The rematch of NA’s closest game this year will occur at Newman Stadium tonight. Seneca Valley, a hungry team that has been said to be on their revenge tour, comes to NA’s house. So, after defeating Central Catholic last week in a thrilling fourth quarter comeback, 15-14, they are looking up to knock off undefeated NA. Last time these two teams played, it was a slick battle in the rain with 10 turnovers between the two as NA won, 10-6.

In other words, this very well might be the toughest test that NA faces in the WPIAL playoffs, Pine-Richland included. This won’t be a normal game — it will a bruising battle on both sides.

Thus, here are five keys for NA to walk out victorious against Seneca Valley.

1. Stop Jake Mineweaser at all costs.

To put it bluntly, Seneca Valley doesn’t have much of an offense. However, what they do have is a Running Back that literally carries them on their back. This team would be nowhere, even with their amazing defense, without Mineweaser.

Although the defense has forced the most turnovers in the state, the Seneca offense is right up there among the most turnover heavy offenses in the state. Their turnover differential is only +4 with the best defense (total defense) in the state.

That is why Mineweaser is so key to them. He has over 1000 rushing yards and 8 TDs and that means he accounts for just about their entire offense. Outside of him and receiver Jake Stebbins, this Blue Raider offense is rather unproductive.

Clamp down on the guy who literally carried Seneca Valley back to win the game with over 100 yards and a touchdown in the second half of the Central game and you can expect to come out with a win.

So, again like many of the other NA games with great Running Backs on the opposing team, that Caputo, Augustin, Hoke trio are going to be key to stopping him. No RB has bested that trio this year, not even Luke Meckler of Pine Richland.

It is also key to note that the last time they played NA, Mineweaser only had 63 rushing yards.

2. Also, stop Jake Stebbins at all costs

The QB situation at Seneca Valley isn’t great. Junior Gabe Lawson is athletic and does most of his work on the ground, but does not even have over 1000 yards passing this year.

His 6 TDs to 12 INTs are a daunting ratio, and he also leads the team with 9 fumbles. Yes, he does have 6 rushing TDs as well, but the point is that he has not exactly been a world beater this at QB.

However, despite all that, 5 of his TDs have gone to Jake Stebbins, who despite the mediocre QB play, has over 600 yards receiving, 50 receptions, and those 5 TDs.

Combined with Mineweaser, these two guys are the main hopes of this Seneca Valley offense. There is just not much playmaking ability outside of these two.

So, Joey Porter Jr. will be the man for the job. There has yet to be a receiver who has truly given JPJ a huge test, but Stebbins did actually get 4 receptions for 56 yards last time they faced off, which was the most against Porter Jr. all season. So, in the snow, it will be interesting to see if Stebbins can actually get the better of the Porter Jr. at all.

3. BE AGGRESSIVE

I cannot stress this one enough. If you have a 4th and 2 on your own 48, go for it this game. With SV’s trio of linebackers, Conor Hayes, Saige Lev, and Jake Stebbins, it will always be hard to gain many yards. These guys are not only elite run defenders, but elite coverage LBs too.

This is why when you ask why Seneca Valley is the best defense in the state, it cannot come as a surprise. They only allow 10.6 points per game, which is actually the 6th lowest in the entire United States. So, you are facing an incredibly elite defense here.

You must take every opportunity to get points. NA didn’t do this enough last time, but when they did, they got a huge deep pass to Luke Colella and got a TD that won them to the game. Without it, NA would be 9-1.

So, run Ben Maenza up the gut and take deep shots this game. It is your best shot to get points against this Seneca Valley defense. You have to take advantage of every chance you get to capitalize on a weakness they show. That includes all turnovers their offense gives you, too.

4. Get your playmakers in space

The NA playmakers, or explosive players, have been Precise Colon, Ben Maenza, and Joey Porter Jr. If Coach Walker wants to get Corey Melzer and Luke Colella involved in this as well, I am all for it.

But the key reason to do this is to blueprint what Central did last week. They got their quick playmakers into space on screens, pitches, short rub routes, or anything that could get speed in the open field. If there is one weakness of Seneca Valley, it is on the boundary. Their secondary are not fantastic tacklers, and forcing them to tackle your shiftiest guys is a big way to get some yardage going.

They can power run the ball all game if they would like, and it might work, but these LBs are simply too good. You can use it to set up the screens and such, but this is going to be a much different type of game plan that NA will have to employ than they have at any other time this season.

5. Establish a semblance of a running game

Listen, I could be underestimating the NA offensive line, which is very good, but these Seneca Valley LBs just might be that darn good, too. However, in order to win this game, NA will have to establish a running game.

Seneca Valley gives up, on average, 89.2 yards per game on the ground, which is fantastic. The one team that blew the doors off of Seneca Valley was Pine-Richland, and they won because Meckler ran for over 150 yards on the ground and two TDs.

Now, NA won’t need that level of performance from Ben Maenza, although he certainly is capable of it, but they will need a steady enough running game to take time off the clock and drive down the field to at least get into short yardage situations. This NA OL can win up front all day, but these linebackers are so quick it’s tough even for them.

Time of Possession will be key, and getting a field goal might just be good enough, so the running game is huge to drive down the field and keep the Seneca defense on the field and tired.