Whiteford @ Royal Oak Shrine

What has looked like a rebuilding year for Whiteford at times has turned into a playoff appearance for an eighth consecutive season. The Bobcats will travel to Royal Oak for a Saturday matinee with the Knights of Royal Oak Shrine Catholic. This will be the first meeting between both teams.

Whiteford (5-4, 4-2 TCC)

Jason Mensing has a young team on his hands, but the young Bobcats have grown up quickly. Freshman QB Shea Ruddy (770 passing yards, 7 TDs) leads the Bobcats’ double wing offense with a good arm, but hasn’t had to do too much with his feet (99 rushing yards). Leading the Cats in rushing are senior RB Nick Marchant (889 yards, 12 TDs), junior Devon Shaw (748 yards, 9 TDs), and sophomore Cole Giesege (644 yards, 9 TDs). The ground attack will receive a boost, as senior D’Ondre Shaw (Devon’s older brother) was medically cleared to play after being diagnosed with a heart condition that was thought to end his career. Marchant (235 receiving yards, TD) and Braedon Mills (169 yards, 5 TDs) have been Ruddy’s favorite targets.

Defensively, the Bobcats are led by LB Evan Dyer (41 tackles), and DBs Giesege (3 INTs) and Marchant (2 INTs).

Royal Oak Shrine (7-2, 3-1 Catholic League Intersectional 2)

Head coach Oscar Olejniczak has led the Knights to a second consecutive appearance in the playoffs, and for the 19^th time in school history. Like Whiteford, Shrine is led by a young gun at QB in sophomore Conor Benson. There are plenty of other underclassmen on offense, such as RBs Jacob Sanders (sophomore) and Frank Firek (freshman), as well as WRs Chuck Niehaus (sophomore), Andrew Bala (freshman), and Luke Shrake (freshman). Shrake is a big target at 6-5.

Defensive players to watch include DE Ugo Ike, MLB Benson, OLBs Collin Buchanan and Aaron Smith, and DB Anthony Gaglio.

FNV Thoughts: This is a pick’em game between two relatively young teams. These teams have two common opponents; Adrian Madison and Britton Deerfield. This gives us the insight that these two teams are evenly matched and we should expect an outstanding game on Saturday afternoon.