September 26, 2009

Elmore Laws III

Series: last five years meetings:
Sept. 10, 2004: West 60, South 6
Aug. 12, 2005: South 14, West 6
Sept. 23, 2006: South 35, West 26
Sept. 7, 2007: South 42, West 14
Aug. 30, 2008: South 21, West 6

Marquee Game of the Week
This is a big game for both teams and both need the win. This Cook Inlet Conference rivalry will run with high emotions with a lot at stake for both teams. The #1 seed and Team Pride! West Anchorage's head coach Tim Davis vs. South Anchorage's John Lewis is a classic match-up of can you stop what I do best?

West has been revived this season by new rookie head coach Tim Davis who came fresh off last year's 4A state championship with Service. Took over an undisciplined team that imploded in crunch time bought into his scheme that now plays with a spread offense that gets the ball to players who can score on any touch. And the defense plays more aggressive and under control than I've seen in years. They are a punishing group led by a player who has an impact on both sides of the ball in Player of the Year candidate Sr. QB/LB Justin Kauffman, 6'2/215. He will set the tempo for how the Eagles will play and then it becomes a feeding frenzy.


Then we come to the flagship of consistency with South Anchorage Wolverines, a perennial playoff team with a system that filters down through middle school and progresses into high school. Leading into 2009, the team lost 33 seniors from a total roster of 44 players in 2008. Head coach John Lewis stresses off season conditioning, discipline and speed. They are ranked third on AlaskaPreps.com and other ranking sources. The Wolverines have a big bruising offensive line gashing and pounding the POA. They have a stable and I mean stable of running backs. But, the main two to watch are Jr. Elliott Bauer, 5'8/155 and Sr. Captain David Sollars, 6'1/200. They get the lions share of the carries. The offensive backfield runs a lot of mis-direction plays up the middle while bitin' on the fly sweep and runnin on the edge with runners that have enough speed to make defenses respect the outside. Then they come with the occasional play action pass.

Defensively, both teams run a similar version of the 3-5 defense that brings a lot of pressure from the front eight. West plays very opportunistic defense making turnovers into points. Leading the linebacking core is Sr. LB/QB Justin Kauffman and Sr. Captain MLB David Solomona, 6'1/250. Both are always around the ball and then FS Jr. J'vonte Buster, 6'3/185 ball hawks and has about 6 interceptions on the year. South linebackers are led by Sr. Captain Matt Higgins 5'11/200 and defensive tackle Sr. Captain Dylon Short, 6'2/250 who are the heart and soul of the defense. Their philosophy is to get to the QB before he has time to throw, but if the QB gets past the first wave of defenders he will have a lot of space.

Game of the Week: APC #1 y-West (7-0,6-0) @ APC #3 y-South (6-1,5-1) Homecoming @ AFS, 3pm, y-clinched playoff spot
KEY TO THE GAME: West Anchorage Eagles
	Key players: Sr. QB #15 Justin Kauffman, 7-gms, 77-comp, 153-attp, 1,071-yds, 12-td, 6-int; Sr. WR #24 Michael Sharp, 7-gms, 20-rec, 239-yds, 4-td, 12.0-ypr; FS Jr. #5 J'vonte Buster, 6'3/185; Sr. C/LB #55 Lance "Colby" Ganus, 6'/200; Jr. DE/T #56 Jake Eisses, 6'3/225; Soph. OL-T #74 Kevin Keene, 6'5/335.
KEY TO THE GAME: South Anchorage Wolverines
	Key players: South - Jr. RB #28 Elliott Bauer, 7-gms, 67-carr, 688-yds, 7-td, 10.3-ypc; Sr. QB #8 Kyle Kirn, 7-gms, 33-comp, 64-attp, 529-yds, 4-td, 3-int; Sr. RB #25 David Sollars, 7-gms, 71-carr, 427-yds, 6-td, 6.0-ypc; Sr. RB #32 Matt Higgins, 7-gms, 58-carr, 374-yds, 7-td, 6.4-ypc; Sr. WR #85 Ryan Hanley, 5-gms, 13-rec, 182-yds, 1-td, 14.0-ypr.
Note: Factors of the Game
South looks to control the LOS and could have a couple of RB's each go over a hundred yards rushing. The Wolverines defense must step up because they have a highly talented and one of the best front seven in the state. The defense must play lights out defense. The West offense is clicking and look for POY candidate Sr. QB/LB Justin Kauffman to have a monster game. The Eagle defense is stepping up and making plays at the right time to come up with huge wins. The defense can pretty much stuff the run but they need to play a very disciplined defensive scheme. The Eagles O-line and D-line must control the LOS. Now, we will see if the Eagles can build on their momentum and if they can capture the CIC championship. This is the playoff game for CIC #1 seed. Photo Feature