Woodburn Independent Online

St. Paul expects more of a challenge against Cove

The Bucks beat the Leopards 42-6 earlier this season

• By: Garrett Rudolph  
• Published: 11/17/2009 9:24:27 AM

Photo By: Garrett RudolphGround attack
Ryan Pierson accounted for 369 of St. Paul’s 562 yards of total offense, including 238 yards on the ground, in the Bucks' 56-34 first-round playoff victory over Gilchrist last Friday.

ST. PAUL — The St. Paul football team will square off against a familiar opponent in the Class 1A quarterfinals Saturday.
 
The undefeated Bucks (11-0 overall) look to keep their perfect season alive when they travel across the state to take on Cove — a team St. Paul defeated 42-6 in a preseason matchup at the St. Paul Rodeo Grounds on Sept. 18.
 
However, Bucks coach Tony Smith said the Leopards (7-3) are not a team to be taken lightly, having played possibly the state’s toughest schedule at the 1A level.
 
Cove defeated Ione, 38-16, Friday night to advance to the second round. Smith was at the game to scout the two possible opponents.
 
He said Cove features a pair of offensive weapons at quarterback and running back, who the Bucks will need to contend with.
 
“It will be a matter of us just doing our assignments on defense and trying to get in position to stop what they want to do with those two kids,” he said.
 
Smith compared the Leopards’ quarterback to St. Paul graduate Jeff Annen, a player that can beat opponents with both his running and his passing.
 
“He’s probably a better runner than a passer, but he can be a very effective passer,” said Smith. “He’s big, plays real hard, tough to tackle, big, thick kid and good arm. Probably not as accurate as Jeff was, but similar type of kid.”
 
In the first meeting between the Bucks and the Leopards, St. Paul held a slim 14-6 lead at halftime, before pulling things together in the second half for the 36-point victory.
However, Smith said Cove has certainly evolved from where it was at seven weeks ago, like any well-coached football team would be.
 
“They’re doing a lot more offensively, than they were when we played them in September, as far as formations and plays. … They’re a lot more difficult to defend than they were in September, but I think that we have done that same thing.”
 
Defensively, Cove likes to bring a lot of pressure, with a high-risk, high-reward style of play, which can create plenty of problems.
 
One other factor that will be important to watch, said Smith, is how capable St. Paul is of playing four full quarters.
 
By winning so many blowouts this year (nine of St. Paul’s 11 games have been won by 30 points or more), the St. Paul starters have rarely played into the second half.
On the other hand, the Leopards have been battling it out with their opponents each and every week.
 
“That’s a big advantage Cove has, because their league is much more competitive,” said Smith. “They beat Pine Eagle in the last game of the season, 40-32, and Pine Eagle isn’t even a playoff team in that league. They had to play for four quarters. … Pine Eagle is a playoff team in any other league.”
 
For St. Paul, even in the six games against state playoff teams, the Bucks have only had one real game the starters have played the entire contest — that being against Casco League rival Perrydale.
 
The Bucks defeated Gilchrist in the first round, behind a three-touchdown performance from senior Ryan Pierson.
 
Pierson (pictured above) accounted for 369 of St. Paul’s 562 yards of total offense, including 238 yards on the ground. Sophomore Matt Gooding complemented Pierson’s performance with 90 yards on 10 carries. Gooding ran for one touchdown and caught a touchdown pass, as well.
 
Gilchrist tallied 287 yards of total offense.
 
The second round game is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Cove High School. The winner of Saturday’s game will face the winner between Mohawk and Crane in the semifinals.

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