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Thursday, October 29, 2009
Against Alter, no one has been close
The Alter High School football team has been skilled and fortunate enough that no team has yet challenged it in the fourth quarter. In winning games by an average of more than 25 points, the Knights haven’t yet faced that late-game, must-win drive against a hyped-up opponent.
Some think that could happen on Friday against Chaminade Julienne.
If that happens, it will be interesting to see how Alter responds. Always one of the best-coached and mentally tough teams in the area, we’ve all been waiting to see how the Knights respond under pressure, if it comes.
“Of course, you prefer not to go into a possession late in the game with things in doubt,” Alter coach Ed Domsitz said. “If we’re mentally where we should be and execute, we should certainly be no worse off than being in a position to be in a ballgame.”
And don’t think, Domsitz said, that games have been softer because they haven’t been close late.
“Purcell and Bacon, they hit down to the end of the ballgame,” Domsitz said. “No one has let up on us.”
Alter’s 2009 results
Fairmont, 47-21
Bellbrook, 27-0
St. John’s Catholic Prep, 27-12
Badin, 27-7
McNicholas, 32-6
Carroll, 53-14
Fenwick, 35-7
Roger Bacon, 27-0
Purcell Marian, 44-14
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TweetAlter-CJ X factor: CJ QB Michael Simpson
Andy Helms was hesitant to start with the praise when asked about his quarterback, Michael Simpson.
“He’s sitting right here studying film with me,” said Helms, the Chaminade Julienne football coach. “So, I can’t say too many nice things.”
Simpson, though, left to grab some lunch, so Helms relented. Simpson, a sophomore, is third in the Greater Catholic League in passing, with 1,462 yards, and has thrown 14 touchdowns against five interceptions.
His play has been a main reason CJ enters Friday’s GCL North Division-deciding game against Alter 8-1 and ranked No. 6 in the state in Division III. Alter, of course, is 9-0 and No. 1 in D-IV, making the game one of the most anticipated in the area this season.
Simpson’s play will help decide the matter.
“We’re really happy with his development, and the team believes in him, in his leadership,” Helms said. “He’s a kid where you sit there and say, ‘He’s a sophomore, how good can he be?’ He’s playing well as a sophomore, and if we put a little run together, the more games you play the more opportunities to grow and get better.”
CJ, like Alter, has already clinched a spot in the playoffs, so that pressure is alleviated. CJ’s challenge is to get close late in the game. Alter has won its nine games by an average of 25.3 points and has only allowed more than 14 points once, in a season-opening 47-21 win against Fairmont.
The Eagles will look in part to Simpson to help them do better.
“He’s been dinged up a little bit, but now he’s fully healthy,” Helms said. “He’s a kid that I think we can use his legs a little bit, use him as a runner heading into the playoffs.”
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