There is a one-versus two showdown in eight-man as top ranked Adair-Casey visits number-two Murray. The winner claims the lead in district six.
Murray coach Keith Shields who says it was a game they knew could probably decided the district once they saw the schedules. The key for the Mustangs will be to convert on third down, and he says they need to limit big plays on offense and defense.
Shields says both teams are ready for a game of this magnitude as they both appear to be pretty healthy and it should give them a good idea of where they are.
Adair-Casey coach Wade Anderson says his team is looking forward to the challenge. “our kids love games like this, they love know they are going to be playing four quarters of football, it’s going to be hard-nosed football,” Anderson says. Adair-Casey beat Murray in the regular season last year but the Mustangs avenged that loss in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
Also in eight-man action, 7th ranked Preston hosts number four Don Bosco. Preston is averaging 68 points per game behind one of the top rushing attacks in 8-man. Dons coach Kolby Yoder says Preston mixes their play calls to keep defenses on their heels.
Don Bosco will counter with an offense led by quarterback Jake Hogan, who has thrown for ten touchdowns and rushed for eight more through four games. Yoder says most teams have tried to limit Hogan’s running options, which has given the junior more chances in the passing game.
Yoder says tonight’s game could keep the scoreboard operator very busy. “I think it will be high scoring, I think they do have a pretty decent defense,” Yoder says.
“It’s tough whenever you lose that last game,” he says. And he says the players have been thinking about that loss.
Anderson says the Bomber defense will need to be assignment sound against Murray.
In class 2A second ranked Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley plays host to fourth rated Spirit Lake. This is a non district game and could be a preview of a playoff game later this season but Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley coach Cory Brandt says that has not been a factor in preparation.
The Spirit Lake defense is only giving up nine points per game and Brandt says it is a unit that makes very few mistakes. “they stay home, their bodies are in good position, they move very well to the football, ” he says. Brandt says they will have to take advantage when they have a chance to put points on the board.
Spirit Lake coach Josh Bulloyt is not even thinking about the possibility of a second meeting, as he says there are so many things that have to happen before they would meet again.
Bulloyt says they need to find a way to slow dow a Nighthawks offense that is averaging better than 44 points per game. “We’ve just got to play as a team, we’ve got to play as one team, not 11 individuals.”
Also in 2A ninth ranked Forest City is at home against tenth rated Clarion-Goldfield. Forest City coach Chad Moore says the Indians defense faces a difficult test. “It is a real challenge that they present with that double wing offense,” Moore says.
The teams met twice last year and Clarion-Goldfield won both. “I think it has been on everybody’s mind in this community, we lost three games last year and two of them were to the same school. Clarion put and end to our season last year, they ruined our homecoming last . So, there’s a little rivalry starting there,” Moore says.
Clarion-Goldfield coach Paul Hansch says Forest City is a difficult team to prepare for. He says they show a lot of different sets offensively and you have to prepare for all of them.
Hansch says these teams are not strangers having seen each other so much, so there are not a lot of secrets and it will be two good teams going after each other.
Doug Broek KSOU Sioux Center, Karl Wooldridge KIOW Forest City and Jesse Gaving, KCNZ, Cedar Falls contributed to this story.