Sports
Game of the Week: Warren Welcomes Athens
< < Back to game-week-warren-welcomes-athensIt’s about that time again, time for another Gridiron Glory Game of the Week. This week has all of the makings of an exciting high school football matchup as the red-hot Athens Bulldogs (2-0) make their way to Vincent, Ohio, to face the Warren Warriors (1-1).
Both teams are coming off of wins. Athens pummeled Watkins Memorial in week two, 53-3, and Warren earned a hard-fought victory against Marietta, 20-13. So both teams are looking to keep their winning ways alive.
Warren has the tough task of trying to contain Joe Burrow and the high-powered offense of Athens.
“I don't think stopping them is possible,” said Warren coach Andy Schob. “We know how good they are, we know they are the best team in this part of Ohio. We just have to worry about us and play as fundamental football as we can and as good as they are we have to play assignment football.”
Trying to replicate the type of offense Athens runs is no easy assignment, either.
“They're hard to simulate, on offense,” Schob said. “Obviously, we’re doing a lot of 7-on-7 to work on their passing. We also have to be ready for their run game with Burrow and Williams, too. It's hard to try to simulate as much as possible with our scout group of what they try to do.”
As Warren is preparing to contain the Bulldogs’ explosive offense, coach Ryan Adams of Athens realizes that the Warriors are no walk-in-the-park.
“(Warren) has some versatility on the defensive side,” Adams said. “They throw a lot of different offensive formations at you, and they try to get you on your heels.”
Adams plans on taking Warren out of the game early by setting the tempo of the game and getting off to a quick start.
“I think that more than anything we need to get off on our best foot,” Adams said. “The longer you allow a team to hang with you, the longer you allow a team to play with you, the more confidence they get and the more it wears on your own guys.”
To say this game will be thrilling is an understatement. Both teams are trying to prove themselves. Athens wants to continue to be considered an elite team in the state of Ohio, while Warren is making a push to the top of the SEOAL.
Kickoff for Friday’s Game of the Week is at 7:30 p.m.