Outside the Huddle is breaking down every area semistate matchup scheduled for this Friday as teams vie for a spot in the state championship games over Thanksgiving weekend.
We start in Class 1A where South Adams (10-3) will host Pioneer (12-1).
TWO STORYLINES
1. BACK IN THE THICK OF IT
After three trips to the state finals and a pair of Class 1A titles in his first three years at Pioneer from 2016-18, Coach Adam Berry has his program back within a victory of Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time since 2020.
Pioneer’s lone loss this season came in Week 2, a 38-20 loss to undefeated Knox, which is playing at Bishop Luers this week for a berth in the Class 3A state title game. Knox was one of just two teams to score 20 or more points in a game against the Panthers.
The Pioneer defense is stacked with dudes, from disruptive outside linebacker Eli Guffey (16.5 tackles for loss) to aggressive safety Phillip McFatridge, who leads the team in interceptions.
The Panthers will present a big challenge to the South Adams offense.
2. A PROLIFIC PASSING ATTACK
South Adams quarterback Tytus Lehman and the Starfire passing game has feasted on Class 1A opponents through the playoffs thus far.
In four games, Lehman has averaged 338 yards per game through the air, with 17 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Lehman has a multitude of receivers to throw to, with a pair of guys who have eclipsed 1,100 yards receiving – Wes Summersett (74 receptions, 1,440 yards, 14 TDs) and Derek McKean (77-1,177-14). Throw in juniors Jax Wanner and Will Patterson, who have combined for 10 receiving scores, and you have a smorgasbord of athletes that defenses must account for.
FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB MICAH RANS, SENIOR, PIONEER
Rans is a dual threat behind center for the Panthers, having rushed for over 1,000 yards and a team-high 24 touchdowns on the ground so far this season. He averages nearly a first down per run at 9.9 a touch.
But do not sleep on Rans when it comes to throwing the ball. He only has 43 attempts on the year, but six of his 20 completions have gone for touchdowns. It is the classic case where a run-heavy team wears you down on the ground, then pops a throw over the defense for a chunk gain.
Rans is also Pioneer’s best cornerback and will likely get the assignment on Wes Summersett in coverage, which will be a fascinating battle to watch.
All that said, Rans was limited by injury last week against LaVille, not attempting a single rush or pass. It will be a storyline to watch to see if he is full go on Friday.
WR WES SUMMERSETT, JUNIOR, SOUTH ADAMS
There may be no more dynamic receiver in the state in Class 1A than Summersett, who is averaging nearly 20 yards per reception this season.
In the last six games, he has finished with 99 or more receiving yards in each with seven touchdowns, including two each in the playoffs against Madison-Grant, Tri and Hagerstown. North Miami kept him out of the end zone last week, but he still went for 118 yards on four catches in the 25-22 Starfire victory.
Tall at 6-foot-2 with a physical frame that can handle and deal out punishment, Summersett is tough to contain and even tougher to completely stop.
DE MIKADEN TOLOSA, JUNIOR, PIONEER
Arguably Pioneer’s most disruptive player along the line of scrimmage, Tolosa leads the team in sacks with four to go with 14 tackles for loss and 73 tackles.
In last week’s 34-14 win over LaVille, Tolosa notched a pair of tackles for loss and a sack as the Panthers held the Lancers close to 20 points below their scoring average.
A big part of slowing down the South Adams passing attack is getting pressure in the backfield. Tolosa’s job will be doing that consistently on Friday.
LB NATHAN PLATTNER, SENIOR, SOUTH ADAMS
Against a team that averages 339 yards rushing per game, it goes without saying that slowing the Pioneer running steamroller is of paramount importance. Or, at least not allowing the Panthers to eat up significant amount of clock with long drives that result in points.
Enter Plattner, a veteran presence in the middle of the defense that will need to be extremely active at the line of scrimmage with some sure tackling. He leads the team in tackles with 90 to go with five tackles for loss. He doesn’t need to make an insane amount of plays, but he needs to be a leader both verbally and by example as the Starfires defense looks to combat the best running game it has faced all season.
KEY TO VICTORY – PIONEER
LONG, SUSTAINED DRIVES
No team this season has been able to contain the Pioneer offense. In its lone loss to Knox, the Panthers scored 20 points, a season low.
In other words, Pioneer will score points on Friday behind a trio of running backs that have already eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing.
The thing is, expect South Adams to score as well. So the more Pioneer can control the line of scrimmage, move the chains and score touchdowns on long drives, the more pressure it puts on the Starfires to answer in kind with its offense.
KEY TO VICTORY – SOUTH ADAMS
SCORE 40 POINTS
Sounds simple, right?
South Adams has won its last 10 playoff games in which it has scored at least 40 points. The last loss was in the 1A state championship game in 2020, a 41-40 loss to Covenant Christian.
Pioneer enters semistate allowing just over 10 points per game, meaning dropping a 40 spot on it would be the most points it has given up all year.
South Adams is 9-1 this season when eclipsing the 40-point mark, the lone loss a 44-41 defeat at Bluffton in Week 3.
That stat aside, Blitz feels confident that if the Starfires can get to 40 points, they win this game and return to the state championship for the first time since 2020.
PREDICTION
Coming Friday when Blitz makes his regional picks.
These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH
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