Revenge or repeat?

ADAM DAVIS/Acorn Newspapers OPHS SOARS PAST GOLDEN EAGLES—Quarterback Doug Deakin of Oak Park scrambles as he receives blocks from his offensive line during last Friday’s first-round playoff victory over Desert Hot Springs. Tomorrow at home, Oak Park will play Grace Brethren for the second time this season. After running all over their first-round opponents, Oak Park and Grace Brethren set the stage for a classic Division XI secondround matchup.

The teams will meet for the second time this year after the Eagles downed Desert Hot Springs 40-7 and the Lancers beat up on St. Anthony 54-0 last Friday night.

Oak Park beat Grace Brethren 21-14 in the teams’ first meeting of the year.

Neither first-round opponent offered much of a challenge as quarterbacks Doug Deakin and Travis Chupp carved up the opposing defenses all night.

Oak Park’s Deakin finished the game with 198 yards rushing and threw four touchdown passes, while Grace Brethren’s Chupp returned a kickoff for a touchdown and ran and threw for two more scores.

Both teams knew a secondround rematch was in the cards after the Div. XI playoff bracket was released on Nov. 13.

“The winner of this game is probably the second-best team in the division,” said Grace Brethren head coach Terry Gourley. “It’s going to be a heated and intense game.”

Intense could easily describe the first time the two teams met on Sept. 9 of this year.

The Lancers were leading 14-0 midway through the third quarter when the Eagles rallied to tie the game and took the lead for good on a 27-yard fumble return for a touchdown, Grace Brethren’s seventh turnover on

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“That was a heck of a ball game,” said Oak Park co-head coach Brian Crum. “It came down to the very end but the key for us was turnovers.”

Since that game, the Lancers have waited for a chance at redemption. The team switched to the spread offense and inserted Chupp at quarterback. The result has been a more balanced attack and a nine-game winning streak.

“You have to be very assignment-specific versus them,” Crum said. “You have to stand up to them physically and stop the option.”

Few teams have been able to stand up to Grace Brethren’s defensive line this season, part of a strong unit that has shut out opponents in 34 of the last 35 quarters of play. Defensive end Rick Elmore and defensive tackle Cory Elmore can dominate the line of scrimmage.

“Their defensive line is one of the best you’ll find anywhere,” Crum said.

While the Lancers might have the advantage in size, Crum feels his team might have a slight advantage in speed.

Oak Park features one of the most dangerous players in Division XI in Deakin, and OPHS tailback Matt Alexander has scored in all ten games this season.

“They spread the ball all over the place,” Gourley said. “You can’t load up on one receiver because Deakin can take off.”

The Eagles also have a strong defensive unit, led by middle linebacker Alex Chang (68 tackles) and defensive back Gabe Derricks, who has four interceptions on the year.

After starting the season at 23, Oak Park feels they are finally hitting their stride and have improved tremendously since the Grace Brethren game.

“We’re more physical than we were then,” Crum said. “We’re playing our best football of the year.”

The Lancers feel they are doing the same.

“We think we’re a lot better since then,” Gourley said. “Our defense has gotten a lot stronger.”

Both teams will see plenty of each other over the next few years. Grace Brethren will join the Tri-Valley league for the 2006 season, making Friday’s second-round matchup that much more intriguing.

On the surface, the Lancers would appear to be more motivated than the Eagles.

“I’d like to think it’s an advantage,” Gourley said. “When you get a chance to even the score, it’s a motivating factor.”

Crum knows the Lancers will be seeking revenge, but dismisses the notion that Grace Brethren will have an emotional advantage.

“It’s just a big game any way you look at it. None of that stuff matters come playoff time,” he said.

The winner will go on to play the winner of the San Jacinto/ Verbum Dei contest and earn a spot in the semifinals. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Oak Park High School.