Rested FPD opens playoffs with tough task
After a 22-21 loss to Mount De Sales on Oct.9, FPD had dropped three in a row and looked to be out of the playoff picture.
Every game became a must-win situation for head coach Greg Moore and the Vikings.
"We feel like we have been in the playoffs for the last month," Moore said. "We kind of backed ourselves in a corner. We didn't have much choice if we were going to qualify for the postseason or not."
Four wins later, FPD is preparing to take on Prince Avenue Christian in the first round of the GHSA Class A private school playoffs. The Vikings got on a roll and have not looked back.
"Our 10 seniors pulled themselves together and pulled the team along with them," Moore said. "They kind of refocused everyone's attention and attitude to trying to get things corrected. It was more about the mindset than anything to do with Xs and Os."
Prince Avenue Christian is 10-0 and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The Vikings are faced with an uphill battle if they hope to make their mark in the playoffs.
"In a way, it feels like we are playing with house money," Moore said. "We are thrilled with the things that we have learned and done. It has nothing to do with the record or the scoreboard. We get to go out and do it again, and we get to do it against a team that a lot of people think is the best team in the state.
"I don't think we have any pressure on us. We just have a golden opportunity to go do something great."
The Vikings are hoping that their offense continues to perform the way it has for the past month. In their past four games, the Vikings have scored 148, averaging 37 points per game.
Dontrez Johnson leads the ground game with 794 yards on 128 carries, while quarterback Will McCormick is next with 475 yards on 123 rushes.
McCormick is 73-of-136 for 1,135 yards and nine touchdown passes through the air.
Daniel Weaver is the top target with 34 catches for 548 yards and six touchdowns.
The Vikings are facing a defense that has not given up a point in the past two games and just 79 points all season.
"We landed on a couple things that we really liked schematically," Moore said. "It has simplified some things for our kids. Part of that gave our offensive line a lot of confidence. We then understood that we were doing a lot of good things we got a whole lot better as a team.
"They aren't going to come out and do anything that isn't fundamentally sound. It has caused problems for every team they have played, they haven't played a close game this year."
On defense, the Vikings have not been as consistent as they have given up 52 points total in their past two games but have relied heavily on their offense lead the way.
Jack Sawyer and Tee Turley lead the FPD defense with 88 and 86 tackles, respectively, while Weaver has four sacks.
The Wolverines enter the game having scored more than 35 points in every game this season, including nine games with more than 40 points.
"I don't think it is in secret for them," Moore said. "They are a run-oriented football team. They have a very big offensive line and they do a nice job of running behind those guys and utilizing their strengths to their advantage."
The Vikings played nine straight games before last week's off week, and that gave them time to get ready for the playoff stretch.
"It really came at a great time for us. It had been a long run. It gave us a time to heal up a little bit and get a little hop back in our step," Moore said. "We did get a few days where we could just rest. It was really beneficial to our staff and to our kids. Because of it everyone returned to the field this week with a lot of energy and are very excited for this upcoming Friday night."
This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 8:51 AM with the headline "Rested FPD opens playoffs with tough task ."