Week 3 Football Preview - duPont Manual

September 9, 2010

By Chris Himonidis of Colerain High School/WeAreColerain.com

Chris Himonidis

WeAreColerain.com

What: Week 3 Preview

Who: Colerain Cardinals (2-0) vs. DuPont Manual (KY) (1-2)

Where: DuPont Manual Memorial Stadium - 1230 E. Burnett St., Louisville, KY

When: Friday September 10, 2010 - 7:30 PM

TV:  None

Internet:  WeAreColerain.com (Colerain) http://bit.ly/aYl4dn

Ticket Info:

Tickets can be purchased at either high school or at the gate.

Key Players & Stats/Comments

DUPONT MANUAL CRIMSONS (1-2)

Last Game - Lost to Trinity, 42-7

QB - #12 Ian Wooldrige (Sr.) - 5'11', 178 lbs:  Principal's son. 7 TD passes this season. Shared job until #2 Thompson was injured.

RB - #7 DarMonte "Tre" Warr (Sr.) - 5'9", 187 lbs:  Leading rusher. 4 TDs this season. Breakaway speed.

RB - #26 Marcus Helm (Sr.) - 5'8", 185 lbs
WR - #11 Shy Heath (Sr.) - 6'1", 170 lbs:  Top receiver. Makes tough catches in traffic. 3 TDs this season. 

WR - #3 Duncan Pope (Sr.) - 5'10", 175 lbs

OL - #65 Tim Haag (Sr.) - 6'2", 280 lbs:  Two yr. starter. Good footwork. Can pull and lead from the center position.
OL - #52 Josh Stearns (Sr.) - 6'4", 282 lbs:  Three yr. starter. Solid run blocker.

DL/LB - #50 Casey Barnes (Sr.) - 6'3", 235 lbs:  Converted OL (2 yr. starter on that side). Aggressive. Plays hard every down. Still learning the D side.
LB - #41 Jacob Ulinski (Jr.) - 6'1", 220 lbs:  Sideline to sideline pursuer. Good tackler. Can cover receivers out of the backfield.

LB - #40 Andrew Ledford (Sr.) - 6'1", 215 lbs:  Active LB. Interception TD against Conner turned playoff game around last year. Nose for the football.
DL - #94 Thomas Chapman (Jr.) - 6'4", 286 lbs:  Started every game as Soph. Sat out first two games & part of third (high ankle sprain). Difference maker when healthy. Also plays center in basketball.

COLERAIN CARDINALS (2-0)

Last Game - Beat Elder, 44-12

QB - #1 Tyler Williams (Sr.-CAPT) - 321 yards rushing, 5 TD's on the year...getting better rep by rep

TB - #5 Chris Davis (So.) - 3^rd on the team in rushing, avg 7.8 yards/rush...gaining experience week by week

FB - #34 Trayion Durham (Sr.) - at 6'2", 240 lbs, "The Bull" is a LOAD at the FB position, 143 yards and 1^st TD vs. Elder

OL - #65 Lex Ehrenschwender (Sr.-CAPT) - Smart young man who is the unquestioned leader on the OL

LB/DL - #50 Jake Blust (Jr.) - Solid defender who causes havoc at two different positions

LB - #7 Joe Bolden (Jr.) - blazing speed at LB position, fierce hitter and competitor

LB - #44 Jarrett Grace (Sr.-CAPT) - Is a wrecking machine @ 6'4", 240 lbs, verbal commit to Notre Dame

DB - #21 Chris Dukes (Sr.-CAPT) - 3^rd year starter, will play both ways for Colerain trying his hand at WR as well

WILD CARD - "Road Trip!":  Colerain is taking their first real road trip since 2005 when the Cardinals traveled to Columbus for the Inaugural Kirk Herbstreit Challenge vs. Tyler Lee (TX).  The game will be played on a Friday night after school so the team will have to deal with the 2 plus hour bus ride down I-71 and that CAN affect a team.  A slow start could prove dangerous against a team like Manual looking to upset the giant from Cincinnati.

Keys to Victory for Colerain

• PROTECT THE PIGSKIN - This will be here every week. Colerain had ZERO turnovers against Elder last week and it made all the difference. Manual is no different in that regard. Give them a short field and their spread offense will make things happen. The Cards will be getting over a long bus ride but that can't be an excuse for poor ball security.
• FORGET ELDER - Last week is done. Forget it. The win over Elder was a great boost of confidence for this team but they can not rest on that. Playing poorly this week or, heaven forbid, losing to Manual would completely erase all the good that was done at home last week. This team knows all too well how important each and every week is. Colerain needs to think they are 0-0 and it's time for that first win of the season.
• PLAY COLERAIN FOOTBALL - Run Fast, Hit Hard, bring home the Win. Pretty simple philosophy.

Bottom-Line
DuPont Manual has arguably the most difficult schedule in all of KY.  The Crimsons have already played Highlands from Ft. Thomas and Trinity.  These two schools have 38 State Championships between them, the two most decorated schools in all of KY.  So, they will not be overwhelmed or "in awe" of Colerain.  The Cards needed a big win vs. Manual last year @ home after starting 0-2 and they got it, winning 42-0.  This year, Colerain is on the flip side having won their first two games and riding high heading into this road game.  The Cardinals are more talented across the board than Manual but that is only half the equation. This game will test Colerain's mental toughness much more than their physical ability.

If they stay focused and hungry, this Colerain team will win going away.  If they struggle right off the bus, put the ball on the turf and play sloppy, they should still win given the advantage in talent but it could be much closer than anyone expects.  I think Colerain will start a little slow but then pick up steam in the late first half/early second half and win their final game before GMC play starts.