(W?)Under’Dogs

November 9, 2006

 

Is there anything in the world that will make you enjoy 25 degree weather more than mushed up rotten pumpkin all over the Union Endicott field? It doesn’t happen often, but boy is it ever nice to wipe the field with those guys. It was dominance to be sure. It did take the turnovers to jumpstart us, but once going, the only thing that could stop us was our fumbles. What a tremendous effort, and what a joy to watch. Walton should be proud for coming back this season after a disastrous Unatego game, and I think we should be proud for the effort our boys put out Saturday night.

But, alas, there is still business at hand. And wowser, what business it is. This might perhaps be the first time this season that we go into a game where a poll of unbiased observers would pick us as the underdog. Sidney was probably close, but I think a narrow majority would have picked us at the time. Walton round 1 would have been won by us in a poll almost certainly. Walton round 2 would have been closer, but I think people still thought we’d come around. This one is a bear though. We’re going up against a 6’4” 200 lb running back (Latavius Murray) with tremendous speed that will most likely be playing D1 ball in a few years. We’re going up against another kid (Chris Hart) whose brother is a candidate for the Heisman Trophy at Michigan. There are other all-state players, and a team that is just full of speed. Onondaga won their 3 playoff games by an average score of 48-5. That’s the playoffs folks. So it’s hard to argue against people calling us the underdog.

That said, I don’t think it’s time to give up hope and starting planning the statue of liberty plays to try to come up with the one in a million upset. I think we stay to our game. Stay to what we are good at. I don’t think the best teams that Onondaga played were bad, but I do guess that as a team we will be the best tacklers that ‘Daga has seen. I also think that our offense has pretty much only been stopped by ourselves over the last several weeks. Card brings so much to the offense. Hopefully we could maybe see a classic Hood breakaway as well. So I think things can be done on both sides of the ball. It is a matter of doing them every play, and doing them with an intensity level that is the highest we’ve done so far.

As in several other games, we won’t shut them down completely. Hart and Murray are going to get some production. One difference here from Candor or Oxford or Sidney or Walton is that it’s harder to quantify the production they get. I was quite confident in those other teams not scoring more than twice or thrice at most. Here there is much potential for more. Our defense isn’t a given here. Our boys can hold fast and have a great effort, or if they are just a bit slow they are going to get lit up. Offensively, like the other games, we must get first downs. If we sputter offensively, instead of losing by a TD or a few points (like Walton and Sidney), we will lose big. But if we can move the ball and not punt more than once or twice, ‘Daga’s offense won’t be spending so much time on the field to give them a chance to break one. And if we turn the ball over a couple times, well, I don’t have to tell you.

I truly think we can play fairly well with them, but it is going to take focus and intensity even beyond our best showings yet if we are to beat them. Seeing how obnoxious ¾ of the ‘Daga fans on the forum are, I REALLY hope we can make it happen!

If any of the players manage to read this VERY late article before the game, just know that it has been such a privilege getting to watch you boys this year. I’m very proud of every one of you, and I believe in your abilities. I know you’ll give 134% tomorrow, and I can’t wait to watch. Let’s be the WUnder’Dogs! (Huh huh, good one.)

I think section 4 has pretty good chances in the other classes. I don’t think any class is a gimme, but I feel somewhat confident in Corning East and Sidney. I think these 2 win by 2 TD’s. UE is playing a team that only made the playoffs after another team was disqualified for using ineligible players, but that Auburn team is on a role. I’ll pick UE by a point, but it definitely could go either way. Forks is playing a terrific Cazenovia team. I picked against them I think every week in ’03, and they won the state title. Therefore, I pick Caz to win by a TD. For last week’s picks, I went conservative and got 4 for 4 correct. So, for the playoffs, I am a very good 11-2 (0.846). Should I pick the state-wide quarters? Why not, not that anyone cares who I think will win…..in AA I’ll go with Orchard Park and Monroe Woodbury; in A I’ll go with Iroquois, Harrison, and Burnt Hills; in B, Geneva, Rye, and Albany Academy; in C, LeRoy, Dobbs Ferry, and Hoosick Falls; and in D, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Tuckahoe, and Fort Edward. Pretty conservative I think.