Run-happy St. John's meets Leipsic's balance

It’s the battle of league champions.

Midwest Athletic Conference Delphos St. John’s (11-0) will meet Leipsic (10-1), the champion of the Blanchard Valley Conference, in the Division VI football regional semifinals at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lima Stadium.

And while the Blue Jays like to keep the ball on the ground, Leipsic will mix it up.

The Vikings roll out a balanced attack with 6-foot-6 quarterback Liam Nadler pulling the trigger on the passing game. The junior has thrown for 1,355 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s thrown eight interceptions.

On the ground is 6-foot, 175-pound Derrick Schroeder, who has run for more than 700 yards and eight touchdowns. The team’s top receiver is Jay Maag (36 receptions, 593 yards, eight touchdowns).

“One of our main concerns is their balance,” St. John’s coach Todd Schulte said. “With the run-pass balance, it forces you to play more assignment-type defense. … If you key on the run, they’ll hurt you with the pass.”

In last week’s 34-16 victory over Fremont St. Joseph, Nadler threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a TD.

Leipsic went 6-4 last year and returned 16 starters from a year ago. The Vikings started the year by losing to Patrick Henry, 45-14. Leipsic hasn’t lost since then.

“Some of the things they (Leipsic) do are like St. Henry,” Schulte said. “But St. Henry was more of a spread. And the next thing you now, Leipsic is running the ball.”

Defending Division VI state champion St. John’s had the playoff machine in high gear Saturday in its 56-0 victory over Arlington. The Blue Jays ran the toss sweep and option for 393 yards. Jordan Leininger ran for 150 yards on 18 carries. Wes Ulm ran the option for 134 yards on eight carries.

In the air, Ulm completed 4 of 6 for 109 yards and had a 63-yard TD pass.

“They’re both great football players,” Leipsic coach Joe Kirkendall said. “We have to be fundamentally sound. Everyone has to assignment oriented, and we have to get as many hats to the ball as possible.”

Up front, the Blue Jays have three first team all-Midwest Athletic Conference players in center Alex Recker, guard Joey Grubenhoff and tackle Austin Vogt.

For the year, Leininger leads the team in rushing with 1,205 yards and 26 touchdowns. Ulm has run for 763 yards and eight TDs. Ulm has thrown for 959 yards and 10 TDs.

Defensively, the Blue Jays are led by MAC defensive player of the year, linebacker Chris Polhman. He has 94 tackles, while his brother, Joel Pohlman has 90 tackles. Linebacker Dylan Dancer has 76 tackles.

Schulte felt that besides field position, turnovers are huge this time of year.

“One can cost a ballgame,” he said.

While the Blue Jays are making their 12th playoff appearance and have five state titles, this is Leipsic’s second playoff appearance. The Vikings’ only other appearance came in 1994. In ’94, under coach Jeff Mauk, Leipsic knocked off Hardin Northern (20-0), then lost to Delphos St. John’s (31-14) in the second round.

“With us, these kids have never been here. It’s been 15 years since our school made the playoffs,” Kirkendall said. “For us, anyone we play in the second round means a lot.”