Questions:VERONA AREA H. S.

5 Rob Hernandez of the Wisconsin State Journal offers some insight into Verona, the undefeated opponent visiting Arrowhead for Level 2 of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs Friday. Q It appears Tyler Parker (1, 152 yards rushing, team-leading 253 yards receiving, 27 touchdowns) is the team's catalyst. What makes him so special, and why is he so tough to stop? A Actually, Parker is part of a 1-2 punch with tailback Dom Wise. Parker gets the tough yards as a decent-sized fullback, but is fast enough to outrun the second and third line of defenses. The two of them working together behind a good line that is fundamentally sound in blocking for the wing-T offense makes Parker and Wise tough to stop. Q It sounds like the Level 1 game against Watertown (a 49-35 win) represented a legitimate scare for the top seed. What was Verona able to do to pull out the victory, and why was it so tenuous in the first place? A Watertown's spread offense had the best athletes to run it of any spread team Verona has faced this year (Madison Memorial and Janesville Craig were the two other teams I saw run it against them). Like most spread offenses at the high school level, however, Watertown's made two or three game-changing mistakes at critical times in that game, allowing Verona the opone portunities to capitalize and win the game. Watertown did do a good job in forcing Verona to throw the football by stopping the run. In the end, however, the breakdown in the Goslings defense came at cornerback/ outside linebacker, and they were not able to cover Parker catching passes out of the backfield. Q Verona has run into Arrowhead before in the playoffs, and last year saw conference foe Waukesha West in the postseason. How is this year's team different from the last two that went down to Classic Eight opponents in the playoffs? A This year's team is different from the others that Classic Eight teams have faced in that Verona was the undefeated Big Eight Conference champion this year, the first time there has been one of those since 2006 (Janesville Parker). I see this game as a referendum on how good the Big Eight was up top this year and whether Verona rolling up points against every team in the conference sets them apart from the Big Eight's recent best teams. Remember, the Big Eight hasn't sent a Division 1 team to Camp Randall since 1995 (when Sun Prairie won it). Verona went as a first-year Big Eight member in 2008, but did so in Division 2. This is Verona coach Dave Richardson's 12th season, and they've won seven conference titles. When they reached the state semifinals in 2007 and lost to Arrowhead, that was the first time of his teams had advanced that far, and it was seen as a huge step in the program. Verona is probably looking at this game as another measuring stick because this team has the talent, athleticism and attitude to compete with any team in the state. Q Who are some other names to know on both sides of the ball? A KB (Kaleb) Lawrence is another back who can make a difference and, of course, quarterback Jake Hauser will need to manage a good game and avoid the big mistake. Defensively, you'll probably hear the names of DL Ben Watters, LB Luke Yapp and DB Zack Borelli called quite a bit. Q Care to venture a prediction? A I predicted Arrowhead to go to all the way and beat another Verona nemesis (Kimberly) in the state finals. The University of Arrowhead at Merton has emulated a college program for many, many years and, much like a college football power, this high school football giant has gone from being in the conversation for the state championship every year to getting it done on the football field by playing the best football of any team in the state during late October and November. That said, I've got four children of my own who call the Verona Area School District home and would love nothing more than to have their old man proven wrong. Copyright 2011 Journal Sentinel, All Rights Reserved.