Tuff Turf - How fast will Gregory be on the carpet
Oh the boys from Gregory are going to be fast on the floor of the Dakota Dome today.
By Rich Winter
Almost want to call the boss today, at the other job, and apologize in advance for being at work, but not really being at work because the moment that clock hits 10:30 a.m. I don't care who comes through the door at work, they'll have to wait until the Gregory game is over.
Have seen Gregory now two weeks ago and man that team is fun to watch, especially on offense. Lotta intricate formations tossed out there by coach Brian Almendinger and his staff, all created with the intention of getting someone in space, usually with a Robert Vomacka blocking assist to lead the way. Stop the run and Gregory will go up top or bury you with a screen....
And then you put tennis shoes on these kids....I like it!
Takes a lot to bring down Jayd VanDerWerff...A lot...
Expecting a pretty ridiculous effort from the Gregory skill players, but, if the Gorillas are to own the dome, it's going to come down to defense. Watched a little preview on Webster last night and from all accounts, RB, 5 Hunter Gaikowski is going to have a lot to do with the outcome of today's game.
Gaikowski broke his collar bone in week three of the season and got back to the team just in time for a quarterfinal win over Canistota. And then Gaikowski got it going pretty good in the semifinal win over Baltic.
In two separate interviews with Gaikowski and Webster's coach, both spoke glowingly about the Webster's line play and how the big boys up front made it pretty easy to do what the Bearcats do.
And that's exactly where this game falls, like a lot of championship games do, on the wide shoulders of the big boys up front. Ahhh, the big boys that do the work and never get any love from the box score....
Senior Colton Nelson doesn't get pushed around often and he'll need to hold space and win up front. Depends on how this game shakes out....If Gregory goes up early, they'll have those athletes in there at DE, the smaller package...But, if this game is a grinder and Webster finds success, Gregory's bigs will have to step up.
On offense, Gregory does what Gregory does with a lot of outside stuff mixed in with the occasional inside handoff. Again, big boys up front need to create forward momentum for the inside stuff as that just sets up everything else.
Will be looking early to see what shoes VanDerWerff and McCance have on....If not tennis shoes, it might be track spikes cuz Gregory on a faster surface is a scary proposition for anyone in their path.
Now that's FAST!
