Both teams are 3-0, both have proven to be legitimate LOSSA threats, and both want to be in the conversation come November. Something has got to give; and on Thursday something will.
The only perfect teams in LOSSA will face off on Thursday, where the only guarantee is that of a great nail biter. The Holy Trinity Titans and St. Mary Monarchs are in a three way tie for scoring defence atop LOSSA, the third are the St. Stephen Royals. The defences have each allowed 26 points through 3 games which works out to about 8.5 points per game, so to say this game will be a shootout would be very unlikely. The Monarchs do boast another high octane passing attack that has scored a whopping 101 points (first in division) meaning their offence averages about 33.6 points per game. The Titans offence is third with 77 points, averaging just over 25 points per game.
One look at the film will tell you a lot about St. Mary’s, they’re big, they’re fast and they’re hungry for a championship. The Monarchs are a well rounded team to say the least, when your offence is scoring 33 and your defence is only allowing eight you’re generally in pretty good shape. Teams like the Monarchs are hard to beat because you can’t beat them in any one facet of the game, you must win with all three. The Titans must come to play, with offence, defence, and above all special teams. The importance of special teams can not be understated in games like these. If an offence is struggling a great punter can bail them out, and give a strong offence very difficult field position. In close games like these you must take points anyway you can get them and a kicker that can nail a 38 yard field goal may be the difference between staying perfect or suffering a gut wrenching loss. Special teams must be a positive factor for the Titans if they want to continue their winning ways.
For the Monarchs, their high flying offence must get airborne fast against a gritty Titans defence that has unofficially shut two of it’s opponents out (points came in fourth quarter against reserve defence). Holy Trinity’s defence is eager to prove itself against another great offence. The Monarchs must test the perimeter to try and establish some sort of ground game to draw the defensive backs in towards the line of scrimmage to open up the airwaves. That is a lot easier said than done against a Titans defence that has mainly stuffed the run with an intense group of linebackers that fly to the ball and arrive violently.
This game is close on paper it near impossible to tell what will happen. All that can be said is that this will be great game as the past games have never been decided by more than a touchdown. Losing this game holds so many consequences for both teams as they approach with a “LOSSA or bust” mentality so both will be giving everything they have on every play.
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