Athens @ Steubenville Big Red

[algernonsidney]

I'm not sure what happened. For a long time, Athens was a member of the Southeast Ohio Athletic League (SEOAL). The SEOAL is down to four schools now--Gallia Academy, Jackson, Warren, and Logan. It also included Marietta, Chillicothe, and Zanesville for a while. Point Pleasant was even a member for ten years. Athens joined the league when it was founded in 1925.

It included the kind of schools Athens should be playing.

[algernonsidney]

91 out of 105 ??? Where would they rank if not playing us ?? We gotta be good for 8-10. Hmm

I think the rating is based only on teams they've played so far. I can't be sure though.

We'll see what happens. It's a very good rating system.

[misssunny]

the game of the week is stc - harrison central.

[Pigskin13]

The key to the game will be "pressure on the qb". If we can get him to hurry and have "happy feet" we will win the game. They have NOT played anybody this physical...you can take that to the bank!

It won't happen. Athens "hurries" every play. The ball comes out quick. If Big Red tries to pressure the QB, they will get burned.

[Roll Red Roll 2001]

I don't think this game will that competitive, Athens had play zero competition. They haven't seen a team as fast or physical as Steubenville all season. Roll Red Roll!!

Your in for a rude awakening

[Roll Red Roll 2001]

the game of the week is stc - harrison central.

Really?

[papabigred]

It won't happen. Athens "hurries" every play. The ball comes out quick. If Big Red tries to pressure the QB, they will get burned.

We'll make sure A. Pierro gets that insider info before any chalk talk today.

[93Bulldog]

Athens may win this game, but they don't have a chance at winning a state title.

You can't win a state title playing a couple games in the big leagues a year. The teams that win OHSAA titles play in the big leagues all year.

Calpreps has Athens schedule strength at 91st in Ohio D3. That's out of 105. All the teams on Trotwood Madison's schedule and Clyde's schedule are rated ahead of all five of Athens's opponents.

Who cares about a state title - we just want to win Friday.

[CW Heisman97]

You will need 4 corners + a safety. Athens goes 4-wide, shotgun, no huddle offense every play. The 5 DB's put teams in a conundrum because some feel the tailback is the best in the history of the school. But some like to argue his 856 yards are a bi-product of facing 6 men in the box. But teams have no choice, you have to cover the WR's and you have to have a safety back. The only two teams who have slowed down the Athens offense the last three years were Marion Franklin and Thurgood Marshall - both possessed a ton of speed, size and strength. I don't care how skilled or how sophisticated your offense is, sooner or later you get overmatched. Just like Oregon does when it faces an Alabama. But both of those games versus Franklin & Thurgood were in week 13 when it was bitter cold and the wind was howling - Athens is a different team in September - as are a lot of 'passing teams'.

Big Red coaches are probably not going to suckered into putting 6 men in the box since Burrows runs well. The film will show the tendencies of each Athens receiver since all 5 guys are not the #1& 2 options, but are merely spread decoys who are checkdown guys.

Big Red could counter this with a 3 man line, Use Malik to spy the Qb & shutdown the middle, man up on the corners with Petteway & Herrington then use the OLBs & safeties on a variety of coverages/blitz packages with run support options still available if necessary that will confuse the Qb.

[jakethesnake]

Big Red coaches are probably not going to suckered into putting 6 men in the box since Burrows runs well. The film will show the tendencies of each Athens receiver since all 5 guys are not the #1& 2 options, but are merely spread decoys who are checkdown guys.

Big Red could counter this with a 3 man line, Use Malik to spy the Qb & shutdown the middle, man up on the corners with Petteway & Herrington then use the OLBs & safeties on a variety of coverages/blitz packages with run support options still available if necessary that will confuse the Qb.

Great post and I agree 100%. I think we found out in the Ursuline and Massillon games that our corners and safeties are pretty darn good. Should be a fun game to watch, matching strength against strength usually means a good football game.

[dirtyred]

Sounds like its going to be a shootout..... We had some good games (several years ago) against a potent Dover offense...I dont remember our defense stopping them much..we had to out score them (I do remember an interception return for TD)... Not sure we have weapons those teams had to outscore Athens.. going to be closer than everyone thinks.. I will take Big Red.

Hopefully we can control the ball, long TD drives, and slow them down enough.

[ThickthinBigRed]

Athens is going to be a formidable opponent we all know that. The only thing that worries me is we're depleted via injuries in the secondary with MLB lost for the season and Petrides' outlook unknown-I've heard collarbone but can't say with certainty. Look for Chas Reeves, up and coming WR and great Soph athlete to be at a corner-hope he's a quick learner. Him, Meat, Lucas, & Pook back there-I'm saying we're okay. We're blessed with some depth this year. The O is going to have to put some points up, I'm confident they will. We're blessed with a coaching staff that's second to none, execute and we win this w/o a problem. The key again this week, is the Defense-doubters had them getting blown out by Massillon, a game they held them under 300 total yards while our O outgained them by over a 100. We let that one slip away with early, critical mistakes - lightning isn't going to strike twice. BigRed 36-22.

I like that score

[Jello Man]

Some of the posters over on that "down south" forum are picking Athens to win by scores of like, 62-34.

I'm not sure the team that plays in the Horseshoe could score 62 points against Big Red in Harding Stadium.

[algernonsidney]

Who cares about a state title - we just want to win Friday.

You obviously don't. If you did care, you'd go back to the SEOAL or something better.

[ThickthinBigRed]

I love the disrespect Big Red is getting. If this doesn't get them madder than a hornets nest I don't know what will. Fill the house Big Red fans. They think nothing of our home field advantage. Show them we are not Zanesville.