Reserve’s line concerns Norwalk

November 23, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

By TIM CLEVELAND

BERLIN CENTER

Norwalk St. Paul High School football coach John Livengood has concerns about how his team will fare against Western Reserve in tonight’s Division VII Region 21 final in Medina.

Livengood said his Flyers have to avoid being pushed around by the Blue Devils’ offensive line.

“They’re huge; they are enormous up front,” Livengood said. “They’ve got probably the best receiver we’ve seen all year in [Joe Falasca].

“Their quarterback [Nick Allison] throws a very nice football,” Livengood said. “Defensively, they’re very aggressive. They bring ‘backers like crazy.”

Western Reserve head coach Andy Hake said he believes his Blue Devils (12-0), who are playing in their second regional final in three seasons, are up to the task.

“Our defense played well again,” said Hake of last week’s 31-26 win over Danville. “I think our offensive line is going to have to pick up their game. They’re going to do it because they have to. They have family counting on them. We’re a very family-oriented program.”

Both coaches believe line play will be key.

“We’ve got to be able to pick up the blitz,” Livengood said. “We’ve got to do things to counter that. Defensively, we’ve got to utilize our quickness and not allow their big offensive linemen to wall us off and run the football.”

The Flyers emphasize the run over the pass.

Norwalk already has eliminated a pair of area teams in the playoffs. In the regional quarterfinal, the Flyers routed Southington, 55-7. Last week, they shut out Wellsville, 24-0.

In Week 10, Western Reserve defeated Wellsville, 25-8, to clinch the Inter Tri-County league Tier Two crown.

Tonight’s winner will play the winner of the Glouster Trimble-Shadyside game in a state semifinal.