Class 6-man state championship game preview

Last year’s 6-man championship game with Fleming and Statton/Liberty was a thriller with Fleming holding on for a 28-27 win. Based on how the two teams have played this season, there’s a good chance the rematch this week will be just as good. Here’s a look at how the two teams made it back to the finals for another championship showdown. <h2>Fleming Wildcats</h2> <strong>How they got there:</strong> Fleming got past Kit Carson in the quarterfinal round 58-14 to set up a rematch with Granada from their regular-season finale. The Wildcats trailed by two points going into the fourth quarter but did enough down the stretch to win 52-46 to reach the championship game. It is familiar territory for Fleming to play for the state championship in the last decade. In the last 10 championship games in 6-man football, Fleming has played in four of them, going 2-2 in those games. They won the championship game last season for their third state title in program history. <strong>Offensive stars to watch:</strong> <strong>Charles Hobbs</strong> was the home run threat for Fleming in its win over Granada. He had four rushes for 148 yards and scored three touchdowns in the win, and he leads the team with 540 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Helping him carry the ball is <strong>Nolan Japp</strong> with a team-high 41 rushing attempts for 485 yards and seven scores. <strong>Chris Goss</strong> is third with 410 yards and nine touchdowns, but he also is a threat in the passing game with 10 receptions for 200 receiving yards. A key player along the front of the line is <strong>Brady Kuntz</strong>. An athletic senior with good length, he will battle on the front with his run blocking, but he is also a deep threat when he releases in the passing game. Kuntz leads the team with 13 receptions, 262 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. <strong>Defensive stars to watch:</strong> Goss leads the team with 88 tackles. The quick middle linebacker can play close to the line of scrimmage and shoot the gap with his speed to chase down ball carriers in the backfield. Kuntz and<strong> Hayden Burr</strong> are defensive ends who like to use their quickness to get off the line, but they also bring plenty of physicality to take on blockers to allow the linebackers and defensive backs behind them to pursue the ball carrier for tackles. The speed for Fleming allows them to create penetration and disrupt timing of plays. The back end of the defense is a veteran unit who can run with opposing receivers and make a play on the ball in the passing game. <strong>Kade Comstock</strong> leads the team with three interceptions to go with his 55 tackles in the secondary. <strong>Joel Miller</strong>, a hybrid linebacker/defensive back combo type of player, is right behind with two interceptions. <h2><strong>Stratton/Liberty Knighted Hawkes</strong></h2> <strong>How they got there:</strong> It was a very successful season for Stratton/Liberty. Big wins over Briggsdale (58-39) and Cheyenne Wells (36-15) in the first two playoff games has them feeling confident going into the championship. While this is a younger team, the program is no stranger to the championship game. This will be the fourth consecutive appearance in the state final and fifth in the last 10 seasons. They are 2-2 in their previous four appearances. <strong>Offensive stars to watch:</strong> This team is not afraid to impose its will on the ground. The two backs who lead the charge are <strong>Alex Cruz</strong> and <strong>Charlie Clapper</strong>. Both are smaller backs that have a good combination of speed for outside runs and toss plays but will also plant the foot, run north to south and take on contact. Cruz leads the team with 570 yards and eight touchdowns. Clapper is not far behind with 409 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. The three offensive linemen who open up holes for the backs to run are big and can push defenders off the line of scrimmage. <strong>Daniel Tanner</strong> is the big presence at 6-foot-3 and 238 pounds to anchor the front unit. Alongside him are physical, athletic ends in <strong>Tyler Hase</strong> and <strong>Logan Breyer</strong>. Look for them to try and control the line of scrimmage to establish the run game for Stratton/Liberty. <strong>Defensive stars to watch:</strong> What this team lacks in turnovers (seven total for the season), they make for with a good defensive scheme to get stops and limit the points allowed. Overall team speed and physicality allows them to make plays at all three levels on the field. Breyer will be a key up front on the edge. With his size at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he has a good step off the line and will get in the backfield. His nine sacks are tied for the most by a player in the classification this season. Behind him at the linebacker spot is <strong>Riggin Williams</strong> with 41 total tackles (31 solo) and great speed to get to the ball carrier. Nine players have recorded double-digit tackles this season as Stratton/Liberty does a good job in pursuit and with gang tackling.