"They're a top-quality team, and it's going to be a tough game for us," Seymour coach David Fambrough said. "They've been there before, but I know our kids will be ready to play when we take the field."
Neither team is short on offensive firepower, starting at quarterback.
Seymour's Hayden Holub has made the most of his senior year, combining for 3,500 yards of total offense and 41 touchdowns. Three other seniors -- receivers Zack Hardin and Callan Coltharp and tailback Ross Peters -- will play big roles in the Panthers' offensive game plan today.
"They're a good football team," Alto coach Keith Gardner said. "They have good athletes, they play hard and they are well-coached."
Alto's Tarlandus Mitchell directs an offense which averages 46 points and 452 yards per game. The senior quarterback has more than 1,000 rushing yards and has thrown for 1,606 yards and 17 touchdowns with only five interceptions.
But Fambrough added that all the guys that touch the ball for the Yellowjackets are great athletes, so the Panthers must also watch out for tailback Marcuse Gasaway, receiver Brandon Thacker and tight end Kevin Blackmore.
In cruising to playoff victories over Valley View, Valley Mills and Sunray, the Panthers have followed the same formula.
Seymour hasn't turned the ball over much (only twice in the three wins), while leaning heavily on Holub (638 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in the postseason).
"We have a real smart quarterback, and we try to be real careful with what we do," Fambrough said. "We definitely don't want to give anybody an extra chance to get a touchdown."
Defensively, the Panthers have forced at least two turnovers in every postseason game and haven't given up any big plays for touchdowns.
"We try to keep from giving up too many big plays," said Peters, the team's leading tackler. "We like to bend and don't break, and that's how we've been playing defense all year."
As the team's linebackers, Peters, Jared Guerrero and Josh Sosolik will have plenty of chances to make plays today, while defensive linemen Blake Slaggle and Landon Studer headline an aggressive front.
Alto's 5-2 defense had created tons of disruptions as well. The Yellowjackets have blanked seven teams this year and are allowing only six points a contest.
Linebackers Lance Low and Clayton Scott lead a unit that has only once given up more than 13 points in a game.
"They have a lot of great athletes on the field," Fambrough said. "Neither one of us can afford to make any mistakes, but that's always going to be the case when you get to this level."