Romeo Scouting Report.

Written Monday October 28th, at 12:10 AM

Injuries and adversity is something that when the playoffs came, no one expected the Romeo Bulldogs to get a number three seed in the district playoffs.

Romeo is an interesting team this season that has gone through a lot of adversity and injures, especially after a 1-3 start and losing to Chippewa Valley, Macomb Dakota, and Macomb L’Anse Creuse North but have wrote the ship and enter the first round of the playoffs when the Bulldogs will travel to Lake Orion to meet the Dragons on Friday night.

The Bulldogs come in with a 5-4 record and a 3-3 record in the MAC Red runs a spread offense and does feature the quarterback a lot but does like to run power and is also very physical. The common opponent that both Lake Orion and Romeo has played is Troy. The Bulldogs beat the Colts 33-24 in Romeo in week one while the Dragons beat Troy 52-17 at Ford Field in week five.

Romeo has been forced to run a two quarterback system especially when opening starter Senior Zach Rizo was knocked out of the Macomb L’Anse Creuse game with a few weeks ago with a concussion and hasn’t returned since but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he is back for this game. Rizo is a fast quarterback, mobile, and in your face quarterback. He is very similar to Richard Roth, whom was the starting quarterback in 2008 the Bulldogs fell 24-23 to the Dragons in the district finals. Rizo was 13 for 27 for 100 yards and rushed 11 times for 21 yards against Macomb Dakota in a loss earlier in the season. 

The quarterback who has benefited from Rizo’s injury is Sophomore Paul Hurley. Hurley is an accurate passer, can run, and is very athletic. He in replacing Rizo whom was concussed connected on a 29 yard touchdown against Macomb L’Anse Creuse North. Hurley in his first start against Sterling Heights Stevenson in a 27-17 victory at Ford Field was 16 for 22 for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He had a one yard rushing touchdown last week against Utica Eisenhower in a shocking 16-14 loss at Sweinhart Field three weeks ago. Hurley was 15 for 22 for 207 yards and had a passing touchdown against Anchor Bay last week.

Romeo has a stud tight end in Blake Williams. Williams has been a very good pass catcher as a tight end and has gotten offers from several Division One schools. He had a huge game against Sterling Heights Stevenson at Ford Field where he caught a ten yard touchdown pass in that game. Williams also had four catches for 24 yards against Macomb Dakota in a loss. He is a very good tight end and good security blanket for whomever is quarterback.

The Bulldogs also have a few very good running backs themselves in the back field in the form of Mitchell Hess and Lucas Schimon. Hess is an athletic running back, more mobile, and has some athleticism. He had a 60 yard kickoff return against Utica Ford, he had a one yard touchdown run against Utica Eisenhower and a two yard touchdown run against Macomb L’Anse Creuse North. Schimon is a power back but can also do some damage. He had a rushing touchdown against Sterling Heights Stevenson and has done well so far this season.

Romeo’s wide receiving core is a very good one. The Bulldogs have four very good receivers who can catch the football and can run the ball as well especially in the spread set. It doesn’t mean that Romeo can’t run the ball. They certainly can and do that very well. The top two wide receivers have benefited the most since Hurley became the starting quarterback in place of Rizo.

The first wide receiver is Alec Hasner. Hasner is a tall and a very good wide receiver that can run the ball and catches well. He had a 68 yard touchdown pass and catch two weeks ago against Utica Ford and had another touchdown pass. Hasner had six catches for 60 yards last week against Anchor Bay.

The next wide receiver is Mitch Pacitti. Pacitti can play running back as well. He can also return kicks as well. He had a 54 yard catch and run against Utica Ford and returned a 60 yard punt return in the same game. Pacitti had a touchdown on two receptions for 72 yards last week against Anchor Bay and caught a 29 yard touchdown against Macomb L’Anse Creuse North. He had three catches for 24 yards against Macomb Dakota.

The next wide receiver is Adam Davis. Davis is a tall wide receiver, most Dragons know Davis from his days on the basketball court. He is an exceptional receiver who had five catches for 60 yards and a 39 yard touchdown catch last week against Anchor Bay and is a very good number three wide receiver.

Romeo has a very good defense and is led by the brother of Richard Roth, Charlie Roth. Roth is a very solid cornerback who can cover well, very physical, and catch the ball well. He caught two interceptions against Macomb Dakota and has been the Bulldogs best defender all season long. The Bulldogs have Brandon LeBoda, who is also good. LeBoda has had some good games and does have some experience. He is very fast and physical like Roth and is a solid defender in his own right.

Lake Orion is 3-0 against Romeo all time in the playoffs with two wins in 2005, and 2007 at Dan Barnabo Field and in 2008 at Lake Orion.