|
This is the game I have been wanting and
waiting to see.
Carson-Newman at Grand Valley State in the
Division II semifinals.
Playing on ESPN for a 3:30 PM ET showdown for
the chance to play for the national championship.
The Grand Valley State Lakers have been on a
tear since the year 2001. They have a record of 114-8 as of their last victory
at defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth.
Want flashier numbers?
Grand Valley State quarterback Brad Iciek
(pronounced Eye-Check) has thrown for 2,786 yards, 31 touchdowns, and two
interceptions. Those two interceptions came in one game against Northern
Michigan - a game in which the Lakers won 31-19.
Of course Carson-Newman isn't bare of gaudy
numbers itself.
The Eagles have Division II's most productive
rushing offense with 349 yards per game, which is 55 yards more than the
nation's second ranked running team.
Neither C-N senior quarterback Alex Good nor GV
senior signal caller Iciek are still in contention for the Harlon Hill trophy.
The trophy is Division II's equivalent of the Heisman trophy. The three
candidates left in the running are West Liberty junior quarterback Zach, Wayne
State (MI) senior running back Joique Bell, and Arkansas Tech senior quarterback
Nick Graziano.
Saturday December 5th, 2009
#2 SR2 Carson-Newman (11-2) at #2 SR3 Grand
Valley (12-1), 3:30 PM ET
Forecast at Kickoff: 37 degrees, snow showers, 12 MPH wind, and 40% chance of
precipitation.
Point Spread: Grand Valley (-7.5)
Grand Valley is 56-3 at home in Lubbers Stadium
since 2001, which is about a .950 winning percentage.
Laker quarterback Iciek has thrown less
interceptions this season than Grand Valley has lost home games in nine years.
The weather conditions for this one on Saturday
afternoon will heavily favor Grand Valley.
The Lakers seemed poised for a national title,
but so is Carson-Newman. After taking down North Alabama at Braly Stadium, the
Eagles are full of emotion. It was the first win ever at Braly Municipal Stadium
for the Orange and Blue. Coach Ken Sparks has Carson-Newman playing with the
strut of those dominant days. It can be argued that the team of the '90s is
playing the team of the '00s.
This game with all of the fan fare and hype
will come down to only one thing.
Grand Valley has not seen the split back veer.
It is an offense that has produced national championship game berths in Division
II and threatens to do so again.
Quarterback Good or his running back Buck
Wakefield will have a run or two go for 40 plus yards against the Lakers.
Enter Joique Bell.
He is Wayne State's (MI) running back and will
be in an NFL camp next year.
He may even win the Harlon Hill trophy.
But he could not even crack 75 yards on Grand
Valley's defense. The senior star had only 74 yards rushing on 19 carries, with
a long of 43 yards. So one run was responsible for a decent rushing total in
that November contest.
Carson-Newman's ability to create dive plays
for 4-5 yards at a time will bring Grand Valley defenders close to the line. I
expect a lot of blitz packages to force a Good miscue.
The Laker running game is the most underrated
aspect of their success. Justin Sherrod, a 5'9 185 pound back has been splitting
carries with 5'11 210 pound James Berezik. You will find backup running back P.T.
Gates as a return man instead of in the backfield on most occasions. Gates is
quite electrifying and was a nationally recognized high school phenom.
The short passing game has allowed
Carson-Newman to extend drives during this playoff run. However, the home run
threat of receivers Reggie Hubbard and Charles Dobson will pay dividends for the
veer offense. No longer will teams be able to stack the box without
consequences.
Iciek will throw to a variety of receivers but
Blake Smolen is the one to watch. He has 49 catches for 810 yards and nine
scores. He has the ability to outrun the Eagle secondary in a foot race.
The Eagle secondary needs an encore performance
if they want to keep playing for the national title.
Both teams are in the top ten in turnover
margin in Division II.
This is going to be the best game of the year.
Two powerhouses colliding on a cold field in December.
Too much speed from Good, Wakefield, and
Hubbard.
Carson-Newman will beat the Lakers at Lubbers
Stadium.
Carson-Newman: 28 Grand Valley: 24
|
