The obvious difference from their first meeting was the much improved offense of DO - they put 30 on the board versus 3 the first go around - that doesn't just happen, it is great coaching at every position. Defensively they had a great night as well, holding Rocklin to 20 versus 28 the first go-around with a couple of key interceptions. DO had a great game plan on both sides which undoubtedly was based on what happened in their first meeting. Hats off to DO.....it was a fun game to watch!
SJS D2 Final: Rocklin 20, Del Oro 30 -- FINAL
- Thread starter ThunderRam
- Start date
I'm sure there were plenty of PI calls that went missed on both sides. Did DO play more aggressively on D this time around in comparison to their first game? Yes! They made sure #87 wasn't going to beat them as bad as he did the first game. What I saw last night was that DO played with nothing to lose and Rocklin played like they didn't want to lose. Rocklin was not as sharp as they have been in the past. I thought for sure Rocklin would win last night. As Tiger Woods would say, they didn't bring their "A" game.
Blaming the referees when your team loses, seems to be common on this thread.
Guys- It is just a game. High school. C'mon.
God bless.
Guys- It is just a game. High school. C'mon.
God bless.
Ain't nothing superior about Texass football. 2005 Clovis East flew out to Texass and beat a Midland team on their field 38-37. Texass need to start bringing that ass out West.
A game that DLS gave to Trinity. Be great to see Trinity play that game in Cali.
Bruh Georgia football is far superior to that over rated brand of Texass football. Any team in Texass would get embarrassed if they played Colquitt County or them boys from Roswell High. Texass would get ran out of the ATL quick, fast and in a hurry.
And I guarantee you that Centennial, DLS, St John Bosco would whoop them boys on a neutral field.
That's two games in a row now that DO's defense has, with exception of a few hiccups, shut down the run. I'm sticking to my guns that DO's defense has and is improving. Numbers do not tell the whole story. The 5-2 + zone defense they switched to and played GB & Rocklin was not just a fly sweep adjustment as they played the same defense against Rocklin with the same results. DO for the most part shut down Preece, something they failed to do in the league game. Also with the exception of Holtz's 58yard explosion to pay dirt DO contained Holtz, again something they failed to do in the league game.
I was not yet willing to call DO's offense as "improved" but I agree that their O showed improvements vs Rocklin. Passing game and Smartt's legs kept Rocklin D on their heels all night.
If you have followed this rivalry over the years you know when these two teams meet it is usually close regardless of which team is better(yes Rocklin kicked DO's butt in league this year) but in the playoffs it is out right war and the players & coaches gloves come off for usually what is a close game. Last night was no exception.
Other Ca teams have traveled to Texas and won also. Sutter has been there and blew the doors off of Ferris and is returning to Texas in 2 years. But I have to tell ya the Texas BBQ they put on for us was as good as it gets!! And NO Sutter is not playing the level of teams as previously stated but it is all relative!!!
SMR --- DO's offense put up 30 points with over 400 yards of offense according to the papers and they only "showed improvements"? Yet their defense was spectacular? What game were you watching? The DO QB accounted for nearly 300 yards because of the read scheme they were running, it's designed for him to carry the ball -- which he did in spectacular fashion! Rocklin wasn't ready as I was hoping they would be -- and their offense contributed to DO's defense by dropping wide open balls all night that would have been first downs. DO's defense did a great job -- but to imply DO's offense was "okay" and simply "showed improvements" lends itself to a bias that wreaks of being an offense hater....give them their just due, they put it on Rocklin all night - 30 points versus 3 the first go-around!! Outstanding performance behind a QB who played like he is going somewhere, only wish the Thunder could have countered!!!
I stand corrected
. I was being conservative in my assessment of DO's O improvement(I try not to jump to conclusions too quickly). I saw the same game and agree with you. Yup, Smartt had his best game last night, the kid really impressed me. I love the whole game of football but yes as you read me correctly, I am more of a defense guy. Hope they can build on the momentum and confidence gained through the playoffs.
Ok. My first chance to reply since last night.
I disagree with the assertion that officiating played a role. Sure, they allowed the DO DB's and LB's to be physical with the WR's all night long, but I felt they let it go both ways. The physical play (grabbing and holding) probably benefited the Golden Eagles more but it was still called pretty evenly. I also didn't feel that they refs threw a lot of unnecessary flags, which can often happen. For the most part, I thought they let the teams play ball.
To me this game came down to a couple things. Nerves, QB play, coaching and tackling.
First, Del Oro played with poise and confidence while several Rocklin players played with nerves. For example. Rocklin's punter was crushing it in warm ups, but the 1st 2 punts of the game were mishits that went straight up and gave DO great field position. That's nerves. Also, QB Floyd was extremely erratic despite having open receivers and time to throw. That's nerves. Yet another example were several blatant drops by WR's when they did have opportunities. That's nerves. I've seen this team play a lot and most these mistakes were uncharacteristic.
Secondly, QB play was key. I said it pregame. Floyd's been up and down all season and, unfortunately, he was down last night. It really hurt the Rocklin offense. There were lots of plays to be made last night and he either overthrew, underthrew or flat out missed open receivers. I counted at least 3 occassions where he had an uncovered WR deep and never looked his way. He often predetermined where he was going to throw it and often missed even when that receiver was open.
Conversely, Stone Smartt was pretty good. He consistently got outside the pocket and made plays with his arm and legs. He made good on enough big plays to carry his team. Rocklin never adjusted to his ability to roll to his right and break contain. Never any front side pressure to counter it. He pretty much did what he wanted.
Next, I felt that Coach Taylor and his staff thoroughly outcoached Rocklin's staff. Rocklin had the better talent. But Taylor's game plan, along with nerves from Rocklin players and lack of adjustments from Rocklin's coaches, overcame the difference.
For example, Coach Taylor had QB Smartt execute pooch punts all night and it resulted in pinning the Thunder inside the 5 numerous times. Rocklin never adjusted to the tactic. Each time Del Oro lined up in an offensive set as if they were going for it on 4th, Rocklin never made the adjustments. On the first occassion, it was 4th and short and the Golden Eagles were around midfield, so that instance was understandable. But many of the other instances were 4th and 5 or more. On one occassion, it was 4th and 19 -- yet Rocklin didn't send a player deep to receive.
Rocklin ran the ball well the 1st half. Holtz was getting 4-6 yards a pop and even broke a 68 yarder. But Del Oro made great 2nd half adjustments to counter and Rocklin didn't respond. The Golden Eagle DB's were sitting on Rocklin's short passing game all night long. Rocklin countered with a double move only once -- which they hit for a big gain -- butnever came back to it. Another example of lack of adjustments was rarely bringing front side pressure to Stone Smartt's right side - -after he'd killed them breaking contain. You gotta make that kid go to his left. I also didn't think Rocklin took enough deep shots or made enough of an effort to get 6'6" Wes Preece the ball. Del Oro was much more willing to take some risks throwing deep and it paid off for them.
Lastly, tackling was a big key to the game. Del Oro did a much better job making sure tackles on the perimeter. Rocklin uncharacteristically missed a lot of tackles. The most egregious example occurred on the 3rd and 27 near midfield with the score 23-20. If Rocklin makes the stop there, they had momentum and a great shot to drive for the lead late in the game. I even called out the play -- "DRAW". Why? Because Taylor did the same thing earlier in the game. It looked like it was going nowhere, but 3-4 missed tackles later, the RB got to the outside and broke off the game-winning score. That was the real dagger.
All in all, Del Oro deserved to win that game. They jumped on Rocklin from the outset and rarely let up. They outcoached, outexecuted and outperformed a more talented team. They earned it. They did all that with their most talented player, Trey Udoffia, hobbled all game. He wasn't much of a factor and didn't even play much on offense.
Congrats to smashmouthrick and all the Del Oro fans. That's now 10 section titles since 1989, 4 in the last 6 seasons and 5 under Coach Taylor. Pretty impressive.
I disagree with the assertion that officiating played a role. Sure, they allowed the DO DB's and LB's to be physical with the WR's all night long, but I felt they let it go both ways. The physical play (grabbing and holding) probably benefited the Golden Eagles more but it was still called pretty evenly. I also didn't feel that they refs threw a lot of unnecessary flags, which can often happen. For the most part, I thought they let the teams play ball.
To me this game came down to a couple things. Nerves, QB play, coaching and tackling.
First, Del Oro played with poise and confidence while several Rocklin players played with nerves. For example. Rocklin's punter was crushing it in warm ups, but the 1st 2 punts of the game were mishits that went straight up and gave DO great field position. That's nerves. Also, QB Floyd was extremely erratic despite having open receivers and time to throw. That's nerves. Yet another example were several blatant drops by WR's when they did have opportunities. That's nerves. I've seen this team play a lot and most these mistakes were uncharacteristic.
Secondly, QB play was key. I said it pregame. Floyd's been up and down all season and, unfortunately, he was down last night. It really hurt the Rocklin offense. There were lots of plays to be made last night and he either overthrew, underthrew or flat out missed open receivers. I counted at least 3 occassions where he had an uncovered WR deep and never looked his way. He often predetermined where he was going to throw it and often missed even when that receiver was open.
Conversely, Stone Smartt was pretty good. He consistently got outside the pocket and made plays with his arm and legs. He made good on enough big plays to carry his team. Rocklin never adjusted to his ability to roll to his right and break contain. Never any front side pressure to counter it. He pretty much did what he wanted.
Next, I felt that Coach Taylor and his staff thoroughly outcoached Rocklin's staff. Rocklin had the better talent. But Taylor's game plan, along with nerves from Rocklin players and lack of adjustments from Rocklin's coaches, overcame the difference.
For example, Coach Taylor had QB Smartt execute pooch punts all night and it resulted in pinning the Thunder inside the 5 numerous times. Rocklin never adjusted to the tactic. Each time Del Oro lined up in an offensive set as if they were going for it on 4th, Rocklin never made the adjustments. On the first occassion, it was 4th and short and the Golden Eagles were around midfield, so that instance was understandable. But many of the other instances were 4th and 5 or more. On one occassion, it was 4th and 19 -- yet Rocklin didn't send a player deep to receive.
Rocklin ran the ball well the 1st half. Holtz was getting 4-6 yards a pop and even broke a 68 yarder. But Del Oro made great 2nd half adjustments to counter and Rocklin didn't respond. The Golden Eagle DB's were sitting on Rocklin's short passing game all night long. Rocklin countered with a double move only once -- which they hit for a big gain -- butnever came back to it. Another example of lack of adjustments was rarely bringing front side pressure to Stone Smartt's right side - -after he'd killed them breaking contain. You gotta make that kid go to his left. I also didn't think Rocklin took enough deep shots or made enough of an effort to get 6'6" Wes Preece the ball. Del Oro was much more willing to take some risks throwing deep and it paid off for them.
Lastly, tackling was a big key to the game. Del Oro did a much better job making sure tackles on the perimeter. Rocklin uncharacteristically missed a lot of tackles. The most egregious example occurred on the 3rd and 27 near midfield with the score 23-20. If Rocklin makes the stop there, they had momentum and a great shot to drive for the lead late in the game. I even called out the play -- "DRAW". Why? Because Taylor did the same thing earlier in the game. It looked like it was going nowhere, but 3-4 missed tackles later, the RB got to the outside and broke off the game-winning score. That was the real dagger.
All in all, Del Oro deserved to win that game. They jumped on Rocklin from the outset and rarely let up. They outcoached, outexecuted and outperformed a more talented team. They earned it. They did all that with their most talented player, Trey Udoffia, hobbled all game. He wasn't much of a factor and didn't even play much on offense.
Congrats to smashmouthrick and all the Del Oro fans. That's now 10 section titles since 1989, 4 in the last 6 seasons and 5 under Coach Taylor. Pretty impressive.
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Yes, what you saw tonight is pretty consistent with what they had been doing all season.
Exactly. I don't want to hear anymore about Del Oro's preseason scheduling. At this point it's just hating for the sake of hating. They just won a section title after starting out 2-6. How many D1/D2 teams have won a section title with 6 losses?
It was clearly evident last night that Del Oro's players were unafraid of the moment and well prepared. That's what happens when you play meaningful games against stellar opponents week after week.
Del Oro looked painfully awful at times this season. They looked good at other times, for example against Bellarmine. In the end, a team that wasn't one of Del Oro's best toughened up, healed up and just won another section title.
You can't credit that to anything other than coaching and their schedule.
Amen to that Primo, let's keep it pure and basic.....................Tejas style:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics...-million-high-school-football-stadium/382437/
Wow!!! Awesome articulation of the game and situation TR!
Are you a sports writer?
You absolutely nailed what happened out there last night. Not sure I could add anything. You obviously know Rocklin very well. What you were worried about i.e. nerves and QB inconsistency before the game unfortunately happened exactly as you said. You know Rocklin will reload and be back. I truly feel for Rocklin. Again, good to talk to you and your wife before the game.
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