After a regular season of seeing spread offenses, 3-5 defenses, spread options, and other assorted defensive and offensive schemes, Southern Columbia gets to see something pretty basic in its District 4-A semifinal against Sayre - a straightahead power running game.
"They're basically a Power I
team," said Southern coach Jim Roth. "It's more of a basic power running game from what we've seen in the last two films. We didn't see them do much passing. They run full house stuff with three backs in the backfield. Once in awhile they will run a double wing system similar to us or Shamokin.
"They're pretty basic in today's game."
The 5-5 Redskins don't have a big squad, with about 30 players, but they do have some tough kids, according to Roth.
"What we noticed is they have some tough kids. They're pretty aggressive up front and I was a little surprised at how physical they looked with a .500 record," Roth said. "They don't look small, but they don't look overly big up front either. Defensively they run a 4-4 and all four linebackers are pretty active.
"They seem to be a decent football team. I'm not familiar with a lot of their opponents, but they have some kids who run pretty well and some athletic kids. They were very much in it with Athens (a 30-21 loss) and that says something to me because Athens is a pretty good football team."
The Redskins are kind of a run-by-committee team. Jesse Dagutis has 788 yards and eight touchdowns rushing, and on just 77 carries. Kyle Post has 325 yards, Al Bodolus 302 yards and four touchdowns, Alex Lyons 243 yards and four TDs, and Lucas Simonis 232 yards.
Quarterback Brad Felt has completed 25 of 73 passes, for 570 yards and five touchdowns, with six interceptions.
Dagutis is the leading receiver, with just eight catches, but for 212 yards and four touchdowns.
Roth said Southern is generally healthy, but that running back/defensive end Matt Moore may not play this week because of a pinched nerve in his neck.
"We pulled him out of the Selinsgrove game and he's been getting treatments," Roth said. "He's practicing this week. We'd feel comfortable if he did play and he's probably going to dress, but he may not play."
Should the Tigers win this week, then next, they will achieve their 20th district title.