Saturday, November 18, 2000
Reading ready for Brookville
Defense has to deal with unfamiliar set
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Defending an unfamiliar offense few teams use is normally a difficult task. That's what faces Reading tonight when the Blue Devils meet Brookville in the Division V, Region 20 championship at Centerville Stadium.
“We go with a double-wing set that I learned from Hugh Wyatt, who has coached a high school team in Washington for years,” Brookville coach Marc Gibson said.
“He (Wyatt) has written several books, made a film and puts on clinics. The offense is big in California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon. We're one of three Ohio teams that run it.”
What's unique about the Brookville formation is that the seven down linemen are foot to foot with no gaps. Three running backs line up about 2 yards behind the quarterback.
“This tightness of the linemen takes away the opposition's ability to blitz, which is to our advantage,” Gibson said. “We run a lot of traps and misdirections, which is confusing to the defense.”
After Brookville upset Valley View 17-14 in the final game of the season to break Valley View's 39-game home winning streak, Reading coach Ken Minor made a prediction.
“If we reach the (Division V) regional championship game, we'll be playing Brookville,” Minor said. “I'm glad we didn't have to play them the first two rounds. Their offense is very solid, and they run it well.”
Primarily a running team, Brookville relies on three backs who have rushed for more than 1,000 yards. Quarterback Tony Brown is also a threat, completing 54.2 percent of his passes.
“We're a ball-control team,” Gibson said. “In the two playoff games, we've scored 80 percent of the time we had the ball.”
Minor agreed Brown is the key player in Brookville's offense that includes more than 50 plays out of several formations.
“Their quarterback (Brown) reminds me of last year's Edgewood quarterback (Brandon Osborne),” Minor said. “He hides the ball well and can hurt you in many ways.”
Fullback Sam Sampson (1,043 yards rushing) and tailbacks Randy Hubley (1,330) and Kevin Rogers (1,005) are Brookville's other threats.
“Sampson has speed and is very powerful,” Minor said. “Kevin Rogers was their star last year, and he's also very good. The Hubley kid is the fastest.”
Both of Brookville's touchdowns against Valley View were passing plays, the second on a halfback option.
If Reading has an advantage, it's the passing game with quarterback Zach Maxfield and receiver Charlie Vample.
Gibson said Reading tailback DeShawn Wynn (1,840 yards rushing and 25 TDs) is a major concern, but he also pointed to Maxfield and Vample as threats.
“Any time a back like Wynn touches the ball, he can score from any place on the field,” Gibson said. “But Reading's passing game is also tough and a big part of the offense.”
The winner advances to the state semifinals next week.
Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball
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Reading ready for Brookville
