The Rangers may have a chance, albeit slim, against Oaks Christian

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If Nordhoff is going to do the unthinkable and actually upset odds-on favorite Oaks Christian in Saturday’s Northwest Division championship game, well, then, senior running backs Damian Kaiser and Chris Gibson must play major roles. No wait, they must play the games of their lives.

Both appear capable. Kaiser is the workhorse, having gained 1,197 yards and scored 15 touchdowns in 245 carries, a total ranking him among the top 30 in the state, according to MaxPreps.com. He’s coming off his best game of the season, too, finishing with 131 yards and three touchdowns in 25 carries in a 35-21 semifinal victory over St. Bernard.

Gibson is the perfect complement, a change-of-pace back, one who can make a big play from anywhere at anytime. He had a 95-yard run against Pacifica, a 68-yard jaunt against Compton Centennial and a 47-yard scamper against Grace Brethren. All told, he’s picked up 30 or more yards from the line of scrimmage on at least one play in seven of 13 games this season.

Oaks Christian knows plenty about the tandem after holding them to 86 yards rushing in a 42-6 Tri-Valley League victory in early November. Kaiser and Gibson must be more productive this time around or Nordhoff can forget about its chances of pulling off an improbable victory. It’s not going to happen unless these two go above and beyond the call of duty.

-- Sean Ceglinsky, guest blogger