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Blue Springs activities director and former football head coach Tim Crone and I take a look at two teams battling for their first victory in the Suburban Middle Eight as the North Kansas City Hornets travel to Fort Osage Friday TALE OF THE TAPE It Fort Osage’s homecoming and the Indians are looking to forget last week’s 46-7 loss at Belton. The Hornets enter win less, but have had a fairly difficult schedule against Oak Park, Grandview and Winnetonka. Hornets keys to victory Offensively the Hornets lined up in two main sets against Grandview, opening in a standard slot-I forma tion with two receivers to the wide side of the field. Northtown strug gled to run out of this set and when it passed, only two receivers were sent. “They really like to roll the quar terback out when they look to pass the ball,” Crone said. “It looks like out of this set they will keep the backs and tight end in for a max pro tect look. They didn’t have much suc cess out of this look against Grandview.” The other main formation the Hornets used was a spread with four receivers and the quarterback in the shotgun. This appeared to allow Northtown’s athletes to lineup one on one and make plays happen. “I like their spread attack,” Crone said. “Their quar terback seems to be the athlete of the team and this allows him to make plays. It’s kind of like a little Brad Smith thing they are doing like Missouri. They don’t have the hors es to run them, but the spread lets them get their ath letes more out in the open.” The Hornets defense is a basic 4-3 look with the backfield in a zone. They like to start up front and with the linebacker. “The middle linebacker has a ten dency to take himself out of the play,” Crone said. “They are very vulnerable to off-tackle runs. There is not a lot of speed and I think Fort can test their secondary.” North Kansas City’s special teams was a bright spot. The Hornets had several solid returns against Grandview to set themselves up in good field position. Fort Osage will need to contain this. Indians keys to victory The Indians are going to rely on their size up front and the running of tailback Garrett Siemer. Siemer is one of the top running backs in the area and should get a lot of carries out of Fort Osage’s I for mation. The Indians will run the standard I formation with three wide receivers and occasionally modify it with two tight ends and one back. “Their tailback is very good,” Crone said of Siemer. “He does a great job of reading the hole and running the inside traps. I think they can run on North Kansas City.” Once the Indians have established the run the Hornets should be very susceptible to the play-action pass. North Kansas City’s secondary can be passed on and both short and long routes should be effective. “I think Fort Osage runs the ‘I so’ pretty well,” Crone said. “I think they can play-action North Kansas City like they did Baytown and be successful especially on the shorter routes.” Defensively the Indians have a similar look with the 4-3. Fort Osage will throw different looks at North Kansas City and will have to adjust to the different Hornet formations. “Fort likes to walk up a linebacker and make it a 5-2 look occasionally,” Crone said. “Fort is going to make the offense make adjustments based on their different looks.” The key for Fort Osage will be to match up with the spread and try to pressure the quarterback to keep the Hornets from isolating their athletes and making plays on the perimeter and down the field. “North Kansas City is going to have to attack the creases and the seams to be successful,” Crone said. “I think Fort does a good job with what they are trying to do and the definitely finish the game strong which is a good thing.” Next week Crone and I will take a look at Blue Springs South and Columbia Hickman. To reach Dion Clisso, send e-mail to dion.clisso@examiner.net or call 229-9161, ext, 28. CLISSO
Newspaper Details
Independence Examiner
Independence, Missouri, US
Thu, Sep 25, 2003
Page 26
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Clipped by
Christina H.
USA 21 Sep 2026
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