After a bye week, area Class 5A and 6A teams will begin postseason play this Friday around the area.
Blitz is here to quickly preview and discuss the area sectionals. We began with Class 6A and we continue with Class 5A.
SECTIONAL 11
THE FIELD
South Side (3-6) at Snider (5-4)
Wayne (1-8) at Warsaw (8-1)
PROJECTED WINNER: WARSAW
The loss to Northridge in Week 9 in a battle of Northern Lakes Conference undefeateds may have dampened the vibes around the Tigers entering the playoffs, but Coach Bart Curtis’ team is still the one to beat in this field.
Those who are familiar know how Warsaw operates. It wants to wear you down and run all over you with its Flexbone scheme, perfectly content if it does not have to attempt a single pass.
The draw favors the Tigers. It gets one-win Wayne at home, and then will host Snider (again) if the Panthers are victorious. Way back in Week 1, Warsaw and Snider battled in a back-and-forth affair, with the Tigers eeking out a 33-30 home victory.
Warsaw is the most complete team in this field, but it allowed 66 points combined over the final two weeks of the regular season. The defense is vulnerable if an offense can take advantage schematically.
PLAYER YOU CAN’T MISS: JAYVON IRBY, SOUTH SIDE
If the Archers are going to pull an upset in the first round, they will need Irby to be in top form. He has been throughout this season, as he enters the playoffs as South Side’s leader in rushing (567 yards), receiving (41 catches for 542 yards) and 15 combined touchdowns.
What is great about Irby is that he can impact a game in so many different ways. You can even put him behind center if you want in a Wildcat formation while being a threat to pass.
Football isn’t hard. You want to get your best players the ball in the best positions to succeed. Irby can be moved around to get the ball in his hands with regularity.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: SNIDER GETS REVENGE ON WARSAW
Many people will look at Snider’s win-loss record and overlook it. You can bet that Warsaw isn’t doing that.
Snider had Warsaw beat until the Tigers were able to pull out a victory with a late touchdown in Week 1. While the Panthers have four losses, they are all to teams with state aspirations – Bishop Dwenger, Carroll and East Noble – in addition to Warsaw.
It isn’t always pretty, but Warsaw has no problems with winning ugly either. Snider can put points up on the scoreboard, but its defense has been susceptible to being gashed at times, particularly against the run. If the Panthers can step up and get stops in a rematch against Warsaw in the sectional final (should they meet), Coach Kurt Tippmann’s team could very well earn its first sectional crown in three years, which is an eternity at Snider.
SECTIONAL 12
THE FIELD
Anderson (0-9) at Lafayette Jeff (7-2)
McCutcheon (5-4) at Huntington North (5-4)
PROJECTED WINNER: LAFAYETTE JEFF
The Bronchos are looking for their third-straight sectional championship, and entering the Class 5A playoffs they are the clear favorite in Sectional 12.
Riding a seven-game winning streak, Lafayette Jeff held four of its regular-season opponents to seven points or less, with two of those being in this sectional (Anderson and McCutcheon).
The Bronchos have weapons everywhere, from quarterback Trysten Barrett (1,732 yards passing, 24 TDs) to running back Darrontae Harris (1,043 yards rushing, 15 TDs) and wideout Nadarius Young (42 receptions, 651 yards, 16 touchdowns). If you want to knock off Jeff, you are going to have to score points, and Blitz isn’t sure anyone can keep up on the scoreboard in this sectional.
PLAYER YOU CAN’T MISS: CHRISTIAN JEMISON, HUNTINGTON NORTH
Jemison is one of those guys that Blitz wishes had more prep eligibility. He is a joy to watch run the football and is an absolute grinder. In six of nine games this year, he has carried the ball 20-plus times from his running back position. He has amassed 1,124 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground while averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. He can also be dangerous in the passing game, as he has hauled in 25 completions for 238 yards and three scores.
The Vikings will need to beat two good teams to win their second sectional in three years. Jemison will need to be a big part of the game plan in both potential matchups.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: LAFAYETTE JEFF ROLLS
Two years ago, the Broncos beat South Bend Adams and Kokomo by a combined 110 points in sectional play.
Last season, the Broncos knocked off McCutcheon and Kokomo, both on the road, by a combined score of 83-0.
So pardon Blitz if he isn’t feeling too confident anyone in this field is going to give Lafayette Jeff a challenge. Selfishly, it would be great to see Huntington North challenge the Bronchos, but the skill position talent that Jeff is able to employ is worrisome, particularly with the Vikings struggling to contain the likes of East Noble (49 points) and Columbia City (34) earlier this year. And those are run-heavy squads that don’t throw the ball as much as Jeff does.
We will be keeping an eye on this field for any surprises, we just don’t expect any.
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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