GISA AAA Finals
Friday – November 26th – Kickoff at 7:30
Webb Memorial Stadium
Tattnall Square Deerfield-Windsor
Record 11-1 12-0
Season Stats:
Pnts Scored 321 397
Pnts Allowed 103 108
Rush Yds 2998 3013
Pass Yds 461 1258
Op Rush 924 1467
Op Pass 633 804
Individual Leaders
Rushing:
Andrew Parker-137-1080-11 td Davis Moore-127-1040-11td
Andrew Layson-106-717-5td Quentin Heard-118-901-8td
Passing:
John Rader-27-of-62-450-3td Banks Kinslow-83-of-138-1258-20 td
Receiving:
Michael Laslie-22-463-6 td
Walker Lanier-11-192-5 td
Moore-19-229
Heard-13-135-4 td
Gaughf Ivey-6-110- 3 td
Defense:
Tyler Ward-122 tkl-5 sac Rhett Cooper-113tkls-3.5 sac
Heath Jarriel-117-7 sac G. Ivey – 64–2 sac–3 int
Hunter Wilkinson-81-8 sac James Tyson–79–2 sac
Heard –51–2 int– 2.5 sac
Preview:If the GISA AAA semi final was a tough explosive event, the finals should be billed as two heavy weights going jaw to jaw. This one could come down to inches or even fractions of inches.
In dietary terms one might compare the Knight's last meal, Mount de Sales, to spicy sushi, and Tattnall to a one inch thick rare rib eye. The Trojans play an old school brand of buckle up football with an aggressive defense, and ball control running game. Expect to be served thick slabs of off tackle brutality in this one.
Here is a position by position break down of the game:
Running game-TSA-will try to grind it out with an option offense. In the semi-final 14-7 win over Westfield the Trojans moved starting QB John Rader to tail back in the fourth quarter. Second team QB Conner Alford orchestrated a game winning 69-yard drive to seal the victory. The Trojans are prone to fumble. They truned the ball over in the red zone three times in a 21-20 win over MDS. DWS-has a dynamic duo in Davis Moore and Quentin Heard to give the Trojans plenty to think about. Fullback James Tyson broke out in the semi-finals and Gaughf Ivey is a good change up option for Coach Allen Lowe.
Passing-TSA-has only passed for 461 yards all season. DWS's Banks Kinslow has far superior numbers, completing 83 passes for 1,258 yards and 20 scores. Expect the Trojans to blitz like crazy to disrupt Kinslow. #31 (Jarriel) will come from different spots to try and make the QB cough up the ball. Their top three defenders have combined for 20 sacks.
Receiving-DWS-Kinslow's main deep threat is Michael Laslie who has hauled in 22 balls for 463 yards and 6 scores. Four other Knights have gained over 100 yards receiving. Moore, Heard, Walker Lanier and Ivey.
Offensive line-TSA-is big across the front and will try to wear you down with their size. They average about 250 across the front. DWS has a stable full of linemen and deploys two units Thunder (LT –Miachael Kelly, LG – Caleb Smith, C – Parks Pace, RG – Tanner Lowe, RT – Patrick Forrestal) and Lightening (LT – Weston King, LG - Cooper Shoemaker, C – Trey Flynn, RG - J.D. Blackwell, RT – Harrison Stadnik). The Knights routinely begin a drive with one unit, move the ball into the red zone, then send the other fresh legged bunch screaming into the game. Thunder is a better run blocking unit, and Lightening provides better pass protection. Providing time for Kinslow to work will be crucial.
Special teams- TSA-Josh Sumrall is 43-of-45 on PAT and 2-of-2 on FG with a long of 37. DWS-There is a rumor going around that these guys are pretty cool under pressure. The Knights started working on special teams at their first practice in August and have developed the various units into an integral part of their success. Look for reverses and laterals out of the return teams. Kinslow can place punts like a good golfer chips. Trey Puckett has hit 43 of 49 PAT and 6 of 10 FG attempts. His long is 45 yards, and the biggest kick of his career put the Knights in the finals.
Defensive line-DWS-Senior tackle Jordan Funderburk leaves everything on the field and teamed with junior Matt Miller they are a good run stop. W. Lanier plays one end and Hunter Brettel the other. Defensice Coordinator Rod Murray may slip a third down lineman in the mix to try and counter the TSA size and crowd the running lanes. Brettel and Tyson have both been used in that role this season.
Line backers-DWS's Rhett Cooper, James Tyson, Heard and Ivey fly to the ball and arrive with bad intentions. Cooper had a huge game against MDS and will need another one against TSA. There is a blood pact between the entire defense, expect them to play like it. Noah Horton and Shoemaker will get some snaps in relief.
Defensive backs-DWS's Moore and Mac Lanier had their hands full last week but were able to with stand the onslaught. They will be needed in run support this week. Matt Moree and J.D. Cook will rotate in to keep the legs fresh.
The intangibles-One play in the semis, besides “the kick”, defined this team. There were plenty of heroics, but on one play in particular whit and grit won out. MDS's Myles Swain was torching away from the defense for a 70 yard run down to the DWS three yard line. Kinslow was in pursuit from his free safety spot and quickly assessed that he had no chance of catching the speedster. So he did the next best thing and maneuvered into position to draw a block in the back. He allowed an MDS player to flatten him from behind, took the punishment, the ball was spotted near mid-field, and the drive eventually stalled.
-The knights are drawing additional motivation from Harrison Houston who is watching from a wheel chair wishing he could rip off a half body cast for just one snap. His team mates are strapping it up every down and trying block or tackle for their fallen buddy.
-DWS will dress about 10 more players than TSA, and the Knights play 30 regularly.
Coach Allen Lowe's Keys To The Game: “Field position is critical. Both teams play great defense. Our special teams are important to produce scoring opportunities. When we have the ball we need to generate first downs.”
Coach Lowe's record: 184-97-3; 2 State Titles (2002, 2008)
Related links:
Mike Phillips - Like Father Like Son - The Albany Herald
Hester not worried about playing in Albany - Macon Telegraph
Tattnall Breaks Out New Offense Against Westfield - The Macon Telegraph
Post game Westfield-Tattnall coverage - Macon Telegraph
DWS Season Scores
TSA Season Scores
TSA Roster - CHECK OUT THE BEEF!
Let's go Knights. One more. These guys are big and tough, but DWS plays the best team defense I have ever seen. Knock 'em into next week!
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