With thanksgiving football at Fenway being less than 48 hours away I figured today I’d let you in on my three keys to a Wellesley Raider victory against Needham.
- Run, run, run
The running game has been crucial to the Raiders success this season with the new triple option offense they have installed. Early in the season this running back by committee paid huge dividends as the Raiders were able to chalk up points and yards, however the last few weeks the running game has taken somewhat of a dive which has lead to the Raiders continuing to struggle offensively. In order to win on Thanksgiving the Raiders have to be able to establish the run early and often or else it could be another long morning for them offensively.
2. O-Line play
This ties in greatly with my first key of running the ball effectively. The offensive line was a big question mark coming into the season but played pretty well the first few weeks. Recently however the line has had their struggles against tougher, stronger defensive lines which has led to the dip in the running game. In order to be successful on Thursday the line must execute their blocking assignments and open up several holes for the backs as well as protecting and keeping Jake Mohan upright in passing situations.
3. Prevent The Big Play
This seems to be a theme the last few years watching this rivalry that Needham seems to be most effective offensively when they are able to put together multiple big plays. Needham can put points on the board however, besides maybe Marshfield I would argue that the Rockets have not been up against a stronger defense than what they’ll see out of the Raiders. This defense for the most part has been the key to Wellesley’s success this season and has been able for the most part to minimize the big play and keep talented offenses in check. If the Raiders can stay true to form especially in the secondary they will have success, however if Needham starts putting together the big plays it could be a long morning for this Raider team.
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