Kansas 5A state championship: Bishop Miege, 7-5, vs. Bishop Carroll, 12-0
1 p.m. Saturday at Emporia State’s Welch Stadium
SCOUTING REPORT
When Bishop Miege runs
Edge: Carroll
Quarterback Montell Cozart is the Stags’ leading rusher, so it’s safe to say there’s not a strong commitment to the run. Really, Miege passes to set up its run game. Beyond Cozart, who has 131 carries for 542 yards and five scores, the Stags utilize Dante Hutton (77 carries for 380 yards and five TDs) and Connor DeLeon (52 carries for 315 yards and six TDs).
When Bishop Carroll runs
Edge: Carroll
The massive Golden Eagle average more than 239 yards per game on the ground and 6.4 yards per carry. Expect a heavy dose of tailbacks Tory Smith and Jalen Hernandez, who have combined for 1,781 yards and 32 touchdowns on 202 carries. Quarterback Zeke Palmer also has 13 rushing touchdowns.
When Bishop Miege passes
Edge: Miege
Carroll won’t have seen a quarterback like Cozart, who has committed to Kansas, because quite frankly there aren’t many quarterbacks like him. He will need to summon all the speed and elusiveness at his disposal to make plays and avoid turnovers against the defense with 16 interceptions, including seven returned for a touchdown.
When Bishop Carroll passes
Edge: Carroll
Palmer has put up ridiculous numbers, completing 147 of 202 passes (a 72.8-percent clip) for 2,127 yards with 20 touchdowns and two interceptions. Miege will have to key on either the run or pass, but neither is a great option. Matt Denning, who has 44 catches for 715 yards and 14 TDs, is the Eagles’ top receiver.
Special teams
Edge: Miege
Both teams have capable athletes in the return game, but McKinley Johnson could be a game-changer if he can set up the Stags with good field position consistently. Miege kicker Collin Carter is probably a bit more accurate than Carroll’s Daniel Ohm, too.
X-factor
Edge: Carroll
There is a swagger about the Eagles and a confidence that comes from thoroughly dominating 12 games. As long as it doesn’t stray to overconfidence, that helps coach Alan Schuckman’s squad. Of course, a fast start for Miege could create doubt and put Carroll in an unfamiliar position.
Bottom line
Miege has to withstand the early nerves and emotions. Grabbing a lead or at least moving the football and/or creating big plays in the first quarter could shake Carroll’s confidence. But if the defense can’t slow down that juggernaut offense, it won’t matter.
Prediction: Carroll 31, Miege 14
Palmer’s prognostications: East Kansas League: 1-0 last week; 31-23 overall
| Tod Palmer, tpalmer@kcstar.com
On paper, the Bishop Miege football team understands that it is a decided underdog against Wichita Bishop Carroll in the Kansas 5A state championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Emporia State’s Welch Stadium.
The Golden Eagles, 12-0, haven’t won by fewer than 24 points this season, and only twice has a team been able to stay closer than 31 points.
It’s going to be a tough slog for the Stags, 7-5, who have won five of their last six games after starting the season 2-4, but few things that are worth doing don’t come easily.
Miege understands that, but coach Jon Holmes’ squad also knows this will be the best team it has faced all season beyond a shadow of a doubt.
“Oh, absolutely,” Holmes said. “They’re big and physical on both lines. They can run the ball and throw the ball. They can give you different looks on defense that are difficult to account for, so it’s going to be very difficult.”
In the trenches, the Stags’ challenge will be matching Carroll’s physicality, which Holmes likened to Blue Valley West’s hulking offensive/defensive lines.
“West was the nastiest team we faced up front, but on film Bishop Carroll looks just as big and physical,” he said.
Now, though, install the 2011 Blue Valley offense – quarterback Kyle Zimmerman and running back Justin Fulks with four speedy receivers buzzing about the field and giving secondary coaches nightmares – for Miege’s defense to contend with.
“We saw similar skill stuff from last season’s Blue Valley team, because (Carroll) runs a lot of the same concepts route-wise that Blue Valley team ran,” Holmes said.
In other words, the Stags have no margin for error. None.
“We’ve got to play our best game,” Holmes said. “That’s for sure. On offense, we cannot turn the ball over. This week, I don’t think three points is going to do any good, so we have to score as many touchdowns as we can and hope we can slow them down defensively.”
To reach Tod Palmer, call 816-234-4389 or send email to tpalmer@kcstar.com. Follow him at twitter.com/todpalmer.
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