Not stopping the pass? Good luck stopping Nease

Why each team will win? A lighthearted look at both sides

Justin Barney
Sports Editor
Published Friday, November 26, 2004

Seventy-six points. In a playoff game. On the road. Unbelievable. But then again, this is the greatest air show west of Fallujah.

Nease quarterback Tim Tebow is about to break the single-season state passing record, and Ive seen how difficult its been to pass on the Yellow Jackets this season. Nease was already lounging in its comfy bus seats while St. Augustine was tripping over the penalties against Santa Fe. I havent seen that many flags since the G-8 Summit.

But the big mismatch is the Nease offense against the SAHS defense. The only coverage last week in Brumley Stadium came with an insurance deductible. Thats when you know this is the Panthers year. I mean, almost 400 yards through the air to Santa Fe? They put up 1,400 through the air all season, but that defense turned the Raiders QB into Peyton Manning. Hes probably thanking SAHS right now for the college exposure. And now the Jackets have got to worry about an air show that puts an average of two defensive backs on anti-depressants a game? I mean Nease makes the Blue Angels look like a bunch of third-year flight school students in Cessnas.

Take potshots about the schedule, and that Nease hasnt beaten a team with a winning record, and that they havent been able to tackle with the game on the line. But would you look at that, the teams are all caught up with each other.

Sure, Neases defense has been lax in the last two games against SAHS, but then again, this is a new team. Remember who was up by 16 on the Jackets with 3 minutes left in the third quarter. The Panthers can close the deal this time.