PREVIEW: CFC#43 Gryphons, Crusaders tangle for TDCAA Championship

On Thursday November 13, the Chaminade Football Gryphons will be playing the Henry Carr Crusaders for the TDCAA Championship.  Chaminade won an earlier meeting between the two schools 18-0.  Coach Jeff Dobbs sums up the Crusaders, “We struggled in our preseason and first game against Chaminade but we hit our stride and gelled over the last month.”

Scoring against the Chaminade defence has not been easy as they have not allowed a single point against all season.  The defence plays as a unit and is relentless in its pursuit of the ball carrier.  Defensive co-cordinator N. Quarshie prepares the defence for all opponents has them playing at a level that has made it difficult for any team to score on the Gryphons.

On the offensive side of the ball the key for the Gryphons will be the offensive line creating holes for RB’s Mekhi Hyman and Paolo Caprara. Offensive Co-ordinator Robin Legault has worked hard in creating a balanced attack, “We have the ability to move the ball both on the ground and through the air.” Yet still it will come down to the protection the offensive line can provide for QB Esson Hamilton.

The Crusaders have some athletes that the Gryphon defence must contain in order to win.  “For us Treyion Charles our RB, Joel Fountain at QB and Rayshawn Smith at DE are our key players. We also had a couple new kids stepping up from Junior including Niles Atuahene at LB and Samuel Olawuyi at DE” explains Coach Jeff Dobbs.

Coach Dobbs is proud that his squad has reached the TDCAA Finals because of a strong bond amongst the players. “Our season can be summed up by the word ‘family’ because we have a tight group of kids. Our goal was this game and we reached it.”

Chaminade head football coach Pat Diodati says, “Our goal has been this game from day one. We were in the same position last season but fell short. We hope the same does not happen this year. We have a lot of respect for Henry Carr and do not take the lightly, they are a fast, athletic team.  However, our young men have worked extremely hard to get to this point and I know on Thursday they will be putting their best foot forward to try and bring our school its first ever senior football championship.”

Source:  Pat Diodati

 

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