Raiders have to hit the road in District 1 playoff opener
By Dave Conard, Staff Writer, CoatesvilleTimes.com
ROYERSFORD — As the Red Raiders begin their quest for a state championship, they will travel to Royersford tonight to take on a team that is making their first district appearance in more than 10 years.
Spring-Ford (8-0 league, 9-1 overall) under head coach Chad Brubaker, who took Wilson to the state championship game in 2008 and has coached the likes of Chad Henne, is now 16-5 in the past two season and led the Pioneer Athletic Conference in total offense averaging more 375 yards per game.
Coatesville which is averaging 32.7 points per game while allowing just 15.6 defensively, will have to find a way to shut down the Rams balanced attack as Spring-Ford racked up 3765 yards (1872 rushing, 1893 passing) led by the blazing speed of tail back Jared Jones (137 rushes, 1218 yards, 14TD) and pounding it inside running of Yousef Lundi (42 rushes, 301 yards, 6 TD).
The Red Raiders are not with out weapons of their own as N.C. State bound Many Stocker and the receiving tandem of Andre Boggs and Kyle Kerrick will present a challenge for the Rams defense that thee have not encountered all season in the run oriented Pac-10 conference in which they play.
Spring-Ford scouting report: Quarterback duties have at time been split between Hank Coyne (102/168, 1566 yards, 16TD, 9INT) and JJ Paige (21/39, 324 yards, 4TD, 1INT) who provides a change pf pace and will probably see action at some point in the second half.
The Rams leading receiver Andrew Scanlon is a huge target and has hauled in 45 receptions for 769 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 17.1 yard per catch. The duo of tight end Tyler Yazujian (19 catches, 302 yards, 4TD) and slot back Ryan Conway (20 catches, 262 yards, 3 TD) gives Coyne options in an offense that has taken advantage of teams this season by throwing on any down regardless of the score.
Defensively the Rams have allowed 171 points (17.1 per game) and a total of 2278 yards (1301 rushing, 968 passing) but have not faced as prolific an offense as the Red Raiders since they suffered their only loss of the season in week two in a non league battle with Daniel Boone (9-1) in which they fell 20-14 in overtime.
Keys to the game: Rams coach Brubaker has an aggressive play calling style that has helped Spring-Ford run rough shot over their Pac-10 opponents, the only draw back to that style is that it allows additional opportunities and occasionally leaves time on the clock for the opposition to take advantage of.
Execution again will be key as the Red Raiders will have opportunities, but have to be sure to capitalize when they have scoring chances, as the Rams will find a way to get points on the board and it will be up to the Coatesville defense to eliminate extra chances.
In last week’s game versus Perkiomen Valley, the Rams took advantage of Vikings mistakes (two false start calls and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty) to erase a 7 point third quarter deficit, as the emerged with 14 point win as Brubaker chose to throw on fourth-and-11, from the Vikings 31 yard line with 1:45 to play instead of trying to eat up the clock.
Coatesville, who is riding the momentum of back-to back wins, will need to start fast, which will limit the options for S-F offensively, who has spent most of the season with a lead and have not had to mount a come back. Pressuring Coyne will limit his ability to find his big play receivers and force the Rams into more predictable formations, which will allow the Red Raiders defense to dictate play.
Projection: The cold weather and winds that are projected will have an impact on the number seven seeded Spring-Ford attack and should play into the hands of the Coatesville defense. Stocker and his wide receiving corps are like none that the Rams have seen all year and Kerrick’s height advantage along with Dae Hon Chung, the Ches-Mont league leading rusher should help the 10th seeded Red Raiders advance to play the winner of the (#15) Pennsbury vs (#2) Abington match up.
Prediction: Coatesville 27, Spring-Ford 21.
