Prep Football: A Strong Finish
This season, Al Way has been able to weather the storm as far as injuries are concerned and now it seems, when it rains, it pours.
The Bulldogs (6-2, 4-1 SIRR Ohio) missed out on a chance to claim the outright Ohio Division title with a 40-21 loss at Herrin last week, but in the bigger picture, Harrisburg lost a lot more.
Harrisburg senior tailback Tylor Marler went down early at Herrin and left with a separated shoulder and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Marler, who had 14 touchdowns on the season and rushed for 1,140 yards on 141 carries, was more than 60 percent of Way's offense. To add injury to insult, Harrisburg lost second leading back Kane Carrigan who came up lame with a hamstring injury after ripping off a 48-yarder on the opening play at Benton three weeks ago.
"He's 60 percent of our offense," Way said of Marler. "it definitely puts pressure on us. I mean, how do you replace someone that was 160 yards every game?
The answer could come in the form of Corbin Crim-Harbison, who comes into the game with 206 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown.
"I think you have too," Way said of Crim-Harbison. "I thought Matt Upchurch (29-106) came in and did a nice job for us Friday night, so he becomes a big factor now. (Tyler) Lightner got hurt and then J.D. (Fugate) got hurt and now we're looking really thin. We're about to run out of running backs. We're thin at linebacker, so if J.D. can't go, that becomes a big problem. (Jordan) Bartok is our backup tight end, so if Lightner can't go, we know we're about to run out of tight ends.
"It's one of those perfect storms," Way said. "It's a bad time for us to get all of these kids banged up."
After an inspired defensive effort against Murphysboro two weeks ago, Harrisburg didn't have the same intensity against Herrin giving up 441 yards of total offense, 415 of which came on the ground.
"Herrin just ran right at us and we couldn't stop them," Way said. "I think Herrin was really smart in what they did. They got out of all their spread stuff and got double-tight with their big offensive line and their good running backs and just came right at us. We just have a hard time with that."
If there is something that cures what ills Harrisburg, it might come from a Carbondale that that is 0-8 overall.
Way is reminded that it's a Terrier team that that while it might be winless, still plays in the South Seven Conference and has played good competition all season.
"It's a really scary situation because Carbondale has played really good competition all year and with a new coach (Brian Lee), those kids are getting more used to him and his system every day. They gave Marion a really good game and they have a big offensive line. We're beat up really bad right now - we're at their place and it's just a scary situation."
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter:@spydieshooter.