The formula for trying to slow down the Buhach Colony Fly offense hasn't changed during Kevin Swartwood's tenure.
Teams stuff the box with defenders, daring the Thunder to beat them through the air.
It's not that Buhach can't pass, Swartwood and his staff just like to bide their time.
If the opposing safety makes the mistake of creeping a little too far forward, the Thunder are all too happy to take a shot.
"The preparation is the same as a guy who throws it 40 times a game, but there's probably a little more pressure for guys like me," said senior quarterback Nick Datray. "I only get so many shots in the game, and when we pass, we're usually going for the big play."
So far, Datray has been up to the challenge. He's completed 38 of his 70 pass attempts for the season for 844 yards and 10 touchdowns. That's good for an average of more than 22 yards per completion and a touchdown every seven attempts.
His numbers might have been even better, if not for a lack of necessity.
Buhach wasn't really pushed in its first five games, outscoring its nonconference foes 226-36.
Datray's workload, like the stakes, increased once Central California Conference play started.
He went 7 of 8 for 164 yards and a touchdown to open league with a win over Turlock. Datray's just kept firing from there, including a 45-yard TD throw to ice the Thunder's win over Merced.
"That's kind of been the plan," Swartwood said. "Obviously, we're a running team, but once we start to get the defense sucked up to try and stop the run, we'll let Nick go over the top.
"You look at his game against Turlock, the second half against Merced and last week against Atwater, and Nick's answered the challenge every time we've called on him."
Datray had a season-high 14 attempts and two TDs in a 28-21 win over Atwater last week in the Bloss Bowl.
"I know I'm going to get my chances in a game," Datray said. "It's up to me to trust in my line, stay calm and take advantage of them when I get my shot."
Datray may get a number of those opportunities tonight as the top-seeded Thunder open the Sac-Joaquin Division 2 playoffs against a Lodi (5-5) squad it ran roughshod over back in Week 4.
Led by Kevin Kelleher's 136 yards, BC pounded out 403 rushing yards.
"We did a good job running the ball that game and we stopped their run," Swartwood said. "What really stood out to me was they were a scrappy, tough team that really played their hearts out.
"I'm sure they're going to do different things to try and slow down our run, and that's where Nick is going to come in."
Lodi enters the playoffs having won four of its last five games to finish second in the San Joaquin Athletic Association. The Flames are led by 1,000-yard back Josh Mastro.
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