I keep seeing these comparisons of Jacksonville to other teams. Kings Mountain, Huss, etc. The comparisons seem to be based on the fact they are high scoring teams. However, when you dig deep, none of them have the ground game or style of play of the Cards.
Jacksonville averaged over 300 yards running, Huss and Kings Mountain were under 200. Huss had one primary runner with just over 1,000 yards in 14 games. and the QB ran for 508 yards. KM had one back with just over 1,000 yards in 12 games and the QB had 780 yards running in 14 games
Jacksonville has a QB that ran for over 1100 yards in 12 games, a RB with 1200 yards in 11 games, and another RB with 906 yards in 11 games. JHS QB threw for 1,000 yards, KM QB threw for 3,000 yards, Huss' QB threw for 2425 yards.
They were QB oriented teams that heavily relied on that one player to pass and run the ball. Not much help from other RB's. Also tells me neither of those teams ran a two back option and the QB was primarily a drop back passer. Much easier for CC to pressure a QB with a good defense and control the clock when they are passing instead of running
CC defense will be facing a different animal with JHS. They are going to have to defend laterally instead of a straight forward push to collapse the pocket or get in the backfield. JHS is not a drop back passing team. They throw when it looks like it will be an option most of the time, so it's hard to tell that a pass is coming.
IMO, Havelock completely changed their offense from last year to this year in anticipation of playing CC in the championship game. They were a pass oriented team last year, relying on the QB to do pretty much everything, kind of like Huss and KM. They reversed their numbers this year, and became a run oriented team. They went from 277 yards passing and 192 yards rushing, to 182 yards passing and 294 yards rushing. Tells me JHS has the formula Havelock felt they needed to beat CC.
CC could be a complete beast on defense and shut down the Cards option running game, I just don't see it though. Sounds like we won't put up 300+ yards rushing, but we're going to break a few long ones that could go to the house.