Homecoming in the Jungle will be a beautiful thing.
Friday is Homecoming at Saucon Valley and the 6-1 Panthers will be welcoming the 0-7 Wilson Warriors to the Jungle. But, don’t let the Warriors’ record fool you. Wilson has perhaps the best running back in the Colonial League. Perhaps he is the best running back in the Lehigh Valley. If Wilson’s Job Goodman can get a little help from his supporting cast, Wilson could very well make this seemingly easy game with the Panthers a cutthroat competition.
Things Worth Watching:
Saucon Valley Panthers
When the Panthers have the ball…
Look for Wilson’s head coach and defensive coordinator to pack the box and force the Panthers to pass against Wilson’s man coverage. Chris Labatch is a first-year head coach and his name may sound familiar. That is because he was Saucon Valley’s defensive coordinator last year when the Panthers went to the PIAA State Semifinals. No other opposing coach knows the Panthers as well as Coach Labatch. It’s a homecoming of sorts for Coach Labatch, too.
Expect to see mostly a 5-2 defense with a strong safety playing tight to the line of scrimmage. This will create a situation for the Panthers that is designed to make it difficult to run the football. If it’s long yardage or a definite passing situation don’t be surprised if the Warriors fall back into a 4-3 defense.
It’s no secret the Panthers prefer to ground and pound. Junior running back Zach Petiet leads the Panthers with 108 carries for 750 yards and 12 touchdowns. That averages to 7 yards per carry and 107 yards per game. Quarterback Brandon Holub is a capable runner as well. He has 50 carries for 258 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
If the Panther offensive line can get in a groove and get a forward push early against the Warriors, that great wall of pork will be a welcome sight on homecoming night. A good night for the Hogs will be a good night for the Panthers.
If Wilson is successful in smothering the Panther running attack however, Holub will be forced to throw. Through the air Holub has 36 completions on 58 attempts for 640 yards. He has thrown eight touchdowns and three interceptions. It is no secret that Holub’s favorite target is Alstan “Primetime” Wolf. Wolf has 18 receptions for 421 yards and 6 touchdowns. Because Wilson will likely try to keep eight defenders near the line of scrimmage it should be relatively easy to get Wolfe single coverage. This matchup is surely something Wolfe and Panther offensive coordinator Ed Chromczak are going to feel good about.
Wilson’s 6’4″, 215 pound defensive end Terrance Mainor (#80) may have other ideas though. He is athletic and plays with energy. If he gets going and brings the pressure to Holub, this game could get real interesting. Look for the Panthers to roll out away from Mainor if pass protection is an issue.
Another Warrior to watch here is Job Goodman (#25). He is more known for his offensive prowess as a running back, but is a good defender as well. From his safety position there is a chance the Warriors will man him up on Wolfe. This is probably asking a lot of the Wilson junior, but if he has success defending Wolfe, then senior Kory Kemmerer (#4) or sophomore Patrick Morrissey (#80) will likely have a good night catching the football.
When the Warriors have the ball…
Wilson Warriors
The Warriors will try to move the ball from their “I-formation.” From the “I” Wilson will toss, counter, trap and option. Dotting the “I” is junior Job Goodman. Goodman is 5’10”, 160 and can flat out motor. He is a track star who dominates the hurdle events and certainly has the potential to dominate on the football field. Job has 112 carries for 722 yards and 6 touchdowns.
The Warriors will throw a little from the “I”, but they also run some shotgun spread using 2×2 and 3×1 sets. Junior quarterback Cameron Clark who measures 5’9″, 150 hasn’t proven much of a running or passing threat. He has only completed 41 percent of his passes and has only one touchdown pass to his credit. He is not much of a run threat either, carrying 53 times for 65 yards.
Coach Sams realizes that stopping the Warriors means stopping Goodman. Sams offered, “We cannot give this kind of player the edge or any cutback angles. We need to go after the ball, take good angles and hit hard.”
Senior linebackers Dino Zaharakis (#30) and Stephen Good (#65) lead the hard-hitting Saucon Valley defense. Zaharakis claims 9 tackles per game while Good averages 7. Good also leads the Panthers with his 3 quarterback sacks. The entire linebacking corps is going to have to be at their best to keep Goodman under wraps.
As their record indicates, the Warriors have had their struggles. They give up 33 points per game, while the Panthers on average score 37 per contest. Offensively, Wilson scores only 13, which is all the Panther defense allows on average.
Wilson has certainly shown improvement over the past few weeks and Coach Sams is adamant about that, saying “they have the potential to play with anybody in the Colonial League.” If the Warriors can somehow get Goodman some help and get themselves hitting on all cylinders then this game could turn into a track meet. Goodman and the Warriors would like nothing more. This could be a very exciting night.
So, come on out and join Saucon Source for a great night of fun. Together, we can enjoy all the entertainment and celebrate win #8.
Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
