My headphones were not working. The microphone was and so with the wind blowing at the top of the bleachers where Commercial Video was set up, I ended up yelling half the time not realizing how loud it came across on air. Oh well. But the way Greg Honeycutt handles all they do in these settings without a roof and in the stands is mind boggling. FH is so lucky to have this.
OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES
FH could generate nothing offensively in the second half. But again, much of that had to do with a Perryville defense that was flying to the ball and beating the blocks. That big #8 Tayshawn Johnson at LB was a ball hawk. One of the few seniors on this Panther team, he almost single handed destroyed the FH running game. Much the same thing that transpired in the 2011 semifinal loss to Perryville where one or two linebackers were blowing up the run after halftime.
Aside from getting beat on the blocking, the FH offense was discombobulated. Not sure how many times the players were not on the same page when the ball was snapped. Multiple times the QB turned one way and the back/receiver went the other way. FH seemingly lost yardage or had no gain on most every first down. This offense isn't set up to get behind the chains deep against good defenses.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
My take on the QB situation is the same as it has been all year. It's really rare (as in never) that for any team, another QB comes in on 3rd and long or 4th and long and then comes right back out. Especially on a cold late November setting. I stopped trying to figure that one out.
POP PASSING
When you saw FH score a touchdown on an 11 yard play action pop pass, you wonder why they don't use it more often as opposed to throwing 30 yard bombs. Much of the bombs are also the QB read so it takes two to figure out why. Most fans have screamed for pop passes and screens for years. When FH actually does it, they work because the linebackers are always in run stop mode biting on a handoff. Play action, POP. But that 11 yard TD pass was a great call. Cassel made a great pitch fake then stood straight up and POP. However, in the first half when FH had a 1st and goal at the 9 jamming the ball down field up the gut, they decided to throw a pass. Not a pop pass, but a four step drop that ended up in a costly sack. Any pass in that situation needed to be super quick, not a 4 step drop.
STOPPED ON 4TH DOWN
While I ramble on as an armchair QB, I believe going for it on 4th down inside your own 30 yard line has been a drastic curse. They failed last week at Cambridge, granted at midfield up 6-0. But it was 4th and 6 on a rain soaked grass field. Next thing you know, it's 12-6. They tried it inside their 30 against Briar Woods in a close game. Failed and Briar Woods scores from it to put the game out of reach. To top it off FH usually runs the 4th down play up the center's rear end and it gets stuffed. That was probably the worst decision of the game - going for it on that first series and failing. Gotta punt there. It set the tempo of the game right off the bat and helped put FH in a 14-0 hole.
When FH got the ball 1st and goal at the 2 yard line, the Stack-I formation was weird. They were all lined up bunched together. Like they were trying to Tush Push something into the end zone. It didn't work. Tough to run a formation like this for the first time in such a crucial situation. I don't like it because there isn't enough room for the backs to explode unimpeded.
PERRYVILLE PLAYED GREAT DEFENSE, FINALLY A TOUGH SEMIFINAL GAME
Don't lose sight of that concept. Much of what FH could not do with the ball was a result of Perryville just flying to the ball and making plays. That is what should be expected in a semifinal game. Something FH fans are not used to seeing. In fact, in the last three years of semifinal play, FH has outscored their opponents 124-40. And most all of those points given up were against subs late in the game.
JABRIL LOCK DOWN
If you wonder why #1 for Perryville (the 6'2 receiver who was killing FH in the first half) was shut down in the second half, FH stuck Jabril on him. I was told that Jabril asked to cover him. And that ended that. Jabril is such an important cog on defense, not just offensively. As crazy as this may sound about the touchdown record king, Jabril may likely be missed more on the defensive side next season. He tackles and covers better than anyone in this area. A safety/rover at the next level he may be.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
It's an old adage. If true, outside of a few series FH has been stellar the latter part of this season. I believe the speed goes 11 deep on this side of the ball. Not much size, but speed and strength with the ability to adjust. Hats off to the defensive play calling this entire post season. Really since Briar Woods. Whether it was East NY, Smithsburg, Alco twice on through the playoffs, opposing offenses are struggling just to get a single first down. The only time they have gotten beat on an occasion has been over the top with no safety help. But every time the coaches adjust as the game flows. Amazing stuff.
