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 4A where East Noble (12-1) travels to Mishawaka (11-2).
TWO STORYLINES
1. Will defense win East Noble a championship?
A 12-1 mark is very impressive, especially this late in the season. But for East Noble, a major reason for its success can be traced back to the play of its defense. On the season, the Knights are allowing just 10 points per contest. First-year head coach Alex Stewart has gotten tremendous play from his defensive players. Starting off by giving up six points in the season opener against Bremen, the Knights have allowed seven points or less seven times. Huntington North scored 17 points last week in the regional, marking the first time in the postseason a team hit double digits against the Knights. Not only are they talented, this defense is very aggressive and loves nothing more than mixing it up against the competition.
2. Who handles the pressure better?
The weather is going to be less than stellar tonight. A football is shaped funny and takes odd bounces during the course of a game. Who handles the pressure and the ebbs and flows of a semistate game and doesn’t get too caught up in the emotions and can stay in the moment will have the best chance to win.
Both teams enter with talented rosters full of players who can make explosive teams and change a game on a dime. However, whichever team is better prepared to handle the elements, both weather wise and game wise will be the team that escapes with a win. East Noble has been lights out this season, while Mishawaka is on a six-game win streak and has a nasty defense of its own that is allowing just under 15 points per game.
Whoever can keep their emotions in check, flush a bad play and stay in the moment is the team that will walk out with a win tonight.
FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
Dylan Krehl, senior, East Noble
Krehl is the straw that stirs the drink for the Knights. Steady on both sides of the ball, he has the ability to flip the script immediately in various roles. Last week, he rushed for 131 yards and two scores, while on defense he forced a fumble, grabbed an interception and had seven tackles. Mishawaka is going to have to find creative ways to take Krehl out of the game plan and limit the damage he can do. If he can get the ground game going, look out, while he is good enough on defense where he is going to be around the football making plays.
Rylee Biddle, senior, East Noble
If the Cavemen are able to limit the damage Krehl can do, someone else is going to have to step up and shoulder the load and that someone could be quarterback Rylee Biddle. On the season, Biddle has been successful, throwing for 1,569 yards and 20 touchdowns against seven interceptions. In addition, he has rushed for 241 yards and six more trips into the end zone. Mishawaka will have to pick its poison when it comes to who to try and take away. If Krehl gets bottled up, Biddle is more than able to step forward and lead the offense.
Landon Snyder, sophomore, Mishawaka
Snyder is absolutely dangerous if he gets past the first line of defense and into open space. He had himself quite a night last week, rushing for 102 yards and two touchdowns. On the season, Snyder has thrown for over 400 yards and nine touchdowns, but it is on the ground where he does most of his damage, as he has rushed for 1,088 yards and another 17 trips to the end zone.
Kadyn O’Neal, sophomore, Mishawaka
While Snyder may get all the headlines and attention from opposing defenses as the quarterback, teams better not sleep on O’Neal. The sophomore has been dangerous, as in 13 games he has rushed 219 times for 1,273 yards and 16 trips to the end zone. If Snyder faces pressure from the Knights, look for O’Neal to get a heavy dose of handoffs and get involved early and often in the contest.
KEY TO VICTORY – EAST NOBLE
You have to limit the damage Snyder can do and that begins by getting after him early and often. If the Knights can find a way to shut down the running attack not only from Snyder, but also from O’Neal early, that may force the Cavemen to drop back and have to throw, which one has to believe plays right into the hands of East Noble. This defense has answered every challenge it has faced all season and tonight it must rise to the occasion one more time and help lift the Knights to a win.
KEY TO VICTORY – MISHAWAKA
Pick your poison. Much like East Noble, Mishawaka has some questions to answer on how they will defend the Knights. Do you try to completely take Krel out of the equation and focus on Biddle or do you give them both enough and try to contain them from going off. Mishawaka is going to have to play assignment football and try to contain both Biddle and Krehl the best it can. The only problem is both have an ability to slash their way through opposing defenses.
PREDICTION
Check out Blitz’s pick HERE.
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