LOGINToday, CanadaFootballChat.com (CFC) continues its exclusive coverage of “National Playoff Countdowns & Predictions”. Some of these teams are currently ranked in the #CFC50 and #CFC10 high school polls this season.
In this installment, Dr. E.P Scarlett Lancers Head Coach Peter McMahon gives his thoughts and outlook on the team’s upcoming Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association (CSHSAA) Division 3 semi-final against John G Diefenbaker Chiefs on Tuesday.
DR E.P SCARLETT LANCERS VS JOHN G. DIEFENBAKER CHIEFS (CSHSAA DIVISION 3 SEMI-FINAL):
No matter when Dr. E.P Scarlett Lancers and John G. Diefenbaker meet up for another game, it always seems that it’s one of those contests that Calgary Division 3 fans are always on the edge of their seats.
The first game of the 2015 regular season was the last time these two squads met and the Lancers were victorious 20-7 over the Chiefs.
This time around, both the Chiefs and Lancers will meet in the Calgary Division 3 semi-finals. With the stakes even higher as a berth in the Championship Final on the line, the Lancers are expecting this to be another hard fought battle.
“Scarlett and Diefenbaker have had some great games over the past three games including 2013 Senior City Finals, 2013 Junior City finals, 2014 senior quarterfinals plus regular season games as well,” recalled Lancers Head Coach Peter McMahon. “The games are always very close and very exciting!”
Stacking up the competition, McMahon said the Chiefs will not be an easy task.
“Dief has some outstanding athletes on the offensive and defensive side of the ball,” assessed the Lancers Head Coach. “They play a 3 – 4 defense and their three linemen are exceptional football players.”
“Their secondary doesn’t miss too many tackles either.”
For the Lancers to conquer the Chiefs, both the Lancers offence and defence need to be successful at quashing the Chiefs attack and game execution plans.
“While Dief is on offence, we will need to contain the fly and make sure we keep their quarterback inside the pocket,” offered McMahon. “While Scarlett is on offence, we will need to win the battle against their defensive line.”
“We will need to pass protect against their three linemen as well as all of their blitzes so that our quarterback can get the ball off.”
The Lancers will look to Dan Jovanovic, Chase Wall, Ethan Kimura and Jihoon Kim to provide major offensive contributions, which will in turn add point on the scoreboard.
Defensively, Yichao Hu, Tresoro Mwanza, Riven Footit and Luke Coles have to deliver their season best performances to halt the Chiefs from getting anything started offensively during the semi-final.
While the Lancers have had the Chiefs’ number in recent years, they are not taking anything for granted today and are making final preparations, knowing an appearance in the Calgary Division 3 semi-final is one game away.
“Scarlett has gotten the best of Dief in our past few games but we respect their team and coaches too much to take them lightly tonight,” expressed McMahon. “We know that they have a good enough team to beat anyone in the division and we’ve got to play our best football to beat them.”
PREDICTION: EP Scarlett Lancers 17, John G Diefenbaker Chiefs 12
DR. EP SCARLETT LANCERS:
2015 RECORD: 6-1
PLAYOFF ROAD: Earned a bye in Calgary Division 3 Quarterfinals
HEAD COACH: Peter McMahon
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Dan Jovanovic (offence), Chase Wall (offence), Ethan Kimura (offence), Jihoon Kim (offence), Yichao Hu (defence), Tresoro Mwanza (defence), Riven Footit (defence), Luke Coles (defence)
JOHN G DIEFENBACKER CHIEFS:
2015 RECORD: 5-2
PLAYOFF ROAD: Defeated Central Memorial Rams in Calgary Division 3 Quarterfinals 38-6
HEAD COACH: Brady Parnell
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