One thing was evident as the Northern Lehigh football team was sitting down watching game film of its opponent in the District 11 Class 2A semifinals.

So much so, that Bulldogs’ coach Joe Tout had to say it twice.

“A lot of team speed,” said Tout on what jumped out at him about the Miners. “A lot of team speed.”

The Battlin’ Miners, the No. 4 seed, will bring a different offensive approach than the Bulldogs have seen over the last couple of weeks.

In the meantime, the No. 1 seeded Bulldogs have taken the steps to prepare for this Saturday’s matchup with a squad that averages 27.1 points per game.

The Battlin’ Miners do most of their damage through the air.

“It’s going to be a little bit different if you look at them offensively, they’re heavy passing yards,” Tout said. “Ton of passing yards. They’re a team that is not going to be under center at all. You don’t see them use a fullback.

“So, it’s going to be a ton of two-by-two, a lot of empty sets. So, they’re definitely a pass-first offense.”

Senior quarterback John Adams has compiled outstanding numbers, throwing for 2,389 yards and 25 touchdowns.

“We have seen it before though,” said Tout, who’s Bulldogs have allowed 1,071 yards through the air. “We’ve seen the spread sets. So, it’s nothing we’re not accustomed to, but their quarterback does a nice job. He keeps plays alive. The films we have seen of them, the teams that pressure, he does a nice job of kind of rolling out, and keeps plays alive.”

Adams has connected with seven different Battlin’ Miner receivers on the year, but Jason Cullen has been his favorite target. Cullen has 27 receptions for 784 yards and nine touchdowns in this, his senior season.

“Our challenge is going to be defensively, kind of just repping a scramble drill because their wide receivers do a nice job of breaking off routes if he scrambles,” Tout said. “Number 25 (Cullen), I believe he’s the school’s all-time leading receiver in yardage and receptions. So, they have some nice players.”

Tout has drilled that point home this week at practice. But the veteran coach has the utmost faith in his NL defensive unit to step up and stop the Battlin’ Miners, who have scored 40-plus points three times this season.

“We’re stressing to our kids to have the attitude that now that you’re in the playoffs, now you’re playing for a championship,” Tout said. “We told our kids we need to continue to do what we did last week defensively … that’s what we need.

“I think our kids understand that. Last week. we had a very good week of practice, and that carried over into the game against Palmerton. That’s exactly what we need to happen this week as well.”

As a reward for their successful season and top seed, the Bulldogs get an added benefit.

“Getting one of those top two seeds is important,” Toutsaid. “The difference between a No. 1 and No. 2 seed isn’t as critical because the championship game, if you get there, is on a neutral field. But it’s a nice advantage to get a home game. We want to be at home.

“Minersville probably has an hour or an hour-and-fifteen- (minute) ride. You ask any coach, would you prefer be at home or prefer to have that drive? It’s definitely a nice advantage to be home”