D IV Championship - HC's Keys to the game - and my picks for the 3 Title games.

Yes I know these are obvious. But hey, there are no more games to review and we need something to talk about :)

Trinity -
    Offensively
        In my opinion Trinity did a nice job in their first meeting with Lebanon. They actually mixed the pass up more than usual to compliment their running game and had a few opportunities for big plays off the pass, that they were just unable to execute. Now, it's not clear to me if this was by design or if it was due to the defense putting them in a position where they felt calling a pass was the best way to go, however, I say stick to what got you here. Run the Ball.
        Control the line of scrimmage. On their 94 yard scoring drive, it seemed as though the O-Line was really exerting their will on what must have been a tired defensive front of Lebanon. Establish this early and maintain it and you'll be okay.
        If you're going to pass, execute.
        Lose the jitters early. Based on the numbers I saw travel to watch the battle for 9-0 down in Manchester, I can only imagine how many people will be at the Championship game at home in Lebanon. There fans are rowdy (that's a good thing in football) and you're gong into a hostile environment. You have the experience, you've been in a game like this before, take a few plays, shake the jitters get down to business.
    Defensively
        They played well defensively in game 1. However, it is safe to say, there was a bit of shell shock at play (especially in the 2nd half). No one, this year (and probably last) had been able to move the ball effectively against the Trinity D. Get over it, Lebanon is going to score and they are going to get yards on you, they didn't go 10-0 for no reason. Relax and play your game, forget the last play, there's a new one to deal with.
        Stack the box. On numerous (I'd call them big) runs, the defense was spread a bit to wide for my taste. Lebanon seems to like to runs most plays up the gut. They have a good line just like you, so it's not always going to be enough to simply rely on your D Line and ILBs to make plays, get them some help inside. You're quick enough to get outside when needed.
Lebanon -
    Offensively -
        Get it going early. Set the tone and score first. Establish a presence up front and work your way outside. Fire up the troops and let them bang away at the line of scrimmage and give that powerful Trinity front something to think about.
        Patch, Patch, Patch. It's his senior year and last game of a superstar season. Let him explode as often as possible and finish in style. Give him 30 carries if needed, but let him have every opportunity to help bring a Title home to Lebanon and champion your dream season in front of the home town crowd.
        Catch every ball thrown to you. Receivers. Lock down the football, when Roth throws (and we've seen Lebanon is not afraid to throw the ball) bring it in.
    Defensively -
        You MUST attack the line of scrimmage. In my opinion Lebanon's Defense (while it was outstanding) in the first meeting, sat back and rode the line initially and waited for the football to show up. That's fine to do against the Trinity Offense since they make it so very difficult to find the football. However, this allowed Trinity to cut away yardage bit by bit. Lebanon's defense came up big with turnovers, big 4th down plays and of course the tide turning stop on the attempted 2 point conversion. But I'd like to see them more aggressive this time around.
        Be ready for the pass. If you play like you did in the first meeting, Trinity is going to be forced to shift their gameplan, and if they go up top to Lauderdale, he's a big target, so you'll have to be in position to make a play.
        Find the football. I said this the last time around and it's much easier said than done. The misdirection and sheer size differential between the Trinity O Line and their backs makes it incredibly difficult  to locate the football.
        Lastly use the home town crowd to your advantage. Lebanon Fans you will need to FEED the Beast. The skill sets (for the most part) are not so far apart regardless of who you are playing and certainly these teams are close to one another. I'd wager that half of what they do on the field is driven by how much adrenaline they've got going at that point in time. The crowd in this game will be the 12th man on the field for Lebanon.
       
Overall -
    Well, unfortunately, for Trinity you're kind of in a no win situation. You come into this game still the favorite in most people's eyes, even though you were defeated in Manchester. You're clearly bigger, your offense continues to roll (even if you don't come out on top), Defense is extremely sound and were it not for a couple miscues in game 1 you could very well well be the 10-0 team. In all the articles I've read and comments that are posted, people just expect you to win this game. I keep drawing the example of Friday Night Lights, and the Pioneers being big bad Dallas Carter. Obviously they are not bad, but they are BIG and have a polished squad who will be gunning to mar the perfect record and bring home their 2nd consecutive title back to Manchester.
   
    Lebanon is basically in a Win/Win situation. NOBODY saw this season coming. Everyone labels them the best story in NH Football this season, the cinderella story :) They've defeated a slew of teams that they've never beaten before, Ever. Made the playoffs for the 3rd time Ever and the 1st time in 6 ish years. Hosting your first playoff game, winning your first playoff game, hosting your first championship game, and lest we not forget your first undefeated regular season while playing in NH Divisional football. Even if you were to bring home the runner up trophy, you are no doubt heroes in your community and an inspiration to small town football teams across the state of NH. You are my Permian :)
   
    Regardless of what happens on Saturday, both of these teams should be commended for all the hard work they've put in this year and no doubt over the summer and off season. They are both teams deserving of the title and I almost hope for a tie :) However, there must be a winner and a loser and as such I've consulted with the Spirits one last time this season and my picks for the Championship games this weekend are:
   
    D VI - Gilford will contain Josh Stout and Brendon Murphy will explode Gilford wins 32-21.
   
    D V - Unfortunately, this game will not be as close as the first one. Kearsarge over St. Thomas  28 - 14.
   
    D IV - The spirits have told me that they think Trinity is too good and too well coached to be beaten by the same team twice in one season. However, football fan in me thinks these kids from small town NH have one more game in them. The fan base will be the difference in this battle. Lebanon goes 11-0 and defeats Trinity 21-20.