DuVal/FH Scrimmage recap

[BoyznBlue]

DuVal 29-7, a clean hard hitting scrimmage - not many penalties. It was conducted like a real game. Don't be fooled by the score, it was very close all the way. FH fumbled at the end of a long drive and DuVal took it the other way for a TD. Also, their All-Met player Antoine Brooks made two exceptional plays; a TD reception and an interception of a badly underthrown pass which he then returned into FH territory breaking about 8 tackles. The FH QB #15 looked good and so did the running back #3.

 

[BrianH1974]

Score was 7-6 FH at halftime. Then all subs. FH ate entire 3rd quarter on one drive only to fumble inside the 20 for an 80 yard scoop and score by DuVal. Final if keeping score was 20-6. FH can run but still big problems in the secondary. And that is the problem with being a 1A school. There just aren't many quality subs. Get ready for heavy doses of Raen Smith this year. Brown got 1 carry this scrimmage. FH started subbing after very first series. Smart coaching. Wants to see how subs can play against the other teams early. Did the same in the Quad. It's a refreshing pholosophy. DuVal got ball 1st got 2 first downs and punted. FH went 80 yard drive for opening drive TD. Smith carried like 8 times and Poling twice. The two never touched the ball again after that drive.

 

[BoyznBlue]

It was 12-7 at the half. Both teams were subbing throughout the game. The fumble return was the 3rd TD for them. I got the score wrong though it was 27-7.

 

[BrianH1974]

DuVal got ball first with a couple of first downs and punted. FH drove 80 yards on like 12 plays and scored TD that ate up 1st qtr. DuVal got ball and worked the field hitting some nice passing and scored TD. Missed pat. FH threw a 59 yard bomb that was picked off and ran back to like the 12 yard line. FH defense held. DuVal tried a field goal and missed. FH ran out clock to half. Quarters went by real fast. Refs kept time but wasn't stopping clock for anything. Whole game lasted 90 min.

FH got ball to start 3rd qtr. Drove whole field. Fumbled on scoop and score and 3rd quarter was over. Real quick. DuVal didn't run an offensive play in 3rd qtr.

 

[BoyznBlue]

I see where you're confused. DuVal scored on a run after the interception. It looked like a FG attempt because DuVal was called for a penalty that pushed the conversion back ten yards. Like you said, DuVal scored on the fumble in the 3rd and then again in the 4th.

 

[BrianH1974]

Ok. I thought it was a FG attempt because I kept hearing DuVal coaches screaming Field Goal team. On that interception return the FH receiver was 20 yards behind the defense and the QB just couldn't get it there. DuVal DB made a nice recovery on the floating duck and picked it off. Almost had a pick 6.

 

[TDHelmick]

It's been very hard to get a read on FH. Same things I saw last year in scrimmages. Just so many players rotating in and out there is no way to determine what the starting lineup will be based solely on scrimmage video. I got from coaches that the first defensive and offensive series tonight were the first group, after that it was a mix to mostly subs. The big fullback never saw the ball again after the first drive. I think everyone has been waiting to see what the legendary speed of Brayden Brown was going to offer when he carries the ball. But I think he has had like only 3 carries in two scrimmages. Not sure if it's a case of not wanting to show your hand or avoiding injury but we'll have to wait and see. The one play he took a handoff in the Quad for a huge run and it looked like someone flung him out of a sling shot. But that was the end of his day running. He has been more essential in the passing attack as a deep receiver even though he is lined up at halfback/wing.

We also never get to see any live special teams in scrimmages. No chance to find a return man or to see who can cover. You don't get to find that out until the first game.

FH has a huge number of ball carriers. Won't be enough balls to go around and the OL is big and can move defenders. Not sure where the passing game is yet. But yes, expect a usual heavy dose of FH football, the FB, the belly, the jet sweep/pitch. That big FB makes 2 yard carries turn into 6 yard carries. If you don't keep him under wraps it's gonna be a long night. I believe their main concern is in pass coverage. A good QB could make things difficult this year for FH as we saw Wilson do in the Quad and as we saw DuVal accomplish at times today. I'm guessing, but not sure if FH coaches are even locked into a starting defensive backfield yet.

If DuVal and FH played a real game I think it would be tight. Not sure if DuVal could stop the ground game and I'm not sure if FH could stop their spread, especially when they throw. This whole scrimmage was more subs then starters so no way to tell. Especially the whole second half. Don't know DuVal well enough but I know they were subbing too.

I don't know now exactly where DuVal fits into the Class 4A playoff picture. Maybe BoyznBlue can answer that better. I know they lost in the state semifinal last year to the team that won it all (Northwest) and their coach told me in the winter they had a good many players coming back. But I didn't see a 4A championship football team today. Then once again like I said, it's hard to judge with so much player rotation in a scrimmage. I will say...I harp about enrollment numbers making a difference. But DuVal had about 35 guys out there today. FH had 47...all juniors and seniors with about 4-5 sophomores. Was a little surprised. I thought DuVal would dress over 50.

FH good on the injury front except #10 at QB hurt arm today and could not continue. He was also playing a great deal at safety before coming out.

 

[FHHSAHS]

Scrimmages are such a hard read to really see what the team will look like by week 10...or even week 1. But I do think it's fantastic that the coaches are a) treating scrimmages like learning tools/subbing (as opposed to trying to "win" them) and b) that they are protecting the prize, so to speak. There is no reason to risk injury to get your featured players highlight reel time. Yet.

Thanks for the rundown fellas. Three different opinions, and all very similar - when does that happen?

The injury to #10 concerns me, if it is more serious than not. Mainly because I think he needs to be on the field as often as possible, especially in the secondary. He played well at safety last year on JV. But also, it's concerning because I know he has gotten hurt before because, let's face it, he is an all or nothing player. He played Little HC last year with a bum leg, and I'm not sure he was able to finish. The injury bug has been kind to FH over the last few years - which I think is the BIGGEST reason that FH has had such success. a 1A team with multiple injuries goes from a contender to a pretender right quick.

 

[BoyznBlue]

DuVal isn't traditionally a power in football, but they did have a great season last year. It's going to be more difficult for them this year because the other schools are going to be ready for them. I think top to bottom PG 4A South is the best division in the state. DuVal still has Antoine Brooks so he'll keep them in a lot of games. I was talking to his father yesterday and he's being highly recruited.

I don't think either team was playing to win. That long pass seemed out of character for Appel to call that early. I think if it were a real game he would have kept it on the ground or thrown a more conservative pass. But like BrianH said, it worked to perfection, the receiver was open by five or six steps.

Couple pics from yesterday:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/anxgu30cnfjq662/TW1007.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/na3dnaz41dzx5b7/TW1004.jpg?dl=0

 

[Lagmeister]

It would be nice to see FH repeat and help remove the bitter taste of Dunbar's all-star teams. But, I am really worried about the FH schedule this year. It's one thing for Alco to beat FH thru the air at homecoming but it's another thing for them to be shredded by 3A teams that can pass that should not have been on the schedule in the first place.