SM West faces all-too-familiar Hutchinson for Kansas 6A state title
DAVID EULITT
Shawnee Mission West junior quarterback AJ Verdini ran an option play in the third quarter against Shawnee Mission East in Friday's 31-14 West victory over East at Shawnee Mission South High School.
Kansas 6A championship: SM West, 11-1, vs. Hutchinson, 10-2
1 p.m. Saturday at Washburn’s Yeager Stadium, Topeka
SCOUTINGREPORT
When SM West runs
Edge: SM West
Senior running back Brett Sterbach has put forth a Herculean effort for the Vikings, carrying the ball 288 times and racking up 1,955 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s running behind a stout offensive line that has remained healthy and intact all season. Meanwhile, the Salthawks have been vulnerable against the run, particularly against teams like SM West. Hutchinson has allowed 163.5 yards and nearly two touchdowns per game on the ground.
When Hutchinson runs
Edge: Hutchinson
The Salthawks’ bread and butter is smashing the ball down the field on the ground. Hutchinson has run it 668 times, averaging 6.7 yards per carry, and passed 85 times. Three Salthawks – Will Smith, who has 210 carries for 1,275 yards, dual-threat quarterback Trevor Turner, who has 142 carries for 935 yards, and Dakota Brower, who has 72 carries for 600 yards – have gained at least 600 yards. The Vikings are good against the run, but Hutchinson is a well-oiled machine.
When SM West passes
Edge: SM West
The combination of quarterback A.J. Verdini chucking the deep post over opposing defenses to wide receiver Andre Maloney has produced 10 touchdowns. When the running game is going, it’s almost impossible to stop. But Verdini has quietly improved in hooking up with Joel Spiller and Mitch Wade underneath for important receptions that keep drives alive. Hutchinson’s secondary picks off a pass only once every 20 attempts or so, but Verdini can’t afford to be careless.
When Hutchinson passes
Edge: Hutchinson
The Salthawks average only seven passes per game, which is what makes the passing game so effective. Opposing defenses must commit players to the box to stop the run, which leaves plenty of one-on-one opportunities when Hutchinson chooses to launch a surprise aerial assault. Quarterback Trevor Turner has completed 39 of 75 passes for 875 yards, an average of 22.4 yards per completion, with 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Of course, testing cornerback Kez Demby or Maloney hasn’t worked well for most teams.
Special teams
Edge: SM West
Senior kicker Joey Reed has emerged as the Vikings’ secret weapon. He has been able to boom kickoffs into the end zone, neutralizing opponents’ return game. Reed is also accurate, connecting on eight of 10 field-goal tries with a long of 44 yards. If it comes down to the kicking game, then SM West wins. Now, factor in last week’s game-changing performance by the Vikings’ special teams with a blocked punt return and a kickoff return for touchdowns along with the always dangerous Maloney, who averages 16.7 yards per punt return.
X-factor
Edge: SM West
Sterbach has one fumble this season, and Verdini has thrown five interceptions with a fumble of his own. Considering how many touches those two players have combined, it’s a strikingly low number. By contrast, Hutchinson has lost 12 fumbles and put the ball on the ground 11 more times. The Salthawks also have had a tendency to fumble near the goal line. The team who better protects the football probably wins, and SM West has been better at it most of the season.
Bottom line
The clock won’t stop moving very often, so each possession will be important. SM West has been adept at creating negative plays with five players who have at least eight tackles for a loss this season – Max Bullard (15), Lee Spight (14), Marquan Osbey (13), Rashaun Owens (11) and Austin Chambers (eight). That trend must continue. Tyler Cox had Hutchinson’s only tackle for a loss against Salina South in last week’s semifinal. The Vikings hope for similar success neutralizing the Salthawks’ push up front.
Prediction:SM West 24, Hutchinson 21
Palmer’s prognostications: Sunflower League: 0-1 last week; 51-15 overall
Six years ago, the last time Shawnee Mission West played for the Kansas 6A state championship, Hutchinson stood in the way.
It’s no wonder Vikings coach Tim Callaghan has a mild case of déjà vu as he prepares his team for another crack at the 6A crown.
Once again, it’s the Salthawks, 10-2, blocking SM West’s path to its first state title since 1985.
“We played them back in 2006, and to be honest, we’re excited to play them again,” Callaghan said.
Hutchinson has won seven state championships in the last eight years, including four 6A titles in a row from 2004-2007 as well as 5A titles in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
The Salthawks now return to the 6A title game in their first season back in the highest classification in Kansas.
Despite Hutchinson’s glossy dynasty, there is no angst about facing the Salthawks for the Vikings, 11-1, whose 1985 championship is the most recent for any football program in the Shawnee Mission district.
“They’re about as relaxed as they were last week,” Callaghan said when asked about his team’s mood. “It’s a loose group, and they don’t seem to get frazzled too much about anything.”
Besides, Hutchinson isn’t as dominant as it once was.
Yes, the Salthawks are a very good program, but the Vikings also are confident that they are an equally good program – and remarkably healthy at this stage of the season to boot.
“They’re as much the team that’s won state in the last eight years as we are the team that played for the title in 2006, if that makes sense,” Callaghan said. “I know our kids have improved. I put on the 2006 film, and this team stacks up favorably. It will be another donnybrook.”
There’s no mystery to the matchup.
Both teams want to control the line of scrimmage and devour the clock with sustained, ball-control marches.
Both defenses will do anything to stop the run and hope to make the opposing offense scratch and claw for anything it gets.
Protecting the football will be critical for both the Vikings and Salthawks.
“We have to establish ball control and make sure we take care of the ball,” Callaghan said. “That game six years ago, we fumbled three times in the second half. We can’t do that, so we have to take care of the ball and play our style. If our special teams can come up big like last week, that would help too.”
SM West scored on a blocked punt and a kickoff return in its 48-21 semifinal victory over Lawrence Free State, who pinned the only loss of the season on the Vikings on Sept. 7.
To reach Tod Palmer, call 816-234-4389 or send email to tpalmer@kcstar.com. Follow him at twitter.com/todpalmer.
Comments
No comments have been posted. Perhaps you'd like to be the first?