IMO EB was the ultimate sleeper team this year. Nobody saw them coming. When a poll says 95% favored Newton to win that is telling. EB coaches had an excellent game plan, and their kids played it to perfection. Most of the homers were saying how smart and hardworking they were, and that proved to be right. It would not surprise me that the coaching staff had been working on a game plan for Newton all year it was pretty obvious Newton was the team to beat. Knowledgeable people have said what really hurt Newton was the EB linemen were not taking the bait on pulling guards and tackles. They. Held their positions, made the play thus hampering Newtons running game. (An over simplification)
By the second half Newton coaches figured it out and began to make adjustments. I've said before, EB had the strangest offensive scheme I have ever seen, and keep in mind it was all new to Newton. The perfect storm you might say.
After all is said and done, Newtons offense came through in the end. Those kids made a final game winning drive that proves what a Silsbee player said of this team in their game. "We held them for 2 quarters, but they just kept coming at us". But I will tell you, I am worried that this team has been hurt in the area where Canadian is the strongest, without Brown.
However I have said all along, the championship is theirs to win , it all depends on how bad they want it. It is up to them.