Outside the Huddle is breaking down every area regional matchup scheduled for this Friday.
We wrap up our primers with a look at the 1A showdown in Berne between Pioneer (12-0) and South Adams (10-2).
TWO STORYLINES
1. A FAMILIAR FOE
A season ago, these two teams battled in the semistate round for a berth in the state championship, with Pioneer capturing a 31-14 win on South Adams’ home field.
Can the Starfires switch it up this time around?
Pioneer, per usual, is a dominant offensive force. It is propelled by a rushing attack that has surpassed 3,000 yards on the year, backed up by a freshman quarterback who has thrown 22 touchdowns.
Combined, these two teams average over 84 points per game. A shootout in Berne on Friday?
2. GABE
It has been another emotional week for the South Adams community, who honored the late sophomore Gabe Steiner with a ceremony on Tuesday evening under the lights at Starfire Field.
Steiner was killed a few weeks ago when a speeding driver blew through a stop side and collided with Steiner’s vehicle.
It is almost fitting that the Starfires have another home game, its second in a row, following Steiner’s death. It has allowed the community to honor him together and watch his teammates try and make another run to the state finals.
FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
SHILOH RINE, SENIOR, PIONEER
First off, what a name.
Second, Rine can impact a game on a single play. He is known for his high yards-per-touch averages, as he is picking up 12 yards per carry to go with 17 touchdowns.
Rine had 224 yards and four total touchdowns on just 10 touches against Triton in Week 8, and 210 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just six carries against South Central.
Rine will be a point of focus for the South Adams defense.
WES SUMMERSETT, SENIOR, SOUTH ADAMS
The Purdue commit is a mismatch on the gridiron, particularly at the Class 1A level. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he is quicker for most linebackers to defend and bigger and stronger than most defensive backs who try and shut him down.
Summersett leads the Starfires in receiving touchdowns with 12, and his linebacker skills are exceptional as well.
MIKADEN TOLOSA, SENIOR, PIONEER
At 5-foot-8, Tolosa doesn’t look the part of an impact player along the defensive line, but looks can be very much deceiving.
An IFCA Junior All-State selection a season ago, Tolosa is a one-man wreaking crew at the point of attack for the Panthers. He has an astounding 26 tackles for loss to go with seven sacks and 98 tackles as he leads the team in all three categories.
Tolosa will need to be accounted for pre-snap on every play for South Adams.
KASEN STEPHEN, SOPHOMORE, SOUTH ADAMS
With his seven interceptions on the season, Stephen has taken to the secondary of the Starfires in a big way.
While not needed to fill much of a leadership role with veterans around him, Stephen’s play has made him one of the cornerstones of this defense as the season has progressed. When the Starfires have gotten ahead of teams and forced them to go vertical, it has been Stephen as the ball hawk on the back end. No other player for South Adams has more than two INTs.
KEY TO VICTORY – PIONEER
RIDE RINE
Counting on Shiloh Rine seems to be a good strategy for the Panthers.
For one, he has done it all season long, so why stop now?
But second, the more Pioneer can grind down South Adams’ defense with sustained drives that result in points, the more pressure it puts on the Starfire offense to perform, make plays and match the Panthers on the scoreboard.
More possessions means more chances for South Adams quarterback Zaden Baumer to connect for big plays and touchdowns. Pioneer wants to keep those possessions to a minimum.
KEY TO VICTORY – SOUTH ADAMS
PROTECT BAUMER
Junior Zaden Baumer has had a phenomenal season behind center, throwing for 2,856 yards and 31 touchdowns with six interceptions.
As with all quarterbacks, penetration and disruption of the pocket will force Baumer to think quick and get the ball out. Pioneer wants to rush Baumer rather than allow him to sit in the pocket, go through his progressions and pick the Panther defense apart.
If the offensive line of South Adams can hold up and not allow Pioneer to get into the backfield consistently, it will allow Baumer to work and the offense to cook. If Baumer is under pressure on play after play, it will make his night all that much harder.
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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