WHERE
Bennett Field, Alamosa High School, 805 Craft Drive, Alamosa
WHERE THE TEAMS STAND
Florence Huskies (8-1 overall, 4-1 in Class 3A South Metro League), ranked No. 4 in The Denver Post/9News 3A poll vs. Alamosa Mean Moose (9-0, 5-0), 3A’s No. 1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Immediate goals are the league title outright and an undefeated regular season for Alamosa; or Florence, the defending 3A champion, earns a South Metro tie. A bonus longer term for Friday’s winner is the top seed in the 16-team postseason bracket.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Southern-area schools, which have won four of the past six state championships, have owned the interest in midrange 11-man. Appropriately, its league title will be decided on the last weekend of the regular season.
KEY MATCHUP
Alamosa has all but turned 3A into a one-sided track meet – it leads the class in scoring offense (474) and defense (50). Only Pueblo County, which fell to Alamosa in Week 7 21-20 and downed Florence in Week 5, has come within 33 points. The Huskies (second in 3A defense, 67) must slow down – and be smart against – Alamosa quarterback Clay Garcia, a four-year starter. More than his 30-plus touchdown passes have drawn interest from the Ivy League. Florence LB Frank Morelli and S Bryce Buderus plan to bring their light sabers.
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Since 2001, Alamosa is 53-16 with a state championship; Florence is 62-11 with two titles. Consider it a top-flight matchup with feeling (the head coaches were college teammates at nearby Adams State) despite an eight-game scoring differential rounded to 21 points. Florence, which has won the past three meetings, beat the Mean Moose twice in 2005, including in the semifinals.
COACH SPEAK
“(The Mean Moose) have so many (good) kids and they’re as explosive as heck, scoring on everyone.” – Mark Buderus, Florence coach
“Beating Florence means playing disciplined football, you can’t have turnovers or penalties. (The Huskies) are very difficult to play against.” – Manny Wasinger, Alamosa coach
