Chris Frazier on his way to scoring Heidelberg's first touchdown, gets away from Ramstein's Bryan Hanks, center, and Dreshawn Murray, on ground, as Dante Sanders closes in at left. Heidelberg beat Ramstein 17-10 in a non-conference Division I matchup. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Jonesing for some football?
Then head to Baumholder on Saturday for 11 hours of nearly nonstop high school title games.
The DODDS "Super Eight" high school championships kick off at 11:30 a.m. with a Division IV matchup between Rota and Alconbury and will end late in the evening when the Division I champ is crowned.
Here’s a game-by-game breakdown:Division IV — 11:30 a.m.Rota Admirals (5-1)vs. Alconbury Dragons (4-2)
Previous 2008 meetings: Rota 30, Alconbury 7; Rota 28, Alconbury 21.
Menwith Hill’s Pete Resnick, the only coach to have beaten Rota this season, sees the game this way:
It "will come down to whether Alconbury’s offense (32 points per game) can attack Rota’s aggressive, attacking defense. Rota regularly lines up five guys on the line of scrimmage with All-Europe middle linebacker R.J. Curley just a few yards from the center, daring you to throw.
"Alconbury would prefer to attack via the outside run, but will pass successfully if given the time," he said. "Alconbury’s passing game has improved over the season. Quarterback Jimmy Loung has gained in confidence, they have more receivers they can throw to, and they have added more play-action passes, forcing the linebackers to key first on fullback Yul McGrath and tailback Devin Pryor coming out of the backfield."
Resnick called the Admirals’ game "physical."
"They enjoy playing defense (under 13 points-per-game allowed)," he reported, "and getting their licks in. On offense, they have speed at the tailback position and power with Curley at fullback. They throw … rarely, but have excellent receivers, especially James Stovall."
Division II — 1:45 p.m.Ansbach (7-0)vs. Wiesbaden (7-0)
Previous ’08 meetings: None.
Dan Dittmeier’s Naples Wildcats played Ansbach during the season and Wiesbaden in last Saturday’s semifinals. Here’s his view of the title matchup:
"Wiesbaden’s Steve Jewell has … Jeremiah Simms and Marcus Williams, who are the two fastest, most powerful running backs in D-II. They both simply spin, blast, jump, juke, accelerate and score! Wiesbaden has a great quarterback in Ryan Ragan, and a speedy, soft-handed receiver in Tyrece Davis. The Warriors also have a very big, physical and disciplined offensive line and an extremely reliable kicker in freshman Matt Wickham.
"Ansbach … (52-1 over the past six years with five championships across two divisions) has the most disciplined team in all of DODDS-Europe. Ansbach athletes train and condition year-round, and each athlete specializes at his position. … The team has won 23 straight over the past three years and has averaged nearly 55 points per game this season. The Cougars have two dangerous running backs of their own in Jordon Shack and Anthony Adams, and a highly productive quarterback in Dominic Barrale. Carter Gunn is one of the premier athletes in Europe, returning punts and kickoffs, receiving passes, and he is the best kicker in D-II football.
"Both teams have dominating defenses, and rest assured both teams will have several tricks up their sleeves for championship game day… I predict it will be a shootout, a very close game right down to the very last whistle."
Division III —4:30 p.m.Baumholder (5-2)vs. AFNORTH (7-0)
Previous 2008 meeting: AFNORTH 48, Baumholder 12.
AFNORTH coach Greg Blankenship sees this game as not comparable to that 48-12 game Oct. 18 at AFNORTH.
"The next game will be completely different from this one," Blankenship said by telephone the night of that game.
Maybe, but AFNORTH remains one of the continent’s toughest nuts to crack. Quarterback E.J. Ruiz and power running back Brock Blankenship each average more than nine yards per carry. Ruiz, who routinely passes for 200 yards per game and whom Blankenship calls the best quarterback in Europe, has quality receivers in James Perea, Josh Ruiz and Kevin Kropp. The Lions are averaging 50 points per game and allowing just 10.
Baumholder, too, can score behind quarterback Edgar Acosta, All-Europe receiver Fred Styles and running backs Prince Owusu and Daniel Harris. All-Europe linebacker Brian Boatner anchors the defense.
Division I —6:30 p.m.Ramstein (5-2)vs. Heidelberg (5-2)
Previous 2008 meeting: Heidelberg 17, Ramstein 10.
Vilseck coach Jim Hall sees the D-I showdown this way:
"Both teams are well-coached, and both coaching staffs know exactly what they want to do with their personnel. Both teams run the ball very well — will run the ball until you stop the run! Ramstein has more runners to throw at you (Evan Canfield and Tim Ortiz, among others), while Heidelberg has a runner (Kyle Ulses) who does it very well…
"Ramstein will have the size factor. They are big and strong, and use that aspect very well running the power-I. Heidelberg will counter with their speed and execution. They will have a slight advantage in the passing game with their quarterback (Jimmy Montfleury) and slot (Chris Frazier). Heidelberg will count on their counter game more than Ramstein.
"Ramstein will need to use their power game, grind the ball … on several 13-play drives, run the clock, and keep the ball out of the hands of Heidelberg. Ramstein will use their five backs and just pound the ball, using the passing game just to keep you from keeping nine men in the box.
Heidelberg will use … their speed with Ulses, Frazier, and Montfleury. Heidelberg will have to use their passing game to keep Ramstein back in their defensive formation. They will try to strike quickly and often.
"I think it will be one of those games that you always have in D-I — a very physical, powerful game, with very little passing, unless one team gets behind. Look for the power of Ramstein to prevail, unless Heidelberg can find a way to pass and counter their way to the end zone!"
