We’ll get into the Lakewood “Red Swarm” defense and how they’re going to try to contain Jay Anderson and the other Lancers tomorrow, but today we’re going to talk about the other matchup: the Lakewood offense against the Bishop Amat defense.
Jesse Scroggins and Co. have made a habit of scoring more than 35 points a contest (7 of 11 games) and they’ve done it every way possible. They let a Mayfair team hang with them, until Scroggins put the Monsoons away with the big play. They got early turnovers and good field position and proceeded to rack up the big plays early against Compton. They even went “ground and pound” against Millikan and Wilson and still put up 40 on their way to a Moore League Championship.
If Lakewood is going to have any chance of playing for that next trophy, the offense will have to put up those big numbers against a very sound Bishop Amat unit.
The Lancers of La Puente run the basic 4-3 set. They have given up almost 200 points this season, but a lot of that has come in garbage time because the offense has put up 328 points. It’s a stout group with good fundamental tackling ability, but because they are so concerned with gap control, they do not force many turnovers (10) or get many sacks (18) as a unit. Ultimately, the Lakewood speed could be too much.
The front seven is led by defensive lineman Daniel Kane (#65). The 6’1″ 255lb senior can line up anywhere and has shown the ability time and time again to break up any run play, even from the backside. He got his first interception of the year last week against Mater Dei on a screen pass, just another example of his athleticism.
The strength of the unit has to be the secondary. Darian Johnson (#1) and Martin Sandoval (#27) line up as the corners, and they have been solid all year. They do an exceptional job masking coverage, but they have shown an affinity to bite on the first move. Look for Lakewood to line up a lot of two receiver sets where the slot guy (maybe Powe) runs an out and the wide guy (maybe Anderson) runs a slant. It’s a simple rub rout, but it could be enough to get Johnson and Sandoval to look into the backfield a few too many times. If they do that, Lakewood will have the upper hand.
The key to this entire game could be the Amat safeties. At free safety is sophomore Rio Ruiz (#9). Everyone in La Puente is saying this kid could be the best natural athlete to come out of Amat in years. He showed why all season, going both ways and snatching three interceptions. Scroggins will have to keep an eye on Ruiz at all times when dropping back, but the strong safety Davis Cazares (#42) will play the biggest role of the night.
The 6’0″ 180lb senior leads the team in tackles (71) and is the biggest hitter on the squad. He will come up to give an “8 in the box” look, but is athletic enough to line up and cover a #2 receiver in a spread set. If he has double digit tackles than Lakewood could be in trouble, so expect the Lancers to avoid #42 and line up three wide right, and run left, a lot.
If Cazares is frustrated, then Amat will be frustrated, and Lakewood could put together a string of big plays that will have the Red Lancers flirting with 35 points again.