Marist vs. Sweet Home: how the teams match up

Ken Roberts

Sports Writer

The date has been set for some time now in the back of players and coaches’ minds. To reach their goal of a state title, it would eventually have to go through Marist, the current number one ranked team in the state. Marist’s first round win over Ontario puts that meeting on the calendar this Friday at Husky Stadium at 7:00 P.M.

The Huskies have something to prove, and they want to do it in front of the hometown fans. Coach Younger has told the team, “Don’t let Baker beat us twice,” in reference to last year’s loss to the Bulldogs in the playoffs.

“We’ll need a good week of practice,” said quarterback Tim Mazookus (Matuszak). “It’s going to be a battle. The whole team knew it was going to come down to this.”

Coach Rob Younger is wary of the number of big play athletes on the Spartan team, similar to his own squad. Younger applauded coach Dustin Nichol’s defensive scheme of “bend and don’t break” that worked so well against Phoenix. He expects the big plays to be made by the defensive unit as it has all year.

“We have to contain them and try to eliminate the big plays,” said Younger. “We want to make them go on time-consuming drives.”

Linebackers Matt Zollman and Travis Smith are anxious to shut down Marist’s running game, what Zollman said “they live and die by”.

“I’m looking forward to hitting them hard and showing them that we are the better team,” said Smith. “I’ll have to be taking my pursuit to the outside.”

Younger also wants his offense to grind it out to keep the ball out of Marist’s hands.

“Our best defense will be our offense,” he stated. “We want to control the clock with our running game and field position with our special teams.”

Running back Seth Graves thinks it can be done but doesn’t underestimate the ability of the Spartans.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a team as disciplined in tackling as them,” said Graves. “They don’t overpursue or miss tackles.”

Confidence is high among the Huskies, but not too high.

“I know we have the talent,” emphasized defensive end Tomas Rosa. “They are good, but nothing we can’t beat.”

Tyler Emmert believes the time for talk is over.

“We’ll see if that number one ranking is for real or not,” said Emmert.

Team Matchups

Quarterback

Senior Tim Matuszak did not have to do much other than handoff to Graves and Smith against Phoenix. His two completed passes this week were to Smith out of the backfield. His timing will have to be precise against the talented defensive backfield of Marist. Expect him to have his best game of the year because he plays best in tough situations.

6’8″ senior Ryan Coldren has proven that he can throw when required. Marist has relied on his touch in several games this year, including their win over Ontario when he threw for 253 yards. However, he sets up slowly, lacks foot speed, and carries the ball away from his body, making him vulnerable to fumbling. If Sweet Home pressures him, it should neutralize Marist’s long ball threat. Still Coldren has thrown for 25 touchdowns in ten games; it won’t be easy.

Running Backs

With Seth Graves’ 217 yard performance against Phoenix, Marist will probably try to take away the inside game, though they did not show that they could consistently stop the run against Ontario. The Huskies will use Travis Smith on quick strikes up the middle and may use Brandon Miner more in this game to get to the outside. Also, the backs will be utilized in the passing game.

Ontario limited the Marist running game to under a 100 yards. But speedster Dale Morris and 230 pound fullback Erick Hunt have both rushed for more than 1000 yards. The defense will have to get to Morris quickly and not allow him to scoot to the outside. Morris likes to take a deep pitch and use his shifty footwork to find an open hole. Hunt, who often uses a spin move inside, also looks to pop it to the outside. The Huskies will have to tackle cleanly and punish these runners physically early in the game.

Receivers

Sweet Home’s receivers are going to have to be sure-handed. Coach Younger has Matuszak throwing to a variety of receivers. If the Husky receivers can combine for 100 yards, it should provide the necessary balance to the running game. The best routes will probably be underneath the defensive backs with passes to the flat, slants or outside cuts.

Tyler Coleman is the ace of the Spartans receiving corps and their primary deep threat. He has had a number of big games like he did versus Ontario, when he caught 7 passes for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns. Alex Zerzan, their other starting wide receiver, and tight end Alex Westerberg are quality possession receivers. Coldren throws to both his wide receivers and Hunt and Morris out of the backfield in the flat to isolate them one on one. He has completed touchdown passes to at least three other receivers.

Offensive and Defensive Line

The Huskies were masterful on their run blocks against Phoenix. With injuries to starting tackles Rob Martin and Mack Reynolds, Chris Kelley and Phil DeLong raised their level of play and provided an example of the tremendous depth in the Husky line. Line play has been a major factor in the Husky victories; the constant rotation wears down their opponents. The offensive line has protected Matuszak extremely well. He has not been sacked since he has become the starting quarterback. Defensively, Tomas Rosa and Zach Reynolds were especially strong. The Huskies will have to stay lower than their counterparts to maintain gap coverage.

Marist, on the other hand, stuck with the same five offensive linemen and four defensive linemen practically the whole game, three of whom played both ways. They didn’t substitute until the fourth quarter when the game was clearly over.

Their line is huge. Senior center and defensive tackle Seth Miner at 225 pounds is their smallest offensive lineman. Other two way starters are senior tackle Jeff Stephens, 275, and junior guard and defensive tackle Eric Wood, 285. Senior transfer Joe Oliver, 290 pound guard and Phillip Slager, a 230 pound sophomore tackle round out the O-line. Senior Chris Johnston at 180 pounds is the other defensive tackle. Despite their size, they did not physically dominate a smaller Ontario line, often standing straight up on both sides of the ball.

Linebackers

Sweet Home’s linebackers were flying to the ball against Phoenix. Travis Smith led all tacklers from his outside spot, and Matt Zollman and Ryan Elliott played their best games of the year on the inside. Brandon Martin, who had a slight shoulder injury, still was a warrior chasing down Pirate runners. Outside corners must stay at home and keep outside containment.

Alex Westerberg and sophomore Kyle Haskin are the outside linebackers while Erick Hunt is the inside linebacker. Occasionally they bring up safety Alex Zerzan as a second interior backer.

Hunt is a two time all league linebacker, though he wasn’t that much of a factor against Ontario.

Westerberg was extremely active. The Spartans will stunt on obvious passing plays, something Hunt especially likes to do.

Defensive backs

Tim Matuszak added two more receptions to his career record total. Tyler Emmert, in his first start at safety, had to make a number of saving tackles against the crafty Phoenix runners. Phoenix didn’t have the quarterback to test the pass defense of the Huskies; Marist does. It will be a delicate balancing act for Sweet Home to disguise their coverage with the use of their linebacker crew on occasion and still provide a daunting pass rush.

Coleman, their leader in interceptions as a defensive halfback, and Morris, a safety, are very active defenders. Both are capable of returning interceptions for touchdowns. Zerzan is the other starting safety and Michael Brelsford is the other cornerback. Like all positions, the Spartans play these four throughout the game with few substitutions. Andy Rogan did get some playing time.

Special Teams

Heath Belknap’s first outing as place kicker was perfect. He was six for six in extra points and also provided deep enough kicks to keep Phoenix backed up at their own 25 to start their drives.

During warmups, he nailed a 50 yard field goal. Tyler Emmert punted adequately and still has yet to have a punt returned. Field position has always been a strong point for the Huskies. Their kick coverage is second to none.

Senior Drew Macha, normally accurate on his extra points, was only 2 for 5 against Ontario.

He had two kickoffs into the endzone, but other kicks were very returnable as were his punts.

Coleman is always a threat on punt returns. Zerzan has returned one kickoff this year for a touchdown.

Intangibles

The Huskies had some more players banged up. Rob Martin with a sprained ankle, Travis Smith, Mack Reynolds, Brandon Martin, Brandon Miner, and Tomas Rosa all had to come out of the game for a while. Ricky Howe is still doubtful. Can the Huskies continue to overcome these problems as they have all year? Marist seems to be injury free.

Who will be the most physical team on the field? Sweet Home’s defense and offense have been built around toughness. Can they take Marist out of their comfort zone with some serious pops to their skill players? Will they control the line of scrimmage?

Weather conditions may play a role. Wet weather is more apt to affect the Spartan passing game. Coach Younger has already planned for that probability in his practice schedule.

Sweet Home has won with field position by their special teams and by their positive takeaway ratio. In big games of closely matched opponents, the outcome will probably be decided by those factors.

Marist Record, 10-0, 7-0 league Sweet Home Record, 10-0, 5-0 league

defeated Newport, 48-6 defeated Sherwood, 34-15

defeated Scappoose, 42-21 defeated Wilsonville, 24-14

defeated Pleasant Hill, 36-13 defeated Newport, 50-12

defeated LaPine, 19-0 defeated Central, 41-13

defeated Elmira, 48-7 defeated Molalla, 39-15

defeated Junction City, 49-14 defeated Cascade, 50-12

defeated Creswell, 35-14 defeated Sisters, 19-0

defeated Siuslaw, 48-38 defeated Stayton, 31-8

defeated Cottage Grove, 63-21 defeated North Marion, 41-29

defeated Ontario, 38-23 defeated Phoenix, 42-7

Total
0
Share