|
|
|
Buena's and Delsea's Bread and Butter Plays Buena, Delsea use tried-and-true plays to provide spark on gamedaysTraps, counters, sweeps, pulls. Backyard football this ain't, folks. Delsea Regional and Buena Regional high schools didn't get to the South Jersey Group III and II football championship games, respectively, by calling out "Play action, everybody go deep!" on every play. That might work in a father-son game, but in high school ball, especially the championship level, the stakes are a bit higher and the game is a bit more complicated. The Crusaders and Chiefs each study a myriad of offensive formations, with countless possibilities extending from each one. Their play calling has worked, too, with alarming effectiveness. The two squads are the highest scoring in the area, scoring 673 points between them. Buena (9-2) has scored 328 points for an average of 29.8 per game; it hasn't scored less than 28 since the fourth game of the season. Delsea (11-0) is slightly better at 345 (31.4 per game) and has not been held to less than 20 points in any game. Both teams have scored as many as 40 points three times. To better understand how each Wing-T-based offense works, Delsea offensive coordinator/head coach Sal Marchese and Buena offensive coordinator Paul Callahan each opened their playbooks. Here are two "bread-and-butter" plays the Crusaders and Chiefs have used with a high success rate this season. For the most part, these plays are destined to work -- unless someone calls out a mandatory seven-Mississippi blitz. Then, it's back to square one, or the back yard. Red Ralph 24 Counter Guard Trap This is Delsea fullback Josh Reimel's signature play, and to see how effective it's been, just take a look at his numbers. The junior has rushed for an area-leading 1,288 yards on 175 carries, a 7.36 yards-per-carry average. He's also scored 16 touchdowns, second best in the area. The play has worked in every game and most notably in the Nov. 8 matchup at Clearview and the Nov. 2 game at Cumberland Regional, in which Reimel rushed for 220 yards and scored three touchdowns. The play is a basic trap, set up by Johnnie Jones' jet decoy. Quarterback Dave Lamach lifts his leg, setting Jones in motion from right to left. As Lamach takes the snap from center Josh Lex, he fakes a handoff right to Jones, whose motion is intended to cause the defense to shift toward him. "The key is the jet motion," Marchese said. "It has to look like a jet play, which enables you to trap back and counter." Reimel, who sets up as the single setback, takes a backdoor handoff on the left side from Lamach. Left guard Mike Ryan throws the key trap block; he cuts across and picks up the right tackle. Reimel follows blocks from Lex and the other guard, Matt Myers, then breaks to the right side to offset the defense, which, hopefully, shifted left on Jones' decoy. Meanwhile, tight end James Stevenson picks up a down-field block, giving Reimel some extra yards. To defend the play, defenses must shift their focus away from the backfield and concentrate instead on the movement of the guards, Marchese said. It's a rather daunting task, though; the speedy Jones has rushed for 811 yards on just 80 carries, a whopping 10.1 yards-per-carry average. Raider 29 Sweep (Left) "Whenever we need a money play, we'll call this," Buena's Callahan said. With an athlete like Andrew Mack taking the snap, it's almost always a money play. In 11 games this season, Mack has rushed for 1,023 yards on 183 carries, a 5.6 yards-per-carry average. The Chiefs have used the Raider 29 Sweep effectively in every game, most notably in their season-opening 34-7 rout of Millville. The Raider 29 starts with Mack as quarterback lined up in shotgun formation. He takes the snap from center Sylvie Cifaloglio, fakes a draw handoff on his right side to Vince Brooks, then swings left. Guards Paul Panchesine and Steve Seelman pull left to pick up blocks on the outside, while halfback Otilio Moreno, tight end Matt Tantillo and tackle Dan Deklerk block inside. Wideouts Lee Barnes and Patrick Moore, lined up on the far side, break deep and serve as decoys. Mack follows Moreno's block to the outside and around end. Mack's athleticism is key in the play, along with Panchesine's and Seelman's blocking. Mack has an innate ability to make people miss; even if the play collapses, his quick feet almost always guarantee plus yards. "The way it's diagrammed, whenever I'm in shotgun, (defenses) think I'm back there to pass," said Mack, who has thrown for 772 yards and five touchdowns as a quarterback. "They're in their pass drops, and I'm running a sweep." The play is defended like any Wing-T sweep, with the cornerback playing a key role. It's his job to anticipate the sweep, then close off any alley created by the tight end, offensive tackle and the pulling guards.
Buena, Delsea football teams stand proud Congratulations to the Buena and Delsea Regional football teams on their fine seasons. Both teams fell one win short of capturing the championship in their respective groups, but that doesn't detract from the outstanding year the teams had. The players gave their all and left their hearts on the field. Buena lost 21-20 in overtime against West Deptford in the South Jersey Group II championship game. Buena went for the win on a two-point conversion instead of the tie. The Chiefs' effort fell just inches short. A gutsy call, but that's how they have played all season -- with grit and determination. Buena finished the season at 9-3. Delsea lost 21-7 to Mainland in the South Jersey Group III championship. Delsea couldn't run to victory Sunday, but the team finished the season at 11-1, a record to be proud of, and a record many football teams dream about and would envy. Both teams can hold their heads high. Well-done.
Andrew Mack was Buena's triple treat
|
Buena
Vista
Township
|
