To be a fly on the wall for Saturday’s Class 1A championship game preparations – pitting the Akron Rams against the Lyons Lions – would be about as exciting as camping out in a dark tool shed, and nearly as appropriate.
As Akron and Lyons gear up for their 1 p.m. showdown, the hoopla is being kept out of view.
“We’ve learned that bonfires and pep rallies don’t amount to much,” Lyons coach John Nichols said. “We’re trying to make it seem like nothing special. Our kids have learned how to turn on that switch come game time.”
The quiet buildup to Saturday’s title game – a lead in that dates back to at least 1979, the first year these teams met in the playoffs – certainly won’t last past Friday night. The Rams grounds crew already carted in bleachers to hold some of the hundreds more than capacity expected in Akron.
“There are some big games that have been played between these two teams,” Akron coach Brian Christensen said. “Both schools are definitely familiar with each other, with the rivalry.”
The matchup between the Rams and Lions sports plenty of notables:
Along with Limon, Akron and Lyons have dominated the Class 1A scene this decade. They are the only teams to make multiple appearances in the championship game. And this will be the third title matchup between the Rams and Lions since 2001.
Akron (12-0) is making its sixth title game appearance since 1999. Before losses to Limon in the final game in 2003 and 2005, Akron won back-to-back titles over Lyons in 2001-02.
But Lyons (11-1) is coming off a semifinal shocker over Limon. The Lions are the only team to beat Limon since October of 2002, snapping the Badgers’ state-record 50-game winning streak with a 21-16 victory last week.
Akron’s defense, led by linebacker/lineman Mick Strand, has allowed a classification-best 71 points this season. The Rams allow an average of just 5.9 points per game. And their 40-21 semifinal win over Burlington was just the second time they allowed more than a touchdown this season.
Lyons has rolled through the postseason, with victories over Meeker, Del Norte and a road win over Limon. And since rebounding from a 20-7 league loss to Akron in Week 7, the Lions have only once allowed more than eight points.
And, Lyons and Akron remain the best purveyors of old-time offenses in Class 1A. Akron’s single-wing confuses defenses and puts points on the board, while rarely passing. The Rams list four running backs on their lineup, but no quarterback. Lyons, too, relies on the run, employing a double-wing much like Phil Bravo’s approach at Monarch.
“We’re going to scale it down,” Nichols said. “We’ve simplified the last few weeks and that’s what has worked.”
Lyons will run behind trio of sizable rushers: Trey Mullen, Jarod Adams and Josh Ackerman. They have combined for more than 2,000 yards this season. Akron counters with Steven Hall, Jorgen Anderson and Logan Davisson.
Nick Groke can be reached at 303-954-1015 or ngroke@denverpost.com.
