NCISAA Division II Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our first state championship games of the year are upon us, and it's time to break down the teams, players, and key matchups in the NCISAA Championship games. Here, we're looking at the Division II state championship, a rematch of an October 10 game that went down to the wire. Can <strong>High Point Christian</strong> finish its undefeated season, or will <strong>Asheville School</strong> get its revenge?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NCISAA Division II Championship Preview</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Info</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Asheville School (7-2-1) @ High Point Christian Academy (11-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game Details: </strong>Nov. 21, 7:00 p.m. @ High Point Christian Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Passers:</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jonas Howard</strong> (Asheville School): 69-120, 1273 yards, 14 TDs, 4 INTs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2043214' first='Amsterdam' last='Knox']</strong> (HPCA): 59-108, 819 yards, 10 TDs, 8 INTs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Rushers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820867' first='Jaylen' last='Moore']</strong> (HPCA): 265 carries, 2,047 yards, 34 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1728224' first='Shiloh' last='Mukendi']</strong> (Asheville School): 116 carries, 1,094 yards, 12 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Receivers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2055703' first='Marvyn' last='Larozar']</strong> (Asheville School): 32 receptions, 568 yards, 6 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='939536' first='Keenin' last='Harris']</strong> (HPCA): 16 receptions, 165 yards, 3 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Tacklers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Alexandre Sampson</strong> (Asheville School): 37 solo</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1707820' first='Cameron' last='Norton']</strong> (HPCA): 27 solo</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Game Preview</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You don't need me to tell you what these teams want to do: they want to pound the rock, control the clock, and impose their will. That's why these teams played a back-and-forth game in early October that stayed within a single score for most of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820867' first='Jaylen' last='Moore']</strong> leads all NCISAA rushers with over 2,000 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1728224' first='Shiloh' last='Mukendi']</strong> sits in fourth, with over 1,000 yards on just 116. These aren't the only premier backs in the game, though, as their "backups" would start on the majority of teams across the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hez Krider</strong> for HPCA averages over 12 yards a carry, and has scored on an astonishing 21% of his carries. While Moore is the slightly bigger back who wears defenses down, Krider is the jitterbug, a guy who can get to the corner and outrun second-level defenders. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2043214' first='Amsterdam' last='Knox']</strong> can scoot a bit as well, and defenses have to be wary of his legs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Asheville School, Mukendi is the big back, standing at over 6'2" and 200 pounds. He's a downhill runner who can get quite the head of steam into the line of scrimmage and simply can't be tackled by one defender. The last time these teams met, he went over 100 yards on just eight carries. Expect him to easily reach double-digit carries in the championship game, and perhaps eclipse his single-game high of 23 touches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite his length, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2055703' first='Marvyn' last='Larozar']</strong> is the more east-west, one-cut runner, getting a lot of his carries in two-back sets or on jet motion. He's shifty and forms quite the duo with Mukendi. He's also the team's leading receiver, operating both out wide and out of the backfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these teams are known for their pass rushes, so it'll be interesting to see how they adjust to a heavy dose of the ground game. HPCA senior <strong>Micah Russell</strong> and freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1866343' first='Whitton' last='Butler']</strong> have combined for 29 sacks this year, and while they play the run well, they'd much rather pin their ears back and make the quarterback uncomfortable. The same can be said for Asheville School's <strong>Xander Prosper</strong> and his 12 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's likely that one of these teams will try to move the ball through the air at some point, and what happens on those rare occasions could determine the winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>HPCA's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1707820' first='Cameron' last='Norton']</strong> could be an x-factor, a big, rangy linebacker, with game-breaking potential (three picks, four forced fumbles). Asheville School has several key two-way players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team that executes its game plan and controls the tempo will likely emerge victorious. Last time, HCPA won 24-21 in their closest game of the year. Can the Cougars finish their perfect season, or will the Blues get revenge when it counts the most and capture their fourth-straight state title?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You'll have to wait for an official prediction, as Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and I will have our predictions for all three championship games free on Prep Redzone later this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Follow Prep Redzone for more high-quality coverage throughout the playoffs and offseason. Want to get in front of our scouts this offseason? Our next PRZ Carolinas Stock-Up Showcase is Dec. 7.&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2124/register/stock-up-showcase-carolinas">Register here</a>. Promo Code HelmsWinterPRZ will get you $10 off registration.</em><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->