The playoffs begin in earnest this Friday, with Classes 1A through 4A kicking off the postseason throughout the area.
Blitz is here to quickly preview and discuss the area sectionals. We began with Class 4A and continued with 3A, now we tackle 2A.
SECTIONAL 34
THE FIELD
Eastside (9-0) bye
Bremen (6-3) at Prairie Heights (1-8), 7 p.m.
Lakeland (2-7) at Rochester (4-5), 7 p.m.
Manchester (3-6) at Central Noble (1-8), 7 p.m.
PROJECTED WINNER: EASTSIDE
Of the seven teams in this field, only two have winning records, and they will meet in Round 2 if Bremen can knock off Prairie Heights.
While Eastside will need to go to Bremen in the second round, the Blazers are the clear favorite here. The dynamic duo of quarterback Job Richman and running back Noah Dove have shown no signs of slowing down, as the team enters the playoffs with an average victory margin of 32 points.
The defense hasn’t gotten much love, but it is stout, despite being young. Eastside’s six leading tacklers are all underclassmen, led by junior linebacker Ty Sebert (90 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks). Junior Bo Martin is a solid starter in the secondary which is laden with juniors.
Overall, Eastside is the class of this sectional, but anything can happen in the playoffs.
PLAYER YOU CAN’T MISS: LOGAN MOSER, BREMEN
As Moser goes, so goes the Lions’ offense.
Bremen quarterback Jake Rodriguez has only attempted 79 passes on the year, evidence that the team lives and dies by the running game. Moser has delivered, as he enters the playoff averaging over 130 yards per game and 8.6 yards per rush for the Lions to go with 17 touchdowns.
Moser’s season low in yardage this year was just last week when Tippecanoe Valley held him to 63 yards and Bremen’s lone touchdown in a 25-7 loss.
If Eastside does match up with Bremen in the second round, the defense’s top priority will be to contain Moser.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: EASTSIDE ISN’T CHALLENGED
Eastside hasn’t been truly tested since way back in Week 2 in a 21-14 victory at Adams Central. Since then, the Blazers have not won a game by less than 21 points.
You can bet that Coach Alyx Brandewie is guarding against complacency. Entering the postseason with an undefeated record definitely puts a target on your back, but in scanning the field of Sectional 34, it is tough to find a team that can put a scare into the Blazers unless it is the Blazers themselves that don’t show up ready to play.
There are tests looming in Class 2A for Eastside between now and Thanksgiving, but it may not see one until regional.
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