Saturday's area football playoff matchups: Round 2
Friday, November 10, 2006
DIVISION III
ALTER (11-0) vs. EATON (10-1)
Extras
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Welcome Stadium
Key players: Alter DB Tony Boyle, sr. RB Chris Roark; Eaton sr. QB Jeremy Fudge, sr. WR Brandon Robinson
Quick slants: Alter's well-oiled defensive machine will present a daunting task to Eaton's high-octane offense. The Knights' stout 'D' will bring the heat and will provide solid man-to-man coverage on Eaton's sticky-fingered receiving corps. Fudge spreads the wealth, but likes speedy Robinson and Jordan Decker. Don't underestimate RB Ben Noble. Alter's wishbone offense complements the defense with running threats Roark and Michael Shaw. The Knights are a deserving No. 2 in the state's final poll.
ST. MARYS MEMORIAL (9-2) vs. SUNBURY BIG WALNUT (9-2)
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lima Senior H.S.
Key players: St. Marys jr. RB Koby Frye; Big Walnut QB Ethan Wetzel.
Quick slants: Frye, son of head coach Doug Frye, has taken over for since-graduated big brother Bo in putting a charge into the Roughriders' Wing-T off-tackle offense, leading the WBL in rushing the last two seasons. St. Marys ended Tippecanoe's playoff hopes, 21-14. Wetzel has played most of the season with a broken hand and has a cast on his left mitt.
DIVISION V
ST. HENRY (11-1) vs. MARION PLEASANT (11-1)
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Alexander Stadium, Piqua
Key players: St. Henry RB-LB Andy Puthoff, WR-DB Ryan Hartke; Pleasant RB Nathan Conley, DE Clay Lust.
Quick slants: A rematch of the season opener back in August won by St. Henry, 35-7. The Redskins (35-7 in 13 playoff appearances) also won their only postseason meeting, a 28-19 win in 2004. Pleasant (20-12 in 16 appearances) held Cin. Reading to 132 yards in total offense last week, and 74 came on a TD-scoring screen. The Redskins have outscored their last four opponents 185-8.
