Battle of wills
Israel Potoczny The Daily Record
Nov 8, 2008
Monday’s Class 5 Sectional game between Lebanon (7-4) and Raymore-Peculiar (9-1) will feature two different approaches to accomplishing the same goal — score points.
Ray-Pec, the state’s No. 1 ranked Class 5 team, has used a misdirection attack to average 39 points, while Lebanon has used the spread to average 33.
“It will be an interesting match-up because it is a difference in the style’s of football from that area to here,” Lebanon head coach Will Christian said.
Ray-Pec features as balanced an offensive attack as you will find. They average 194 yards rushing and pass for 195 yards per game. They average 5.2 yards per rush. 11.7 per pass.
“We have to bottle them in,” Christian said. “We have to eleminate the surge and that is something we do well. I think with our defensive line, Justin Britt and Trevor Byrd, they play well. We just have to do a good job with that misdirection, and eleminate their offensive line from kicking our teeth in.”
The Ravens have played five Class 6 teams, including two, Blue Springs and Blue Springs South, that are powerhouses, and another in Liberty that is 7-3.
Joplin, a team that tied with Camdenton for the Ozark Conference crown, has been blown out in recent years by the Class 6 Kansas City schools. This year, Lee’s Summit North (who was 2-5 when they played the Eagles) did not attempt a pass and rolled up more than 600 yards rushing en route to a 63-35 win over Joplin.
“Kansas City is a pretty heavy run area,” Christian said. “If you were to break down the best teams in Kansas City, they all have quarterbacks and throw the ball well, but they run the ball first.”
Christian said Ray-Pec’s strength is on defense where they feature two NCAA Division I recruits. The Ravens allow 20 points per game.
“I think we’ll be able to do some things offensively, and anything can happen,” Christian said.
Match-ups to watch
Andrew Wilson, a 6-foot-4 230-pound linebacker, is a University of Missouri recruit, against the Lebanon running attack.
LHS senior Brett Smith has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and is averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
“Wilson is a stud, by far the best linebacker we have seen all season,” Christian said. “He is like having a tank in there, he is a beast.
“He is extremely important to them and their success.”
Lebanon senior Justin Britt, a University of Missouri recruit against Ray-Pec’s Josh Johnson, a 6-foot-9 260-pound defensive end, who is a Kansas State University recruit.
“That will be an interesting match-up, a couple of Division I kids going against each other,” Christian said.
Lebanon passing attack against Ray-Pec’s defense.
While it is safe to say the Yellowjackets haven’t seen a run attack like Ray-Pec’s, it is doubtful the Ravens have seen a passing attack like the ‘Jackets. LHS is averaging nearly 300 yards passing per game.
“We just have to do what we do,” Christian said. “I think we’ll move the chains. We will have to throw the ball well to beat them, but it will have to be a balanced attack.
“We need them to be in a spot where they’re not sure if we’re going to run it or throw it.”
