Learning from Champions Series - Throw it or Run it to Win?
Dec 09, 2021 2:01 am
Coach ,
As we continue our Learning from Champions Series we move our focus to Kansas, where two coaches who presented at our KFBCA Clinic won the title.
Which works best? Throw it to Run it, or Run it to Throw it?
The answer is YES! They both work as proved by our featured coaches today.
Head Coach Tom Radke led the St. James Academy Thunder to the 4A title with a win over Central HS. The Thunder have won back-to-back championships. In 2020 Radke was named the Chiefs Eric Driskell Coach of the Year for the 2020 high school football season in the Kansas City area.
This all started with an unwavering approach to establishing who they are as a program. Coach Radke explains how they did it in their 1st state championship here (click image for video):
The Air Raid is engrained within their program. For OC Matt Joshi, it starts with their Stick concept. He explains why they emphasized the Stick as well as how they tech it here (click image for video):
At the 2A level, Rossville defeated Beloit. Head Coach Derrick Hammes loves establishing the run game. The gap scheme is one you will find often on their call sheet. Here he explains why they utilize gap scheme (click image for video):
“OL Fundamentals - Gap Schemes”
This is a concept worth exploring for multiple reasons as Coach Hammes points out, and especially if you have undersized offensive linemen.
So much goes into winning a championship. The culture, the schemes, the off-season, and most importantly the coaching. That’s what shined through in these clinic talks from Coach Radke and Coach Hammes - the attention to detail that goes into their programs.
Here are the other state champions from Kansas:
Class 8-Player DI - Mead Buffaloes, Head Coach Bryan Luetters
Class 8-Player DII - Axtell Eagles, Head Coach Eric Detwiler
1A Olpe Eagles, Head Coach Chris Schmidt
3A Andale Indians, Head Coach Dylan Schmidt
5A Mill Valley Jaguars, Head Coach Joel Applebee
6A Blue Valley North Mustangs, Head Coach Adam Pummill
Congratulations to all of the state champions from Kansas and best of luck as you reload for 2022.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski