Sports
Three-Point Stance: South Gallia Builds on Late Success
By: Kaleb Carter
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Editor’s Note: Three-Point Stance is Gridiron Glory’s written preview series leading up to its 15th season on WOUB. Gridiron is visiting training camps for all 32 teams in the coverage area as they prepare for the 2013 football season. The series continues in the TVC-Hocking, where eight teams look to dethrone a defending state champ.
The South Gallia Rebels’ 2012 season saw them lose their first eight games but finish strong with two wins, a possible sign of things to come in Crown City.
Here are three things to know about the 2013 South Gallia Rebels
1. Carrying Momentum Over on Offense
In Week 9 of the 2012 season, an 0-8 Rebels squad won its final conference game against Waterford, 20-14. A week later, Ethan Spurlock ran for 196 yards on 21 carries to propel the Rebels to a 34-14 win over Manchester in their final game of the season. Spurlock went on to earn All-TVC-Hocking recognition. South Gallia looks to replicate the success it had in its last two contests and play that type of ball in the upcoming season. If it can do so, it could greatly improve upon the 13.6 points per game it recorded a year ago.
Coach Jason Peck’s squad will continue to pound the football between the tackles and around the end. Senior right guard Mikey Wheeler, who plays a big role as a leader on the offensive line, will open up holes for returning runners Spurlock and Jacob White.
2. Picking it Up on Defense
Even after jumping from 19 players to 30, the Rebels will play multiple players on both sides of the ball, with several talented players starting on the defense. The Rebels do in fact need to find a way to retain the effort they gave in the last two weeks a year ago. The defense turned it its two best performances of the season, giving up just 14 points both weeks. Before those games, the Rebels had surrendered on average 44.4 points per game. Peck hopes to get the defense turned around to showcase more efforts like the last two.
3. Hard Work Pays Off
Peck talked about how excited he was for the players and the offseason habits that they’ve brought into the new season.
“(We have) 15 kids benching now 200 pounds at least, and seven over 260,” he said. “All kinds of strong squatters and deadlifters. Everyone is faster. That’s our strength and what we put our bread and butter on.”
White, a leader in the weight room who earned a spot on the all-TVC-Hocking team last year as a Linebacker and fullback, exemplifies this increased strength with the work he has put in, as he is far and away one of strongest players on the team. It is this attitude and dedication that could propel the team forward in the TVC-Hocking.
South Gallia kicks off the 2013 season at East High School on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Follow @gridironglory on Twitter and Instagram and Like the Gridiron Glory Facebook page for continued coverage throughout the preseason. Gridiron Glory returns Friday, Aug. 23 at 11:30 p.m. on WOUB.