Alter and Clinton-Massie meet; Who wins? And why?
By Adam Adkins
Guys! It’s regional final time! Without further adieu…
Division 4: Region 16 Regional Final
#2 (12-0) Kettering Archbishop Alter Knights @ #1 (12-0) Clinton-Massie Falcons
Anyone else excited? I am, and I have a stable of bullet points to explain why.
- These are, without a doubt, the most successful and dominant teams in the region (It’s no guarantee that Thurgood Marshall would be 12 and 0.)
- Two teams with similar styles. Plan A: Run. Plan B: Run. Plan C: Fake a pass, and then run.
- Alter has not lost a game on the field since Nov. 10th, 2007. Remember? Yeah, that was the last time. A 59-52 3 OT loss to the eventual state champions (Coldwater) in the regional semifinal. Yeah. That’s a long time. In fact, it means Alter is 27-0 since that night. Those two “losses” from forfeits? Those were, in reality, two victories where the margins of victory were 32 (against Kettering Fairmont) and 35 (Bellbrook).
- Clinton-Massie is no slouch, though. They have made the playoffs every single year since 2002.
It’s hard to make all of that balanced. Massie, as good as they are—they’d own the SWBL every year—does not compare with the Knights in terms of program success.
As we all know, the Alter Knights won their first state title last year. But, by no means was it their first trip up north. In 2006, they lost the Division III final to Steubenville (in case you don’t know, Steubenville in this decade has been the Ohio high school football equivalent of the Indianapolis Colts) by one point.
That was a defining moment for Alter. The Knights had a rather shocking string of early playoff exits, so even reaching that far into November was a success.
And then, in 2007, the 3 OT game.
Was it fate or something like it that seemed to set the Knights off? Perhaps. A game like that—well, either one, both were surely heart breaking—could light a serious fire underneath the leadership of the team.
We got this far. We can taste it.
If you were to tell me that since that night, no football team in the area has been as successful, I’d probably agree with you. I said it—and got a bit of resistance from MVP’s Alex Sator on the MVPPREGAME Podcast—and I believe it: they are the dominant program in the area.
That said, Massie offers an interesting foil to Alter’s quest. How will Alter handle playing a team that’s cut from the very same cloth as they are?
My initial thoughts were a bit colorful.
How will they handle it? Wasn’t Carlisle cut from the same cloth? How’d that work out?
Obviously, Carlisle doesn’t compare at all to Massie. But the simple truth is, Alter seems to chew up and spit out teams of any ilk.
Carlisle, a grind it out defensive club? 41-0. Chaminade-Julienne, a passing team? 21-0.
But, a wise observer might point out something that is totally and completely undeniable. Something that someone as callous as me can’t even help but accept.
Clinton-Massie will be, without a doubt, the best team Alter has played in 2009.
Alter has been bigger and stronger than every single team they played this year. I doubt they’ll out-muscle the Falcons. Which means this game likely comes down to skill, and coaching.
Ed Domsitz and Dan McSurley are two excellent coaches, but the simple fact is, one has the pedigree. Then again, prior to 2008, that pedigree’s work history didn’t include phrases like “state champion”.
Fact is, undefeated Alter teams have dropped in the playoffs before. And teams like Massie have been the ones holding the smoking gun.
I asked Alex a simple question on the Podcast. If we were to place a spread on the game, what would the line look like? (Note: We do not condone gambling. This is for entertainment purposes only.) I suggested Alter (-10), which means Alter is a ten point favorite. Alex wouldn’t take the Knights.
I will. I think Alter’s talent wins out. I told Alex it would be 35-14, but I’ll back off that a little and go with a 28-10 victory for the Knights.
Adam also writes for his blog, www.adamadkins.net and can be reached via adamdadkins@gmail.com.
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