Grudge Match Preview
November 20, 2009
Raytown South High School
Independence, MO -
The first time Fort Osage and Raytown South hooked up this season, the 12-0 Indians had to put a stop to a furious fourth-quarter Cardinals comeback before claiming a 21-14 victory.
When the two teams hook up at 7 p.m. Friday in a Class 5 state semifinal contest on the Indians' home field, expect the same type of fireworks.
The Cardinals downed Fort Osage 6-0 in the 2008 Class 5 state quarterfinal contest on the way to the state championship game. That loss still looms large for coach Ryan Schartz and his undefeated Indians.
"They ended our season last year, and we hope to end their season this year," said cornerback/tailback/return man E.J. Gaines who scored three touchdowns and played standout defense in last Saturday's 30-19 victory at Raymore-Peculiar. "The win over Ray-Pec was big. But that game is over. All we're thinking about is Raytown South."
Gaines scored two touchdowns in the regular-season win over the 10-3 Cardinals this season, but fumbled the ball late in the game to give South a chance to tie the game in the closing minutes.
But he came up with a fourth-down deflection that helped keep his team's winning streak intact in Week 6 of the regular season and the Indians have not come close to a loss since that dramatic win.
"We're a better team now than we were when we played South the first time, and I know they're a better team than when they played us," Schartz said.
"The theme this week at practice is, ‘Let's not be satisfied.' We've had a great season, but we can't start getting involved in all the hoopla that's been going on this week.
"We have to stay focused and pick it up in practice. Now, well, this is the time you better be working harder than you've worked any time this season. And these guys have been working their rear ends off. You couldn't ask for much more."
Raytown South head coach David Allie said he expects nothing less than the best from the undefeated Indians.
"They are probably the best team we have seen this season," Allie said. "The first time they played us we didn't have much success. We ended up close to winning that ballgame there at the end, but we couldn't get it done."
Gaines will play a big role on both sides of the ball as he scored three touchdowns in last week's quarterfinal win over Ray-Pec and made life miserable all afternoon for Panthers quarterback Cameron Coffman.
But he knows it takes a team to reach the Class 5 state championship game.
"We have great defensive players, great offensive players and great special teams players," said Gaines, who has verbally committed to play at the University of Missouri. "And we have a great, great coaching staff. They have us prepared and ready to go. I love playing for our coaches - all the guys do."
Steven Snyder came up with a big blocked extra point in the win at Ray-Pec, and he says the special teams will need to come through Friday night.
"We're all going to have to contribute," Snyder said. "This is going to be a slow week, because all we're thinking about is the game Friday. We're working hard, and we're going to be ready."
Wide receiver Kamryn Tillmon, who had a 34-yard reception to set up the eventual go-ahead touchdown Saturday, agrees.
"We're focused and all we're thinking about is South," Tillmon said. "We've had a lot of success this season, but it doesn't mean that much unless we win Friday."
That the game is at Fort Osage hasn't spoiled Allie and the Cardinals' enthusiasm to play for the right to head to St. Louis to play for the Class 5 title.
"We've go to play at their house and they've got that three-headed monster (of Gaines, Tillmon and quarterback Edward Pearl)," Allie said. "We definitely have our work cut out for us. Offensively, coming into the season - and they've proven this to be true - we knew Fort Osage's defense was going to be a strength of their team.
"They are just a very solid, well-coached, disciplined football team and we are going to have to be firing on all cylinders just to have a chance."
Schartz is thrilled the big rematch is on his team's home field.
"I've heard you say it, and I agree - Friday nights under the lights at Fort Osage are pretty special," Schartz said. "We're kind of out there all by ourselves on the hill. We've got the fans from Independence and the fans from Buckner and Sibley. And they're all excited about the game.
"We just don't want the kids to be distracted by all the off-field stuff. There is so much enthusiasm in the community and at the high school, and we want the guys to be enthusiastic, too.
"But we want them to be focused and ready for the job at hand."
The Examiner's Toriano Porter contributed to this report.
Football
Class 5
Rematch
WHAT: Class 5 state semifinal
WHO: Second-ranked Fort Osage Indians (12-0) vs. Raytown South Cardinals (10-3).
WHEN & WHERE: 7 p.m. today, Fort Osage High School.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE: The winner advances to the Nov. 28 Class 5 state championship game at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis against the Webster Groves-Parkway North winner.
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REVENGE FACTOR: Both teams will be seeking revenge in Friday's game. Fort Osage will look to avenge a 6-0 loss to the Cardinals in last year's Class 5 state quarterfinal game. Raytown South will try to avenge a 21-14 regular-season loss to the Indians on Oct. 2.
Article from the Independence Examiner, written by:Bill Althaus -bill.althaus@examiner.net
Full article at: http://www.examiner.net/sports/x215400506/Do-it-again
