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Falcons, Panthers set to clash for second-straight year
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By David Owen
sports@newstribune.com
WARDSVILLE, Mo. - It's Blair Oaks vs. Centralia Part II. What else could you ask for?
Last year, the Falcons smashed the Panthers 28-6 and went on to win their second Class 2 football title, leaving Centralia's bid for a perfect season in ruins.
Bad taste meet new year.
Payback will be on Centralia's mind when the second-ranked Panthers host the defending state champion Falcons in Class 2 sectional action on Wednesday.
“They're good at every thing they do,” Blair Oaks head coach Brad Drehle said. “They don't have any glaring weaknesses.”
It's no secret the Panthers (10-0) have been a juggernaut this year. Centralia averages 43.2 points per game while only giving up 5.6. On top of that, the Panthers have pitched three shutouts and have won 20 of their last 21 games.
“It's going to be a real challenge,” Drehle said. “We're going to have to execute with almost perfection.”
The Falcons' defense has given up 157 points - but just 51 in their last six games.
It's going to be a game of trench warfare.
“The game will be won and lost at the line of scrimmage on both sides,” Drehle said. “As you watch film, they just overwhelm people at the line. If we're going to have a chance, we have to be able to win at the line of scrimmage.”
The Panthers will look to keep the ball on the ground giving it to their running backs Will Evans or Lawrence Kroeger, both of whom have nearly 1,000 yards on the ground this season.
Even quarterback Justin Mills will get in on the action, as he is near 900 rushing yards.
With heavy doses of the run, the Panthers haven't relied on Mills to beat teams through the air, as they bowled over their opponents.
“They haven't had the need to pass the ball,” Drehle said. “When you watch them, they just run right over the top of you.
“We cannot allow them to get that push at the line of scrimmage. We have to negate that push. Nobody that we've watched on film has been able to do that.
“We need to find a way.”
But the Falcons (8-2, ranked No. 6) are hoping their defense, which has held opponents to 3.3 yards per carry, can stop the run and put the game on Mills' shoulders.
“We hope we're able to take them out of their comfort zone,” Drehle said. “But they're just so dominant, I don't know if you can.”
* * *
Offensively, the Falcons will have their hands full with a blitz-happy defense.
“They blitz so much that you'd think you'd be able to do some things, but then you watch other teams try things we're looking at and they shut them down,” Drehle said.
Last week against California, Blair Oaks' offensive line was able to spring Kyle Henke, Justin Eiken and Derek Shikles for big gains on the ground. It may be a different story this against the Panthers.
“They don't give up a lot of big plays,” Drehle said. “With them playing a Cover 2, 3-4 defense, they always have some body really deep. You have to be patient and be willing to slug it out and trade field position a few times.”
Still, the Panthers gave up some big runs to Blair Oaks in last year's sectional game.
“Some of those things could happen again, but they're just a little bit better than they were a year ago at the line of scrimmage,” Drehle said. “The kids are a year older, stronger and have more repetitions under their belt, so it's going to take a better effort on our part.”
If Centralia is able to shutdown the Falcons' ground attack, it will be up to Eiken to keep the drives alive. At times, the first-year quarterback has dissected opponents with pin-point passes, completing 63-of-127 attempts for 1,065 yards and 14 touchdowns. And there have been times when the junior has shown he's still learning the position with nine interceptions.
“The big thing for him will be to try and not to make plays but allow them to come to him,” Drehle said. “There will be opportunities to throw the ball. When they blitz that many people, some body has to be open.”
Even though it's going to be a game of two tough defense versus two high-scoring offensives, it may come down to one thing Š
“In a game like this, it may come down to one big play,” Drehle said.
The winner of Wednesday's game will take on Clark County or Trenton in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Monday. With a win Wednesday, the Falcons would host that game, no matter which team they would face.
Last year, the Falcons smashed the Panthers 28-6 and went on to win their second Class 2 football title, leaving Centralia's bid for a perfect season in ruins.
Bad taste meet new year.
Payback will be on Centralia's mind when the second-ranked Panthers host the defending state champion Falcons in Class 2 sectional action on Wednesday.
“They're good at every thing they do,” Blair Oaks head coach Brad Drehle said. “They don't have any glaring weaknesses.”
It's no secret the Panthers (10-0) have been a juggernaut this year. Centralia averages 43.2 points per game while only giving up 5.6. On top of that, the Panthers have pitched three shutouts and have won 20 of their last 21 games.
“It's going to be a real challenge,” Drehle said. “We're going to have to execute with almost perfection.”
The Falcons' defense has given up 157 points - but just 51 in their last six games.
It's going to be a game of trench warfare.
“The game will be won and lost at the line of scrimmage on both sides,” Drehle said. “As you watch film, they just overwhelm people at the line. If we're going to have a chance, we have to be able to win at the line of scrimmage.”
The Panthers will look to keep the ball on the ground giving it to their running backs Will Evans or Lawrence Kroeger, both of whom have nearly 1,000 yards on the ground this season.
Even quarterback Justin Mills will get in on the action, as he is near 900 rushing yards.
With heavy doses of the run, the Panthers haven't relied on Mills to beat teams through the air, as they bowled over their opponents.
“They haven't had the need to pass the ball,” Drehle said. “When you watch them, they just run right over the top of you.
“We cannot allow them to get that push at the line of scrimmage. We have to negate that push. Nobody that we've watched on film has been able to do that.
“We need to find a way.”
But the Falcons (8-2, ranked No. 6) are hoping their defense, which has held opponents to 3.3 yards per carry, can stop the run and put the game on Mills' shoulders.
“We hope we're able to take them out of their comfort zone,” Drehle said. “But they're just so dominant, I don't know if you can.”
Offensively, the Falcons will have their hands full with a blitz-happy defense.
“They blitz so much that you'd think you'd be able to do some things, but then you watch other teams try things we're looking at and they shut them down,” Drehle said.
Last week against California, Blair Oaks' offensive line was able to spring Kyle Henke, Justin Eiken and Derek Shikles for big gains on the ground. It may be a different story this against the Panthers.
“They don't give up a lot of big plays,” Drehle said. “With them playing a Cover 2, 3-4 defense, they always have some body really deep. You have to be patient and be willing to slug it out and trade field position a few times.”
Still, the Panthers gave up some big runs to Blair Oaks in last year's sectional game.
“Some of those things could happen again, but they're just a little bit better than they were a year ago at the line of scrimmage,” Drehle said. “The kids are a year older, stronger and have more repetitions under their belt, so it's going to take a better effort on our part.”
If Centralia is able to shutdown the Falcons' ground attack, it will be up to Eiken to keep the drives alive. At times, the first-year quarterback has dissected opponents with pin-point passes, completing 63-of-127 attempts for 1,065 yards and 14 touchdowns. And there have been times when the junior has shown he's still learning the position with nine interceptions.
“The big thing for him will be to try and not to make plays but allow them to come to him,” Drehle said. “There will be opportunities to throw the ball. When they blitz that many people, some body has to be open.”
Even though it's going to be a game of two tough defense versus two high-scoring offensives, it may come down to one thing Š
“In a game like this, it may come down to one big play,” Drehle said.
The winner of Wednesday's game will take on Clark County or Trenton in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Monday. With a win Wednesday, the Falcons would host that game, no matter which team they would face.
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