Handicapping week 6 with seeds already set proved a bit tricky as I figured it would. Now I went 6-4 against the number and 15-5 over the last two weeks to end the 'irregular " season comfortably in the black after five weeks of going against the Cal Preps numbers .Took the first week off with not much to go on .
Hit some games against the spread but the margin in the predicted score was off . Not much incentive for some teams, , some rolling over and playing dead , and a few disinterested performances and if in doubt even a little bit , you sat injured players which is smart .
Football weather was ordered last night and it was actually a bit refreshing because there was only a whisper of wind . Coffman had some incentive to win the league crown unshared , which is an accomplishment in a league this solid. Someone out here called UA a 'bad " team. because they only had one win . WRONG . He hasn't seen them or their outstanding RB Gresock . As it turned out there was only one 'bad " team and surprisingly but not shockingly it was Davidson .
The most recently decorated program in the league , with two state titles in this era.{ 20 years} Now some of the programs in the league haven't been around really long compared to the Original Hilliard HS{ Davidson } and the Original Dublin HS{ Coffman} . UA has been around since the stone age and is a decorated program with one somewhat recent state title in 2000 . UA in the late 60's was a juggernaut and under legendary coach Marv Moorehead was deemed the top team in the state three straight years.
So Coffman has earned the distinction of being the first champ of this newly aligned conference . They did some nice work last night but there are certainly things to work on if they want to make a longer run this year. Admittedly I can be a bit critical and look at things more like a coach despite not being one. I see the mistakes and weaknesses first, not on purpose but it's just the way it is . Can't help it. This isn't to say I don't see and comment on strengths as well .
Looking at the numbers , the Rocks did about what I thought they would in some areas. I called the game pretty much spot on { 27-14 , it was 28-14 } and seeing Bradley up close I must say I was impressed. Mayfield wasn't playing and he is a good weapon . But Mirgon was as advertised, a slippery talented athlete who competes his off . Point guard in hoops , smart player , very difficult to tackle and corral in the open field . Coffman D-Lineman are still huffing and puffing this morning trying to chase this guy .
Rocks had 370 yards offense which was 100 more than the Jags. They had the ball for almost 30 minutes .26 first downs to 13 for HB. They were 54 percent on third down to 33 for Bradley , but Bradley was 3-4 on fourth down. Coffman rushed for 253 yards 5.4 a carry . Respectable stats to be sure , but they left some points and yards on the field to be sure. Bradley was tough up front , played hard and made plays behind the line of scrimmage which was very impressive . They also had not a single holding penalty called on them against a very good pass rush. Not sure if that was all them though as I saw at least three obvious holds that were committed right in front of a ref that were ignored and all resulted in pass completions . Coffman as always had more penalty yards than their opponent which ahs happened in every game. Teams seem to play very clean against the Rocks I guess .
Rocks get up 7-0 first quarter after deferring , with a nice drive ending with Ian Carroll scoring form a few yards out. He again ran really hard and well checking in with 57 yards on 12 carries for the night. Bradley was competing well and very hard getting some stops and Coffman defense was doing it's job with Threats playing a bit more safety than he has been . Rocks add to their lead after a shorter drive with Threats going in from a yard out. 14-0 and comfortable with 5 minutes left in the half , Rocks hold and get the ball back with 2 20 left in the half . First play is a big loss on a sack , so you think the half will end 14-0 Rocks and it's only a wasted chance to work on the two minute drill . Well it's third and long and the Rocks call the perfect play .
Bradley had been aggressive and were run blitzing and their defensive front was doing a good job overall on passing downs. Mathews rolls left , the whole Jags defense went with him following him basically , and the Rocks set up a perfe4ct screen pass to Threats on their right . 5 blockers, and Threats the most complete back in Central Ohio . I saw it develop and said to the guy I was talking with , This is a Touchdown " , One Jag slipped by a Coffman guard enough to hurry the throw just a split second but all you needed to do was get the ball to Threats . He did that but threw it a bit long and Threats got his hands on it but couldn't come down with what would have been as easy a walk in TD from about 70 yards I have ever seen at this level . Not one Bradley player was in sight or stayed home, NOT ONE . Five Coffman blockers and one safety to deal with and Threats scores . So instead of a commanding 21-0 quit inducing demoralizing end to the half it was 14-0 .
That was the first opportunity to get that three score lead . The second was the first drive of the second half , as the Rocks received the kickoff and after a nice 20 yard return on a shorter kick-off by rough and tumble Mitchell Broskie where he ran over a kid loudly , the Rocks ran it down their throat with back-up Carroll getting inside the 25 . Rocks smartly called for a play action on an expected run blitz and threw the ball over the Middle on a slant . Only problem was the Jags defender stayed home , read the play and QB1 threw it right to him . Bradley dodges another potential three score deficit . No problem with the play call but on second thought to that point the Jags hadn't stopped the run yet . Oh well . Well that play gave them a jump and they got two easy pitch and catch first downs before Mirgon gashed them for a 51 yard TD after a few guys whiffed .
21-0 or at least 17-0 as they were in FG range before the interception , turns into 14-7 n a NY minute . So two wasted chances for points , brand new game once score . Rocks responded well converting a couple third downs on nice throws and Threats being Threats on the ground , which ended with Bryon scoring from 14 yards out with the Jags sending both inside LB'S on run blitzes , Threats made a cut off tackle and ran past the blitzing backers to score almost untouched . Back in some control at 21-7 with about 3 minutes left in the third.
Jags weren't ready to quit . Rocks were aggressive , but once again Mirgon who is the Jags rushing attack by himself basically , took off again with a slippery 35 yard run getting the Jags in scoring position . Well he then outdid himself as it appeared the Rocks may hold only to have Mirgon get them again . he was trapped a couple yards behind the line of scrimmage but somehow slipped away{ Literally} from Five Rock defenders to make a ridiculous 15 yard scramble to the two yard line. Rocks make a good stand to get it to 4th and goal from the one , but the RB scored , 'Barely ".
21-14 with almost a whole quarter to go . Ricks respond well again with Threats scoring again with about 6 minutes left . Bradley doesn't give up and keeps chucking it and scrambling but the Rocks hold getting an interception later on in he game . One ridiculous thing happened that may have prevented the Rocks from scoring one more TD and getting that elusive three score margin . 3rd and really long Mirgon throws a longer in route to the receiver where Threats breaks on the ball , times it perfectly and hammers the receiver , the loudest hit of the night and with the limited fans is really amplified . You might have been able to hear it from the Zoo a few miles away .
Legal , not PI , not targeting , not with head , not a defenseless receiver. Not anything. Except a big hit and good play from a great HS player . hmmm too loud apparently . Ref throws a a few seconds delayed flag . Not sure what the call was but it was a gifted first down for the Jags . They didn't score but the Rocks were prevented from getting the good field position and a great chance to add to their lead and put the game firmly away.
So a solid if not unspectacular win . Not great , not bad , but pretty good and once again , a 5-0 league record and an outright title doesn't suk .It is an accomplishment . Congrats to the players and staff on their hard work and preparation. Not always perfect, but they played with good consistency , toughness , and execution overall and the league title is well deserved. Enjoy it this weekend , but starting Monday? You need to have a couple great weeks of practice to improve on some things , get your gimpy offensive line treated and healthy { Another one went down with an ankle last night , making two bad ankles } , find a few ways to offset the loss of the versatile playmaking Sheron Phipps , getting a few more guys involved at least part time in different playmaking roles to help offset Phipps not being there . You can't duplicate what he does of course , but you have a couple weeks to work on finding new ways to make some explosive plays .
I'll have some more thoughts on this and other things a bit later , but it's go time , because Rocks- Liberty rematch is a great possibility and you want to be as prepared and ready to go and improving enough to be able to take care of business and beat an excellent program who has won a lot of play-off games the last 5 years for a second time .
