Big test versus Massaponax
{Jeff Mankie/News & Messenger}
Rodney Whitehead (22) is a key part of an Osbourn offense that has averaged over 30 points a game this season. Whitehead leads the team with five touchdown receptions.
Don't misunderstand Steve Schultze. He is thrilled that for the fourth time in five years, his Osbourn High School football team was practicing on Thanksgiving morning.
A 20-3 win a week ago at North Stafford in the Northwest Region, Division 5 semifinals put the Eagles (9-3) in a position to capture their second straight regional title when they travel to Liberty High School in Bealeton to face Massaponax today for a 7:30 p.m. game.
It's just that against the Wolverines, Osbourn had a chance to score even more points than it did, but found itself hampered by three turnovers either just inside the opponent's 20-yard line or just beyond it.
Those wasted opportunities have been a nagging concern for Schultze all season. In 12 games, Osbourn has averaged 2.6 turnovers a game, including four in a 20-18 loss to Battlefield and three in a 21-13 loss to Brooke Point.
Schultze realizes the chance for turnovers increases in Osbourn's high-risk-high-reward spread offense where timing is everything. But he also realizes that while the Eagles' offense has thrived when things click, averaging 34.8 points per game, the team needs to continue to work at eliminating the mistakes.
"When we protect the football, we can be a very good team and difficult to beat," Schultze said.
Cutting down on the turnovers is one of the major challenges facing Osbourn for tonight's game. Another one is stopping Massaponax (9-2) and its triple-option offense, which is similar to the way Navy employs its attack.
The Panthers can throw it. Quarterback Thomas Robinson has passed for 591 yards and seven touchdowns. But the running game has produced four rushers who have gained 400 yards or more this season, with Nagee Harris (680, 14 TDs) leading the way.
"We definitely can't be staring at the backfield," Schultze said. "We must swarm to the football."
Massaponax was one of five teams from the eight-team Commonwealth District to make the playoffs this season, but they are the only one still alive.
The Panthers have become a force in the Commonwealth since joining the district in 2003, making the playoffs five of the last seven seasons and going 61-19 over that time.
"We know we're going against a team that is battled tested," Schultze said. "We have to play well."
Sports editor David Fawcett can be reached at 703-878-8052
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