Prep LaSalle
- Thread starter MC1975
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Very hard to predict. Do we know who's out because of injury? Hardy was going to be SJP's #1 receiver but he got injured against Erasmus, and of course Roy is out (for the season?). How about LaSalle?
The game will likely be determined by which does the better job on defense in dealing with the strength of the other team's offense--LaSalle's passing game and SJP's running game. I expect a close game.
The game will likely be determined by which does the better job on defense in dealing with the strength of the other team's offense--LaSalle's passing game and SJP's running game. I expect a close game.
This should be the game of the year. I would think most people will go with the Prep as a slight favorite, but I will go with the upset . Drew Gordan will be watching and guiding Brett from the heavens LOL. Nice venue also at Upper Dublin. Whoever comes out ahead will probably be facing the other again anyway in the PCL playoffs. Look for some fireworks !!!!
SJP and LaSalle are the only 6A schools in the PCL, so they are guaranteed to meet in early November.
The Holy War. Hasn't meant much in recent years but with Brett running things, there will be no shortage of offensive strategies. But then again Tulla may be right that it will be a defensive game. Should be a good one! And I think the Beef and Ale is close enough to Upper Dublin. Right down Joshua!
Get your popcorn!!!
Get your popcorn!!!
I don't think anyone in the state (unless you follow LS closely) had LaSalle 6-0 at this point. I think Prep is still the better team. But, for once, LaSalle has the best player (Joey O'Brien) and they have the better qb. Gordon has done a fabulous job since he took over in January. He's addressed every aspect of the program and improved it. It's hard to catch the Prep in one off-season. So regardless of what happens, LaSalle moving on from Steinmetz and handing the reigns to Gordon was the best thing possible for the program and now everyone can see it.
Do you think O'Brien is better than Sacca and West? I don't know, having seen O'Brien only on the bits of Bob Long's broadcasts I've seen.
Paul, I'm not saying it will be a defensive game, only that the outcome may depend on which defense does better against the other team's offensive strength. The Prep's secondary is relatively inexperienced and has looked quite vulnerable at times.
He goes both ways and it can be argued he’s their best defensive player and offensive threat.
Not taking anything away from West and Sacca, great players too.
This game will be determined by which line dominates. Lasalle will try to air it out. Prep will try to bully them out the game. Watch for Special Teams to play a factor.
O’Brien may be the 11th best player in this game. He’s not in the same zip code as Sacca or Smith.
I’ll take Prep in a close one. I think their OL and defense will ultimately be the difference.
Got a few. Will say the following.
* Both play solid defense with SJP at 21ppg, LS 7 (!)
* SJP's schedule includes no winning teams but a few real powers in OLGC and St. Eds.
OLGC at 4-2, who they edged 21-19, includes losses to undefeated Depaul-NJ and Riverdale Bapt-Md. Loss to St. Edward at 3-3 shouldn't mislead with St Ed losing to undefeated Boyle-Ky (-17), Massillon (-10) and Glenville (-1). Big wins vs Elder and Pick-North. SJP's 2nd qtr meltdown (allowed 5Tds, historic for St. Eds) something of an anomaly, despite St. Eds typically being one of the best programs in the country.
* LS's schedule is respectable (5 of 6 winners) with Harrisburg, Malvern and Calvert Hall wins but nothing like Hawks. Most of their opponents played powerful teams where you can do "linkage" for comparison. Calvert Hall at 4-2, is not their strongest team. Being routed by Spalding (6-0) 38-0 not as troubling for linkage thoughts knowing this is one of Spalding's very best teams. Harrisburg was managing (poorly) the loss of one of the best quarterbacks in the state in the opener. Most thought they were in BIG trouble but not by 38pts., 21-28 ok.
* Both score a lot of points, SJP at 32, LS at 31.
These are observations anyone can make. And I don't know these teams intimately. Saw some film where I thought SJP looked a little slower unless that was the comp of St. Ed's.....plus film that can mislead. LS's passing game could wreck things but Hawk's could steal a pick or two as well. A lot of risk in a HS passing attack.
Agree with RobberLucky that "It's hard to catch the Prep in one off-season," and leave it with that inference.
I agree that the records and scores to this point in the season don't mean a lot.
For a team like SJP with several inexperienced players in key roles opening in Cleveland against St. Edward's was especially tough. You could focus on the 35 points they gave up in 8 or 9 minutes of the second quarter or on St. Edward's not scoring in the other three quarters and the Prep putting up two second half TDs. They should have beaten Good Counsel by a couple of TDs but a strange combination of things (including a very questionable penalty call) made it a nail-biter. Erasmus is much weaker than the Erasmus team SJP played two years ago. The Judge game was simply a big mismatch--like LaSalle's games against O'Hara and Episcopal.
Calvert Hall is not nearly at the same level of Good Counsel. LaSalle's best opponent so far has probably been Malvern, but Malvern lost to Roman, which has since lost to Bonner and by a big margin to DeMatha.
My point is obvious: very little in August and September for either team tells us much more than that LaSalle has improved a good bit and the Prep is not as strong as the they've been most years recently. I suspect the winner will be determined by penalties and turnovers--unlike in some games in recent years where the Prep got penalized much more than LaSalle but still won handily. I also think the game in November could look very different depending on injuries--not having West available at the end of the Good Counsel game made a big difference-- on how much Folkes develops, etc. Not sure how much depth LaSalle has.
Better get to the Ale House early. Game 1 starts at 4:08 and one can anticipate a packed bar.
Thanks for the reminder Relayer. Busy evening!
I heard La Salle’s freshman team beat Prep today. First time in a while.
"You could focus on the 35 points they gave up in 8 or 9 minutes of the second quarter or on St. Edward's not scoring in the other three quarters and the Prep putting up two second half TDs." Excellent point tulla. If that Hawk team takes the field, it's a long day for LaSalle.
I'll second your view on turnovers and penalties. Some are so untimely at key moments in the game to be major game changers, especially in the red zone. I also think a lot especially in HS about missed tackles and dropped passes that are tremendous momentum shifters. As critical, especially again at the HS level, is special teams play, especially punting and coverage.
While the game has changed dramatically over the years, the play of Special Teams, Defense then Offense as per Paterno, and in that order, still decides the day.
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Make a day of it,Penn state at noon. Lots of beer to be consumed before the Prep/Lasalle kickoff. At least 2-3 wet beefs also lol
