Explosive running backs, pin-point accurate quarterbacks, and bone-crushing linebackers sell papers, but games are won and lost on the backs of a team’s biggest players: the offensive and defensive lines. It’s no coincidence that the Jackrabbits and Lancers have two of the best units in Southern California—they wouldn’t have gotten this far without them. Where better to start our position-by-position breakdown of the Lakewood/Poly CIF Semifinal? Check back every day as we give you more information than you might be able to fit into your head.
Poly Offensive Line vs. Lakewood Defensive Line
We’ve seen Poly run at will all year long, partly because we’ve seen Poly outsize and outmuscle every opponent this year, led by big men Joseph Croom and Wilson Edwards. They will be the bigger squad again against Lakewood, but it won’t be the Lakewood line that gave up 211 yards rushing in the first contest. Senior Jimmy Young will be back, and the 6’3” 265lb down lineman will be a great boost for a defense that has stifled two spread running attacks in the first and second rounds. That’s because the line is doing a fantastic job taking up blockers and freeing their linebackers up to make plays. On Friday, they will need to do more of that without cheating too much to the inside. If they’re caught cheating, Melvin “Boom Boom” Richardson will take it up the middle, and bounce it to the outside like he did on his first carry against Lakewood earlier this season, and like he did in the first quarter against Esperanza on Friday—both runs were game-altering TDs. It’s difficult to stop a power runner like Richardson and a speed back like Daveon “Burner” Barner in the same game, but Lakewood has the personnel to pull it off, especially since they’re backed by a stellar linebacking corps.
As for the pass rush, Lakewood end Talia Crichton (the team’s leader in sacks) will be counted on to maintain an outside presence. With continual pressure from a speed rusher like Crichton, Morgan Fennell can’t take those long five-step drops and look deep downfield. Against St. Bonaventure earlier this season, and Bishop Amat in the first round, Fennell was very successful when he tucked the ball and ran, and the Lancers will need Crichton on the outside for that as well.
Watch for: Chrichton (#1)—the Lancers’ best lineman, his play has generally been representative of how Lakewood’s pressure is faring. If he’s on the ground or struggling to get to Fennell, it’s going to be hard for Lakewood to contain Poly’s offense.
Lakewood Offensive Line vs. Poly Defensive Line
The story is more of the same on the other side of the ball. Health is an enormous factor. Poly’s defensive line looked like world-beaters for most of the year. They’re a classic four-man line, with two speedy pass-rushing ends and two amazing run-stuffers at the tackle positions. Again, outsizing the opponent has been a constant, but they can only count on doing that with their starters. With teammate and fellow starting DT Corey Waller already in street clothes, Juwuan Brown hurt his knee just before halftime last week against Esperanza. We’re not sure yet whether he’ll suit up, but if he doesn’t the ‘Rabbits will sorely miss the 265-pound standout. In the second half of the Esperanza game, with both starting interior linemen on the sideline, the Aztecs ran up the middle exclusively and scored on their first two drives.
The health of the Lakewood offensive line is also of note: senior captain Casey Harpham (the Lancers’ center) and 6’2” 277lb senior Robert Brothers will be in the trenches on Friday, along with Oliver Robertson. Harpham got knocked out of the game against Poly after an interception return, and the biggest hits on Jesse Scroggins came after that point in the game. But Poly also has a terror on the outside in senior Iuta Tepa. Like his counterpart Crichton, when Tepa gets a head of steam, you don’t want to be on the tracks. One of those big hits on Scroggins was a shot from Tepa that definitely made the highlight reel. Proving the extent of their reach, Tepa and his fellow Jackrabbits also knocked down four of Scroggins passes in the first meeting. Poly will need Tepa and fellow speed-rusher Eli Edwards to be on their best contain game if they’re going to neutralize Kevin Anderson and Tawaun Lucas—Lakewood loves to run end-arounds with those guys in motion.
Watch for: Perhaps most importantly, whether Brown is out there wearing number 90. If Poly’s best run-plugger is on the sideline, you’ll probably be able to spot Lancers RB Jerry Stone’s smile from outer space.