|
Friday, 05 October 2007 |
By JOSHUA KEERAN
Sports Editor
WAYNESFIELD — Despite claiming a share of the Northwest Central Conference title last season, the Waynesfield-Goshen varsity football team fell short of finishing in the top eight of the region and thus was denied a trip to the playoffs.
After another lopsided victory last week, the Tigers appear to be on a path to not only claim the NWCC crown outright, but also to qualify for the postseason.
With four games left in the season, the Tigers are tied for first in the league with Fairbanks and are currently seventh in the Division VI, Region 24 computer rankings with 5.600 points. W-G sits just .033 points behind Mechanicsburg for the sixth spot.
If the season were to end today, the Tigers would travel to Lockland to face the Panthers.
Before W-G can even think about the playoffs, they have to take care of the NWCC title first. To have any shot at playing past week 10, the Tigers must win out, which includes a date in Fairbanks against the Panthers on the last Friday of the regular season.
“That’s exciting (being seventh in region), but we try not to speak about it this early,” Spencer said. “We got to take care of what’s at hand first, which is beating USV.” Today, the Tigers (5-1, 3-0) welcome to town the Upper Scioto Valley Rams (2-4, 2-2).
USV opened the season with three consecutive losses to Danbury (20-19), Hicksville (47-0) and Perry (46-0). The Rams then went on a two-game winning streak as they defeated Ridgemont (19-0) and Marion Catholic (45-21). Last week, USV ran into Fairbanks, which handed the Rams a 42-9 defeat.
“USV is a young team. When you look at their scores, they are just getting better each week,” Spencer said. “They are a well-coached team, and they are on their way to having a pretty good program in the future.”
Leading the way for the Rams in 2007 has been sophomore quarterback Phys Rose, who has completed 76-of-164 throws for 717 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions. He is also second on the team in rushing with 226 yards on 70 carries and two scores.
Also contributing to the USV offense this season has been senior running back Chandler Smith, who has carried the ball 45 times for 279 yards and five touchdowns.
He also has 25 receptions for 193 yards and a score.
“Both are tremendous athletes that have been carrying the team,” Spencer said.
USV’s leading receiver through six games is senior Nic Dyer, who has hauled in 22 receptions for 226 yards and two scores. Dyer leads the defense with 38 total tackles (29 solo).
This week in practice, Spencer said the coaches have been preparing for the Rams by preaching the fact the Tigers have to stay away from the miscues.
“We just need to keep doing what we are doing, and we need to get better each week,” he said. “We need to make sure we hold on to the football and eliminate turnovers and penalties.”
In last week’s 54-6 stomping of Yellow Springs, the Tigers showed they can win even when senior running back Blake Knowlton isn’t handed the ball each and every play as W-G featured more of a balanced rushing attack.
Of the 48 rushing attempts a week ago, 11 different guys lugged the rock for a combined total of 214 yards.
Knowlton, who has 1,255 yards and 14 touchdowns in 156 attempts this year, rushed 17 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns. W-G’s leading rusher in the game was actually Jake Spencer, who carried eight times for 73 yards and two scores.
“It’s a matter of getting people healthy which is the case with Jake Spencer. We are starting to get the ball to him more,” Spencer said. “He will see more action this week. When you are healthy, it gives you more of an opportunity to balance out your offense.”
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 05 October 2007 )
|
