Prep Football: Keep on, Keepin' On
It would be easy to call the game on paper.
Harrisburg has scored 129 points while running out to a 3-1 start to the season.
Massac County, the Bulldogs' opponent Friday night, has struggled to start the season, scoring just 50 points and are 0-4.
Popular opinion would be to pick Harrisburg - unless you're Harrisburg head coach Al Way.
"You just can't compare scores, that just doesn't work. We're going to Massac County and they have some athletes. If you let a team that hasn't been playing well jump on you, your attitude changes." Way said as his Bulldogs take to the road Friday night in search of a 2-0 start in the Southern Illinois River-to-River Ohio Division win and their fourth straight win to start the season.
After suffering a 44-31 loss to Mt. Carmel to start the season, the Bulldogs have rattled off wins against Du Quoin (21-14), Boonville, Ind. (34-20) and last week's 43-13 win over West Frankfort.
Meanwhile, Massac County is still winless with losses to Freeburg (35-13), Carterville (31-23), Anna-Jonesboro (34-6) and Murphysboro (55-8).
Way said that a repeat performance against West Frankfort Friday would be most beneficial to his Bulldogs.
"We need to do what we did against West Frankfort and that is play well and get on top early. Massac County, even though they are 0-4, have played a couple of teams tough - including Murphysboro who they held the ball for the first 11 minutes again. They have two really good running backs that have the potential to break a big run any time and that's a scary situation any time you have that. They have a really big offensive line and moved the ball on everyone they have played, they have also been their own worst enemy with fumbles and penalties. They've stopped themselves."
Harrisburg is enjoying a five-game win streak against the Patriots, not having lost since 2010 and are playing some of its best football as of late. Way equates it to his team just taking care of business.
"I think we've beaten the teams we were supposed to beat, we've cut our turnovers and penalties down, but we're still making blocking mistakes on the offensive line. The defense is still a concern and we don't play real solid. We still line up wrong and don't know situations. It's a work in progress and as a team, we're still getting better."
One thing that has been better, if not great, as of late has been the play of Tylor Marler at tailback. The 6-foot, 191-pound senior had 637 yards on 69 carries and seven touchdowns with only three fumbles.
Way praised Marler, but also pointed to the benefit of having other serviceable backs like Kane Carrigan, Aaron Stephens, Matt Upchuch and Corbin Crim-Harbison.
"Tylor is having an exceptional year, but we thought he would coming into the year. The thing for us is keeping the other backs involved and not making us one dimensional on offense. We've been throwing the ball well," Way said. "Noah (Vallette) is throwing the ball really well and for the second week in a row, we dropped a touchdown pass, so that still needs to improve, but again, it comes down to us not being one dimensional."
At the halfway point of the season, Way acknowledged how Murphysboro (4-0) and Herrin (4-0) are as good as advertised. Friday, the two state ranked 4A teams will meet at Herrin's Harrison Field for the southern Illinois showdown of the season. Way said he was also impressed with the quick start Sparta has had to the season.
"They are having a really exceptional season. I don't think most thought they would be that good,"
As far as his own team's start, Way admits he had no idea if they would start 3-1, 1-3 or 2-2.
"Nothing was for sure. The overall attitude has been good. The kids have bought into what we are trying to do, but it's a progress and sometimes it seems slow. We're running a different offense, a different defense, it just takes time to adjust and get comfortable. We have to be happy that we're 3-1 at this point."
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.