Players understand state championship game tonight
Saturday, December 5 , 2009
By MIKE MATHISON- The Herald Star
There has been no whispering.
People have questioned whether the top-ranked Madonna football team realizes that the West Virginia Class A state championship game is tonight at 7 on Wheeling Island Stadium against No. 2 Man and was not held last week at Jimmy Carey Stadium, when the Blue Dons smacked Wheeling Central, 18-7.
"The win over Wheeling Central was great and everything and it lasted throughout the weekend - I'm not going to lie," said Madonna senior Seth Gianessi. "But once Monday hit, we started watching film and got refocused and this has been just like every other week.
"Next team. We have one more to go. It (beating Wheeling Central) was all over school, but that game is over and we have to have our full attention on Man. They are our priority."
The victory was one of the biggest in school history, but according to coach Bob Kramer, is was only No. 13 on the way to a chance at No. 14.
"One game at a time," he said.
"When we found out Saturday night we were going to play Man, that's been our focus," said senior Nick Nero. "We've taken every game one by one. This week we are entering the season at 0-0 and, like all the other weeks, we want to win the next game."
"It was a big win, but this game feels just like all the others," said Grant Weaver. "We have one game ahead of us and we just have to go into it like we have all the other games.
"We know this week is the state championship game against Man. If we win this game, it will feel a lot better than beating Wheeling Central. Man is a very good team. They can run and they can pass. We just have to do what we do best to come out on top."
"We went into the Wheeling Central game expecting to win - looking to play our best game," said Eddie Nogay. "We did that and now we are on to the next step. You have to go into every game with no doubt. You can't step on the field with doubt. That's what we do as a team. We're confident, but not cocky. We go out there and just play our best."
Blue Dons senior A.J. Klein broke his collarbone on Oct. 9 and was looking at missing another state championship game. He ripped a knee in last year's semifinal victory at St. Marys.
But, Klein has returned. He punted two weeks ago against Tucker County and performed the same duty in last week's victory over the Maroon Knights. He also had a carry.
"This is real big, I can't wait," he said. "When I first did it I thought I was done for the year. I had to start working hard again to see if I could come back. It was hard to watch from the sidelines, especially since this is my senior year.
"It was nice to come back and punt, but it was just nice to dress.
"We're ready to go."
"I think it's been pretty easy to refocus," said Michael Kranak. "The team knows how important his week is and how much more important it is than last week. A win last week means nothing without a win this week. When we went to school (on Monday) all the hype was still there. But, when we went to practice we knew what needed to be done.
"Coach Kramer has said 'one game at a time' and that's what we're doing. This is just another game. The prize just happens to be even sweeter."
"I think it would be one thing to win a state championship, but I think what would put the whole season together is if we win the state championship and beat Wheeling Central to get there," said senior Jimmy Deter. "Beating Wheeling Central is one thing, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't win the state championship. We just have to take care of business one more time.
"I do commend coach Kramer for the way we prepare. He does a really good job. It is the exact same every week. Offensive day, same drills. Defensive day, same drills. I can tell you what we're going to do at what time of every day of every practice we've ever had from Bellaire St. John to Wheeling Central."
Madonna is 37-3 over the last three years. It defeated Bishop Donahue in the final game of the 2006 season to finish at 5-5. The seniors were freshmen.
"We've played in every type of game since then," said Max Nogay. "We've played in big games and in small games and we have the biggest one of our lives this week.
"Beating Wheeling Central was a big game and we looked at is as a big game, but we've always had the state championship in the back of our minds. I think it's been pretty easy to refocus.
"We take it seriously during the week. We look at it as being 0-0 and we want to go 1-0 each week. And, we'll do our best to go 1-0 again this weekend.
"In practice it is repetition after repetition and that makes it a lot easier for us in games that when we get into situations and coach calls a play we know exactly what to do and exactly how to execute."
Madonna has executed well all season.
It is scoring almost 41 points a game and giving up a touch more than two points an outing.
The playoffs did not start great for the Blue Dons. After taking a 6-0 lead against No. 16 Gilbert in the opening round, the visitors came right down the field to make it 6-6.
"It was the first round of the playoffs and, I hate to say this, but we almost figured that all we had to do was show up and it was in the bag," senior Lou Comis admitted. "But, after they scored on us - and coach Kramer said all week that they had moved the ball on everyone they played - I couldn't believe it.
"We were getting pushed back and we played pretty badly in the first half of that game. After that we shut them down and that carried over to Tucker County (a 48-0 win) and carried over to Wheeling Central.
"I think it (the start against Gilbert) helped a lot. It put everything into perspective. They were in the playoffs for a reason. No team is perfect and you're young to get scored on. But, we bounced back with a shutout and then held Wheeling Central to seven. They have a tough offense and I realize they scored on us, but they really didn't drive the ball on us.
"Coach (Jon) Kendrick told me before the playoffs started that if we had to play Wheeling Central in the semifinals it was going to be tough because of the emotions that come with that game, to get back up for the state championship game if we beat Wheeling Central.
"He was right. It has been hard, but, we know it's one more game.
"We know beating Wheeling Central was not the state championship game. We know it was a very big win for us, we hadn't done it since 1987.
"I can assure you we are focusing on Man and the state championship game."
