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Wayne opponent: Like Centerville, running works just fine for us
No one is going to be scared of the Hilliard Davidson High School football team when it gets off the bus.
“We’re just not very impressive to look at,” said Davidson coach Brian White. “You’ll see, we don’t have anybody really big and mean. People say, ‘Good God, how have these guys ever won a game, let alone a state championship?’ “
But that’s exactly what the Wildcats have done, take home two of the past four Division I state titles. Now, they’re back in the semifinals with a date against Wayne at 7 p.m. Saturday at Welcome Stadium.
Undefeated and fourth-ranked Davidson will try to extend one of the most impressive big-school runs of the decade that included championships in 2006 and ‘09 using an offense that has been highly discussed in Dayton-area big-school circles.
Like Centerville, Davidson runs a triple-option that emphasizes execution. Some in the Miami Valley have criticized Centerville for using the same offense, saying it’s not sophisticated and varied enough to help the powerful Elks advance in the postseason.
White begs to differ.
“When we’re winning, no,” White said with a laugh when asked if he faces the same criticism. “We did, when we first got here a few years ago and maybe not winning as much as we are now.
“In ‘06, our police chief in Hilliard said, ‘Hey, if you guys want to win in the playoffs, you have to throw more.’ I’ve never let him forget it.”
That’s because Davidson went undefeated and won the state championship in 2006. In the 36-35 double-overtime title game victory against Mentor, Davidson rushed for 345 yards as Mentor passed for 327. In the second overtime, Davidson’s Bo Delande scored from 3 yards, then ran in the 2-point conversion for the victory.
Last season, Davidson played a favored Glenville team and won 16-15, rushing for 250 yards and allowing 210 passing yards. Similarly, Spencer Delande (Bo Delande’s brother) scored from 1 yard with 1:04 left, and Jake Trubiano rushed in the 2-point conversion that held for the victory.
So, you understand why White thinks his offense works.
“I would argue running option is just as sophisticated as the spread offense,” White said. “People think it’s a joke, but we throw in practice as much as we run the option, but it’s not what we do in games.”
Whatever the Wildcats are doing, it’s working. They’re 13-0 with a defense that allows 5.1 points per game and an offense that has done enough to help them past Northland, Springfield and Pickerington Central in the playoffs.
Now, Wayne will face the same offense it sees each year in playing Greater Western Ohio Conference rival Centerville. It’s an offense, White argues, that works as well as any.
“It’s just uninformed people,” White said. “It’s embarrassing that people think they know more than the coach at Centerville knows. I think so many people out there think winning in football is play-calling. It’s the character of your kids, the work they put in.
“You’ll find very few spread teams have won in Division I.”
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Football, Football playoffs
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By 12penguins
November 23, 2010 11:36 AM | Link to this
In fact, you will find few instances where spread offense teams have won state championships at all. A review of the last 12 state final (all division)games will show that the winners have averaged fewer than 100 yards passing in the championship game.
By Clint
November 23, 2010 1:17 PM | Link to this
Hilliard -Davidson’s HS Double over-time thriller vs Mentor HS was the greatest high school championship played in many ,many years . Bo Delande who is a walkon RB at tOhioStateUniversity Football was just amazing. This is going to be an amazing high school football game and let’s all hope QB Braxton Miller is up to playing a great game because the Wayne warriors will need him .
By Joe
November 23, 2010 1:56 PM | Link to this
Nice grammar, Nagel. “But that’s exactly what the Wildcats have done, take home two of the past four Division I state titles.” How about “Taken home ….”
By Joe
November 23, 2010 1:56 PM | Link to this
Nice grammar, Nagel. “But that’s exactly what the Wildcats have done, take home two of the past four Division I state titles.” How about “Taken home ….”
By Smarter than Ron
November 23, 2010 2:51 PM | Link to this
The only thing Nagel doesn’t point out is that the Davidson coaches are smarter and better than executing than the Centerville coaches. Brains in football beats power. When you are a school of 2500 kids you should win every year.
By Harry the Horse
November 23, 2010 8:42 PM | Link to this
Final Score Wayne 27 Hilliard 21
By john
November 23, 2010 10:24 PM | Link to this
just want to point out to Lance at Northmont that spread doesn’t win ask your dad oh wait that’s look at the schools that bucknuts has listed as big OSU school’s no Northmont there…When you think of Ohio high schools replete with future Buckeye-caliber talent, which come to mind? Glenville? St. Ignatius? Hilliard -Davidson? Centervile? Wayne? yea no Northmont
By Ex QB
November 24, 2010 8:31 AM | Link to this
John why the shot on Northmont? Lance has had success as Bolts start off young and no Bolt players move to other school district like WAYNE, CENTERVILLE, Etc. N’Mont will be up there next two years with returning a young talented team. OSU is just a normal college football team this year, very lucky to be in top 10. They played one good team and got killed.