Quarterback

No longer a weakness for the Lions, quarterbacks Tevin Robinson and Colton Korn have excelled at giving Daniel a balanced attack offensively. They have thrown for a combined 1,282 yards and 12 touchdowns and have become a true weapon. Despite a bad outing earlier in the season against Belton-Honea Path, it is almost a given that they both will play consistently. Berea quarterback Zach Reeves has thrown the ball fairly regularly, but with up and down results. His five touchdowns are certainly a positive, but his five interceptions aren’t. He splits time with Daron Dickey, who is more of a running threat, but has thrown a touchdown against three interceptions.

Advantage: Daniel

Running backs

With Brandon Anderson returning from injury this week to join C.J. Davidson, Daniel will have one of the best rushing attacks around. Davidson, who ran for 180 yards on only seven carries last week against Pickens, can continue to push the ball outside the tackles and use his speed to avoid the defense. Anderson, on the other hand, figures to be fresh after missing the last four weeks. Being of an inside rusher, he gives the Lions the option of using an inside/outside platoon, with both potentially being deadly. Berea wants to do the same thing with Eddie Williams, a speed back on the outside, and Davion Gambrell, a powerful inside runner.

Advantage: Daniel

Wide receivers

The best two receivers in the area this year belong to Daniel in DeAndre Hopkins and Antonio Cannon. They have not been contained at any point this season, and have combined for nine touchdowns and nearly 1,000 yards. That production doesn’t even include Marquez McDowell, who caught a touchdown last week and has 218 yards on the season. Berea throws to its backs often, but Dickey is a playmaker on the outside. With more than 300 yards and three touchdowns on the season, he is undoubtedly Berea’s top option. Reggie Leamon will also be targeted, and he had a touchdown and more than 100 yards in the regular season.

Advantage: Daniel

Offensive line

Both teams are built well up front, but Daniel has shown that its offensive line allows the Lions to be capable of anything offensively. The Lions have been able to throw and run the ball almost at will, and do so regardless of the situation. They are averaging 347.1 yards per game on offense, none of which happens without strong protection. Cody Thurlow and Matt Craig have been the strongest performers, creating huge voids on the left side. Berea’s line has been tremendous at opening holes for Williams and Gambrell, especially given the fact that defenses have been keying on the run. But, the Lions get the edge based on all-around play.

Advantage: Daniel

Run defense

Facing opponents who run the ball much more often than they throw, Daniel has limited teams to just 73.3 yards per game on the ground. Deshaun Williams and Duvon Young are on the line, and they helped to hold Pickens to less than two yards per carry last week. While that stat seems like an aberration, it is actually very similar to the norm for the Lions’ front seven. Berea doesn’t have a poor run defense, but when it has lost, it has usually occurred due to being beat regularly on the ground. Against most teams Berea would get the edge, but Daniel’s numbers don’t lie.

Advantage: Daniel

Pass defense

One of the most obvious reasons that opponents run more than they throw against the Lions is the presence of Hopkins in the secondary. Hopkins, who was recently named to the Shrine Bowl, has been a lockdown corner all season, making him one of the state’s top performers. He has taken two of his six interceptions back for touchdowns on the season. Dee Bradley, who has contributed two interceptions of his own, has helped tighten the whole unit up, and his presence along with Hopkins,’ are the biggest reasons that Daniel has held opponents to a paltry 56.2 yards per game through the air, to go along with 17 total team interceptions.

Advantage: Daniel

Special teams

Hopkins by himself is enough to scare people in the return game. He has taken one kickoff back for a touchdown, and has also taken two punts the distance. If that wasn’t enough to make teams shake in their collective boots, last week the Lions found a new weapon on special teams. McDowell showed Daniel’s depth with a 50-yard touchdown return on a punt, giving teams no options when trying to punt away from the playmakers. David Gammon has had little trouble putting the ball through the uprights on Daniel’s extra points, which is everything the Lions have asked for.

Advantage: Daniel

— Kevin Pomeroy