Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Musketeers are set to tangle with Warriors

Both teams feature offenses that can pile up the points

For all of its many accomplishments, Casey-Westfield's football team is still six state championships behind the school's softball team.

The football team won the 1985 Class 2A state title and finished second in 2008 and 1982. Meanwhile, the softball team won a state-record seven state titles under legendary coach Denny Throneburg from 1986 to 2000.

That doesn't mean Red Bud's task will be made any easier today when the Musketeers (8-2) play host to the second-ranked Warriors (10-0) at 2 p.m. in the second round of the Class 2A state football playoffs.

Casey has outscored its opponents 440-40 with four shutouts, never allowing more than one touchdown in any game. A 28-7 season-opening win over Marshall represents the only time this season the Warriors were held below 35 points.

"They definitely have a confidence level to them and when you're used to winning like they are, that's not surprising," Red Bud coach Dave Lucht said of a Casey team that has 18 senior starters. "They don't expect to lose -- and that's hard to beat sometimes."

Lucht's not just hyping an opponent.

Casey has only seven losses in the last six seasons, and three of those came in 2006. The Warriors were 12-1 and 13-1 the last two years, finishing second in 2A last season.

Two years ago, the teams squared off in the 2A quarterfinals and Casey posted a 17-0 victory.

"We didn't play anything like we did all season long," Lucht said. "You can credit that to them, but at the same time that was probably one of the worst games we played all year."

The Musketeers want more than revenge, they want a chance at a state championship. But they're not just playing the Warriors, they are playing the Warrior tradition -- something coach Keith Sinclair believes counts for a lot in the postseason.

"It means that we are always looked on as a major target, so people usually bring their best," Sinclair said. "But I definitely think tradition is very important; without that it gets inconsistent.

"Each class that comes along want so to do as well or better than the one before, so it's kind of a competition."

Since Red Bud hasn't been held below 20 points and has scored at least 33 nine times, the defenses should decide the outcome.

Red Bud has to stop a two-pronged Casey attack led by 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior running back Billy Seeley (123 carries, 863 yards, 15 touchdowns) and senior quarterback Brett Livvix.

Considered a question mark before the season began while replacing a three-year starter, Livvix instead has been a completion machine. Relying heavily on short and medium routes, he's been successful on 91-of-129 passing attempts (70.5 percent) for 1,224 yards and 21 TDs with only one interception.

"A lot of it's roll-out, touch stuff and short yardage, a lot like Columbia does but not as well," Lucht said. "It's hard to get a sack or get any pressure, because you've got to come from the back side and run all the way across the field.

"If you come from the front side, they'll toss it right over your head."

Casey's top receivers are Seth Brewer (28 catches, 550 yards, eight TDs), Chris Unzicker (27 catches, 341 yards, five TDs) and Josh Thais (18 catches, 172 yards, five TDs).

But the Warriors likely haven't seen a quarterback like Red Bud junior Jake Hoffman, whose older brother Bobby was the starting quarterback in the 2007 playoff loss.

Jake Hoffman has thrown for 1,918 yards and 23 touchdowns while running for 872 yards and another 13 TDs.

"He's a very talented young man," Sinclair said. "I think he's probably the best we've seen so far. They provide a lot of challenges."

Red Bud will be without top running back and outside linebacker Tyler Hubert (709 yards, 12 TDs) because of a left knee injury suffered last week against Chester.

Lucht said Hubert has a torn medial collateral ligament that is not expected to require surgery. Red Bud may use receivers Alex Phegley or Mitchel Cleveland at running back, but Hoffman is always a threat to run.

Cleveland is also a threat to score on any pass play. He has 25 catches for 718 yards and 11 touchdowns averaging 28.7 yards every time he touches the ball.

Tyler Magruder (24 catches, 522 yards, four TDs) and Phegley (nine catches, 193 yards, two TDs) are the other receiving threats.