Reality check tonight. The big concern for Big Red since day 1 in 2019 has been defense with 11 new faces plugged in. The Erie Cathedral Prep (ECP) offense bombed FH through the sky with eerie precision. Talking to the ECP head coach after the game I made the remark that his QB was dropping dimes on those deep post routes being run by their gifted receivers. He remarked back that was the best his QB has ever played. It was a tough situation for FH. They just don't have the bodies to match up one on one in tight man coverage especially when a QB of this caliber has all day to throw the ball. I don't think he was sacked or even hurried one time tonight until the subs came in. Throw after throw 30, 40, 70 yards deep looked easy. ECP scored 7 touchdowns. The first 6 of them were through the air. There was nothing FH players or coaches could do to stop it. Sure, they might have tried different coverage or different personnel but it would not have mattered. ECP was just too good throwing the ball for FH to have a chance. The mismatches on the receivers combined with a total lack of pass rush was impossible to overcome.
Other than that aspect FH didn't really do so bad. It looked like we might get a good game when FH scored with about 50 seconds left in the 2nd quarter to cut the game to 27-14. But about 40 seconds and 3 long passes later, ECP went to the locker room with another touchdown to pretty much slam the door on a comeback hope.
Again, on the defensive side for FH they started 8 underclassmen tonight. The Sentinels had two sophomores and a junior starting in the secondary. Two of them had never started a varsity football game. This just was not the best time nor the best team to get that honor. In due respect to those young men, there was nobody on the FH sideline they could have plugged in and changed the outcome.
After talking to a few FH coaches after the game, they as well as I all felt this team was a few notches better than the Florida team that came here. They had better line play and a better defense. Much quicker and bigger up front. Much better coached. Much better depth. The scary part is that the ECP head coach, and a couple of their fans, have told me on a few occasions that ECP is going to be really good the next couple of years. This is not a series that is really beneficial to FH in that regards. I think most everybody in Cumberland is much happier to see FH play better competition. But in my mind they are probably better off taking on a Linganore or Damascus type public school team if they are to match up with somebody on a higher level. The bottom line is that Cathedral Prep is a private school that competes toe-to-toe with other nationally ranked private schools who win state championships in Ohio at the Division I highest level. The good news is that I did not sense in the least any pressure or massive disappointment from our coaches in regards to the loss or the sweating out the playoff scenario now. So, so refreshing. And I was told FH had kids crying after the loss, which I love to see in regards to the human spirit of competition.
Can FH get better from a game like this? I don't know how they can't get better. It's obvious they have a long way to go defensively. I would not be surprised if we see a few kids get pushed on the offensive line and now have to fight more for their starting role. Too many linemen not blocking someone. Or too many cover men not covering somebody. It's one thing to get beat. It's another to just not block or cover someone. The problem is that these next 5 games FH is easily a 4-8 touchdown favorite. They won't likely get tested again until way late in the season or even deep into the playoff run. But then again, I guess that is why you play the games. On top of that, none of the remaining opponents have a passing arsenal or even use the pass much if at all. If I could play armchair QB it would just be the same story, different year. Throw the ball more against these out manned opponents. King has a nice touch when given the opportunity. But that is not what FH does. I get it.
This ECP game is a reminder that FH is a 1A public school. That is where they belong despite dominating it. They have 340 males in the school. They do not recruit. They do not have a bunch of transfers. They have built a winning culture where their students just want to participate and be a part of it. No more, no less.
Closing...one of my favorite quotes from this game I shared with the radio and TV folks in the pregame press box. When I was trying to put this game together in early August, Coach Appel was complaining about this team being exceptional and we should not have to compete with really good private schools, etc. I had Coach Mischler doing the same to me like, you guys run that wing T, I don't have enough linemen for you guys, etc., etc. When I went back to Coach Appel to tell him, "I think their coach is fearful of playing Fort Hill." Coach Appel replied, "That's why he is a good coach!!!"
Anyway, it was good to be at home finally despite having to get up tomorrow for a Friday work day. Now it's on the road yet again next Friday.
Other than that aspect FH didn't really do so bad. It looked like we might get a good game when FH scored with about 50 seconds left in the 2nd quarter to cut the game to 27-14. But about 40 seconds and 3 long passes later, ECP went to the locker room with another touchdown to pretty much slam the door on a comeback hope.
Again, on the defensive side for FH they started 8 underclassmen tonight. The Sentinels had two sophomores and a junior starting in the secondary. Two of them had never started a varsity football game. This just was not the best time nor the best team to get that honor. In due respect to those young men, there was nobody on the FH sideline they could have plugged in and changed the outcome.
After talking to a few FH coaches after the game, they as well as I all felt this team was a few notches better than the Florida team that came here. They had better line play and a better defense. Much quicker and bigger up front. Much better coached. Much better depth. The scary part is that the ECP head coach, and a couple of their fans, have told me on a few occasions that ECP is going to be really good the next couple of years. This is not a series that is really beneficial to FH in that regards. I think most everybody in Cumberland is much happier to see FH play better competition. But in my mind they are probably better off taking on a Linganore or Damascus type public school team if they are to match up with somebody on a higher level. The bottom line is that Cathedral Prep is a private school that competes toe-to-toe with other nationally ranked private schools who win state championships in Ohio at the Division I highest level. The good news is that I did not sense in the least any pressure or massive disappointment from our coaches in regards to the loss or the sweating out the playoff scenario now. So, so refreshing. And I was told FH had kids crying after the loss, which I love to see in regards to the human spirit of competition.
Can FH get better from a game like this? I don't know how they can't get better. It's obvious they have a long way to go defensively. I would not be surprised if we see a few kids get pushed on the offensive line and now have to fight more for their starting role. Too many linemen not blocking someone. Or too many cover men not covering somebody. It's one thing to get beat. It's another to just not block or cover someone. The problem is that these next 5 games FH is easily a 4-8 touchdown favorite. They won't likely get tested again until way late in the season or even deep into the playoff run. But then again, I guess that is why you play the games. On top of that, none of the remaining opponents have a passing arsenal or even use the pass much if at all. If I could play armchair QB it would just be the same story, different year. Throw the ball more against these out manned opponents. King has a nice touch when given the opportunity. But that is not what FH does. I get it.
This ECP game is a reminder that FH is a 1A public school. That is where they belong despite dominating it. They have 340 males in the school. They do not recruit. They do not have a bunch of transfers. They have built a winning culture where their students just want to participate and be a part of it. No more, no less.
Closing...one of my favorite quotes from this game I shared with the radio and TV folks in the pregame press box. When I was trying to put this game together in early August, Coach Appel was complaining about this team being exceptional and we should not have to compete with really good private schools, etc. I had Coach Mischler doing the same to me like, you guys run that wing T, I don't have enough linemen for you guys, etc., etc. When I went back to Coach Appel to tell him, "I think their coach is fearful of playing Fort Hill." Coach Appel replied, "That's why he is a good coach!!!"
Anyway, it was good to be at home finally despite having to get up tomorrow for a Friday work day. Now it's on the road yet again next Friday.
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