11/28/2009 4:00:00 AM
Take two: Jays to battle Flyers in state semifinal
| |
|
 |
| Drew Bittner/Times Bulletin
St. John’s fullback Mitchell MacLennan breaks into the secondary on a 38-yard carry against Ada last Saturday night in their Regional Final playoff game. MacLennan’s 115-yard game helped Delphos to a 34-31 overtime victory.
|
|
BY DREW BITTNER
Times Bulletin Sports Editor
sports@timesbulletin.com
WAPAKONETA - This just in - the Midwest Athletic Conference is a football powerhouse.
Yes, that's obviously old information. But look at what the conference has done this season. Five teams from the MAC made the 2009 playoffs - Anna, Coldwater, St. John's, Marion Local, and St. Henry. The postseason has not progressed into the state semifinals and three MAC teams are still remaining in Coldwater, St. John's, and Marion Local.
Anna and St. Henry? They were knocked out of the playoffs by Coldwater. So far the MAC has gone 12-2 in the playoffs, and with the upcoming matchup between St. John's and Marion Local, are at least guaranteed that the MAC will be represented in the Division VI state final.
At the end of last season, this was a battle that many people might have predicted in a state semifinal for this year. St. John's was coming off the state title, and Marion Local was coming off a state semifinal appearance in Division V and had many star players returning for 2009.
Not a lot has changed for the Blue Jays since that point. The reigning D-VI champs have been the dominant team that everyone thought they would be. St. John's steamrolled through the regular season on their way to a perfect 10-0 mark. And despite looking vulnerable at times in the playoffs, especially early in last week's game against Ada, the Jays have kept their title defense hopes alive by winning their first three playoff games.
For Marion Local, however, it's been a much different story. The school dropped down from Division V to Division VI. Their star running back from 2008, Ben Smith, transferred before the season, throwing a wrench into the offensive plans. The Flyers won their first three games of 2009, but quarterback Jared Greisdorn was injured in that third game of the season at Parkway - an injury that coincided with a five-game losing streak for Marion Local (including a 35-14 loss to St. John's in week 6). With two victories to close the season, including a season finale upset of Anna, the Flyers limped into the playoffs with a very pedestrian 5-5 record. Clearly not the same team many anticipated after the 2008 season.
Coincidence or not, however, Greisdorn is healthy again (maybe not 100%) and suddenly Marion Local has reeled off three convincing victories in the playoffs and have made their second straight state semifinal appearance. And for the third time this postseason, fans will be treated to another MAC vs. MAC playoff contest as the Flyers will face St. John's tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Wapakoneta.
The first matchup this season between this two schools featured a run-heavy attack from both teams. St. John's rushed for 255 yards as a team that night with Jordan Leininger leading the way with 107 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. Marion Local ran for 197 yards during the contest, with Niles Keller leading the way with 94 yards. Unfortunately for the Flyers, three fumbles allowed St. John's to capitalize on their way to the victory.
The game plan will most likely be similar for the Blue Jays. It's no secret both teams like to run the football, and the Jays will live up to that billing tonight. St. John's will pass enough to keep the Flyers defense honest, but will lean heavily on the legs of Leininger, quarterback Wes Ulm, and fullback Mitchell MacLennan. MacLennan had a big night last week against Ada, and his second best game of the season came against Marion Local earlier in the season when he went for 70 rushing yards. St. John's is a strong, smashmouth football team and will no doubt continue that reputation against their conference foe.
Marion Local will also lean heavily on the legs of Keller and Alex Post, but getting Greisdorn back is a boost for the Flyers. He adds a passing element to the offense - passing for three touchdowns last week against Fort Loramie. The playbook opens up more with the veteran signal-caller and his presence will force the Jays to take that eighth man out of the box.
As with the first time around this season, turnovers will most likely be the major indicator in this game. Marion Local's three fumbles in week 6 was the difference. The Flyers will need to protect the football if they hope to stay alive for another week.
St. John's, however, has been bit with the turnover bug in each of their previous two playoff contests. The Jays managed to claw back in each of those contests and ultimately take the victory, but against a power team like Marion Local, that feat will be much more difficult if they succumb to turnovers for a third straight week.
That said, with how many veterans the Blue Jays have on their roster, it seems highly unlikely that the Jays will come out slow and sloppy again. Most likely, coach Todd Schulte will have his St. John's team ready to go and ready to go hard. Marion Local's story has been nothing short of sensational this season in overcoming long odds, but in all likelihood, the Flyers will be grounded tonight in Wapakoneta. It would be quite the upset if the Blue Jays aren't heading to their second straight Division VI state final after tonight's contest, but it's high school football after all - anything can happen.
MacLennan comes up big in victory
BY KIRK DOUGAL
Times Bulletin Editor
kdougal@timesbulletin.com
Late in the first half against Ada last Saturday in the Regional Final playoff game, the Delphos St. John's offense was finding yards hard to come by. The Bulldogs were keying on RB Jordan Leininger on every running play to the outside and sliding the safety out to try to slow down QB Wes Ulm on the keeper in the option game.
No problem. The Jays just went to another vital part of their rushing attack - senior fullback Mitchell MacLennan.
"They were going to take away Jordan on our O-play and Wes and Jordan on the option," said Blue Jays coach Todd Schulte. "And that was what Mitch was getting, some big runs up the middle on some little traps and on the option run."
All MacLennan did when his team needed him the most was have his best game of the year rushing the ball. The first time he touched it he ran for 38 yards on a trap to inside the five-yard line. Add on rushes of 18, 27 and nine yards and he was a key part of softening up the middle of the Ada defense, forcing the Bulldogs to change their scheme.
"It felt really good," said MacLennan after the game. "I just try to make the most of my carries."
MacLennan entered the game with 266 yards on 53 carries for a little more than five yards per rush. He carried the ball 11 times on Saturday for 115 yards. Earlier this year in the Jays 35-14 win over this coming week's opponent Marion Local, MacLennan had another big game, gaining 70 yards on 10 attempts.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
|
