If Colleyville Covenant Christian head football coach Barry Morgan wasn't facing Shiner St. Paul this week, he might've bought a ticket to watch them play.
"They're scary to watch if you've got to play them, but they're fun to watch if you don't," said the second year Cougar coach. "Unfortunately, now we've got to play them."
Both teams are just one win away from a TAPPS Division IV state title, but to get there the Cougars will have to find a way to stop the multiple offensive weapons of St. Paul and the Cardinals will have to slow down Covenant's up-tempo spread attack.
Chase Stewart leads the 10-2 Cougars into the title game. Stewart has had an amazing year since joining Colleyville Covenant this season.
Pre-Sale Tickets
On sale now through 1 p.m. Friday at the St. Paul High School office.
TAPPS Div. IV State Final
Shiner St. Paul Cardinals vs. Colleyville Covenant Christian Cougars
Noon Saturday, Leo Buckley Stadium, Killeen
"He's very coachable, he's learned our offense and he's used a combination of his passing ability and his running ability," Morgan said.
This season, Stewart has thrown for 2,121 yards and 26 touchdowns to go along with 1,425 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.
St. Paul head coach Jake Wachsmuth said his team has yet to face a quarterback this season that has Stewart's abilities.
"We've probably played some that are as good throwing the ball or as good running the ball, but I think when you combine it he's probably the best overall we've played against," Wachsmuth said.
In the spread, the quarterback is the key to the offense and the Cardinals know they have to get Stewart out of his comfort level in order to win on Saturday.
"We got to make sure we wrap up tight or otherwise he'll get away and get more yards than he needs," said St. Paul senior defensive end Dustin Adamek.
Wachsmuth added: "We've got to get pressure on him and when we do get pressure on him we need to make plays. Get sacks, make him throw the ball when he doesn't want to."
In the semifinals against Amarillo Arbor Christian, Stewart accounted for four Cougar touchdowns in Colleyville's 35-20 win.
"He's been the main cog or the main part of our offense," Morgan said
Although the state title game seems like a showcase of styles, as St. Paul's run- heavy offense will go up against the Colleyville's up-tempo spread attack, Morgan said that's not the case.
Morgan knows St. Paul's offensive talent goes beyond the legs of sophomore running back Adam Hollenbach, who has rushed for more than 1,500 yards and scored 37 touchdowns.
Martin Kennedy can reach the 1,000 yard mark by running for 91 yards against the Cougars and senior quarterback Devin Pesek has thrown for over 1,000 yards this season.
"There's no doubt that Adam has been a tremendous player for us, but when you have a lot of different kids that are doing well I don't think teams can really focus on Adam," said Wachsmuth.
Morgan added: "They've got a full package."
Morgan said he was impressed by the play of Pesek in particular.
Morgan said Pesek is an outstanding ball handler with great speed that can make a play with his arm when the team needs it.
"They don't throw the ball a lot, but when they do, they're very accurate," Morgan said.
Morgan also complemented Wachsmuth for the way he prepares the Cardinals during the week.
"The thing that impresses me is they don't make very many mistakes, they're mistake free," said Morgan. "They're fundamentally sound, they block and tackle well. They're just a real good football team."
St. Paul will line up across from an experienced group on Saturday as last season Colleyville advanced to the TAPPS Div. III state semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Waco Reicher.
In 2010, the Cougars were realigned into Div. IV, District 1 with Amarillo Arbor and Lubbock Christian, the two other semifinalists.
The Cougars are making their third appearance in the state title game. They won the state title in 2006.
Although Morgan said the Cougars still have a lot of work to do before the team hits the field at Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen on Saturday, he did put Colleyville Covenant's playoff run into perspective.
"There's only two teams that are getting this opportunity in our division and we're one of them so we feel very fortunate," Morgan said.
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