All the hype is finally here. North vs South. Most of us in the North think this Salem team can at least keep this game competitive if not pull the upset. Lake Taylor is back in the title game after winning it two years ago. Both teams have had fantastic seasons to this point, they both got tested in the playoffs and showed championship qualities to win the games. LT appears to be pretty healthy while Salem looks to be limping in a bit. Keep Fox off of offense last week probably helped him but I'm sure he'll be in the backfield for his last hoooraaahhh. Let's look closely at the matchups.
When LT has the ball:
Split Veer vs Multiple D. LT wants to run the football and control the clock, wear you down and beat you into submission. They've moved the ball on everybody they've played, last week I think they shot themselves in the foot a few times but don't let the scoreboard fool you, they moved the ball well most of the night. Salem defense started slow against power run team Woodgrove but got it together 2nd half. They came out much stronger yesterday against Liberty's power run. They gave up some yards but the focus and intensity was much better and Liberty's line is just as big and physical as LT will be, the difference comes with the skill guys that LT have. They'll be more along the lines of GW Danville at the skill spots and as we saw two weeks ago, the GW offense moved the ball pretty well on the Spartans, the Eagles fell victim to some timely turnovers and inability to stop Salem offense. Salem is the most fundamentally sound football team you will find. Those coaches always have them well prepared for whatever style of offense they are facing. To me, Salem will give up a few big runs but for the most part I expect them to contain the veer better than most people have this year. For LT to keep Salem guessing, Johnson is going to have to make plays with his arm. For Salem to win this battle, they have to get pressure on Johnson and make him uncomfortable. The pressure has to be controlled though as Johnson can take off and make plays with his feet which as we've seen this playoffs, mobile QBs have done well against Spartans. Quinerly against Womack on the outside is important matchup, Clements did a number on the Salem Secondary and I think he's a better receiver than Quinerly but not by a whole lot, Quinerly is capable of making similar plays and having 3 or 4 catches for 60-80 yards.
When Salem has the ball:
pro style vs pressure/man. Salem is as balanced a team as you will find. LT has arguably the best defense in the state. Will be huge struggle here. For Salem to be successful, Coulling will have to be on his A-game and he'll have to make some big time throws. Salem rushes for over 200 a game, LT gives up 50. No way LT holds Salem to 50 and the only way Salem will reach 200 is if Coulling is keeping LT off balance and Fox is back to 100 % which may or may not be the case. I'm interested to see how the Salem OLine deals with all the pressure they will face. Coullling is dealing with an injury himself, it the Titans can rattle him early and get him off his game, it'll bode well for their chances. I predict Fox will need to have a big game as a receiver out of the backfield and in the slot for Salem to have a chance. LT has given up some deep balls to Kings Fork and Monacan, Salem will need to hit on 1 or 2 deep balls at some point. Can Salem sustain drives against LT, I'm not so sure so a big play here or there will be critical.
At the end of the day, the game is going to come down to which QB can make key throws at critical junctures. Which QB can convert on 3rd down. What goes hand and hand with the QBs making big plays, the secondary making big plays. LT clearly has the better DBs, whichever group can come up with an interception or critical break up. The other big factor in this game to me is special teams. LT kicking game was quite shaky the other night and almost cost them the game. Salem has a good kicker, if comes down to kicking, Salem has edge. If one team seizes control of the game, it all becomes mute. I just don't see this one being a runaway for some reason.
All in all this game looks to have the makings of a classic. No one really knows, we could end up with a blowout. My hope is that both teams bring their A-Game and we get a classic, may the best team win. Good Luck Devils to your Titans and Good Luck to Spartan Nation. Both teams have had special seasons and regardless of the outcome of the game, the memories and stories of these two teams will last a while. I'm still not sure if I'm going to be come see the game live or watch online, weather forecast will probably decide for me. If I do attend, there is a large lists of posters I'd like to meet, will post on that as the forecast becomes clear.
When LT has the ball:
Split Veer vs Multiple D. LT wants to run the football and control the clock, wear you down and beat you into submission. They've moved the ball on everybody they've played, last week I think they shot themselves in the foot a few times but don't let the scoreboard fool you, they moved the ball well most of the night. Salem defense started slow against power run team Woodgrove but got it together 2nd half. They came out much stronger yesterday against Liberty's power run. They gave up some yards but the focus and intensity was much better and Liberty's line is just as big and physical as LT will be, the difference comes with the skill guys that LT have. They'll be more along the lines of GW Danville at the skill spots and as we saw two weeks ago, the GW offense moved the ball pretty well on the Spartans, the Eagles fell victim to some timely turnovers and inability to stop Salem offense. Salem is the most fundamentally sound football team you will find. Those coaches always have them well prepared for whatever style of offense they are facing. To me, Salem will give up a few big runs but for the most part I expect them to contain the veer better than most people have this year. For LT to keep Salem guessing, Johnson is going to have to make plays with his arm. For Salem to win this battle, they have to get pressure on Johnson and make him uncomfortable. The pressure has to be controlled though as Johnson can take off and make plays with his feet which as we've seen this playoffs, mobile QBs have done well against Spartans. Quinerly against Womack on the outside is important matchup, Clements did a number on the Salem Secondary and I think he's a better receiver than Quinerly but not by a whole lot, Quinerly is capable of making similar plays and having 3 or 4 catches for 60-80 yards.
When Salem has the ball:
pro style vs pressure/man. Salem is as balanced a team as you will find. LT has arguably the best defense in the state. Will be huge struggle here. For Salem to be successful, Coulling will have to be on his A-game and he'll have to make some big time throws. Salem rushes for over 200 a game, LT gives up 50. No way LT holds Salem to 50 and the only way Salem will reach 200 is if Coulling is keeping LT off balance and Fox is back to 100 % which may or may not be the case. I'm interested to see how the Salem OLine deals with all the pressure they will face. Coullling is dealing with an injury himself, it the Titans can rattle him early and get him off his game, it'll bode well for their chances. I predict Fox will need to have a big game as a receiver out of the backfield and in the slot for Salem to have a chance. LT has given up some deep balls to Kings Fork and Monacan, Salem will need to hit on 1 or 2 deep balls at some point. Can Salem sustain drives against LT, I'm not so sure so a big play here or there will be critical.
At the end of the day, the game is going to come down to which QB can make key throws at critical junctures. Which QB can convert on 3rd down. What goes hand and hand with the QBs making big plays, the secondary making big plays. LT clearly has the better DBs, whichever group can come up with an interception or critical break up. The other big factor in this game to me is special teams. LT kicking game was quite shaky the other night and almost cost them the game. Salem has a good kicker, if comes down to kicking, Salem has edge. If one team seizes control of the game, it all becomes mute. I just don't see this one being a runaway for some reason.
All in all this game looks to have the makings of a classic. No one really knows, we could end up with a blowout. My hope is that both teams bring their A-Game and we get a classic, may the best team win. Good Luck Devils to your Titans and Good Luck to Spartan Nation. Both teams have had special seasons and regardless of the outcome of the game, the memories and stories of these two teams will last a while. I'm still not sure if I'm going to be come see the game live or watch online, weather forecast will probably decide for me. If I do attend, there is a large lists of posters I'd like to meet, will post on that as the forecast becomes clear.
