Sean Smith’s favourite video of the month is simply entitled ‘The John Barsby Bulldogs.’
The Vernon Panther football head coach has watched hours of game film on the Nanaimo school and is primed for the Subway Bowl senior AA varsity quarterfinal tilt Friday, 6 p.m. at Greater Vernon Athletics Park.
The Panthers (3-0) enjoyed a first-round playoff bye, while the Bulldogs (4-1) stuffed the Langley Saints 48-18 last Friday at the brand-new Nanaimo District Secondary School turf field.
The Fulton Maroons (3-1) face the Windsor Dukes (5-0) of North Vancouver in their quarterfinal Saturday, 9:30 a.m., at B.C. Place.
“As a coaching staff, we always make adjustments on both offence and defence based on what we see our opponents have shown us on film,” said Smith. “On O, we look at the coverages we see might see in certain situations and then adjust our playbook accordingly. We also highlight certain plays during the week in practice that we feel will be successful…and add new ones that we saw other teams have success with.
“I’m a big fan of using what other teams have shown us has worked in the past. On defense, we usually like to try and create a game plan that will attempt to take away what they do best and force them into situations they are less comfortable in. Having said that, we hope there are certain things that we do well that we can run regardless of opponent or what we see on film.”
Smith has actually viewed Barsby film since September and like usual, is impressed with their execution and deception. He says the Cats will have to play their best. VSS needs Grade A showings from Okanagan Conference Grade 12 defensive MVP Brad Hladik, Charles Lemay (Grade 11 defensive MVP) and Thomas Hyett (Grade 11 offensive MVP).
“They are very good at running the same plays out of different formations and looks which eventually catch you out of position. They are also very good at overloading by using traps and pulling linemen to overwhelm you at the point of attack. Barsby is a physical team and if you aren’t prepared to meet that physicality, it’s going to be a long day. This year they have added a passing element which wasn’t in their arsenal in previous years and makes them much more dangerous and complicated to defend. They also do a unique hurry up coming out of the huddle so it doesn’t give us much time to recognize and adjust at the line of scrimmage.”
Smith says the Panthers are a quiet yet easily focused bunch which he expects will be confident on game day.
“I’m hoping by game day we will have seen most of Barsby’s stuff so often that they can use their athleticism to make plays and won’t have to spend as much time thinking. Most of these guys have played in bigger games already.”
The Grade 12s and a lot of the 11s were part of Vernon’s run to the finals last year and the Grade 10s that are playing up were in the junior semifinal last year.
“Until we beat them in the playoffs, they are the favourites. We have lost three semifinal games to them (two senior and one junior) and four playoff games since I started coaching here. Having a home game definitely helps but going on the road is nothing new to Barsby and they will be well prepared for everything we throw at them. There will be no easy touchdowns. If we want to win, we will first and foremost have to control the clock and win the battle in the trenches.”
Barsby running back Steen Rasmussen, who took two of his three interceptions for touchdowns against Langley, says the Dawgs can play even better.
“I think it was a good effort overall, but still we need to keep tightening,” saidn Rasmussen. “We still have a lot of things to improve on, every team does, but I’m really excited to see how far we can go and I believe in my teammates,”
Barsby quarterback Cam Wright was 13-for-18 passing with three touchdowns. Zach Taylor had 131 receiving yards and two TDs and Kole Postema had five catches and a TD.
The Maroons, who rely heavily on Grade 12 offensive MVP Caden Doyle and quarterback Ike Olson, stopped the Samuel Roberts Tech Titans of Maple Ridge 40-0 in a snowy first-round contest last Friday at the college turf.
“Windsor is a huge test for us,” said Fulton head coach Mike Scheller. “They are the No. 1 ranked AA team for reason. They are very good. We played them last year, when they were Grade 11-heavy and so were we. It was close at the half, and then they beat us in the second half. Their quarterback Ryan Baker is the best AA player in the province. He throws a nice accurate ball and is very difficult to stop as a runner. His vision and power make it tough. They have some very fast receivers on offense as well. Baker is probably the best middle linebacker in the province as well. He tackles and fills well for a disciplined defence.”
Scheller said the Dukes’ defence is fast and tough to get outside.
“Overall, they are a well disciplined team. Coach Jim Schuman and his staff are excellent. They do a very good job game planning and prepping. We are in for a test. I like our kids and I like our chances. Our kids will fight and they believe.”
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