The big cats of Stroud and Maud will carry with them 10-0 regular season records as they entertain opponents tonight for the first round of the 2009 postseason.
Stroud’s Tigers ended the regular season as the top team in District A-5, and likewise the Maud Tigers finished atop the District C-4 standings. This marks the third consecutive season that Maud earned the district championship.
Last week’s 54-6 showing at Bluejacket was Maud’s 29th consecutive district victory. That is the second longest streak in 8-man football, behind reigning Class C champion Shattuck.
Maud will host District C-3’s No. 4 team, Covington-Douglas, at 7:30 tonight, while Stroud hosts District A-6’s No. 4 team, Savanna. The Covington-Douglas Wildcats finished this year’s regular run at 6-4 overall and 5-3 against district opposition.
“This team may be fourth in their district, but they’re definitely the best team we’ve seen so far,” said Maud head coach Bruce Harrell. “But we believe we’re going to win this football game.
“We believe we can move the football on them.”
Maud is 0-3 versus C-3 squads. The Tigers were defeated 34-12 by the Wildcats in 2007, which was the last year Maud finished the regular season unbeaten.
The Tigers are still in the hunt for their first football championship. Maud advanced to the semifinals in 1993, when the Tigers still played 11-man ball, and they have not advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs since making the transition to 8-man ball in 2006.
Harrell credits the Tigers with being healthy and prepared, and said they had some of their best practice sessions of the season this week.
Maud ended the 2008 season at 9-2 after a first-round playoff loss to Seiling. Covington-Douglas reached the third round to end the season at 9-3.
The Wildcats’ Dylan Sterling leads Class C in rushing yardage with 1,175 on 181 attempts. Sterling has scored 22 touchdowns, including six on 17 receptions.
Quarterback Brett Stopp has netted 14 scores and close to 1,300 yards through the air for Covington-Douglas.
Maud quarterback Shane Bailey, who has 21 TDs and more than 800 rushing yards on 21 carries, has completed 23 of 50 tosses for 10 scores and close to 630 yards. Jordy Garren leads the squad in receptions with 338 yards and five touchdowns on 11 snags. He also leads the state in tackles with 170.
Robert Fellows has 13 touchdowns and more than 1,100 rushing yards for the Tigers.
Savanna at Stroud
The Stroud Tigers, making a third consecutive appearance in the postseason, will attempt to nail down a third state title. The Tigers were champions in 1969 and 1981, and the 1969 season was the last time Stroud finished the regular campaign undefeated.
“I like our chances,” Stroud head coach Chris Elerick said of this year’s playoff hopes.
Savanna’s Bulldogs ended this year’s regular season at 7-3 overall and 6-3 against A-6 opponents.
Elerick said the Tigers have done well opposite A-6 teams in the past, including a 3-0 advantge over the past three years. The Tigers defeated Savanna 27-0 in last year’s first round.
“We’ve done well in the first-round matchups so far,” Elerick said.
The Tigers ended their 2008 season at 10-2 after a 41-7 setback in the second round to eventual Class A champion Morrison.
Elerick said his crew is “a little dinged up” with bumps and bruises, but the players are excited and ready. He is impressed with the workmanship they displayed in their preparation this week.
“This is not new to them,” Elerick said. “They expected to be here, and you want that. It takes on a different tone.”
Cody Pritchard is among Class A’s leading rushers. The Stroud senior has 21 touchdowns and more than 1,350 yards on 139 totes — an average of 9.7 yards per carry.
Teammates Dakota Biswell and Jeremee Knipp have a combined 650-plus rushing yards that include nine scores. Biswell also has four TDs and close to 300 yards on 11 receptions.
Quarterback Andrew Miller has thrown for 16 scores and more than 1,460 yards for the Tigers. The senior has completed 79 of 135 tosses while being picked off only six times.
Levi Killman is averaging more than 12 yards per carry and has a total of two TDs and 177 yards on 14 attempts, while Juliano Barsin has four rushing scores and 166 yards on 14 carries.
|
|
|
The big cats of Stroud and Maud will carry with them 10-0 regular season records as they entertain opponents tonight for the first round of the 2009 postseason.
Stroud’s Tigers ended the regular season as the top team in District A-5, and likewise the Maud Tigers finished atop the District C-4 standings. This marks the third consecutive season that Maud earned the district championship.
Last week’s 54-6 showing at Bluejacket was Maud’s 29th consecutive district victory. That is the second longest streak in 8-man football, behind reigning Class C champion Shattuck.
Maud will host District C-3’s No. 4 team, Covington-Douglas, at 7:30 tonight, while Stroud hosts District A-6’s No. 4 team, Savanna. The Covington-Douglas Wildcats finished this year’s regular run at 6-4 overall and 5-3 against district opposition.
“This team may be fourth in their district, but they’re definitely the best team we’ve seen so far,” said Maud head coach Bruce Harrell. “But we believe we’re going to win this football game.
“We believe we can move the football on them.”
Maud is 0-3 versus C-3 squads. The Tigers were defeated 34-12 by the Wildcats in 2007, which was the last year Maud finished the regular season unbeaten.
The Tigers are still in the hunt for their first football championship. Maud advanced to the semifinals in 1993, when the Tigers still played 11-man ball, and they have not advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs since making the transition to 8-man ball in 2006.
Harrell credits the Tigers with being healthy and prepared, and said they had some of their best practice sessions of the season this week.
Maud ended the 2008 season at 9-2 after a first-round playoff loss to Seiling. Covington-Douglas reached the third round to end the season at 9-3.
The Wildcats’ Dylan Sterling leads Class C in rushing yardage with 1,175 on 181 attempts. Sterling has scored 22 touchdowns, including six on 17 receptions.
Quarterback Brett Stopp has netted 14 scores and close to 1,300 yards through the air for Covington-Douglas.
Maud quarterback Shane Bailey, who has 21 TDs and more than 800 rushing yards on 21 carries, has completed 23 of 50 tosses for 10 scores and close to 630 yards. Jordy Garren leads the squad in receptions with 338 yards and five touchdowns on 11 snags. He also leads the state in tackles with 170.
Robert Fellows has 13 touchdowns and more than 1,100 rushing yards for the Tigers.
Savanna at Stroud
The Stroud Tigers, making a third consecutive appearance in the postseason, will attempt to nail down a third state title. The Tigers were champions in 1969 and 1981, and the 1969 season was the last time Stroud finished the regular campaign undefeated.
“I like our chances,” Stroud head coach Chris Elerick said of this year’s playoff hopes.
Savanna’s Bulldogs ended this year’s regular season at 7-3 overall and 6-3 against A-6 opponents.
Elerick said the Tigers have done well opposite A-6 teams in the past, including a 3-0 advantge over the past three years. The Tigers defeated Savanna 27-0 in last year’s first round.
“We’ve done well in the first-round matchups so far,” Elerick said.
The Tigers ended their 2008 season at 10-2 after a 41-7 setback in the second round to eventual Class A champion Morrison.
Elerick said his crew is “a little dinged up” with bumps and bruises, but the players are excited and ready. He is impressed with the workmanship they displayed in their preparation this week.
“This is not new to them,” Elerick said. “They expected to be here, and you want that. It takes on a different tone.”
Cody Pritchard is among Class A’s leading rushers. The Stroud senior has 21 touchdowns and more than 1,350 yards on 139 totes — an average of 9.7 yards per carry.
Teammates Dakota Biswell and Jeremee Knipp have a combined 650-plus rushing yards that include nine scores. Biswell also has four TDs and close to 300 yards on 11 receptions.
Quarterback Andrew Miller has thrown for 16 scores and more than 1,460 yards for the Tigers. The senior has completed 79 of 135 tosses while being picked off only six times.
Levi Killman is averaging more than 12 yards per carry and has a total of two TDs and 177 yards on 14 attempts, while Juliano Barsin has four rushing scores and 166 yards on 14 carries.
