November 12, 2010
In the playoffs, as the disparity of talent between teams dwindles to next to nothing, versatility and flexibility become key. The ability to improvise, and find success even when your first option is limited or taken away, can often account for multiple scores on a given night. West Catholic’s versatility and flexibility accounted for 31-points on Friday night, as three separate players rushed for over 100-yards in a 45-14 regional championship victory over Muskegon Oakridge.
The game started out a battle between two of the top quarterbacks in West Michigan in West Catholic’s Lance Buitendyk and Oakridge’s Jamie Potts. Buitendyk started the scoring early in the first quarter, when he found Dan Pittman wide open down the sidelines for a 41-yard touchdown. But Potts countered with a 39-yard run of his own, weaving in and out of tacklers at every turn (side note: amazing to see a 6’4″ 220+lbs guy with Potts’ agility) to set up a 2-yard score for Oakridge’s Nick Eely.
Murray Sports Photography
Similarly gifted running the ball, Buitendyk darted up the middle for a 75-yard touchdown run soon after. And soon after that, Potts again got loose in the West Catholic secondary, rumbling strategically for 47-yards before scoring on a 1-yard sneak of his own. Picture two heavyweights going toe to toe in the first round of a fight, dropping bombs on each other back and forth.
But that pace couldn’t last. Buitendyk went down with a tweaked ankle midway through the second quarter, but backup quarterback Tommy Staskiewicz went ahead and took that opportunity to air out a 54-yard touchdown pass to Zack Smith. Versatility and flexibility.
As West Catholic made defensive adjustments to contain Potts, his yards came harder. They came (Potts finished with 172-yards and a score), but each one took a little more. And as Oakridge geared their defense toward stopping Buitendyk, West Catholic went to a series of effective Plan-B’s. Tight end Mark Stump nabbed a touchdown for his first catch of the year, Pittman rolled in from a yard out for another score, and Staskiewicz tacked on another one in the fourth.
Potts, as talented as he is, just couldn’t keep up.
Quick hitters:
- West Catholic’s defensive secondary is incredibly well-coached. Going against Oakridge’s full-house attack, the natural tendency is to pack the box with defenders to stop the run. Not only did the Falcons stay on their assignments, holding Oakridge to nine total passing yards, but they also recognized and supported the run when needed. It’s tough to stay with your man when you see a ball-carrier running your way, but it’s necessary.
- Potts is a big fella, so the first expectation is that he will run into and over people. Not so. In fact, he is one of the smarter runners regardless of size that I’ve seen this year. He’s a whiz at reading blocks and looking for cutback lanes, and when he builds up a head of steam he’s tough to catch.
- Buitendyk is simply a baller. He’s got the quickness to dance for yards on the run, but more often he uses his feet to stay alive in the pocket, with the first instinct to throw. On multiple occasions he escaped pressure in the pocket to find a receiver tiptoeing the sideline for a first down. And as far as leadership goes, the 1:12, 60-yard drive he engineered to set up kicker Mitch Bredberg for a half-ending field goal was impressive.
- West Catholic has the tools for a state title, and the road to Ford Field looks manageable because of their versatility and flexibility.
- Shout out to MichiganSportsRadio.com for having Varsity News Network on the show. Great guys over there, who do great things for high school sports in West Michigan.
Photos courtesy of Murray Sports Photography.
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