Sports
Eastern, S. Gallia Look To Get Above .500
By: Sara Vallone
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While they may not be the top two teams in the TVC-Hocking so far, the Eastern Eagles and the South Gallia Rebels should make for an exciting week 5 matchup.
Both Eastern and South Gallia come into Friday’s game with 2-2 records. Eastern is ranked fourth in the TVC-Hocking standings with a 2-1 conference record. South Gallia has a 1-2 conference record and is tied for fifth with Federal Hocking.
It could be argued that Eastern has had it easy so far in conference play, only having seen one of the top three Hocking teams. Eastern fell to Wahama at home in week 3, 54-0. South Gallia, on the other hand, has faced both undefeated Southern and unscathed Trimble, in weeks 2 and 3, respectively.
What could be key for Eastern in the matchup on Friday is the fact that they have two capable quarterbacks on the roster: senior Chase Cook and junior Dylan Bresciani.
“They both have a different style,” said Eastern head coach Doug Bresciani. “One [quarterback] is a better runner, the other is a better passer, so that advantage works out in different situations and against different teams.”
Both Cook and Bresciani contributed in Eastern’s latest win – a 28-0 triumph versus Waterford in week 4 – proving they can get both get the offense down field and into the end zone. The Wildcats also have confidence in senior running back Zach Scowden, who gathered 92 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s competition.
However, South Gallia also has two reliable quarterbacks on its roster.
The Rebels should have some confidence in themselves so far this season, having already matched their 2012 win total through just four games.
Senior running back Ethan Spurlock will be on Eastern’s radar going into Friday night’s competition. Especially since Spurlock and fellow running back Jacob White are key parts in South Gallia’s spread offense. Slowing down the Rebels will be a huge test for Eastern’s defense.
Bresciani said practicing against its own offense will help the Eagles’ defense prepare for Friday.
“We are playing our own kind of team,” Bresciani said. “We have a quarterback that scrambles, so do they. It’s an offensive style that we know.
Since both teams run spread offenses, a lot of pressure rides on the offensive lines. Friday’s game will come down to which offensive line executes the best and which defense is prepared to slow things down.
Eastern and South Gallia will kick off in Crown City at 7:30 p.m. Friday.