First and Ten

Well, sorry to any faithful readers looking for this section this week. I’ve had meetings all through the day every day this week, so that’s why things haven’t gotten done. I normally do a lot of writing during my lunch hours, and we pretty much worked through lunch every day, so it didn’t happen.

I think this will be another of those weeks where there isn’t much insightful here. If we win, it’s because we do some basic football things that I’ve mentioned countless times before…..block, run hard, hopefully be able to get some positive yards with Darling and with the pass, continue with the great defense, and be very sure on our tackling of some great backs. Don’t forget pass defense.

The odds don’t look in our favor. We’ve played common opponents the past 2 weeks, and each time Groton has done more to them than we have. In the crossover games, our division did not fare well at all, with every team outside of Delhi losing last week (BG’s loss was of course in the playoffs), so it’s tough to make an argument that our division is so tough. We are coming up against a team with far greater offensive balance than anyone we have seen to this point, with 2 outstanding running backs to go with a dangerous passing game.

It’s a lot to think about, but we obviously just need to get out there and play the game to the best of our very strong abilities. Like I said last week, this is the playoffs, and things are not supposed to be easy. Accomplishing things takes skills, focus, and effort. We just need to put all that we have out on that field.

While the tackling of RB’s Reed and Tilebein will be huge, I think first downs are a very strong key to how this game goes. Even if we can play very strong defense, it will crack at some point if we keep giving Groton the ball back because we can’t move it. Like last year, they are too good to keep down for all 4 quarters if we can’t keep the ball out of their hands a good part of the time. Defensively that means 3 and outs. Offensively, that means we need first downs. Here is my prediction for the game – I think if we have less than 10 first downs we are in BIG trouble; I think if we have greater than 20 then we win the game nearly for certain, and I like our chances pretty well if we can move the chains 15 times. Let’s see what rabbits we can pull out of our hats!

Playoff success – a quick look at Delhi’s playoff success since our surprise championship win over Walton in 1999…..in those 11 years, Delhi has….

Made the sectional playoffs 9 times

Made the sectional final game 6 times

Won 3 sectional championships (with this week’s game pending)

Had a 13-5 record in the sectional playoffs

Enjoyed 6 20+ point victories in sectionals, while suffering just 1 loss by that margin

Won at least one sectional playoff game in 8 of the years

Won a state championship

Had a 4-2 record in the state playoffs

What other sports around Delhi have had that kind of success, or how many other schools can boast this kind of success? I can’t think of another sport that has come even close. In terms of other schools, Walton and Forks have us beat, but that is company I don’t mind being in. UE has been right there as well, though I don’t count that as so significant, since they play in a small and (relative to their school size and the caliber of state teams) somewhat weak division. Delhi’s division has boasted a state titlist in 3 of those seasons, with many other very competitive state-caliber teams. Note also that Delhi’s 9 sectional titles (dating back to the beginning of sectional play in the early ‘80’s) is in 3^rd place behind, who else, Walton and Forks. So, I for one am proud of what our ‘Dogs have done through the years! I hope it continues for many more to come.

Perfect at playoff picking – I managed to get every single playoff game correct to save me from my poor crossover picking, and it saved my week and continued to bolster the season. I ended at 17-4 (0.810), with a 2009 total of 170-37 (0.821). The good news is that mathematically I can get every IVFINAL wrong and still make my 0.800!! Woohoo, the parade will be on Sunday. For the finals, I’ll go ahead and add some scores into my picks….UE turns things around and upsets Binghamton, 22-14…..Corning West overcomes an early deficit and beats East 28-26……Maine-Endwell moves the ball a bit better in the good weather, and beats JC 20-8……and, as much as I’d like to see Delaware County represented twice in states, I think there is a Fork carving of the Pumpkins, 20-12. Anyone notice that I got every single IVFINALIST correct in my September 4 picks??? My September champ picks were UE, East, ME, and Walton…..let’s see which one comes closer…..

Looks to be a beautiful November afternoon, so let’s all get out and support our ‘Dogs!