Key players: QB Bill Ferriter; HB David Zocco
Plan of attack: Spread the opposition thin, and buzz by them on the speedy home carpet at Stellos Stadium.
Why they will win: Ferriter and Zocco are two of the most dangerous game-breakers in the state. They can beat you on offense, defense or special teams.
Why they won't: Average-sized and not overwhelming offensive and defensive lines.
Salem coach Jack Gati's take: "South is so explosive. For a running team, they can beat you quickly. Zocco and Ferriter are a two-headed monster. And then they showed last week against Pinkerton that they could throw it a little. You have to tackle well against them. The guys up front have to give the linebackers a chance. And then, your linebackers have to make plays. South makes it tough, though."
Key players: QB Peter Mazzola, RBs Bobby Dattilo and Eric Crupi, OL/DL Josh Lane
Plan of attack: Find a way to stop the South spread offense and stop that inside option run.
Why they will win: Pinkerton has the experience and tradition of a two-time defending state champ.
Why they won't: Are the Astros even playing well right now? Once 6-0, the Astros have lost two of the last three, being outscored 98-65.
Salem coach Jack Gati's take: "Hard to believe, but Pinkerton was 6-0 at one point. This team just isn't as explosive as some Pinkerton teams in the past. When they're going right, they run that offense very well. The sophomore (Eric Guinto) runs that little trap inside well. Dattilo is tough in the outside game, and the fullback (Mike Crupi) can bang it in there, too. They don't have their usual size on the line, but they do have Josh Lane, who I think is the best two-way lineman in the state."
Key players: QB Lyle Smith, FB Steve Gibson
Plan of attack: Big plays. Ride the "Nobody believes in us," campaign all the way to the championship.
Why they will win: Smith is a game-breaker, and this team was only one big play away from shocking Pinkerton back in September.
Why they won't: West has a problem with teams who can stretch the field. Speed is an issue.
Salem coach Jack Gati's take: "They're coming off a great win (17-14 over Gati's Salem club) in which they played with a lot of emotion. Gibson's a tough little runner. I know he went for over 100 (16 carries, 161 yards) the last time against Pinkerton. Defensively, though, they give up a lot of points. West might be the weakest of the four on defense. They are definitely the darkhorse."
Key players: RB Alex Theodhosi, utility man Rich Griffin, QB Craig Enos
Plan of attack: Keep it between the tackles and punish the opposition.
Why they will win: Has anyone figured out, really, how to defend the single-wing, with all its gimmicks?
Why they won't: If they fall behind early, it's mighty tough for a single-wing team to erase an early deficit.
Salem coach Jack Gati's take: "They're going to grind it out with you. Londonderry is the biggest team of the four and is tough to match up with. They do a lot of shifting and moving into unbalanced sets. Theodhosi is a tough kid. Against us, I think he ran 43 times. Defenses have to react. I have to admit, I really don't see a weakness with Londonderry."
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