dsquires
11-15-2007, 06:21 PM
Caroline (8-2) vs. Lafayette (10-0)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., tonight
WHERE: James City County Stadium
AT STAKE: A trip to the Region I Division 4 title game.
TICKETS: Lafayette will sell tickets in the school office today from 10:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. All tickets are $6.
WHEN CAROLINE HAS THE BALL
They like to give it to running back Jabrel Mines, who has rushed for 920 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Jamar Samuels keeps the offense balanced and usually throws to his brother Joshua. The Cavaliers average 250 yards of offense and 25 points per game. But that won’t be easy to attain against the Rams, the Bay Rivers District’s top defensive team. Lafayette only gives up 168 yards of offense and 6.7 points per game and have three shutouts this year. Cavs’ coach Robert Jenkins said the Rams will be the best defensive team Caroline has faced all season.
WHEN LAFAYETTE HAS THE BALL
They like to give it to running back Garrick Piggott off tackle. Piggott presents matchup problems with his speed and elusiveness. Last week against Bruton, Piggott racked up 93 rushing yards and a touchdown in one half. T.J. Ptachick is another threat in the backfield for the Rams. Ptachick gets tough yards up the middle and also has good hands on pass plays. Quarterback Kurt Linkenauger is coming off of a strong game last week in which he threw for 84 yards and two scores. Receiver Matt Mares is the Rams’ best threat on the deep ball.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Piggott is a dangerous punt returner who usually gives the Rams good field position. Mares averages more than 38 yards a punt for the Rams. The Cavs have a good returner in Mines, but Lafayette’s coverage is exceptional.
INTANGIBLES
The nod has to go to Lafayette because they will be playing at home and on field turf. The Cavs haven’t played a game on field turf all season and will have to adjust. That could cost them early in the game. Also, the Rams will have loud and rowdy fans at James City County Stadium that are hungry to see their team advance. The Rams have yet to lose all season and with that comes a swagger. Piggott and Co. are confident in their abilities, as well they should be, and because of that have the edge with the intangibles.
OUTLOOK
The Cavs are going to try and see if Mines will be able to beat Lafayette on the ground. That’s not going to work as Lafayette has proved all season that teams who overly rely on their running game ultimately fall. It happened with Tabb and Smithfield earlier this season. That will leave the job up to quarterback Jamar Samuels, but can he be asked to step up and beat the Rams in a hostile environment? Dover and Hill will get pressure on Samuels and make him rush his decisions, ultimately making him a non-factor. Lafayette will pull the win out with a balanced offensive attack and a stellar defensive performance.
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PREDICTION: LAFAYETTE"
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., tonight
WHERE: James City County Stadium
AT STAKE: A trip to the Region I Division 4 title game.
TICKETS: Lafayette will sell tickets in the school office today from 10:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. All tickets are $6.
WHEN CAROLINE HAS THE BALL
They like to give it to running back Jabrel Mines, who has rushed for 920 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Jamar Samuels keeps the offense balanced and usually throws to his brother Joshua. The Cavaliers average 250 yards of offense and 25 points per game. But that won’t be easy to attain against the Rams, the Bay Rivers District’s top defensive team. Lafayette only gives up 168 yards of offense and 6.7 points per game and have three shutouts this year. Cavs’ coach Robert Jenkins said the Rams will be the best defensive team Caroline has faced all season.
WHEN LAFAYETTE HAS THE BALL
They like to give it to running back Garrick Piggott off tackle. Piggott presents matchup problems with his speed and elusiveness. Last week against Bruton, Piggott racked up 93 rushing yards and a touchdown in one half. T.J. Ptachick is another threat in the backfield for the Rams. Ptachick gets tough yards up the middle and also has good hands on pass plays. Quarterback Kurt Linkenauger is coming off of a strong game last week in which he threw for 84 yards and two scores. Receiver Matt Mares is the Rams’ best threat on the deep ball.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Piggott is a dangerous punt returner who usually gives the Rams good field position. Mares averages more than 38 yards a punt for the Rams. The Cavs have a good returner in Mines, but Lafayette’s coverage is exceptional.
INTANGIBLES
The nod has to go to Lafayette because they will be playing at home and on field turf. The Cavs haven’t played a game on field turf all season and will have to adjust. That could cost them early in the game. Also, the Rams will have loud and rowdy fans at James City County Stadium that are hungry to see their team advance. The Rams have yet to lose all season and with that comes a swagger. Piggott and Co. are confident in their abilities, as well they should be, and because of that have the edge with the intangibles.
OUTLOOK
The Cavs are going to try and see if Mines will be able to beat Lafayette on the ground. That’s not going to work as Lafayette has proved all season that teams who overly rely on their running game ultimately fall. It happened with Tabb and Smithfield earlier this season. That will leave the job up to quarterback Jamar Samuels, but can he be asked to step up and beat the Rams in a hostile environment? Dover and Hill will get pressure on Samuels and make him rush his decisions, ultimately making him a non-factor. Lafayette will pull the win out with a balanced offensive attack and a stellar defensive performance.
-
PREDICTION: LAFAYETTE"