from it's senior QB showed. I understand Lee loses a bit, but if Lee is back in the title game next year (if they get there), then look out. It just makes it tons easier psychologically for kids that have been there and done that, and this is what I was getting at with the moment maybe being slightly to big. It's not to say Lee is a choker because they aren't. Lee is solid, but the comfort level of Appo having been there and done that clearly showed in the final moments, and having recently played 2 times in a big title game has to offer at least some, some kind of psychological advantage.
I wish VT would offer Scruggs. I can see that kid playing in the secondary and being a force, or getting some touches offensively or as a good possession WR. He's just to good of a football player in my opinion not to be playing major Div 1. He can obviously tackle as he made a vicious hit on the Lee QB in the second half. I love this kids game. I like the offensive line for Lee also. That's a bad bunch and Appo had some serious problems with the big OL for Lee, but credit Appo's OL the second half as they took over. Just a fantastic contest between two heavyweights with excellent coaches.
