A multiple-formation offense can be hard to defend.

With players lining up at different positions, it's easy to disguise plays. A pass can look like a run and, on a run, it can be hard to tell who is carrying the ball. For those reasons, Mike O'Brien likes what his team does at Woodstock.

But for those same reasons, the veteran coach's defense will have a challenge ahead as the Region 5AAAAA runner-up Wolverines (9-1) host Dacula (7-3), the third seed from 8AAAAA, in the first round of the state playoffs Friday at 7:30 p.m.

"They sort of remind me of us," said O'Brien of the Falcons. "They run multiple formations and do a lot of different things on offense. They do a lot of different things on defense. They are a sound, well-coached football team. And they are very physical."

While it's true that both teams use a variety of offensive weapons, Woodstock sticks with one quarterback - Kevin Bolak - while Dacula alternates between Anderson Agudelo and Rocky Capaianco. The Falcons' duo split time equally, though Agudelo does the bulk of the passing. Both players are capable runners, accounting for touchdown runs in excess of 30 yards over the past two weeks.

Where Woodstock looks primarily to running backs Tanner Skogen and Carlos Davis, Dacula looks to Aashad Holloway, Darien Lane and Kinard Thomas.

In the Falcons' final two regular-season games against Berkmar and Meadowcreek - which went a combined 1-19 on the season - Lane and Holloway each ran for two touchdowns, while Agudelo ran for a score and passed for one.

"We know that we have to play each down as hard as we can," O'Brien said. "You don't get in the playoffs, especially in Region 8(AAAAA) without being a good football team."

Where Woodstock and Dacula diverge is in their kicking unit.

Woodstock's Jonathan Weiner has been practically automatic on extra points and field goals.

Meanwhile, the Falcons' kicker, Chase Loyd, has struggled. In Dacula's last two games, Loyd was a combined 2-for-4 on extra points and missed a 29-yard field goal.

If O'Brien feels his team has one asset at the end of the season, it's depth. At least a dozen players on the roster have scored touchdowns. The Wolverines have consistently used four running backs and five receivers. In addition to Bolak, underclassman Michael Weiner has also seen time behind center.

"We think we've gotten a lot of kids ready to play," O'Brien said. "We feel comfortable with the ones that we are going to use and the ones we can put in if we need to use them."

As the each week of the season passed, the Wolverines' offense evolved from run-heavy to balanced. O'Brien saw that as a necessity.

"Teams are not going to let you do what you are the best at," he said.

In other words, running teams will be forced to pass more and passing teams will have to move the ball on the ground. In the playoffs, the key is to be able to do both well. In other words, O'Brien is turning to his secondary weapons.

"We told the kids (Monday), there are only 32 AAAAA schools that are practicing (now)," O'Brien said. "Realistically, the difference between a No. 1 (seed) and a No. 4 is very minute. It doesn't matter. Everybody can beat everybody, so you have to play hard on every snap."

Woodstock knows that the favored team is hardly a lock. The fourth-seeded Wolverines upset top-seeded Walton last year on their way to the state quarterfinals.

O'Brien added that he is anxious to see what the weather will bring this week as rain is in the forecast. Moving practice indoors would set the Wolverines back, but could do even more to harm playing conditions.

"Our field is still soaked from the rain last week," he said.