PR 55 Montini 24

Gene K.

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I thought PR would win by 17 but not by that much and that easy.

Congratulations to PR on playing a great game and to all their fans! This is a team I picked at the beginning of the year to win 6A easy this year and that's what is going to happen. This PR team likely would win 7A also.

The game was won on the lines. PR dominated the Montini line and that's where games are won and lost. It did not matter West was out and Walker pretty much trying to play on one leg. PR wins this one handily if both are playing and healthy.

I was however surprised by the Montini game plan. I thought they would attack differently and use many more players than they did. You could see Walker was like playing on one leg so I don't know why they kept going with him at RB. I really like Walker's game and the way he plays and I give him huge credit for how he gave everything he had this game. However Montini had great success against Mt. Carmel and Iggy using a different formula on offense. They used more of a ground and pound RB who could control the clock and time of possession but for some reason they did not go that route. I think the Montini coaches like to give the seniors every chance possible to win or lose the game in the playoffs and that's what happened in this game.

On defense we just could not find a way to stop the triple option and #22. This #22 kid can really play. I don't think PR punted all first half. I thought Montini would try different tactics after PR scored their first 3TD's to try to slow PR down. I thought they might go to 4 linebackers and 3 db's or shadow #22 the entire game with a linebacker or DB but it never happened. I saw Waubonsie Valley having success last week shadowing with #9 linebacker Josh Dominiak against a running QB Bean at Hinsdale Central and they had success with it.

Anyhow I like our juniors who got a lot of experience this year and like our soph's coming up so I think next season will be a great one but we will have to learn to stop the triple option because Evans will be a senior next year.

Wassup
Second that congratulations to PR. They were clearly the better team on the field and also with the coaching staffs(Not to include Coach A). PR's coaching staff obviously scouted Montini's offense and sometimes predictable play calling. Credit to PR's defensive players and coaches for well executed defensive game plan. Montini's only chance in this game would have been to control the game clock running the ball which they didn't do. Obviously if our offense is on the field PR's Evans is not. Taking nothing away from PR's team, their QB Evans for the most part won this game almost by himself.

Also second your observation that we did not use our power back (carried the ball 2 times for around 18 yards) which was the formula for winning our last three games. By the way there were a ton of fans who shared your opinion and mine about the utilizing the power back to soften up the middle. Hell they didn't even use him as a blocking back for Walker or Smith which we had some success with earlier this year.

Walker and Smith both playing with injuries (quad and thumb) had a difficult time running except for a few plays in the game. Walker almost broke one on the first possession but it looked like he pulled his hamstring and slowed up enough to get caught. Not having West on offense and defense hurt Montini big time. West has great speed and would have given Montini a deep threat in the passing game. Montini went to the short pass after failing to get yardage on 1st down running plays which most of the time didn't get the yardage necessary. This game was so much like the three games we got blown out in (MS,(especially BR) and Fenwick) that it felt like we had not learned anything from the 5 games we won in a row.

I don't think we would have beat PR regardless but definitely feel it would not have been the running clock embarrassment it was.
 

Wassup13_rivals219252

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Gene,

I totally agree with us needing to come into this game with a power running attack. With a power game it gets our lineman in more of a aggressive mode instead of a passive mode like with the passing game. This would have sent a big message to PR on the opening drive.

With the defense why didn't we try anything different? We could have put a 4th linebacker in the box and played with 3 DB's and dared them to throw the football but we didn't. We could have shadowed #22 all game with a DB or linebacker but we didn't. Our fans in the stands knew what had to be done but nothing was done. Just frustrating!

The game plan we used the final 3 games with a power attack, we won all 3 games. The game plan we used against PR was the same game plan against Fenwick, Brother Rice and Maine South where we were blown out. Didn't we learn anything????

=====

I'm always amazed by the tactics Coach Leonard uses at SHG. If these two teams meet up he will make it quite a chess match.

Wassup
 
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Montini should be proud of the amazing accomplishment of their program over all these years. They continually have risen to the challenge and the intensity bought by each and every opponent they face. Truly remarkable. A record all other programs aspire to. #62 (Spivak) WAS VERY CLASSY in his media comments and with the PR players. Fine young man and example.
 

Cross Bones

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Montini had a tremendous stretch of finals appearances. I was def surprised to see it end in this fashion.
 
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gebronco

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First Montini team to end the season before the state championship game since 2008 - truly remarkable run. Great memories with this graduating class, and look forward to how the coaches mold the returning players going forward.

I felt Montini had to play a near perfect game to win this, and had too many things go wrong. Much credit to PR - fairly certain not a single offensive penalty, which is impressive for any high school team, but especially one with that much motion. Also, I've seen a lot of HS coaches go away from what's working - whether to mix things up or for whatever reason, often to their team's detriment. PR just kept pounding the ball with great success. They threw 2 passes, both of which were completed. I had hoped Montini could exploit their defense, but they flew to the ball and gang tackled, and put pressure on the QB.

As for Evans - I was texting my college freshman, who was part of arguably the best defense at Montini, and played against PR last year. Those of you who are used to short sentences from your sons will know how much is said in my son's response after the QB's 7th rushing TD - "He's unreal".
 

Goomlah

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I'm still trying to figure out the safety. Not like that call made a difference but still it looks to me the ball should be either at the 1 or at the 20.
 
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I'm still trying to figure out the safety. Not like that call made a difference but still it looks to me the ball should be either at the 1 or at the 20.
From my vantage point ball was stripped about the one bounced into the end zone and was recovered by MCHS defender who downed it in Endzone. He didn't advance it out of the endzone so not sure about safety call
 

Goomlah

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I made a different thread on this so the resident experts can help us.
 

Wassup13_rivals219252

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Montini should be proud of the amazing accomplishment of their program over all these years. They continually have risen to the challenge and the intensity bought by each and every opponent they face. Truly remarkable. A record all other programs aspire to. #62 (Spivak) WAS VERY CLASSY in his media comments and with the PR players. Fine young man and example.

Another accomplishment by Montini is I believe only SHG and Montini are playing up 2 classes above their true school enrollment!

This to me alone blows my mind and both schools have been so successful!

Wassup
 
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Wassup13_rivals219252

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I'm still trying to figure out the safety. Not like that call made a difference but still it looks to me the ball should be either at the 1 or at the 20.

I was at the same end and felt the refs got it right. The only call I wished the refs would have reversed was to let West play.
 

stonedlizard

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Where does Montini go from here? Do they re-load next year? How'd the sophomore class look?

Prairie Ridge is clearly a juggernaut. Looking forward to the apparent Cary-Grove rematch. Next few weeks will be interesting to see where these two teams match up with each other at this point in the season, and how they fair against the bottom half of the bracket.
 

Wassup13_rivals219252

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Well I don't think this is good video of the play.

Here is what I thought I was and I was 10 feet from the play.

After the fumble #4 picks it up in the end zone, he then takes one step out of the end zone and then decides to go back into the end zone, then the whistle blows right away.

So I agree with the call that it was a safety but disagree with the quick whistle because I think #4 Pirog after going back into the end zone would have decided to run it back out again. So there was no reason for the quick whistle. In fact no whistle would have communicated to Pirog he has to run this one out because of someone touches him in the end zone it's a safety.

Wassup
 

Wassup13_rivals219252

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Where does Montini go from here? Do they re-load next year? How'd the sophomore class look?

Prairie Ridge is clearly a juggernaut. Looking forward to the apparent Cary-Grove rematch. Next few weeks will be interesting to see where these two teams match up with each other at this point in the season, and how they fair against the bottom half of the bracket.

If everyone is back they will be deep at running back but they are more power backs and they both are very good. Their 3 receivers will be really good. They will have 3 senior QB's who all got good time on varsity this year. Not sure about the line?? Kicking game will be great.

Evans on PR is a senior next year so they will have to learn to stop the triple option. It would be great if they could schedule a non-conference game against a great triple option team.

Wassup
 
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Gene K.

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Gene,

I totally agree with us needing to come into this game with a power running attack. With a power game it gets our lineman in more of a aggressive mode instead of a passive mode like with the passing game. This would have sent a big message to PR on the opening drive.

With the defense why didn't we try anything different? We could have put a 4th linebacker in the box and played with 3 DB's and dared them to throw the football but we didn't. We could have shadowed #22 all game with a DB or linebacker but we didn't. Our fans in the stands knew what had to be done but nothing was done. Just frustrating!

The game plan we used the final 3 games with a power attack, we won all 3 games. The game plan we used against PR was the same game plan against Fenwick, Brother Rice and Maine South where we were blown out. Didn't we learn anything????

=====

I'm always amazed by the tactics Coach Leonard uses at SHG. If these two teams meet up he will make it quite a chess match.

Wassup
Agree wholeheartedly about being in an aggressive mode running the power back at the start of the game. O linemen played very well in the last five games we played especially the last three utilizing a power running attack. IMO it sets the tempo for the offense for the game. Our main power back #26 had an average of 7 yards a carry going into the game pounding the ball and I don't recall him having any minus yards on a carry all season.

We definitely needed to have an almost perfect game and game plan to match up with PR as another fan said earlier in this post. Didn't happen! On defense we didn't adjust to Evans running the ball. From what I seen Evans ran on 75% of all the plays and we never really stopped him. I also agree we could have used a 4th linebacker as a spotter to offset Evans running ability. Don't know if it would have worked out but #26 was the leading tackler on the team according to CSN article by the Mt. Carmel game. If he wasn't going to carry the ball but 2 times in the game he would have been a great spotter for Evans as he has the speed to at least keep up with him. There were a few plays I saw where Foster and Morrissey came in rushing the QB and had to tackle Evans from the rear as he was running past the line of scrimmage. PR's offensive line was liked a well oiled machine and even when we clogged up the middle Evans found a way to make some big yardage on the edge.

After watching PR in this game I feel they will the win 6A title if Evans can stay healthy.
Without him my money would go to Cary Grove.
 

Bearsfan4197

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Sep 14, 2015
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Agree wholeheartedly about being in an aggressive mode running the power back at the start of the game. O linemen played very well in the last five games we played especially the last three utilizing a power running attack. IMO it sets the tempo for the offense for the game. Our main power back #26 had an average of 7 yards a carry going into the game pounding the ball and I don't recall him having any minus yards on a carry all season.

We definitely needed to have an almost perfect game and game plan to match up with PR as another fan said earlier in this post. Didn't happen! On defense we didn't adjust to Evans running the ball. From what I seen Evans ran on 75% of all the plays and we never really stopped him. I also agree we could have used a 4th linebacker as a spotter to offset Evans running ability. Don't know if it would have worked out but #26 was the leading tackler on the team according to CSN article by the Mt. Carmel game. If he wasn't going to carry the ball but 2 times in the game he would have been a great spotter for Evans as he has the speed to at least keep up with him. There were a few plays I saw where Foster and Morrissey came in rushing the QB and had to tackle Evans from the rear as he was running past the line of scrimmage. PR's offensive line was liked a well oiled machine and even when we clogged up the middle Evans found a way to make some big yardage on the edge.

After watching PR in this game I feel they will the win 6A title if Evans can stay healthy.
Without him my money would go to Cary Grove.
Funny because against Cary evans had less than 100 yards i belive somehwere in the 60's but carys tyler Pennington didn't do much either.
 

Gene K.

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Defending the Triple Option...


Great film techniques on how to defend the triple option. This guys knows what he is talking about because he defended against when he was a coach versus Navy and Air Force. Navy beat Notre Dame who only had 6 possessions in the entire game. Goes back to us controlling the clock with running plays limiting the other teapms offensive possessions. I didn't see us use the 3-4 scheme he is talking about vs PR. Did you?
 

Gene K.

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Funny because against Cary evans had less than 100 yards i belive somehwere in the 60's but carys tyler Pennington didn't do much either.
Cary's defense obviously has schemed against the triple options for at least two seasons and maybe more. Don't know if other teams in your conference runs the Triple O but if there are you guys have that advantage versus PR triple O. Did Evans beat CG earlier this year with his passes or did the running backs have a bigger game than they did at Montini. Clearly Montini was not able to stop Evans in particular. The other two backs did so-so but I don't think as a total they had more than 50 or 60 yards between them.
 

Wassup13_rivals219252

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Funny because against Cary evans had less than 100 yards i belive somehwere in the 60's but carys tyler Pennington didn't do much either.

We don't really see that offense often like you guys do in the Fox Valley. Your defense also practices against it. We will figure it out.

Wassup
 

Wassup13_rivals219252

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Great film techniques on how to defend the triple option. This guys knows what he is talking about because he defended against when he was a coach versus Navy and Air Force. Navy beat Notre Dame who only had 6 possessions in the entire game. Goes back to us controlling the clock with running plays limiting the other teapms offensive possessions. I didn't see us use the 3-4 scheme he is talking about vs PR. Did you?

No I didn't see us using the 3-4 scheme either and doubt the coaches would even do it. But I was asking for a 4-4-3 which would just add a linebacker and drop a DB.

If they started throwing more than 2 passes and were successful then I would think we would have to switch to a 3-4.
 

CGsupporter

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Cary's defense obviously has schemed against the triple options for at least two seasons and maybe more. Don't know if other teams in your conference runs the Triple O but if there are you guys have that advantage versus PR triple O. Did Evans beat CG earlier this year with his passes or did the running backs have a bigger game than they did at Montini. Clearly Montini was not able to stop Evans in particular. The other two backs did so-so but I don't think as a total they had more than 50 or 60 yards between them.

I was unable to attend the game, but in reading and hearing about it Evans couldn't move the ball on the ground, so he successfully went to the air. Link to game summary below.

http://www.nwherald.com/2016/08/26/...ge-uses-pass-game-to-beat-cary-grove/a99v9t5/
 

Gene K.

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Where does Montini go from here? Do they re-load next year? How'd the sophomore class look?

Prairie Ridge is clearly a juggernaut. Looking forward to the apparent Cary-Grove rematch. Next few weeks will be interesting to see where these two teams match up with each other at this point in the season, and how they fair against the bottom half of the bracket.

Soph class looked okay in some of the games I seen this year. Some kids who could make a difference next year on varsity. Standouts: A real good soph receiver named Olsen and the soph QB played very well. The younger brother of West looked very good too. Running backs #40 (power back) and freshman #23 (speed back)were also very good. The defense played solid in the games I seen but can't remember the names of some of the players who I heard mentioned in a lot of tackles. We also had a soph middle LB name Bruscianelli who played on varsity and did a great job.
 
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Gene K.

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I was unable to attend the game, but in reading and hearing about it Evans couldn't move the ball on the ground, so he successfully went to the air. Link to game summary below.

http://www.nwherald.com/2016/08/26/...ge-uses-pass-game-to-beat-cary-grove/a99v9t5/
Good article and a credit to Evans passing the ball. Quite honestly I only seen his stats for passing on Max preps for 5-6 games and not counting the yardage gained by the receivers his percentage was around 60% give or take a few passes. Hope Samson gets some offers from Navy or Air Force as he will be a huge triple option threat which both teams run almost exclusively. Don't know what his grades are but it would be nice to hook him up with #26 from Montini who wants to go to Navy.
 

Voodoo Tatum 21

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No I didn't see us using the 3-4 scheme either and doubt the coaches would even do it. But I was asking for a 4-4-3 which would just add a linebacker and drop a DB.

If they started throwing more than 2 passes and were successful then I would think we would have to switch to a 3-4.

3-3-5 might be a very good Defense to run against Triple O. the Hybrid DB/LB could be a total roamer and be assigned to the QB at all times?
 
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Wassup13_rivals219252

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3-3-5 might be a very good Defense to run against Triple O. the Hybrid DB/LB could be a total roamer and be assigned to the QB at all times?

Problem is with the 3-3-5 is they still get their 10 yards per carry before you see the secondary. No need for 5 in the secondary since I much rather they throw the ball anyhow. With 5 in the secondary they will pass the ball 0 times during the game.

Wassup
 
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Bearsfan4197

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I am thinking we see either PR or CG again next year.

Wassup
carys current juniors went 9-0 as sophomores, so they expect to have a good team next year just wondering how much they developed. and pr has Samson back so expect them to be good.
 
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Bearsfan4197

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Cary's defense obviously has schemed against the triple options for at least two seasons and maybe more. Don't know if other teams in your conference runs the Triple O but if there are you guys have that advantage versus PR triple O. Did Evans beat CG earlier this year with his passes or did the running backs have a bigger game than they did at Montini. Clearly Montini was not able to stop Evans in particular. The other two backs did so-so but I don't think as a total they had more than 50 or 60 yards between them.
With his passing ,
I dont think Cary expected PR to pass the ball that well against them.
 

CGsupporter

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carys current juniors went 9-0 as sophomores, so they expect to have a good team next year just wondering how much they developed. and pr has Samson back so expect them to be good.

CG is starting a lot of senior talent and will have some holes to fill. Fortunately the backups have been getting a lot of playing time. Really good sophomore QB up on varsity this year who has been playing WR most of the year and getting some reps in relief of Collins. Think PR is in a similar boat and with Evans staying healthy, will be good again I am sure. It will be fun to watch that kid next year too. Can't believe they have him on kickoff returns.
 

Relist8_rivals

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I think one of the items that needs to be noted is the Prairie Ridge and Cary-Grove's head coaches dedication to their elementary school "Feeder" programs. These guys spend numerous hours over the Summer teaching the Youth coaches the "System". The Option offense that these Schools run is being taught to these kids since their first days of playing tackle football. The QB that came in and relieved Samson Evans last week at Montini is a Freshman but has been running this "System" since he was 7/8 years old. It is a huge luxury to have your incoming Freshmen showing up to their first High School practice already knowing the basic framework of the offense and defense that they will be running for the next four years. Kudos to these Varsity Staffs!
 

Wassup13_rivals219252

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