Final: Otis 60 Weldon Valley 6
Imagine if a 6-man team had the depth to rotate an entire backfield...I'm not talking about spelling one back, then giving a break to the other...I mean every other series 2 new backs are in the game, so that every time the offense takes the field you have 2 fresh ball carriers. In the high-octane, offensively driven world of 6-man football that would be devastating...
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2011 Otis Bulldogs.
Sergey Sokolov led the attack with 120 yards on 7 carries, Colton Uhrig had 93 yards, and Sterling Satorious and Drake Brandon also contributed in the rout. All four running backs scored. This is a rushing attack that is scary good for being an early season game.
I'm not sure if it was just a wrinkle for this week, or if this is the plan going forward, but Satorious was paired with fullback Uhrig, and Sokolov was paired with fullback Brandon throughout the game. The 2 pairs rotated series, which is something I had never witnessed in a 6-man game. From a tactical standpoint it worked well, as Otis ran no-huddle most of the game, meaning fresh backs were necessary.
Given how well Otis ran the ball Quarterback Jarred Allacher didn't throw a pass in the second half (the running clock and lopsided score also helped), but in the first half Allacher was effective, completing 5 of 8 for just over 100 yards and a score.
Even the Otis backups got a chance to post a late score.
As good as the Otis offense was (over 400 yards by our tally) the defense was just as good, allowing only a late score to Weldon Valley, and the Warriors only had 60 yards of offense at the half.
Weldon Valley struggled against the size of Otis. Up front the Bulldogs are big, but still have decent speed. Weldon Valley couldn't match up to the size, and as a result had an almost no-existent passing game due to a heavy rush from Larry Johnson and others. You can tell that Weldon Valley has some good athletes in Jace Chilson (rb), Nathan Hays (rb), and Brady Groves (qb), but they may have to find a different scheme when matching up with larger teams.
Final Thoughts:
It's pretty easy to see why Otis is considered one of the favorites to bring home the 6-man title. They have size, speed, and depth. They can run and pass, and have an outstanding defense to go along with the offense. Of note: Sterling Satorious did suffer a late injury, able to walk off on his own after a violent facemask.
Weldon Valley, coming off a big win over defending champ Idalia the week before, got a bit of a reality check. They have the bodies to be a good team, but right now the Warriors aren't in the same class as a team like Otis. Fortunately Weldon Valley has a lot of time to work on their flaws. This is a team that should be in the cross divisional games, with a chance to make the state playoffs.
Next week: Akron vs. Burlington
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