It will be a clash of styles and geography when St. Patrick-St. Vincent (12-3) meets Strathmore (14-0) on Saturday for the CIF Division 6-A championship, hosted by the unbeaten East Sequoia League and Central Section Division 6 champions.
The visiting Bruins can lay claim to a more difficult path and a more battle-tested roster, having played in the Tri-County Athletic League’s Rock Division, facing the likes of Salesian, Saint Mary’s, and El Cerrito during league play. That experience led to a championship run, outlasting a talented Fort Bragg team in the North Coast Section Division 5 title game, 49-35.
St. Pat’s employs a fast-paced, spread attack, distributing the ball to multiple playmakers all over the field. At the same time, the Bruins’ offensive line, led by Drew Gilmore and Devin Devlin, has paved the way for SPSV’s running game, which features 6-foot-2, 205-pound tailback Marshel Martin. Just a junior, Martin has been a force on both sides of the ball.
Strathmore also has to prepare for the possibility of three different players at the quarterback position for the Bruins. Senior Michael Pappas was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, but has missed the last few games with a separated shoulder. In his place is electric sophomore Akil Edwards, who did the heavy lifting in the North regional win over Brookside Christian, while senior Anthony Olmes took the reins for the win over Fort Bragg.
“If Michael (Pappas) can go, he will, as our senior leader,” said St. Patrick-St. Vincent coach Lane Hawkins. “If not, we continue to do what we do. I think we’ve proven that we can adjust and succeed with what we have on the field. Akil is an incredible talent, and going to be a phenomenal player.”
Pappas possesses the downfield arm, accuracy, and a threat to run from the pocket, while Edwards is simply a true dual-threat at the position. He and Martin form a strong one-two punch in the backfield with the field spread, and he has plenty of playmakers to get the ball to, including juniors Marquel Johnson and Kailon Johnson-Loud.
Defensively, the Bruins will be facing the run-heavy offense of Strathmore, which features junior back Joseph Garcia. Garcia has been a workhorse in the post-season, carrying the ball 31 or more times in each of the last three games. That includes an incredible 31 carries for 420 yards and seven touchdowns in last week’s 62-22 win over Horizon Christian. For the season, Garcia has 2,195 yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground.
“We need to try and contain Garcia,” Hawkins said. “We know they want to get him the ball, and will move him around to try and accomplish that. We want to get an understanding of where they are going with their (backfield) motion and what they are trying to set up offensively.”
When they do throw the ball, the Spartans have been largely efficient, with junior quarterback Nick Salas completing 61 percent of his passes for 1,383 yards and 13 touchdowns, albeit with seven interceptions. With an athletic secondary for SPSV, Strathmore would prefer to control the game on the ground. In last week’s win over Horizon, the Spartans attempted just two passes, completing both of them.
This game could likely come down to the success of Strathmore’s run game. The Spartans will need to keep the Bruins’ explosive offense off the field, and sustain drives. In SPSV’s win over Fort Bragg, the Timberwolves stayed close and were tied in the fourth quarter, thanks to 315 rushing yards in the game. A week earlier, Berean Christian averaged 7.5 yards per carry against the Bruins, enabling them to stay within striking distance, even though St. Pat’s limited the Eagles’ usually-potent passing game. With defensive backs such as Johnson and Isaiah Tobias, Strathmore would prefer to avoid putting the ball in the air too regularly.
“Our defensive line has to control their offensive line, that’s the key to the game,” Hawkins said. “Our team speed is definitely a strength, but we have to control the line.”
If the Spartans can run the ball with success, this will be a close game. If, however, St. Pat’s can get a few early stops and get its offense rolling, the Bruins have the athletes to run away with things.
Division 6-AA – Amador (14-1) vs Rancho Christian (13-2) at Murrieta Mesa HS
Neither of these teams have lost a game since late September, and both have relied on similar formulas to sustain success through post-season runs.
Amador’s Daylan Thetford, the Offensive Player of the Year in the Mother Lode League, has been a dominant force on the ground for coach Bill Baker. Thetford has run for 1,731 yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging over seven yards per carry in an offense that prefers to grind the clock.
He has also put forth his best performances late in the season, running for at least 130 yards in each of the last five games. That includes a four-touchdown performance against Lincoln-SF in the play-in game, and a 167-yard, two-score effort in last week’s 21-14 win over Mendota.
Rancho Christian, meanwhile, boasts a dynamic duo in the backfield, as underclassmen Jaden Schieberl and Malosi Napoleon have combined to gain over 3,100 yards and 43 touchdowns on the ground. In last week’s win over Franklin-Los Angeles, junior Elijah Campbell also had a big game, running for 117 yards and three scores.
The Eagles’ run game has been especially potent in the post-season, gaining 1,058 yards with 18 touchdowns on the ground in the last three games.
Rancho Christian will have the benefit of the game being played at nearby Murrieta Mesa, while Amador will travel over 450 miles each direction to play in this game, roughly a seven-hour drive for the Buffaloes.
