Outside the Huddle is breaking down every area semistate matchup scheduled for this Friday as teams vie for a trip to Indianapolis over Thanksgiving weekend.
We continue by looking at Class 2A where Adams Central (12-1) travels to perennial power Andrean (9-4).
TWO STORYLINES
1. NEW CLASS, SAME RESULTS
A question debated by many at the beginning of the season was how Adams Central would fare in Class 2A after being bumped due to Success Factor.
The answer, so far, is ‘not much.’
After falling in Week 1 to undefeated Garrett, Adams Central has notched 12-consecutive wins, breezing through Class 2A like it did the last several years a class below.
However, one thing that was missing from recent Flying Jets playoff runs is a powerful private school on the schedule prior to the state finals. Indianapolis Lutheran is on a three-game winning streak over AC in the state finals. While Coach Michael Mosser’s team was able to face North Judson the last three years in semistate, it now has to do battle with an Andrean team that is more storied than Adams Central in terms of postseason success.
2. ROLLING THROUGH 2A
Think of Andrean like you do Bishop Luers, a team that takes its lumps in the regular season against higher-class foes, only to use those games to refine itself into a bona-fide state contender once it enters the playoffs.
That is what the Fighting 59ers are. They had to earn a tough road victory at Lafayette Central Catholic last week in a battle of private schools, the first contest in the playoffs that Andrean actually allowed points after consecutive shutouts of Whiting, Wheeler and Bremen in sectional play.
Andrean is seeking a third trip to state in the last four years. Its four losses in the regular season came to a pair of 4A (Hobart and Chatard) and 5A (Merrillville and Valpraiso) opponents.
This is a considerable step up in competition for Adams Central.
FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
JAMISON ROACH, SOPHOMORE, ADAMS CENTRAL
This will be the biggest game that Roach will have played in as a quarterback. He saw spot action last year as a freshman, but a lot will be on his shoulders on Friday.
Roach has acclimated himself well behind center. He continues to grow in his intuition and went to pull and when to hand off in Adams Central’s back-it-in rushing scheme. He has looked more confident of late in the passing game as well, an aspect that is probably going to come into play against Andrean.
In all likelihood, Adams Central is going to have to go vertical more than it usually does in this one.
JAMES FINLEY, SENIOR, ANDREAN
A verbal commit to Northern Illinois, Finley is a problem on both sides of the football.
On offense, he leads the Fighting 59ers in receptions (52), receiving yards (802) and receiving touchdowns (eight). He is the best downfield threat that Adams Central will have faced all year.
Finley also leads the team in interceptions with five. The Flying Jets must account for No. 15 at all times.
MAX KAEHR, SENIOR, ADAMS CENTRAL
A tackling machine, pure and simple. Kaehr always finds his way around the ball, and his instincts are honed from years of starting at the second level of the Adams Central defense.
Just a few weeks ago against Eastside, Kaehr amassed 17 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. He needs to be all that and perhaps more against an Andrean offense that has big-play ability.
ANGEL TORRES, SENIOR, ANDREAN
Think of Torres as a ‘Jack of All Trades’-type guy. He can move back and forth from defensive end to outside linebacker and is adept at playing the run or picking up a tight end that ventures down the field or out wide. He is big (6-foot-1, 215 pounds), powerful and has a feel for the game that not many players have at the high school level.
His effectiveness is proven by the fact that he leads the Fighting 59ers in tackles for loss (13) and sacks (eight).
KEY TO VICTORY – ADAMS CENTRAL
DELIVER ON SOME BIG PLAYS
The Flying Jets are not winning this game by rushing for 300 yards. That’s just not going to happen against a team like Andrean.
While the run game can be effective, it will be how Adams Central executes in the pass game that could decide this one. Over the last three years, Coach Michael Mosser has put added importance on chunk plays through the air. To beat Indianapolis Lutheran, you cannot be one-dimensional. Same thing with Andrean.
Jamison Roach will need to have a big game on the road for AC. He doesn’t need to throw for 300 yards, but he does need to hit on some opportunities that keep the Andrean defense off-balance.
KEY TO VICTORY – ANDREAN
PLAY TO ITS LEVEL
This is where Adams Central’s bump to Class 2A really affects it. In 1A, the Flying Jets didn’t see a team that was able to employ such size, physicality and athleticism until state against Indianapolis Lutheran.
But in 2A, that foe now comes at semistate with Andrean. The Fighting 59ers are battle tested and are coming off a hugely emotional victory on the road at LCC. There can be no letdown. On paper, Andrean has the decided edge. It is up to Coach Chris Skinner to make sure that the Fighting 59ers don’t feel like the job is done because they knocked off the No. 1 team in 2A, but instead sees Adams Central as a threat if they don’t play to their potential.
PREDICTION
Coming later today when Blitz makes his semistate picks.
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