This thread starting going left. I'll keep it left for the first paragraph then try to get back right after. For the record, I don't see an underdog in this game. If I had to pick one, Louisa is the underdog here. Salem has a coaching staff playing in their 4th straight title game and 6th in 12 years. I want to say they've got 5-6 players who started on each of the past two state teams (Tucker, Mundy, Ramsey, Wade, Quinn, Cardwell) plus a slew of others who played in last seasons title game. To say this doesn't matter is foolish. Kid's knowing what to expect from perspective of the travel, routine, the facility and the overall focus it takes to win the title is very important and shouldn't be undervalued here. Sure Louisa has Smith and Thurston with FBS offers but Tucker has FBS interest and Ramsey is FBS talent on the field, off field things are holding him back. Both teams have a handful of guys that will be FCS players. Salem can't play that underdog role here IMO, you avenged the BBurg loss and you are a much better team right now than what you showed against Dinwiddie, a game you still had a chance to win. With all that said let's break it down.
I'd say I've got a pretty good feel of both teams. Game planned for both teams 2 weeks apart and played them both with the same health they currently have. The matchup everyone is talking about is the Salem run game vs the Louisa front 7. It is by far the most intriguing matchup of the game which leads me to believe it won't be the part that decides it. Salem will run on Louisa better than anyone else has and Louisa will hold Salem under their rushing average, it will be a push IMO.
The passing game is going to decide it IMO. Gladden vs Bell. Tucker, Quinn, Wade, Close, Hale, Ramsey catching the football vs Carter, Hunter, Jones, Turner, West, Sharpe, Whalen catching the ball. Neither team has a speed advantage outside over the other team. The big difference in the pass game is that Bell appears to be a better runner than Gladden if the pass play breaks down. I say appear because I haven't seen Gladden run much. Partially because he gets rid of the ball timely and partially because his coaches don't put him in running situations often. I remember old Salem teams running the naked boot with less mobile QBs but haven't even seen that from them this year. Gladden has the stronger and more accurate arm IMO but Bell isn't a slouch.
Both teams have the same defensive "weakness" IMO, the secondary against the pass. It's not that they are bad here but they are so good up front that the back end tends to give up the big plays and yards. Both teams like to play man to man outside more so than zone. Saw much more zone coverage from Salem than Louisa on different game tapes. Salem plays primarily off man while Louisa will play both press and off man.
I'm interested to see if either team goes into their bag of tricks at some point. Both teams are going to do what got them here for sure but if it's tight late and someone needs a spark, will we see something outlandish called by either team? An onside kick or a fake punt?
It's going to be a great game between two smash mouth teams. If I had to bet on someone, it would be Salem because this is what they do, they get to the state game and play better than they have all season and win. I would like to see Louisa win for Coach Fischer and for the Cville area drought of football State titles (Monticello 2006 or 2007 was the last).
Good Luck to both teams and congrats to both programs for tremendous seasons thus far. They both deserve to win IMO. Louisa was doubted all year and Salem has proven a lot of people wrong since two early season losses.