Fireworks display set to go off at 10 a.m. Thursday when Macks, Hilltoppers meet
Display location:Camp Randall Stadium
City:Madison
State:WI
Date:Nov.19
Show contact:paul.huset@lee.net
Details: If there’s one word to describe Thursday’s WIAA Division 7 state title game between McDonell and Burlington Catholic, it’s dynamic.
Whether it’s about javascript:void(0)the run and pass games of McDonell or the arm and feet of Burlington Catholic quarterback Brian Fliess, the word seems to apply.
“It creates a problem,” Burlington Catholic coach Tom Aldrich said. “I mean, you never know what they’re going to do. The defense, they just got to trust their keys and play football. You can’t just tell yourself, ‘OK, we know they’re going to run on this play or going to pass.’ It keeps you on our toes and keeps you honest.”
He added that he has faced only one team with McDonell’s balance this season as his squad goes for a second straight state championship and its 27th win in 28 tries Thursday at 10 a.m. in Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
Aldrich said that the multi-dimensional offense comes down to three main players — quarterback Andy Davis, receiver Derek Watton and running back Alex Hiess.
“They’ve got a three-headed monster,” he said. “We can’t just focus on one or the other. It’s a dilemma we have on defense.”
The Macks have certainly made the most of all those offensive weapons lately, especially with starting running back Hiess back to full-time duty.
Hiess played the whole game at running game in the state semifinal against Gilman, collecting 156 yards and three touchdowns. It was the first full contest at running back since he strained his medial collateral ligament (MCL) on Oct. 16, though he has seen extensive play at linebacker.
Aldrich said that his team is stronger versus the run than the pass.
“We’ve been pretty stout against the run with the exception of one game,” he said. “With passing, we’re daring teams to throw.”
Odds are the Macks take them up on that dare.
Davis has found Watton for big plays in the playoffs and with Burlington Catholic putting plenty of men in the box against the run, Watton will have opportunities against cornerbacks.
“We isolate them, they put them on an island,” Aldrich said. “They play man-to-man, we hug the line of scrimmage from the start of the play so they’re definitely on an island and they got to make sure they can cover.”
For the McDonell defense, there’s good news and bad news.
The good news comes from the size advantage the line has. While McDonell has a few starters tipping the scales at 200 pounds, the Hilltoppers have none.
“In my honest opinion, I don’t think they’ve seen a defensive line like ours,” McDonell coach Todd Brown said.
The bad news comes from a crucial injury at linebacker. Brown said that top tackler and team leader Landon Bresina will be out of the state final after tearing his MCL against Gilman. Brown speculated the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) could have gone too.
Brown said Lucas Roth will now fill in and go to the outside with Jake Bohl on the inside.
Zach Feldhake and Clint Abramczak will fill in on offense, where Bresina plays back.
“We lose something on both sides with Landon out but we hope guys step up,’ Brown said.
Defensively, the Macks will be going against a spread option offense that it hasn’t seen much of this season.
Brown compared it to the offenses of conference foes Marathon and Phillips, teams McDonell lost to 21-20 and beat 14-12, respectively.
At the helm of the Burlington Catholic offense is the dynamic Fliess. Fliess is the team’s leading rusher with 1,128 yards and 17 touchdowns to go with his 1,762 passing yards and 22 scoring throws.
“Fliess is such a good runner,” Brown said. “He’s quick and he’s shifty. We just got to be aware of him, that’s the first and foremost thing.”
Will Paulus has been Fliess’ deep threat with 698 yards and 14 touchdowns while Sam Wagner is the top running back with 925 yards and 18 touchdowns. Wagner’s 2009 campaign saw him miss four games with a fractured thumb.
With an offense that runs a lot of misdirection, Brown said his big defensive line will have to control the gaps at the line of scrimmage to be successful.
While that line and the team overall has the size advantage, Brown said that doesn’t necessarily give Burlington Catholic the edge when it comes to speed.
“Nobody thought we could match Gilman’s speed either,” he said. “We played fast teams all year. Edgar, Marathon, Gilman, Plum City — all fast.”
Another possible Burlington Catholic edge that Aldrich ruled out was state experience.
His Hilltoppers won the Division 7 state title game last year with a 37-14 win over Hilbert while McDonell is making its first trip to state since joining the WIAA in 2000.
Aldrich said that familiarity with the setting and atmosphere won’t make a difference.
“Everyone has nerves,” he said. “It’s the game you prepare for all offseason and dream of during the season. They’ll all have nerves but when the game starts, they go away and it’s all up to the kids.”
City:Madison
State:WI
Date:Nov.19
Show contact:paul.huset@lee.net
Details: If there’s one word to describe Thursday’s WIAA Division 7 state title game between McDonell and Burlington Catholic, it’s dynamic.
Whether it’s about javascript:void(0)the run and pass games of McDonell or the arm and feet of Burlington Catholic quarterback Brian Fliess, the word seems to apply.
“It creates a problem,” Burlington Catholic coach Tom Aldrich said. “I mean, you never know what they’re going to do. The defense, they just got to trust their keys and play football. You can’t just tell yourself, ‘OK, we know they’re going to run on this play or going to pass.’ It keeps you on our toes and keeps you honest.”
He added that he has faced only one team with McDonell’s balance this season as his squad goes for a second straight state championship and its 27th win in 28 tries Thursday at 10 a.m. in Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
Aldrich said that the multi-dimensional offense comes down to three main players — quarterback Andy Davis, receiver Derek Watton and running back Alex Hiess.
“They’ve got a three-headed monster,” he said. “We can’t just focus on one or the other. It’s a dilemma we have on defense.”
The Macks have certainly made the most of all those offensive weapons lately, especially with starting running back Hiess back to full-time duty.
Hiess played the whole game at running game in the state semifinal against Gilman, collecting 156 yards and three touchdowns. It was the first full contest at running back since he strained his medial collateral ligament (MCL) on Oct. 16, though he has seen extensive play at linebacker.
Aldrich said that his team is stronger versus the run than the pass.
“We’ve been pretty stout against the run with the exception of one game,” he said. “With passing, we’re daring teams to throw.”
Odds are the Macks take them up on that dare.
Davis has found Watton for big plays in the playoffs and with Burlington Catholic putting plenty of men in the box against the run, Watton will have opportunities against cornerbacks.
“We isolate them, they put them on an island,” Aldrich said. “They play man-to-man, we hug the line of scrimmage from the start of the play so they’re definitely on an island and they got to make sure they can cover.”
For the McDonell defense, there’s good news and bad news.
The good news comes from the size advantage the line has. While McDonell has a few starters tipping the scales at 200 pounds, the Hilltoppers have none.
“In my honest opinion, I don’t think they’ve seen a defensive line like ours,” McDonell coach Todd Brown said.
The bad news comes from a crucial injury at linebacker. Brown said that top tackler and team leader Landon Bresina will be out of the state final after tearing his MCL against Gilman. Brown speculated the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) could have gone too.
Brown said Lucas Roth will now fill in and go to the outside with Jake Bohl on the inside.
Zach Feldhake and Clint Abramczak will fill in on offense, where Bresina plays back.
“We lose something on both sides with Landon out but we hope guys step up,’ Brown said.
Defensively, the Macks will be going against a spread option offense that it hasn’t seen much of this season.
Brown compared it to the offenses of conference foes Marathon and Phillips, teams McDonell lost to 21-20 and beat 14-12, respectively.
At the helm of the Burlington Catholic offense is the dynamic Fliess. Fliess is the team’s leading rusher with 1,128 yards and 17 touchdowns to go with his 1,762 passing yards and 22 scoring throws.
“Fliess is such a good runner,” Brown said. “He’s quick and he’s shifty. We just got to be aware of him, that’s the first and foremost thing.”
Will Paulus has been Fliess’ deep threat with 698 yards and 14 touchdowns while Sam Wagner is the top running back with 925 yards and 18 touchdowns. Wagner’s 2009 campaign saw him miss four games with a fractured thumb.
With an offense that runs a lot of misdirection, Brown said his big defensive line will have to control the gaps at the line of scrimmage to be successful.
While that line and the team overall has the size advantage, Brown said that doesn’t necessarily give Burlington Catholic the edge when it comes to speed.
“Nobody thought we could match Gilman’s speed either,” he said. “We played fast teams all year. Edgar, Marathon, Gilman, Plum City — all fast.”
Another possible Burlington Catholic edge that Aldrich ruled out was state experience.
His Hilltoppers won the Division 7 state title game last year with a 37-14 win over Hilbert while McDonell is making its first trip to state since joining the WIAA in 2000.
Aldrich said that familiarity with the setting and atmosphere won’t make a difference.
“Everyone has nerves,” he said. “It’s the game you prepare for all offseason and dream of during the season. They’ll all have nerves but when the game starts, they go away and it’s all up to the kids.”
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