The Sacred Heart Crusaders were officially eliminated from making a return trip to the 1A playoffs last week, but don’t tell that to the Sacred Heart seniors who are playing in their final two games this week and next week. They’re still playing their hearts out, according to Sacred Heart head coach Lonny Schraeder.
Senior running back Campbell Klein returned the field last week after missing the past couple of games due to an injury. Schraeder said he played in limited action in the backfield, as Sacred Heart tried to ease him back to play fully in the final two games of his high school career.
“It’s a big deal,” Schraeder said. “He’s a force in the backfield, so to get him back is a big deal. He’s excited to about being back, and he wants to get in there and run the ball, so we’re going to let him do that.”
Another senior leader, do-it-all man Joseph Bishop, played just about every snap for the Crusaders against Mount Olive, Schraeder said. From receiver and wildcat quarterback on offense, to outside linebacker and return man on defense and special teams, Bishop did it all.
“He played his heart out the other night,” Schraeder said. “I don’t think he came off the field and I was just really proud of him. When numbers get low for whatever reason, you’ll have guys who either step up or give up, and Joseph has stepped up. I’m extremely proud of him. I think the other kids see that, too, and they play harder because of it.”
Sacred Heart (3-8, 0-4 in Region 4-1A) will host Salem (0-9, 0-4) this week, and Schraeder said the Wildcats have displayed a multiple offense throughout the season, but he’s expecting more wishbone than the spread this week.
The wishbone formation is more typical of Salem, but it has tried to use the spread more this season to help get their athletes in space.
“Typically in year’s past, they’ve been pretty much a wishbone, power type of team, but they’re trying to spread out,” Schraeder said. “When you get in a situation like us, those of us who aren’t making the playoffs, you try to do things and get your athletes in space to have a chance.”
The most points the Wildcats’ offense have scored this season came Week 4 against Puckett – a 26-point night. Since that loss, Salem has scored in double-digits just once. It averages 14 points per game, too.
On the flip side, Salem allows its opponents to score 43 points per game. The most a team scored was Stringer’s 53 last week, and the least amount, 28, came in Week 1 to Enterprise.
“They’re going to play man-to-man and stunt like crazy,” Schraeder said of Salem’s defense.
The Wildcats are going to play man-to-man and blitz everybody else in hopes of getting to the Sacred Heart quarterback, Zach Weatherell, before he throws it. The defensive line will go one way to fill gaps and eat up blocks, then the linebackers will go through another gap to get to the ball carrier.
