Cal's Call

This Friday at Paint Branch High School there will be battle between 3 and 1's. Paint Branch the heavy favorites boast top players such has heavily recruited tailback Tamar Barnaby and quarterback Chris Brown. The Blazers will have their hands full because unlike Blake if you shut down the Panthers rushing game they will not hesitate to go to the pass. Brown was 18 of 26 for 201 yards in the loss versus Northwest last week.

In order for Blair to beat Paint Branch the Blazers must stick with the same thing they've been doing all season, run, run, and run some more. Pound Felix Ruiz, pound Alfonso Angus, and even let backup quarterback Arie Piesert get his pound on. If the Blazers run the ball and control the clock effectively the Panthers are beatable.

On defense the Blazers will probably not be able to run the 5-2 defense that proved so successful versus Blake last week because of Paint Branch's balanced attack. A 5-2 defense is great versus the run but a well-executed pass will burn the Blazers every time. Sophomore cornerback Josh Garcia must step up and make key tackles and improve on his two deflected passes. Also juniors Cedric Mack and Jermaine Jack must step up because they will play key roles in the secondary.

The Blazers will need the veteran leadership of all its seniors in order to contend with a county powerhouse like Paint Branch. It will be as much a mental game as it will be a physical. If seniors Akmed Jah, Junior Jabbe, and Pierre Ayers step up their play and keep the Blazers into it, not only can they run with Paint Branch they can beat them and deflate their playoff hopes.

Cal's Call: I smell upset of the century Blazers by a TD.