NS: Griffins and Cheetahs Set the Stage for Semi-Final Showdown

The highly anticipated semi-final game of the Tier 1 Nova Scotia Student Athletic Federation Football League (NSSAFFL) playoffs has the Charles P Allen Cheetahs travelling to Acadia to take on the Horton Griffins on Sunday afternoon.

Both teams earned their spots in the semi-finals by scoring convincing victories in the quarterfinal round last week. The Cheetahs defeated last year’s provincial runner-ups, the Sir John A MacDonald Flames 47-15. Meanwhile, the Griffins won their first home playoff game in three tries, as they cruised by the Prince Andrew Panthers 61-21.

Now, it sets up the stage for one of the most exciting playoff games ever to be witnessed by Nova Scotia high school football fans. A battle between two teams who are evenly matched and who have also achieved success in their respective football programs.

“We are both teams that have grown from the basement of this league over the last few years to be two of the top teams,” explains Griffins head coach Alec Hyndman. “There won’t be a tie this time, for one of us, it will be off to the championship game, and something both schools can see as a large victory for their program, the other, well it’s over.”

As Hyndman is alluding to, this is not the first time the two teams have met this season.

In Week 3 of the NSSAFFL regular season, the Cheetahs and Griffins met and the result was a 23-23 tie. This time around on Sunday, one team has to win this game. At stake is a spot in the provincial championships next weekend in Halifax.

“WE are going into a game facing the only team we weren’t able to beat and trailed this season, as it ended in a tie,” says Hyndman. “We know it’s going to be a fight just like in week 3, and we are ready for one.”

The Cheetahs are also anticipating a tough battle on Sunday.

“It is very fitting that we are meeting Horton on Sunday in the semi-final,” says Cheetahs head coach Mike McPherson. “Horton has had a very impressive season and have impressed the league with both their sturdy running attack and stingy defense…they have a very fundamentally sound team and we will have our hands full again Sunday.”

McPherson knows that they are about to face the top defensive team in the NSSAFFL this season and the statistics show just how stingy the unit has been: 40 takeaways to three turnovers this season and not giving up a touchdown since the third week of the season. The defense has only given up four touchdowns this season.

Furthermore, the Griffins defensive unit scored more points this season than they have given up. The defense ended up scoring seven touchdowns, and five of which were scored alone by safety Curtis Bawn. Another player to watch for is all star Zach Daigle.

In last week’s victory against the Panthers, the Griffins’ defense was solid. The unit had four picks and one which resulted in a touchdown.

Offensively, the Griffins are also a big threat.

Averaging 10.23 yards a carry with 32 rushing touchdowns as a team this season, the Griffins will be running the ball down the field. Running back Robert Adams is the player on the Griffins who will be the biggest factor in the running game. During the regular season, Adams had 1526 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

In last week’s victory again the Panthers, Adams had three touchdowns. Overall, the Griffins offense had three passing and four rushing touchdowns in their quarterfinal win. Players to watch offensively for the Griffins include Will Stewart, Noel Morgan and all-stars Doug Spriggs, Zac Austin and Brandon Vaughon.

“Melanson, Adams, and many others on their roster are tremendous ball players and have been work horses this fall,” adds McPherson.

Hyndman says that the Griffins are entering this semi-final game as the healthiest they have been all season. However, it will be an emotional game as well for the Griffins.

Quarterback Greg Brown’s 19 year old brother Jordan lost his long fought battle with cancer during last week’s game against the Panthers. As the Griffins have been preparing for the semi-final game against the Cheetahs, they have been rallying around the Brown family during this difficult time.

The team will wear “JB” patches on their uniforms to show their support at Sunday’s game. Hyndman says that Brown’s father Norm (who’s a teacher at the school), has confirmed the quarterback will be in the lineup but the team is giving him as much time as he needs to deal with this tragic loss.

During a difficult time, the bonds between the Griffins players and coaching staff have grown even stronger.

“Everyone on this team has been brought that much closer this week with the loss of Jordan,” adds Hyndman. “They were already a close knit group, but now they look and act like a family.”

On the other hand, the Cheetahs will field an equally impressive offensive and defensive attack in the semi-final game.

Offensively, the Cheetahs game execution will be spearheaded by quarterback Andrew Adams. The pivot had a 52.3 percent completion rate, as he had 45 completions for 86 attempts for 543 passing yards and six touchdowns.

Running back Louis Stephen will be one of the offensive weapons for the Cheetahs. In the regular season, Stephen amassed 889 rushing yards on 37 runs and six touchdowns. League most valuable player candidate Jordan Koch is another player the Griffins will have to watch for on Sunday. The receiver tallied 214 receiving yards on 11 catches and one touchdown during the season. Additionally, Koch had 239 rushing yards on 19 catches and one touchdown.

In last week’s quarterfinal victory against the Flames, Stephen had 132 yards on 25 runs and scored two touchdowns. Koch had 97 yards on seven runs and one touchdown. Additionally, he had a 70 yard catch.

Receiver Mack Thompson will have a role in the offensive game execution. Over the course of the season, Thompson had 204 receiving yards on 14 catches and four touchdowns. Running back Lucas Forsey is a force to be reckoned with on the field as he amassed 216 rushing yards on 22 runs and two touchdowns.

The defense unit of the Cheetahs will be led by linebacker Dustin MacCallum. During the regular season, MacCallum had 22 tackle solos and 24 tackle assists. Also, he has 129 rushing yards on 37 runs and six touchdowns. In last week’s game against the Flames, MacCallum had four tackles.

Another defensive player that will lead the charge for the Cheetahs is linebacker Taylor MacDonald. He had 27 tackles, 15 tackle assists and four sacks. Against the Flames, MacDonald registered five tackles. Also watch for linebacker Mike Donovan, defensive back Ian Archibald and defensive back Daniel Keays.

“Our team will need to ensure our motors are running high and for four quarters,” comments McPherson on what the Cheetahs must do to counter the Griffins attack. “Where we have gotten in trouble this season in games is where we have turned the ballover and taken undisciplined penalties, in a game like this and what is at stake, we cannot have this happen.”

McPherson says that he was impressed with how the team stepped up in their quarterfinal game last Friday. All three of the Cheetahs’ units (offense, defense and special teams) were successful and he hopes that will carry on into Sunday’s game against the Griffins.

“We still have a long road ahead in completing our journey and achieving the goals we set forth,” adds McPherson. “In order to beat Horton we will require an even better effort and will need to eliminate the penalties and turnovers we had on Friday.”

“It will be a tough battle with little margin for error.”

Hyndman agrees that it will be a well fought battle between two elite teams who are both hungry to come out on top.

“Both schools want it bad, both schools are loaded with talent, and both schools are going to come to play, it’s going to be a hell of a game,” comments Hyndman. “If I wasn’t coaching Horton, I would be at this game just as a fan of football.”

The Griffins will host the Cheetahs on Sunday afternoon at Acadia. Kickoff time is 1:00 pm at Raymond Field. The winner of this semi-final will earn a spot in the provincial championships to be played on Sunday November 27th in Halifax.

(Photo courtesy of Joe Chrvala of Cheetahs Football)
(website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jchrvala