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Last updated
12-22-09 11:18 AM
Section Nine New York Football
Phil Dusenbury
Middletown, New York
10941
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Friday, November 6
MINISINK VALLEY COACH GALLAGHER GIVES HIS CLASS AA INSIGHTS
HOW MONROE-WOODBURY & WARWICK MATCH UP
The match up between Monroe Woodbury and Warwick is a good one. Both teams have explosive offenses and are very well coached. They both have high scoring potential but go about it differently.After scouting Warwick all year, we thought we had put together a solid defensive game plan. I still think it was a good plan. The problem is Warwick’s offense is that good. Rian White is a playmaker and going into our game, he scared the heck out of me. I was right. He still gives me nightmares. Rian is the key to Warwick’s offense, but he also has very talented receivers and an offensive line that can flat out pass block. John Babin and his buddies are almost impossible to cover if you don’t get pressure on White. The key for Monroe is to get pressure on White as they did in their first game. The second thing Monroe must do is tackle well. The Warwick receivers, White and Testa can all make you miss.
A look at Monroe on offense is just as scary for an opposing coach. When we scouted Monroe we knew we could not give them extra plays or turnovers. Dan Scalo, Trevor Officer and the boys do not need any help from our defense but we did help them out and it hurt us. When you game plan against Monroe, the number one point is to stop Dan Scalo from running the ball and make someone else beat you. I wish that was as easy as I wrote it. Dan Scalo is strong, fast elusive, and ornery enough to make him very tough to tackle and almost impossible to tackle with one defender.
The offensive line makes the job of stopping Scalo that much tougher. Monroe’s line is big, strong and very skilled at picking up blitzes and stunts. This is the unit that wears down the opponent over the course of the game. If you put all of your effort into stopping Scalo, Trevor Officer will hurt you. He is also fast and very tough to bring down. The receiving corps is also a valid weapon for Monroe, as we found out on a third and 6 from Monroe’s 8 yd line. Result: 92 yard touchdown pass.
Enough said about the excellent offenses of these two teams because the difference will be the defense of Monroe. I was surprised and very impressed with the way Monroe got to the ball against us on Saturday. There were times I thought we had some big gainers that were cut short because of Monroe’s defensive speed and recognition. I realize that Warwick runs a different offense than we do (and I mean no disrespect to them), but I just feel Monroe will come up with more stops than Warwick. If Warwick can get a turnover or two and turn those into points, however, Warwick could be on their way to an upset.
I would like to congratulate James Sciarra and his staff and players as well as Pat D’Aliso and his staff and players on great seasons to this point. I also feel strongly that the winner of this game will be playing in Syracuse in a few weeks. GO SECTION 9!!
--KEVIN GALLAGHER, Minisink Valley Head Coach
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