Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Cogent running game has No. 9 ranked Griswold working towards a playoff push
Tigers are off to 3-0 start having outscored their opponents a combined 164-39, Tri-Center up next
By Drew Herron
NT Sports Editor
GRISWOLD— For the past three seasons, Griswold has been on the outside looking in come playoff time.
The Tigers have produced three straight campaigns with a 6-3 record, only to be denied a playoff spot because of their district alignment, the opportunities going to Logan-Magnolia and St. Albert each October with St. Albert moving on to claim Class 1A State Championships the past two seasons.
But this fall, ignited by a punishing ground attack and a much-welcomed expansion to the playoff format, Griswold no longer flies under the radar.
The Tigers, ranked No. 9 in Class 1A by the Associated Press, have rattled off three victories this season, each in convincing fashion and each via eventual blowout.
Last week, Clarinda Academy, emboldened by their first 2-0 in recent memory, came to Griswold in what threatened to be a battle for the ages in regards to both team’s ability to rack up hearty figures on the ground.
Instead, the Tigers rolled over the upstart Eagles, pounding them 74-26 as running backs Keith Rush (200 yards) and Brandon Ridlen (167 yards) ran wild while the Griswold defense contained Clarinda Academy’s top two backs (Doug Winters and John Brown) to 218 combined yards, a figure well below their totals the from the previous two weeks where they averaged close to 250 yards apiece per contest.
It’s that defensive aptitude that might set Griswold apart.
“I was extremely pleased with that, I can’t say enough about our defense’s performance,” Griswold coach Andy Everett said. “They’re both very good backs, but Winters is incredible. We’d nail him, and if we didn’t wrap up, he’d just keep going. It took nine guys in the box and 11 guys flying to him, but we slowed him down.”
Of course Griswold’s ability to run is well documented and has been since Everett took over the program in 2005.
This year, the Tigers have a collective 1,355 yards on 131 carries, an average of nearly 10.5 yards every time they decide to run the ball. What’s more, their diverse backfield lacks a target to key in on as three backs (Ridlen, Rush and quarterback Tyler Mosier) all have over 300 yards each through three weeks while Christian Van Scyoc and Zach Schoning have combined for 311 yards on 45 carries.
With no “go-to guy” but rather a system that appears to be stronger that merely the sum of their parts, dissecting Griswold’s ability to move the ball on the ground could cause opposing coaches fits.
“I don’t worry about who’s lined up where, I just call the plays,” Everett says. “Whose ever turn it is gets the ball. Whether it’s one guy who gets all the yards or it’s spread out over four or five, I’m not worried about it. We’re going to take what the (other team’s) defense is giving us.”
In addition, Griswold relies on two-way play from a number of their key starters, and sharing the load somewhat limits the fatigue of battling on both sides of the ball.
“That helps when you can spread the ball around on offense because it makes us fresher on defense,” Everett says of his offensive backfield, all of whom see significant action on defense with Rush leading the team in tackles with 40 total.
Griswold’s early season success isn’t anything new, but this year, it will likely prove more meaningful with the expansion of the state’s playoff system from the top two teams in every district to four.
Everett, an advocate of the expansion, says he believes the numbers of kids going out for football this fall has increased state-wide, and thinks the new system will afford opportunities to experience playoff football for twice as many kids as in years past.
More kids, more involvement…that just might be the silver bullet of logic that quells the distracters’ most sound argument.
“What’s the big deal, so 16 more teams get to play another game,” Everett says. “It’s fun to play football. And if nothing else changes, there’s still all the ‘Haves’ who will play the same game on the same date. It gives you hope, it gives everyone hope. That’s a good thing.”
Griswold Tigers Football 2008
08/29 Nodaway Valley W, 49-6
09/05 at Corning W, 41-7
09/12 Clarinda Acad. W, 74-26
09/19 at Tri-Center 7:30PM
09/26 West Monona 7:30PM
10/03 Underwood 7:30PM
10/10 at Lo-Ma 7:30PM
10/17 at St. Albert 7:30PM
10/24 Riverside 7:30PM
The Tigers have produced three straight campaigns with a 6-3 record, only to be denied a playoff spot because of their district alignment, the opportunities going to Logan-Magnolia and St. Albert each October with St. Albert moving on to claim Class 1A State Championships the past two seasons.
But this fall, ignited by a punishing ground attack and a much-welcomed expansion to the playoff format, Griswold no longer flies under the radar.
The Tigers, ranked No. 9 in Class 1A by the Associated Press, have rattled off three victories this season, each in convincing fashion and each via eventual blowout.
Last week, Clarinda Academy, emboldened by their first 2-0 in recent memory, came to Griswold in what threatened to be a battle for the ages in regards to both team’s ability to rack up hearty figures on the ground.
Instead, the Tigers rolled over the upstart Eagles, pounding them 74-26 as running backs Keith Rush (200 yards) and Brandon Ridlen (167 yards) ran wild while the Griswold defense contained Clarinda Academy’s top two backs (Doug Winters and John Brown) to 218 combined yards, a figure well below their totals the from the previous two weeks where they averaged close to 250 yards apiece per contest.
ADVERTISEMENT |
“I was extremely pleased with that, I can’t say enough about our defense’s performance,” Griswold coach Andy Everett said. “They’re both very good backs, but Winters is incredible. We’d nail him, and if we didn’t wrap up, he’d just keep going. It took nine guys in the box and 11 guys flying to him, but we slowed him down.”
Of course Griswold’s ability to run is well documented and has been since Everett took over the program in 2005.
This year, the Tigers have a collective 1,355 yards on 131 carries, an average of nearly 10.5 yards every time they decide to run the ball. What’s more, their diverse backfield lacks a target to key in on as three backs (Ridlen, Rush and quarterback Tyler Mosier) all have over 300 yards each through three weeks while Christian Van Scyoc and Zach Schoning have combined for 311 yards on 45 carries.
With no “go-to guy” but rather a system that appears to be stronger that merely the sum of their parts, dissecting Griswold’s ability to move the ball on the ground could cause opposing coaches fits.
“I don’t worry about who’s lined up where, I just call the plays,” Everett says. “Whose ever turn it is gets the ball. Whether it’s one guy who gets all the yards or it’s spread out over four or five, I’m not worried about it. We’re going to take what the (other team’s) defense is giving us.”
In addition, Griswold relies on two-way play from a number of their key starters, and sharing the load somewhat limits the fatigue of battling on both sides of the ball.
“That helps when you can spread the ball around on offense because it makes us fresher on defense,” Everett says of his offensive backfield, all of whom see significant action on defense with Rush leading the team in tackles with 40 total.
Griswold’s early season success isn’t anything new, but this year, it will likely prove more meaningful with the expansion of the state’s playoff system from the top two teams in every district to four.
Everett, an advocate of the expansion, says he believes the numbers of kids going out for football this fall has increased state-wide, and thinks the new system will afford opportunities to experience playoff football for twice as many kids as in years past.
More kids, more involvement…that just might be the silver bullet of logic that quells the distracters’ most sound argument.
“What’s the big deal, so 16 more teams get to play another game,” Everett says. “It’s fun to play football. And if nothing else changes, there’s still all the ‘Haves’ who will play the same game on the same date. It gives you hope, it gives everyone hope. That’s a good thing.”
Griswold Tigers Football 2008
08/29 Nodaway Valley W, 49-6
09/05 at Corning W, 41-7
09/12 Clarinda Acad. W, 74-26
09/19 at Tri-Center 7:30PM
09/26 West Monona 7:30PM
10/03 Underwood 7:30PM
10/10 at Lo-Ma 7:30PM
10/17 at St. Albert 7:30PM
10/24 Riverside 7:30PM
 |
 |
|
| Atlantic looking to assemble offensive proficiency as Winterset arrives at Trojan Bowl | CAM hoping to slay another dragon with trip to perennial powerhouse Glidden-Ralston |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of atlanticnewstelegraph.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
Please note: We provide our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
