PLYMOUTH – The mantra of Plymouth football has become that every week is the NLC championship game. For this week’s match up with Northidge it really isn’t just hype.
“Our kids are really focused it’s not like I’ve had to say a lot. Northridge has always played well against us,” said Plymouth Coach John Barron. “They’ve only given up seven points all year and that’s the first thing that gets your attention. We’re both ranked in the top 10 and I really think that’s where we both belong. This is a game between two of the better 4A teams in the state.”
“I know they are very, very well coached and I know they have a lot of talent. Statistically in the NLC you have the highest scoring offense against the best defense – something is going to give.”
Both teams are unbeaten and come in off big wins in their opening NLC games. While the set look will be the same as Warsaw’s last week, the emphasis will be different for the Raiders offense.
“They are going to have no tight end and they’ll have two running backs in the backfield most of the time,” said Barron. “It seems like (Travis) Schlabach has been playing for 10 years. Ridenour, Schlabach, Carson – they are a handful. They are a lot like us. They want to run the football. They’ll spread you out and run it. They run power football, they will be very physical. We have to stop their run.”
“They have some big guys on the line but they move well. (Offensive tackle Michael) Fickert moves very well and they are physical.”
While the weapons on an offense that scored 55 points a week ago are formidable, it is one of the state’s top defenses that has the attention of the Rockie coaching staff.
“(Cam) Ridenour is a four year starter on at inside linebacker and he reminds me a little of (Former Rockie standout) Nathan Bieska,” said Barron “(Isaac) Zickafoose is the real deal. He’s about 6’1” with long arms and very quick – he’s going to be somewhere around our center trying to create all kinds of havoc like he did last year. It’s going to be a cool night I know but they have five guys that start both ways and I know they’ve done it their whole career and maybe that won’t be a factor.”
There was good news for the Rockies against Warsaw.
“We put enough pressure on the quarterback so he couldn’t set his feet and throw the ball,” said Barron. “I was kind of surprised at the way they (Warsaw) gave us Taylor Fulton but I’m thinking this week that Tom Wogoman will have a defensive end on the dive play.”
While it remains to be seen, there might be a change in the kickoff strategy for the Raiders with game time in Middlebury Friday night of 7:30 p.m.
“Two years in a row (Justin) Drudge has returned the opening kickoff against them for a touchdown so I’d be surprised if they kick him the ball,” said Barron. “They don’t have a weakness. If we beat them its going to be because we earn it.
