[JumperPride1]

I hear that, but my only point is that ANY team surrendering 27, 28, and/or 48 points in state semi-final games is going to lose more of those contests than they win. Hold those opponents to 20 or fewer points, and the Jumpers' winning percentage in those "defining" games will surely rise.

A prior post suggested that the Somerset offense has thus far been the biggest factor in their inability to get over the hump, and I was simply examining/questioning that. It's a team game, so the O certainly bears its share of the responsibility (as do special teams--field position is critical), but when the defense consistently (and historically) surrenders those kinds of numbers in playoff games, the offense's margin for error is very slim, if it exists at all.

Trying to rationalize/explain away the gorilla in the room doesn't really seem to address the issue, but then again, we all know what happens to those of us who "don't learn from history." We get to review it.

Anyway, best of luck with the season; I'm rooting for the Jumpers to finally get off the schneid!

Somerset has had the better team in at least two of the four recent losses in semi-state appearances. If Storm Wilson's appendix doesn't burst 36 hours before kickoff of the Belfry game in 2010 I believe that game has a different outcome. As far as last year against NCC I still believe the Jumpers were the better football team, but New Cath had a good offensive scheme. Lets not forget that SHS was giving up 11 pts per game on average for the season going into that game. We have nothing to blame but ourselves for that loss, and for many of the big losses we have suffered historically. SHS is on the cusp, they are good on both sides of the football this year, if they stay injury free they will be the team to beat in the east.