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Never mind that Tecumseh’s first-round playoff foe is a perennial powerhouse.
Savage head coach Greg George remains very enthused about making the Class 4A playoffs for the second consecutive year.
“We’re happy to be in the playoffs. There’s something extra special about Friday night playoff time,” George said of his upcoming battle at Clinton.
An off year for Clinton is one void of a state championship banner. Since 1996, head coach Mike Lee, a Shawnee product, has guided the Red Tornadoes to eight state titles — 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
This year’s edition is 9-1 with its only setback coming to Class 3A top-ranked and undefeated Heritage Hall, 37-17, in Week 2. That contest was closer than the final spread indicated as Heritage Hall scored on a 55-yard pass off a fake punt and an interception return by a defensive lineman off a deflected pass.
“Clinton is huge up front and they play great defense,” George said. “Their front seven has two tackles about 6-3, 295.
“We have to stop the run, man-up on defense and cover their play-action passes.”
Clinton’s offensive trademark is a hard-nosed running attack, mixed in with play-action passes at opportune moments.
Senior Lane Kinney took over the quarterback duties when sophomore Garrison Mendoza blew out his knee in a practice session following the third game of the season.
In seven district contests, Kinney threw just 53 passes but completed 32 for 60.3 percent. He has compiled 533 passing yards, including three touchdowns, and has rushed for 390 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Senior running back Saul Pina is Clinton’s leading rusher with 1,394 yards on 196 carries, including 17 touchdowns. Junior teammate Jailee Range has 630 yards, including seven touchdowns, on 63 carries — a 10-yard average.
“We will have to put seven or eight defensive players in the box against the run,” George said. “Our kids have to be able to recognize their sets and stop them on first down. We can’t be facing second-and-five or second-and-four. We have to have them second-and-eight.
“Their M.O. (method of operation) is to run the football, but they can burn you deep with the play-action,” George said.
Tecumseh, 5-5 overall, came in fourth in District 4A-2 with a 4-3 record.
Quarterback Kyle Fowler has good senior offensive numbers. He has completed 118 of 243 aerials for 1,785 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has been intercepted 15 times.
Fowler is also Tecumseh’s leading rusher with 808 yards on 180 carries, 11 of which have produced touchdowns.
Running back Julian Tramble has 525 yards on 72 carries, including three touchdowns.
Ryan Craighead is Tecumseh’s top receiver with 15 catches for 537 yards and four touchdowns. Also having a good year are Francisco Hukill, 30 catches for 402 yards and nine touchdowns; and Chanler Martinez, 24 receptions for 354 yards, including one touchdown.
Tecumseh will be without three-year line starter Hunter Montgomery, who broke his tibia in last week’s 47-13 victory over Santa Fe South.
“That’s a big loss,” George said. “Hunter played guard, tackle, wherever we needed him. We’ve got a couple of guys, Justin Waldroupe and Daxton Hurst, who are trying to fill his shoes.”
Tecumseh and Clinton haven’t met since the first round of the 2005 playoffs. Clinton prevailed, 42-7.
Never mind that Tecumseh’s first-round playoff foe is a perennial powerhouse.
Savage head coach Greg George remains very enthused about making the Class 4A playoffs for the second consecutive year.
“We’re happy to be in the playoffs. There’s something extra special about Friday night playoff time,” George said of his upcoming battle at Clinton.
An off year for Clinton is one void of a state championship banner. Since 1996, head coach Mike Lee, a Shawnee product, has guided the Red Tornadoes to eight state titles — 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
This year’s edition is 9-1 with its only setback coming to Class 3A top-ranked and undefeated Heritage Hall, 37-17, in Week 2. That contest was closer than the final spread indicated as Heritage Hall scored on a 55-yard pass off a fake punt and an interception return by a defensive lineman off a deflected pass.
“Clinton is huge up front and they play great defense,” George said. “Their front seven has two tackles about 6-3, 295.
“We have to stop the run, man-up on defense and cover their play-action passes.”
Clinton’s offensive trademark is a hard-nosed running attack, mixed in with play-action passes at opportune moments.
Senior Lane Kinney took over the quarterback duties when sophomore Garrison Mendoza blew out his knee in a practice session following the third game of the season.
In seven district contests, Kinney threw just 53 passes but completed 32 for 60.3 percent. He has compiled 533 passing yards, including three touchdowns, and has rushed for 390 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Senior running back Saul Pina is Clinton’s leading rusher with 1,394 yards on 196 carries, including 17 touchdowns. Junior teammate Jailee Range has 630 yards, including seven touchdowns, on 63 carries — a 10-yard average.
“We will have to put seven or eight defensive players in the box against the run,” George said. “Our kids have to be able to recognize their sets and stop them on first down. We can’t be facing second-and-five or second-and-four. We have to have them second-and-eight.
“Their M.O. (method of operation) is to run the football, but they can burn you deep with the play-action,” George said.
Tecumseh, 5-5 overall, came in fourth in District 4A-2 with a 4-3 record.
Quarterback Kyle Fowler has good senior offensive numbers. He has completed 118 of 243 aerials for 1,785 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has been intercepted 15 times.
Fowler is also Tecumseh’s leading rusher with 808 yards on 180 carries, 11 of which have produced touchdowns.
Running back Julian Tramble has 525 yards on 72 carries, including three touchdowns.
Ryan Craighead is Tecumseh’s top receiver with 15 catches for 537 yards and four touchdowns. Also having a good year are Francisco Hukill, 30 catches for 402 yards and nine touchdowns; and Chanler Martinez, 24 receptions for 354 yards, including one touchdown.
Tecumseh will be without three-year line starter Hunter Montgomery, who broke his tibia in last week’s 47-13 victory over Santa Fe South.
“That’s a big loss,” George said. “Hunter played guard, tackle, wherever we needed him. We’ve got a couple of guys, Justin Waldroupe and Daxton Hurst, who are trying to fill his shoes.”
Tecumseh and Clinton haven’t met since the first round of the 2005 playoffs. Clinton prevailed, 42-7.
