No. 1 Blue Ridge vs. No. 3 Seton Catholic
What: Division IV state championship game
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Northern Arizona’s Walkup Skydome, Flagstaff
Internet: AIA365.com
Records: Blue Ridge 14-0; Seton Catholic 12-1
Blue Ridge statistical leaders: QB Skyler Hill 60-106, 901 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT, 548 rush yards; RB Nolan Cook 164 att., 1,678 yards, 27 TD; WR/DB Ben Watson 20 rec., 374 yards, 3 TD, 45 tackles, 9 INT.
Seton Catholic statistical leaders: QB David Gesicki 128-173, 1,747 yards, 24 TD, 3 INT; QB Ryan Bresnahan 80-118, 1,263 yards, 20 TD, 4 INT; WR/DB Matt Haggerty 64 rec., 1001 yards, 19 TD, 30 tackles, 7 INT; LB Greg Labenz 109 tackles, 8 sacks.
Keys to the game
• Seton’s handling of the Blue Ridge physicality: The Sentinels weren’t ready for Blue Ridge’s smashmouth style of football in last year’s semifinals, as the Yellow Jackets ran for 440 yards in a 45-14 victory. Gilbert Christian transfer Nolan Cook is the team’s leading rusher and is a load to slow down. The Sentinels must make some stops.
• Blue Ridge’s defense vs. Seton's passing game: The Sentinels have the best passing game that Blue Ridge has seen, and two different quarterbacks to prepare for. Seton has shown the ability to make big plays through the air against everybody, but this will be its toughest test. Sentinels wide receiver Matt Haggerty is extremely gifted and needs to play a big role.
• Chans Cox’s effectiveness: The Blue Ridge star linebacker/running back has a foot fracture which will likely make him a non-factor in this game. He is going to play, but it’s hard to imagine him making a huge difference because of the injury. It would be a boost for Seton, both psychologically and physically, to not worry about Cox.
Seton Catholic starting lineup
Offense
QB — Ryan Bresnahan/David Gesicki
RB — Eric Probst
WR — Matt Haggerty
WR — Kaleb Krick
OL — Matthew Hart
OL — Steven Fugger
OL — Mark Stoll
OL — Anthony Ghiz
OL — Kyle Morris
WR — Anthony Johnson
WR — Daniel Garlid
Defense
DL — Kaleb Krick
DL — Matthew Pawlowski
DL — Conrad Sullivan
DL — Matthew Hart
LB — Gregory Labenz
LB — Connor Kathe
LB — Eric Probst
DB — Daniel Garlid
DB — Matt Haggerty
DB — Jacob Gillespie
DB — Richard Douglas
Specialists
K — Daniel Garlid
KR — Matt Haggerty
P — Matt Haggerty
PR — Matt Haggerty
Blue Ridge
Offense
WR — Ben Watson
OL — Jacob Badger
OL — Walker Lee
OL — Tony Bob Holden
OL — Easton Wengert
OL — Grant Knox
TE — Brett Baker
RB — Tyler Button/Chris Williams
RB — Anthony Padilla/Chans Cox
FB — Nolan Cook
Defense
DL — Jacob Badger
DL — Anthony Kinney
DL — Walker Lee
LB — Tyler Button
LB — Brad Syth
LB — Easton Wengert
LB — Nolan Cook
DB — Brennen Schimmel
DB — Nate Harp
DB — Ben Watson
DB — Isaac Schimmel
Specialists
K — Cody McBride
KR — Ben Watson
P — Chris Williams
PR — Ben Watson
Reach Kyle Odegard at (480) 898-6834 or kodegard@evtrib.com. Follow his blog at http://blogs.evtrib.com/varsityxtra, or find him on Twitter @Kyle_Odegard.
