“I expect a very physical game, they run the ball and we run the ball ... the game could be over by 7,” Glendale college Coach John Rome joked. “With halftime, maybe about 7:15.”
While Rome’s stated preference is to run the ball often, Hancock’s offense takes its dependence on the run to a greater extreme.
With the third-ranked rushing offense (261.6 yards per game) in Southern California leading the way, the Bulldogs (5-2, 2-2 in conference) have thrown just 127 times this season and are ranked in the bottom five teams of the Southern California rankings for passing offense.
The Bulldogs’ running game is led by sophomore Diondre Bryant, who averages 111.6 yards per game and rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday in Hancock’s 40-22 come-from-behind victory over Moorpark College.
By contrast, the Vaqueros (3-4, 1-2), owners of the fifth-best rushing attack (209.9 yards per game), have thrown 187 times and average nearly 50 yards more per game through the air.
“[Both teams] are very similar in philosophy, but we’re a little more West Coast,” Rome said. “We throw the ball and we’re a little bit more formational. They’re very minimal in their offense. They’re gonna stay pretty much in an I-formation with one or two tight ends and they’re gonna run, run, run.
“But they’re very good at what they do.”
Any passing plays that find their way into the Glendale college play book on Saturday will originate from the arm of freshman Stephen Miller.
Miller will make his second start of the season after biding his time as the backup to Dylan E. Martinez for the past six weeks.
