Prep Football: Rising To The Challenge
Friday night could very well turn into a Choose Your Own Adventure book for Al Way.
The Harrisburg coach can easily count on one hand the list of things as the Bulldogs open up Week 1 at Mt. Carmel.
Way returns for the sidelines for the first time since 2005 and inherits a team that went 2-7 last season.
Harrisburg opens up against a Mt. Carmel team that played in last year's IHSA Class 3A semifinals, finishing 10-3 and returns eight starters on offense that scored 432 points, while giving up 307.
Coming into the game, defense is still a primary concern for Way, who knows first hand how many problems Mt. Carmel possesseson offense as the Aces have won 9 of the last 11 games against Harrisburg.
"It's not a team that comes up in double-tight and run it right up your tail," he said. "They will spread you out all over the field."
Pete Smith, a 6-foot, 205-pound senior quarterback returns for the Aces after throwing for more than 2,000 yards a year ago.
Complimenting Smith on offense is junior running back Trevor Kennard (5-9, 190) that rushed for over 1,800 yards last season and Jackson Marcotte, a 6-7, 210-pound sophomore wide receiver caught over 20 passes.
It's a scary offense. Way knows it.
He also knows the Aces will test his secondary and his hope is that the Bulldogs can contain such a potent offense.
"The biggest thing is trying to not give up long touchdowns and make them earn them, make them march up and down the field rather than one 60- or 70-yard play," Way said.
On the defensive side of the ball, Way feels that Mt. Carmel will stunt a lot and from the Harrisburg offensive point of view, the head coach feels his team is starting to understand the concept of what it is he is trying to implement.
"It'll come down to execution," he said. "We talk all the time about not beating yourself with turnovers and penalties. We have to hang on to the football and if they have it, they can't score."
With an offense like the one Mt. Carmel could potentially put on the field Friday night, Way knows that time management and time of possession is going to be of the utmost importance at the Riverview Stadium.
"At the same time though, we do have some good skill people and I would like to think that we have the ability to break a long one every now and then, which is a heck of a lot easier than getting five yards and a cloud of dust."
Last Friday night's scrimmage at Taylor Field was an opportunity for Way and his staff to get guys on film and see who would excel at certain positions. The coach came away feeling Harrisburg was physical and hopes that translates into the same Week 1.
"I thought our running backs ran hard and of course we didn't throw very much, but when we did, we caught the balls we were supposed to catch. We really just wanted to get kids on film for evaluation purposes."
Way knows he already has his hands full with having to prepare for Friday night's game, but add in the aura and mystique of playing in the "Snake Pit" and that opens up a whole new game plan.
"I still remember the first time I saw the snake pit, I was coaching the freshmen at Eldorado (1973) and as we pulled up in the bus, of course I only had about 16 kids and you could see the stadium from a distance, you pull up thinking 'what is that?' It can be intimidating, no doubt about it.
"But, I also believe that if you're kids have played in it before, they know what to expect, so hopefully it's not a big factor."
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.