TIPTON - The Tipton Cardinals are set to host the Sweet Spring Greyhounds tonight in the Class 1 District 5 semifinals. Both teams are 5-5 heading into the game.
In last week's first-round action, No. 3 seed Sweet Springs defeated No. 6 seed Salisbury 34-6 while No. 2 seed Tipton defeated No. 7 seed Santa Fe 32-20. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Tipton's coach Tony Braby said his team has to be ready for Sweet Spring's aggressive defense.
"They come off the ball extremely well," Braby said. "Their defense seems to be real solid."
Tipton might be able to take advantage of the difference in height when it comes to their receivers and Sweet Springs' defensive backs.
"I noticed that with their defensive backs they are probably a little shorter and smaller in stature and we are hoping we can take advantage of that with our more athletic and taller wide receivers," Braby said.
The Cardinals' offense will have to be ready for the different types of blitzes Sweet Springs uses.
"They like to do a lot of different stunts and blitz backers and we just got to make sure that our offensive line stays with their assignments and don't just try to chase after the person they think they have," Braby said. "It is more like a zone pass blocking scheme to where we will let the defense come to us and we just have to be patient with that and not get wrapped up with trying to play games and follow their different stunts. If we follow our assignments, we should be OK."
After their win last week, Braby said the Cardinals saw they have to play hard the whole four quarters and not let up.
"We kind of relaxed a little bit in the fourth quarter and allowed (Santa Fe) to score a couple of times," Braby said. "We learned that we have to play four quarters and not just a half or three quarters, we've got to do all four and that was a good lesson to learn. That the team we are playing regardless of what their record is at this point in the playoff, everyone is dangerous and everyone capable of beating each other. So if we have a team down we have to keep them down and not relax and stay aggressive and stay with our game plan."
Braby said there were players who realized they did not play their best last week and they have to be more focused.
Sweet Springs is similar to some of the teams Tipton has played this year, Braby said.
"Because we have now played three or four games with their type of offense it should be an advantage for us," he said.
When it comes to trying to slow down Sweet Springs' offense, Braby said the team is going to have to stay with their assignments and focus on gap protection and not over pursue.
"They will try to use a lot of misdirection," Braby said. "But if we concentrate on following our keys with the lineman pulling they should lead us right to the football. They kind of low you to sleep with a lot of running and then they will throw on you and their quarterback has a good arm and they got good speed at the skill positions.
"It will be my job to make sure that the defensive backs are awake and aware of them throwing the ball at any point in time and we will really have to be focused and play some of our best football in order to have a shot to come out with a win."
Top-seeded Fayette hosts fourth-seeded Slater in the other semifinal matchup. Tonight's winners will play next Friday for the district championship.