Can Adams Central (12-1) continue to roll through 1A competition and head to Indianapolis for its first state championship appearance since 2000? Or will North Judson pull the upset?
Outside the Huddle breaks down the matchup set for North Judson on Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central.
THREE STORYLINES
- SLOWING THE MOMENTUM
No one outside of Churubusco in the sectional opener has anyone come remotely close to slowing down Adams Central since Week 2. The Flying Jets have allowed just one team over that span to score more than one touchdown and for the season are averaging over 47 points a contest.
North Judson’s run to semistate has been admirable, but it gives up points and doesn’t score even close to the level of AC.
2. RUN, RUN, RUN
If North Judson is going to spring the upset, it must control the football offensively by running the ball and keeping it away from AC.
In that respect, the Bluejays have experience, with the team having rushed for 2,500 yards and 26 scores this year. Junior Cheyenne Allen is the leading rusher with 977 yards and 14 scores on the ground, but can North Judson open up holes consistently to move the chains and eat up clock?
3. SOMETHING NEW
New is always good, and no matter who wins this one, it will be a new experience for both programs.
Not since 2000 has Adams Central been to the state championship, and it has been even longer for North Judson – 1986.
There is something exciting about watching a team celebrate something that hasn’t been accomplished within the community for a long time.
FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
RYAN BLACK, ADAMS CENTRAL
He doesn’t jump off the stat sheet like many of his compatriots, but head coach Michael Mosser gives him a lot of credit for what the Flying Jets offense has accomplished this year.
Black can take off and run with the ball, making him a strong dual-threat QB. He isn’t going to set the world on fire vertically, but he is enough of a threat to force defenses to keep their secondary honest to the pass game.
CHEYENNE ALLEN, NORTH JUDSON
Not only does the junior lead the Bluejays in rushing, he is also their leading receiver with 20 catches for 491 yards and nine scores. If the BLuejays are going to have any hope in this one, Allen will need to have an absolute monster game on Friday night at home.
ALEX CURRIE, ADAMS CENTRAL
North Judson is going to try and run the football. It will be up to Currie and the rest of the Flying Jets defense up front to prevent that from getting on track. Currie is equal parts road grater and spry edge rusher. He may have a lot of opportunities for both against the Bluejays.
LOGAN RADTKE, NORTH JUDSON
North Judson must find a way to make Adams Central off schedule offensively. It has to get some stops at or behind the line of scrimmage on early downs to force the Flying Jets to the air. Radtke fills a variety of roles for the Bluejays on both sides of the line. On defense, he leads the team in tackles for loss with 12 to go with eight sacks.
KEY TO VICTORY – NORTH JUDSON
A LOT
Typically we identify one key to success for a particular team, but this game is such a mismatch on paper that OTH believes the Bluejays will need a multitude of things to go their way to win this one.
Adams Central has to make a lot of mistakes. North Judson must force turnovers, it must keep self-inflicted mistakes to a minimum and its defense needs to play the game for the ages.
KEY TO VICTORY – ADAMS CENTRAL
EXECUTE
Every team can have a letdown, and Adams Central is no exception. The goal between Monroe and North Judson on a bus on Friday is to not leave that dominance at home.
The Flying Jets need to show up, take care of business and clinch that spot at Lucas Oil.
Do not leave anything to chance. Make sure the bus is fueled and oiled up. Make sure you know the way to North Judson/ Remember that the time changes to Central Time.
Do not create any hurdles, because North Judson is a fairly small one if AC is on its game.
PREDICTION
Coming Friday when Blitz announces his semistate picks.
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