Parkland -SJP

[RoverNation05]

Let’s talk about actual football

This is Parkland’s tenth state playoff appearance. Of course, they were state champs in 2002. They made runs to state finals in 2007 and 2015, with the 2015 quarterfinal against LaSalle being D11’s only win over a PCL school in states and the second over D12 since the PCL joined in 2008 - Liberty beat the George Washington team that knocked out LaSalle in ‘08. The Trojans won their quarter and msde Eastern Finals twice in the 90s, in 96 and 98, when they were establishing themselves as a football program to reckon with.

Parkland started the year 1-1, with a blowout loss to Freedom, but ran through and admittedly soft schedule until a season concluding 27-0 shut out loss to Emmaus. They avenged both losses in the playoffs, with a 17-3 win last week over Emmaus being a huge three week turnaround.

Parkland is coached by Tim Moncman, who went to three state finals and won the ‘08 state title at Liberty. He was Parkland’s defensive coordinator from 2012-15 before taking over following the retirement of legendary Jim Morgans (two state titles with ACC, two finals with Parkland). Moncman runs the defense, while former William Allen head coach Chris Kinane is the offensive play caller.

Parkland is big up front with a very talented sophomore running back in TJ Lawrence. They don’t throw a ton, but Osmany Guzman is completing nearly 70% of his passes on the season and has a 13-3 TD/INT ratio. He’s used his legs more lately, with a career high in rushing in the championship game against Emmaus. They’re young, with four sophomores who contribute on offense, including both running backs.

Defensively, they’ve been lights out in the playoffs. Lawrence at middle linebacker is the guy - if he grows a couple inches he is a four star linebacker, he’s limited to running back at his current height, but he’s still 15. They’ll show a lot of variety in their fronts, lots of smart kids on defense. Dom Martrich at defensive end/stand up linebacker is a menace.

If you look at the Born Index, it power rates Parkland as the fourth best team in D11 and a 24 point underdog in this one (seeing Easton sitting there at #6 and almost ten points better than Parkland is frustrating). They will need to slow the game down and play perfect football to win a 17-14 kind of game tonight. If they get down by two scores, it’s not a good scene.

 

[RCH13co18]

Let’s talk about actual football

This is Parkland’s tenth state playoff appearance. Of course, they were state champs in 2004. They made runs to state finals in 2007 and 2015, with the 2015 quarterfinal against LaSalle being D11’s only win over a PCL school in states and the second over D12 since the PCL joined in 2008 - Liberty beat the George Washington team that knocked out LaSalle in ‘08. The Trojans won their quarter and msde Eastern Finals twice in the 90s, in 96 and 98, when they were establishing themselves as a football program to reckon with.

Parkland started the year 1-1, with a blowout loss to Freedom, but ran through and admittedly soft schedule until a season concluding 27-0 shut out loss to Emmaus. They avenged both losses in the playoffs, with a 17-3 win last week over Emmaus being a huge three week turnaround.

Parkland is coached by Tim Moncman, who went to three state finals and won the ‘08 state title at Liberty. He was Parkland’s defensive coordinator from 2012-15 before taking over following the retirement of legendary Jim Morgans (two state titles with ACC, two finals with Parkland). Moncman runs the defense, while former William Allen head coach Chris Kinane is the offensive play caller.

Parkland is big up front with a very talented sophomore running back in TJ Lawrence. They don’t throw a ton, but Osmany Guzman is completing nearly 70% of his passes on the season and has a 13-3 TD/INT ratio. He’s used his legs more lately, with a career high in rushing in the championship game against Emmaus. They’re young, with four sophomores who contribute on offense, including both running backs.

Defensively, they’ve been lights out in the playoffs. Lawrence at middle linebacker is the guy - if he grows a couple inches he is a four star linebacker, he’s limited to running back at his current height, but he’s still 15. They’ll show a lot of variety in their fronts, lots of smart kids on defense. Dom Martrich at defensive end/stand up linebacker is a menace.

If you look at the Born Index, it power rates Parkland as the fourth best team in D11 and a 24 point underdog in this one (seeing Easton sitting there at #6 and almost ten points better than Parkland is frustrating). They will need to slow the game down and play perfect football to win a 17-14 kind of game tonight. If they get down by two scores, it’s not a good scene.

Does parkland still have a bunch of 2 way guys?

 

[RoverNation05]

Does parkland still have a bunch of 2 way guys?

TJ Lawrence is their running back and middle linebacker - he’s their best player on both offense and defense.

Matt Dorsey plays guard and defensive tackle. He was a 2nd team all EPC offensive lineman this year.

Reid Andrush plays tight end/fullback and defensive end. He was an all Lehigh County defensive player, gets used in packages on offense.

The three receivers, Leo Dauberman, Nass Adams, and Preston Mertz, all are part of a six man group that gets snaps in the secondary. Mertz plays more defense than offense, Adams more offense than defense, Dauberman truly goes both ways and was 2nd team all EPC at receiver and all Lehigh County at safety.

 

[RCH13co18]

TJ Lawrence is their running back and middle linebacker - he’s their best player on both offense and defense.

Matt Dorsey plays guard and defensive tackle. He was a 2nd team all EPC offensive lineman this year.

Reid Andrush plays tight end/fullback and defensive end. He was an all Lehigh County defensive player, gets used in packages on offense.

The three receivers, Leo Dauberman, Nass Adams, and Preston Mertz, all are part of a six man group that gets snaps in the secondary. Mertz plays more defense than offense, Adams more offense than defense, Dauberman truly goes both ways and was 2nd team all EPC at receiver and all Lehigh County at safety.

I remember the last parkland team that played sjp. They had the game in that area I believe. They had a stud rb and wr that made some plays. I just thought they got worn down.

 

[D1 Transplant]

I don't see Parkland, or Easton for that matter had they won District 11, staying within 24 points of Prep. The same fate holds true for the winner of tonight's District One game. Prep should mercy rule their way to winning states.

 

[tulla]

I don't see Parkland, or Easton for that matter had they won District 11, staying within 24 points of Prep. The same fate holds true for the winner of tonight's District One game. Prep should mercy rule their way to winning states.

One real x factor is the weather. Just watched much of the George Washington-LaSalle game in 2008 where GW upset a heavily favored LS with a huge assist from gusty winds that made the LS passing game, which was all based on sharp timing, much less effective:

The forecast for tonight calls for steady cold rain with the possibility of wet snow by the end of the game. I'm not saying that necessarily advantages either team, but that kind of weather makes upsets more possible because turnovers, slips on the turf, etc. are more likely. The game will not be the same as it would be if it were played on a dry field.

 

[Fletchster1]

Hopefully foul weather can slow up SJP and maybe enable Parkland to get a few turnovers to make it in game in the 4th.

 

[RoverNation05]

I don't see Parkland, or Easton for that matter had they won District 11, staying within 24 points of Prep. The same fate holds true for the winner of tonight's District One game. Prep should mercy rule their way to winning states.

I wouldn't either. The advantage Easton has on Parkland in a game like this is they have receivers with a unique physicality and they throw the ball significantly better than Parkland does. Freedom too. I don't think anybody would cover three touchdowns with SJP, but those two would have more of a puncher's chance.

 

[RoverNation05]

I remember the last parkland team that played sjp. They had the game in that area I believe. They had a stud rb and wr that made some plays. I just thought they got worn down.

Last time they played, SJP was up 49-6 at halftime and scored on every possession. That Parkland team was led by Trey Tremba on offense - he got a concussion in the D11 title game and didn't play against SJP. That Parkland team also has the distinction of probably being the worst D11 champion in history - they went 6-4 and finished 6th in the EPC, and were seeded 7th in the field, but then improbably won three straight games in the playoffs (helped in no small part by the #2 seed losing their quarterback and conference player of the year to a broken hand in the last regular season game, priming Parkland for an upset in the first round).

In 2017, SJP went up 35-7 at halftime on Parkland, and won 49-14. That Parkland team came in 12-0, running back Jahan Worth played linebacker at Duquesne, he was like a 1,600 yard rusher. No big receiving threat though. And that game was a stomping.

The 2016 game might be what you're talking about? That one was 24-17 at halftime, before SJP pulled away and won 38-17. D'Andre Swift ran for a cool 317 yards on 18 carries in that one. Parkland recovered a fumble for a touchdown and blocked a punt to set up a score in that one. Not really studs on that Parkland team - Worth was a junior breaking in at running back, looking at the old box score Juan Salas had 100 yards receiving, that's a name I kind of recognize?

The 2014 game of course, was the classic. It helped that Parkland had wide receiver Kenny Yeboah (just caught his first NFL touchdown the other night for the Jets) and Devante Cross (who got a cup of coffee as a safety for the Packers) on offense. Cross had crazy numbers in that game - i think he ran for 96 yards and threw for 280 and scored or threw all four Parkland touchdowns. Late Swift TD was the difference in that one. Yeboah and Cross were both juniors who came back the next year to fuel the run to state finals.

 

[D1 Transplant]

Tulla,
I've watched a few highlight video's of the Prep this year. Their line is college sized. I agree weather is an equalizer, but Prep probably won't need to throw the ball to win this game, barring a few fumbles, this game won't be close.

 

[RoverNation05]

The biggest separator is SJP has one of the best linebacking corps in America, playing behind a very for real defensive line (I think Haskell in particular is fantastic). That is Parkland’s absolute kryptonite. Sacca and Smith will take over.