Nov. 23, 2018

WARDSVILLE, Mo. --- In their last 12 games, the Blair Oaks Falcons have just been too good for their opponents.

When developing a game plan --- and although he'd never say this outright --- Ted LePage would see more mismatches than LeBron James at a grade school pickup game.

"We look at film and look for areas on the football field where we might have an advantage," the Blair Oaks coach said. "We study a ton of film with the players, they probably spend more time in the film room than they do on the practice field."

These Falcons have just been quicker, faster and better than everybody they've played the last three months. And it hasn't been close

12 games, 12 wins by a combined 658-72, an average margin of victory of 49 points a game. Meaning, last week's 55-6 quarterfinal win over Clark County was just another average game.

Don't expect it to happen again ... until next season, that is.

Because in Lutheran North, Blair Oaks will see a team that's just as quick, just as fast and by all appearances, just as good as the Falcons.

Then again, maybe not, we'll find out at 1 p.m. Saturday when the top-ranked Falcons (13-0) collide with the fourth-ranked Crusaders (10-3) in the Class 2 semifinals at the Falcon Athletic Complex.

"It's going to be a heck of a football game," LePage said. "Looking at the forecast (sunny and 60), I'm sure there will be a ton of people there, it will be a great atmosphere ... it will be all you could want in a high school football game."

Some Blair Oaks fans might scoff at Lutheran North's record --- We just beat two-loss Clark County by 49 points and one-loss South Callaway by 47. A team with three losses? No worries.

Well ... two of the losses were two quality teams from the Chicago area, the other was after a road trip to Cincinnati.

Lutheran North is a team littered with Division I talent, including 6-5, 330-pound lineman Jack Buford, who's committed to the University of Missouri.

"There's no doubt," LePage said, "this will be our toughest test of the year. They have great athletes all over the field, they're very fundamentally sound and well-disciplined."

The Crusaders' three losses came in the first three weeks of the season. In winning 10 straight against teams from Missouri, they've racked up numbers similar to the Falcons --- a combined scoring margin of 533-63, an average margin of victory of 47 points a game.

Of note:

^ The Crusaders have won their last five games by a silly margin of 293-8, including a 51-8 win over 10-win Caruthersville in the quarterfinals.

^ Their only close call was a one-point win over perennial power MICDS (12-1), which is in the Class 4 semifinals once again.

^ And they beat Class 5 Chaminade 40-0 --- and Chaminade beat the Class 6 Jefferson City Jays, 49-42.

"Our team has great respect for Lutheran North," LePage said, "but there's no fear. We're ready to get after it, have some fun and play a great football team."

Top offensive threats for Lutheran North include running back Isaiah Azubuike (5-11, 195-pound senior), who's rushed for 1,168 yards (9.7 avg.) and scored 19 touchdowns, while running back Isaac Glenn (5-10, 200-pound senior) has rushed for 801 yards and 16 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Jordan Smith has accounted for 18 scores --- nine rushing, nine passing.

The Crusaders are a run-heavy offense, just last the Falcons' last opponent, Clark County. They just do it at a much higher level.

Going back to the quarterfinals, the final margin was a bit of a shock for LePage.

"It really surprised me," he said, "because we were expecting an incredibly tight and tough game."

This is not to say LePage was surprised by the win. He basically knew before the opening kickoff.

"I told the coaches when we went in after warmups," LePage said, "that if we play the way we warmed up, it was going to be a great day. Because our players just had complete focus, they were having fun, and they had an energy level that I hadn't seen all year.

"I knew we were going to come out and play well. And we did."

The Falcons are seeking their first trip to the finals since 2012, and their first state championship since 2006 and third overall. But the path is anything but easy --- talented Lutheran North on Saturday and if Blair Oaks wins, a date with either unbeaten Lathrop (13-0) or seven-time defending state champ Lamar (12-1) at 3 p.m. Friday at Faurot Field.

But ...

"We don't worry about the opponent, we worry about ourselves," LePage said.

Don't worry, be happy --- and have fun. That has been this team's mantra since Day One.

Saturday's Clash of the Titans should be plenty of fun to watch, as well.

The Blair Oaks Falcons will take the field one last time in Wardsville this season on Saturday when they host Lutheran North in the Class 2 semifinals

Clash of the Titans: Blair Oaks
vs. Lutheran North in semifinals

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