Prep Football - Week 8 Previews: Still A Lot On The Line
ELDORADO - With a playoff berth already in hand, Eldorado still has something to play for Friday night.
Part of the Black Diamond Conference title is on the line as perennial rival Fairfield and their perfect 7-0 mark roll into Boz Adams Field.
Eldorado is 6-1 with the only blemish being a Week 3 loss to Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn, which is also unbeaten at 7-0. S-V-W-W and Fairfield meet the last week of the season, where an Eldorado win Friday night and a Red Devil win next week would set up a three-way tie for the crown.
EHS head coach Joe Clark said there isn't a lot of motivation that needs to be handed out this week.
"It's a big game, there isn't a person in that locker room or really in this town that doesn't recognize that. It's also two teams that I believed are pretty evenly matched. The kids are excited about the opportunity and our general goal, each and every year, is to compete for a BDC championship. This year is no different."
Fairfield leads the league in points scored at 318 and has allowed the fewest points at just 22 this season.
Eldorado is third in both categories with 248 points scored and 92 allowed.
The Mules have put their saddle on Dylan Heifner this season as the junior as rushed for a 617 yards on 76 carries and scored eight touchdowns, which ranks his third among BDC backs.
Second on that list, however, is Eldorado's Jacob Traxler. The SIU commit has 791 yards on 72 touches and 11 TD's.
Also in the backfield for Fairfield is Theron Stewart and Wyatt Gilbert, who combined have 866 yards and 10 scores.
Clark knows the reality of Friday night will be nothing fancy. Vanilla? Maybe. Smart? Yes.
"This will come down to who value's the football more and who can control the line of scrimmage. In both those instances, I like our chances. At the same time, because both teams are so evenly matched, it'll come down to a handful of plays. You just hope you do you part and are in a good spot when the game ends."
Eldorado has won the last four meetings against the Mules, including a 34-8 win at the Train Yard last year. Fairfield beat Eldorado 30-28 in 2012. Since 2003, the two teams are 7-7 against each other.
Harrisburg vs. Herrin
A game-winning kick by Harrisburg's Zach Cowsert was more than just a victory for the Bulldogs last week against Murphysboro
The win kept Harrisburg's heart pumping for a shot at the playoffs, putting them at 4-3 overall and needing that all important fifth victory with two games left on the docket.
Harrisburg travels west to Herrin Friday, taking on a Herrin team that is 6-1 overall and perfect in SIRR Ohio play at 4-0. The Tigers have also had Harrisburg's number as of late, winning the last four meetings.
Harrisburg knocked off Herrin 48-14 in 2012, the year the Bulldogs went all the way to the IHSA Class 4A semifinals. Since 1996, Herrin holds a 12-11 advantage against Harrisburg.
Herrin has been solid all season, thanks in part to the running ability of Jace Gosha.
Gosha just went over 1,000 yards for the season and is on pace for a record-breaking rushing yardage and touchdowns scored for the Tigers as he has 20 TD's, 19 of which has come from offense.
Notably, Herrin sophomore kicker Jake Baumgarte, is leading the state in points among all kickers in all classifications. He is five-for-five on field goals with a career long 43-yarder and has only missed one extra point all year, going 36-for-37 on PATs.
Harrisburg has been the beneficiary of 664 yards on 115 carries from Jordan Bartok and a team-high eight touchdowns. Since the loss of Hunter Smith to an ACL injury, Week 4 against West Frankfort, Carl Russ has picked up more of the load, scoring six touchdowns and rushing for 537 yards on 80 carries.
First year Harrisburg head coach Gabe Angelly said the style of football Friday night is one that excites him.
"This will be old school football, at it's finest, I promise you that," Angelly said. "Herrin is a lot like us. They are smash mouth, big, physical, want to run the ball and push people around. So do we. That's been our philosophy for a long time here at Harrisburg, it's not going to change and we think we do that just as well as anybody else."
Herrin has scored a conference best 289 yards and given up just 96, which is also a conference best. Harrisburg ranks fourth, behind Benton and West Frankfort at 165 points and is third at 161 points allowed.
Angelly said while the style of play with be very similar, conditioning and stamina may not.
"We have big kids and we like to run the ball. I hope that we have the kind of kids that can stand up to them and give them our best shot. Herrin will line up double tight and run right at you, but this game will come down to who withstands that, who's tougher and stronger as the game goes on? It should be fun to watch."
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Register, Eldorado Journal & The Gallatin County Democrat. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter