Class 1A Championship Preview

Ian Guerin December 3, 2020 @ 05:04 AM

Southside Christian and Lake View have been tap dancing around the playoffs for the last few years, not quite able to climb back up atop the mountain. The Sabres won the Class 1A, Division-1 title in 2015, and Lake View earned the Class 1A crown the next year when the state playoffs were reduced to five straight-up classes. Since then, it has been a variety of road blocks for both squads who weren’t far off from a trophy. Now, one of them is about to cash in again. ON SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN The fact that the Sabres have given up just 59 points all season - an average of 7.4 per game - is pretty much an eye opener, no matter how you break down the numbers. Turning the screws on playoff opponents to the tune of just 19 points in three postseason games? Just go ahead and laugh now. However, this didn’t happen by accident. Strong safety Charlie Harof (45 tackles, seven TFL, six pass break-ups, four interceptions), defensive end [player_tooltip player_id="59435" first="Zac" last="Zivitski"] (48 tackles, 11 TFL, 11.5 sacks) and linebacker Caleb Dyer (50 tackles) are the focal points. Defensive back Quinton Hood (nine PBUs, four interceptions), lineman Michael Kennedy (51.5 tackles, 14 TFL, 7.5 sacks) and corner Jalen Williams (three picks, 24.5 tackles) are pretty darn good complements. Those players and the rest of the Southside Christian defense have executed as well as anyone could have hoped. Their gaudy group effort isn’t a fluke. ON LAKE VIEW The Wild Gators jumped way up everyone’s boards on Sept. 28 when they doubled up two-time defending Class 1A state champs Green Sea Floyds. The Trojans had beaten Lake View by double digits twice in 2019, but it was clear the food chain in Region V-1A had been re-established right off the bat. It wan’t a surprise, given that nearly half of this battle-tested group was now part of a huge senior class. Running back Ja’Correus Ford had led the way with 1,207 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Fellow senior Adarrian Dawkins has 501 yards and six scores of his own. As a receiver Braxton Dimery has four touchdowns and on defense he’s put up 40 tackles and been a part of five turnovers. Linebacker Marquise Johnson has 65 tackles and a pick. Sprinkle in a handful of influential juniors and sophomores, and this senior class has created a new legacy that should carry over next season. PREP RED ZONE’S PICK Southside Christian’s defense is impressive. But here’s the thing: Head coach Mike Sonneborn is an offensive coach and has that side of the ball rolling, too. The Sabres have averaged better than 43 points per game. The combination should be able to carry Southside Christian to another championship.