[sstack]

The major deciding factor in next weeks game against St. X. will be whether or not the offensive line of Highlands will be able to protect Bardo. IMO, opposing defenses have breached the line and only Bardo's athleticism has gotten him out of trouble. There will be no 40-50 yd bombs to Buten next week simply b/c Bardo will be running for his life. I see the St. X. defense coming Blitzkrieg style. Short dump passes to AC or Tyler over the middle will earn the Birds much needed 1st downs to control the clock and keep the O on the field. We'll see some trickery on Dale's part as well to jump start the offense. That will be a sign that Dale is running out of answers to X's D. Bottom line is Highlands will be fighting for every yard gained. By the 4th quarter they will have run out of answers offensively. St. X will likely score on many of their offensive possesions and eventually run away with the game. Austin will have the most offensive output. We will see a completely different offensive gameplan from the Bluebirds with shorter gains that chip away the clock. Their current offensive strategy simply will not work against X.
Control the clock and the Birds will make it a close one. Use AC and his talent as a RB/receiver combo and we have a chance to keep it respectable.

I agree that Highlands does not want quick strike scores (although we will take them if given to us), but long clock chewing up drives. It will be fun to see what AC will do agianst them; hopefully the line can give him a few creases to hit.