Division 7 State Championship Preview
The Division 7 bracket has been shaped out to be extremely competitive and now we’re set up for an incredible state championship game. The Lawton Blue Devils have advanced to their first-ever state championship and will face Pewamo-Westphalia, a team…
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Continue ReadingThe Division 7 bracket has been shaped out to be extremely competitive and now we’re set up for an incredible state championship game. The Lawton Blue Devils have advanced to their first-ever state championship and will face Pewamo-Westphalia, a team that is no stranger to Ford Field. Now, let’s overview each team, highlight some standouts, and discuss the keys to the game.
Lawton
What a season it’s been for Lawton. They’ve been good over the past few seasons, but this season the Blue Devils have turned a corner. It’s been sheer dominance for them as they’ve outscored their opponents 680-142 with a statement 52-0 win against Schoolcraft, a team that’s had their number over the past few years. Coming into the playoffs they were still a no-name team, but now they’ve won their first divisional title, regional title, and are now headed to Ford Field after a gutsy 2-point conversion to take the lead with under a minute left against a team that went all the way in 2019. Now, let’s highlight the biggest difference makers of this Lawton team.
Mayne is a 3rd-year starter that is the leader of this great offensive line. At 6’2, 270, Mayne is a great size for a center and produces great power and leverage for the T-Wing offense. Throughout the past 4 seasons, Mayne has produced and put in the work, and I’m excited to see the entire offensive line play on Saturday.
RB/SS Jake Rueff
A weapon on offense and a force on defense, Rueff has been incredible for the blue devils all season scoring a whopping 49TD’s. He knows the offense incredibly well and that is showcased by his ability to hit the lanes his line gives him with immense speed and force. You can just tell he plays with confidence. On the defensive end, Rueff is a proven hard-hitter and is a great run stopper.
RB/DB Carter Crosby
Crosby has been a consistent threat on the offensive end, and a leader in the secondary on the defensive end. Defensively has really solid fundamentals and can hit like a hammer and shed blocks. Offensively he’s a very hard runner. I’m excited to see what he can do at Ford Field.
Pewamo-Westphalia
This team has met their high expectations and gets a chance to secure their 5th state title since 2015. Disciplined is what Pewamo-Westphalia is, and they look to take their experience to Ford Field and come away with yet another trophy. They’ve outscored their opponents 492-88 and look like one of the hottest teams in the state. Here are some difference-makers for Pewamo-Westphalia
MLB Landon Nurenberg
Landon Nurenburg has had himself quite the season posting 47 tackles, 11 TFL’s and an interception returned for a TD. He was a huge part of last week’s win against #1 St. Francis and is going to play a gigantic role against Lawton’s run-heavy offense.
OLB Gavin Nurenberg
50 tackles, 17 TFL’s, and 4 sacks. Gavin is having an awesome sophomore campaign and is surely going to be a force for the defense for years to come. His reaction time is some of the best I’ve ever seen, and he’s a hard hitter sprinting past blocks straight to the ball.
ATH Troy Wertman
Wertman does it all. A dual-threat quarterback on offense, a solid punter, a good linebacker, with more positions. Wertman is a swiss army knife that can do it all, and he’s going to play a huge role in getting the offense going.
Keys to the game
The biggest question of this state championship is how Lawton’s explosive offense will match up with Westphalia’s suffocating defense. The Nurenberg brothers will have to lead their defense against a great offensive line and great running backs, including RB Jake Rueff, who has more touchdowns than Landon Nurenberg has tackles. It’s going to be a great matchup with strong showings of both communities, and I cannot wait to see just how this game plays out.