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THE SUBURBAN ONE's NEW ALIGNMENT - GOOD OR BAD? There are two sides in the argument on this new alignment that the SOL adopted that is based largely on geography. The two divisions basically breaks Bucks County into a northern (the old Bux-Mont League) and a southern division which mimics the old Lower Bucks League.
The principals and AD's who voted for this new alignment that I talked to have voiced the opinion that the new division lessens travel time, saves money on energy and brings back old rivalries. All valid points, but in talking to some other AD’s who opposed this new alignment - and in my opinion the biggest problem that immediately occurs is that the giant schools playing the smaller schools in football.
When a school has 1,600 + boys and plays schools with less than 700 boys, this creates a big problem. The problem is twofold:
1) Getting crushed by a huge school deflates the morale of the school, which in turn affects the number of kids that go out for the team the following year. Believe me...winning programs get more kids out and losing programs get less.
2) The injury factor could be huge simply because of the lack of depth that a small school would have. Whereas North Penn might have most linemen go one way, a school like Quakertown or even CB West will have many players going both ways, and the pounding from playing a big school could affect the REST OF THE SEASON for a smaller school. You can almost 100 percent predict that North Penn, Neshaminy and Pennsbury will win seven or eight games every year in their division.
There are arguments for both sides, and in most high school sports, this new alignment is fine, but with football being such a physical sport (where numbers are so important), I believe there should be divisions set up based solely on enrollment. Talk about rivalries...Is there any better than North Penn and Neshaminy???? Or Pennsbury vs North Penn???
OUTCOACHED!!!
As a color guy doing weekly football games with my partner Kyle Berger and the WNPV crew, I have the chance to view many of the top football teams weekly. This past week we traveled to Bethlehem and BASD stadium to broadcast North Penn vs. Bethlehem Liberty, a pair of teams ranked in the top ten in pre-season state rankings.
What an atmosphere for high school football! Playing in a 15,000 seat stadium that just had beautiful all-weather turf put down was exciting for everyone. This was a game that had electricity all over it throughout the summer. When the teams warmed up, you would have thought Liberty was a college team with size, speed, Division One signees and a QB that is being touted as the Leigh Valley’s finest.
THEN THE GAME STARTED AND COACHING CAME INTO PLAY. Coach Beck of NP (whom I consider one of the best game day coaches around) put his game plan to work. Liberty came out in a 52 cover 2 defense with the d-ends down in three-point stances (just asking you to run to the edge) and the corners at four yards. This put nine guys in the box. Beck immediately attacked the corner, then came back with inside counters which had Liberty on its heels.
When Liberty loaded their "d" line over to North Penn’s strong side offensive line, I almost jumped out of the radio booth. Why, why, why?? I knew Beck would see this errant move and immediately show strength formation wise to the strong side....get them to shift over and then attack the quick side of the offensive line which only had two defenders plus a linebacker on its side. IT WAS LIKE STEALING...OVER AND OVER.
Liberty did not go back to a balanced defense, and I knew right away that the game had tilted BIG TIME in North Penn’s favor. After North Penn was moving the ball both running and throwing, Liberty started playing a 6-2, cover 3 defense in the middle of the field which is essentially a goal line defense. Again they had the corners at four yards and Safety at 6 yards. I said "on air" that if North Penn creased Liberty's defense it was bye, bye touchdown. Well, Ronnie Akins ran North Penn’s famous wing buck inside counter and broke it for 60 yards.
On the other side of the ball, Liberty came into the game with a finesse offensive game plan in the first half....playing right into the hands of an average-sized North Penn defense. (What was Liberty's staff thinking??) Why would you do this? Liberty’s offensive line is so big they look like they could double as road graters. I ask myself...it has to be one of two things: 1) one you didn't scout NP well (both Hazleton and Council Rock North ran the ball well vs. NP in their scrimmages) or 2) you don't really game plan----you just do the thing that you think your team does best. This is NOT how you beat good teams that are well coached. It’s a chess match that is predicated on offenses attacking defenses certain ways and attacking certain personnel Over and over. Every series is crucial!! You can’t waste downs or series in a big game. Coaches that just want to run their playbooks (to say they are wide open) or stay in base "d", because that's what we run....well, can you say LOST COLUMN?
I will address this in an upcoming column, but there is nothing more important in high school football than THE GAME PLAN and GAME DAY ADJUSTMENTS. North Penn made ‘em, Liberty didn't. CASE CLOSED.
EXCITING PLAYERS THAT I'VE SEEN: Having seen numerous scrimmages and one weekend of regular season, here are the players that jump out at me.
Ronnie Akins (North Penn) - Big, fast, total game breaker on offense. Best lock-down corner I've seen in a few years. D1 recruit
Tyler Smith (North Penn) - Fast, real fast...but more importantly has the knack to make people miss. NP needs him to stay healthy
Andrew Stoll (North Penn) - Good fullback, good speed. Could be a great linebacker. Made many tackles in open field (toughest task in football)
Mike Doty (Central Bucks South) - Receiver who transferred from GA. Great size at 6'4 but more important - great leaping ability, great hands, and is tough
Cody Muller (Souderton) - BIG TIME rush end. Flat out gets after you both rushing the passer or shutting down the whole side of an offense. D1 recruit
Brandon Pepper (Pennsbury) - Only a soph but very athletic. A guy that can pass and run! Pennsbury will win games with this guy!
Steve March (Pennsbury) - Offensive tackle who crushes people but an even better middle linebacker. D1 recruit
Brandon McManus (North Penn) - Big time kicker, great punter. Kicked three field goals vs Liberty. Colleges, listen up......he's better than GREAT!! D1 recruit
We'll that's it for now....send your questions to Coach Carey @ SuburbanOneSports@comcast.net, and I'll give an honest, thick skin type of answer. Until later.....keep the hits coming! There's no game in America like high school football!!
--COACH CAREY