Wilson is at its best when it employs its now famed air-raid offense.
Northern Lehigh thrives on running the ball.
The Warriors are coached by Bret Comp, who in his 10th year has the
second-longest head-coaching tenure in the Colonial League behind Northwestern's
Bob Mitchell.
The Bulldogs are coached by Joe Tout, who's in just his second year at the
helm.
But enough about the differences in these teams. Tonight these squads square off
and will have one big similarity.
They're both 4-2 and desperately trying to avoid their third loss. The loser
will have little room for error the final three weeks of the season.
''There is no doubt in my mind that this is a must-win game,'' Northern Lehigh
linebacker Casey Hedash said. ''If you don't win this one, you might be looking
from the outside in [when the postseason comes].''
Hedash, the nephew and godson of former Northern Lehigh coach Jim Tkach, feels
an obligation to his team and the community to get to the playoffs, a place the
Bulldogs have been nine years in a row. No other Colonial League or Lehigh
Valley Conference team can say that.
''Ten years in row would be amazing,'' said Hedash, a senior. ''There is always
that pressure on us. You walk around town and people are talking about it. We
don't want to be the team that loses the streak.''
Tout said the best way to ensure a victory would be to come out fired up. He
wants the Bulldogs to feed on the energy of their homecoming, which is what
their Week 6 opponent, Saucon Valley, did. He also wants the Bulldogs to take
into account the recent history between Wilson and Northern Lehigh.
Northern Lehigh won every meeting between the teams from 2003-05 -- before the
Warriors rebounded with a win in the District 11 playoffs in 2005 and advancing
to the state championship game. Last year, Wilson beat Northern Lehigh in the
teams' only meeting.
''It was Saucon's homecoming and their kids were fired up,'' Tout said. ''It was
12-0 before you knew it. That's what we're looking for. It's our homecoming. We
want our kids to be aggressive early. Our backs are against the wall, but at the
same time, let's have fun and play. In the last couple games, this has become a
rivalry. They've had our number. They've beaten us two times in a row and our
kids don't like that. That's a little extra motivation as well.''
So is preparing for a team that loves to throw. The Warriors, led by sophomore
Tyler Smith, the team's first-year starting quarterback, have thrown for 933
yards on 151 attempts and rushed for just 557 on 146 carries.
''I have to say, it's way more fun preparing for a passing game,'' Hedash said.
''For me as a linebacker, I know I'm not going to get the 15 or 16 tackles that
I normally get, but I might get the chance to pick off a ball or lay somebody
out coming across the middle. I'm licking my chops at the chance to do that.''
Wilson's Comp knows it won't be easy playing in Slatington, the home of one of
only four Colonial League teams that has beaten Wilson in the last three years (Saucon
Valley, Palmerton and Salisbury are the others). After all, the last time the
Warriors played at Northern Lehigh, they ended the Bulldogs' season with a
District 11 tournament win.
''The biggest thing we are telling our kids is that you are going into hostile
territory,'' he said. ''Trust me, those people haven't forgotten our last visit
up there. Homecoming or not, I'm sure they will be ready, willing and able to do
something against us.''
Tout knows he's got to come up with a defensive game plan to contend with Smith,
Justin Scerbo, Anthony Ventura, Ray Mosby, Dennis Rhyder and Co. But he can't
help but spend extra time getting his offense ready this week. That, he said,
could be his team's best defense.
''I think it's going to be totally different styles this week,'' Tout said.
''But I think the best way to contain Wilson is to keep your offense on the
field. Against Salisbury and Palmerton [both Wilson losses], when you look at
the time of possession and the number of plays run, Wilson was heavily
outbalanced. We don't want to have three and outs. We have to keep that clock
running.
''They're young and they have a new quarterback. But the reality is ... they're
inconsistent, but then there's a 60-yard touchdown pass that was a 5-yard route
and the kid outruns you.''
''That's us,'' Comp said. ''We show flashes of greatness. But I'd much rather
have consistent goodness.''
WILSON (4-2)
AT NORTHERN LEHIGH (4-2)
When: 7 tonight
Last meeting: Wilson won 24-7 on Oct. 14, 2006.
Matchup: This is a clash of two totally different styles. The Warriors are
at their best when their air-raid attack, which features four wide receivers, is
successful. But they had trouble moving the ball last week against Palmerton and
had a tough time containing the Bombers. The Bulldogs survive on their running
game, which took a hit a few weeks ago when leading rusher Jason Krawchuk went
down with a season-ending injury. Coach Joe Tout and linebacker Casey Hedash
know they won't be able to afford a lackadaisical start. ''Don't get me wrong,
Saucon Valley came out tough,'' Hedash said. ''But we didn't come to play. Coach
said we didn't step off the bus until it was already 12-0. I think this week
will really show the character of our team -- if we can bounce back or not
because we have a lot of distractions that we have to look past with homecoming
and spirit week.''