TriStateFootball.com
Home / Cincinnati / Preview: #2 La Salle vs. #1 Anderson

Preview: #2 La Salle vs. #1 Anderson

Anderson DB Ace Alston (6) and DL Antwoine Higgins (0) (photo by: Dan Bieneke / TriStateFootball.com)

It’s a battle between two teams that are no strangers to success as Anderson takes on La Salle for the Division II, Region 8 championship in the Blitz 5 Game of the Week. La Salle is looking for its sixth Region 8 title in the last 11 years. Anderson is hoping to make it back-to-back regional crowns and pick up the school’s fourth title since 2007. This is truly a battle of blue bloods.

#2 LA SALLE LANCERS (11-2) at #1 ANDERSON RAPTORS (13-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.,November 22nd, 2024
Where: Jake Sweeney Automotive Princeton H.S.
Follow on X: @TSFootball

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Anderson offense is loaded with potent weapons. Quarterback Justice Burnam was named the OPSMA Division II Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year last week. He has thrown for 3,464 yards with 41 touchdowns tosses (33 of those have come in the first half of games). Burnam has picked up another 559 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. Receiver Trace Jallick is climbing the record books. The senior has 3,354 yards receiving (16th most in Ohio history) and 236 receptions (tied for 17th most in Ohio history), in his career. Jallick has 86 receptions for 1,687 yards and 20 touchdown catches on the season. Running back Durrell Turner has run for 1,027 yards and 25 touchdowns. He averages one touchdown every 4.6 carries.

The Raptors’ defense has unsung heroes along its line in Alex Stanyard, Jayden Egbert and Ben Schultz. Stanyard and Egbert are tied with a team best 12.0 tackles for losses. Stanyard has nine sacks, Egbert has eight and Schulz has five-and-a-half. Defensive back Jayonn Saunders has 23 career interceptions, that’s tied for 11th most in Ohio history. Sophomore sensations Ace Alston and Antwoine Higgins both have offers from Arkansas, Boston College, Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Tennessee, Toledo, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

La Salle quarterback Patrick McLaughlin can beat you with his arm and legs. He has thrown for 1,919 yards passing, more than 650 yards rushing and accounted for 22 touchdowns (15 pass, seven rush). Paving the way up front for McLaughlin is 6-foot-5, 297-pound Jahmir Davis, a first team All-Southwest District selection. Lancers linebacker Brady O’Connor, a Navy commit, was named the GCL South Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He also has five touchdown catches.

TEAM TRENDS: La Salle has posted 35 points or more for four straight weeks. They only hit that mark once in the first nine games. The Lancers 11 wins are five more than they had the previous two years combined.

The Anderson offense has topped the 40-point mark 12 times. The Raptors are averaging 50.7 points per game. The most impressive thing about the unit is that they have only been forced to punt once all season. The defense has been equally impressive allowing only 8.2 points per contest. They have held nine foes to seven points or less with three shutouts.

HEAD COACHES:
Princeton: Pa McLaughlin (60-37 at La Salle, eighth year; 79-49 overall, 11th year)

Anderson: Evan Dreyer (83-27 at Anderson, ninth year; 127-54 overall, 16th year)
 

PLAYOFF HISTORY:
La Salle (14 appearances, 31-9) – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 (Regional Champion), 2019 (State Champion), 2017, 2016 (State Champion), 2015 (State Champion), 2014 (State Champion), 2010, 2004, 2002, 1985

Anderson (18 appearances, 28-16) – 2024, 2023 (Regional Champion), 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2009, 2008 (State Runner-up), 2007 (State Champion), 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1996, 1994, 1992

LA SALLE’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Lancers’ secondary will have to play the game of their lives. They will be pressed relentlessly by the Raptors receivers. Mental and physical toughness is a must on defense for the red, white and black. La Salle wants to avoid having to rely on its passing game. That means the running game has to move the chains and grind down the clock to keep the explosive Anderson offense off the field as long as possible. 

ANDERSON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Raptors showed last week that there is more to their offense than just passing with a robust rushing performance against Mount Healthy. They will need more of that same balance in this affair. The Anderson secondary is far better than they get credit for. They can make the plays that could make it a very frustrating night for the La Salle passing attack.
 

Prediction: Anderson 30, La Salle 21

 

 

 

You must be logged in to post a comment Login