Lehman (1-3, 0-1) vs. Boerne Champion (3-1, 0-1)
When: Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Boerne ISD Stadium (#1 Greyhound Lane, Boerne, TX)
Last week: Hays def. Lehman 56-34; Alamo Heights def. Boerne Champion 41-17
Last meeting (2012): Champion def. Lehman 16-7
Lehman offense: Multiple
Lehman defense: 4-3
Champion offense: Multiple
Champion defense: 4-3
Players to watch:
Lehman: QB Jeremy Schilhab, RB Paul Brown, QB/RB Paul Matthews, WR/LB Tylor Dodero, WR/DB John Herrera, OL/DL Derick Chavarria, OL/DL Andrew Davila, WR/DB Malcolm Turner, WR/DB Kelton Powell
Champion: RB Travis Poposil, QB Josh Green, QB Alex Flores, RB Austin Humphrey, OL/DL Joseph Strong, OL/DL Mark Zoeller, LB Christian Desmond
Intangibles: They say moral victories do not account for much in sports. Be that as it may, the Lobos may have learned a great deal from their loss to Hays. Their ability to show heart and determination was a great sign. However, it also gave the team a chance to see how prolific their pass offense can be – something head coach Todd Raymond has worked to instill. The exploits of John Herrera helped the Lobos stay in step with Hays. Raymond and the team look to translate what they learned to a strong Boerne Champion team. Defense will be the high priority for the Lobos. Raymond said the Chargers are a team that excel at changing up their offense – they run both passing and power running formations. Stopping the run will be paramount. Champion has gained over 1,100 yards through four games. RB Poposil has been the stalwart with over 600 yards and six touchdowns. Raymond stressed the need to play a more physical game – especially on the defensive line. They will also have to stop QBs Green and Flores. Raymond said both were not easy to beat due to their running and passing ability. On the offensive side, a focus on further developing the pass game is crucial. They showed last week they have big play capability. QB Schlihab was given a shot of confidence with his 280-yard performance against Hays. Aiding him will be WR Herrera, who has become his go-to-receiver, as well as Powell and Turner. The rushing game will have to revamp itself, as they were held down by a strong Hays defense. RB Brown and Matthews should help the cause, along with Schilhab himself. They’ll need to overpower a wholesome Charger defense. Raymond could not point out an individual standout, saying the defense functions as a unit. Yet, for optimum success, Lehman needs to heal. Several players suffered injuries against Hays. Raymond said all would return to the field this week. The Lobos face a stiff challenge. However, if their pass game keeps thriving, and they fight with the same heart and determination, they may pull off a big-time upset.
