Preparation led to wins last weekend for local Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division teams. How a team prepares dictates how it executes its game plan.
“You watch film and you watch film and you watch film,” said Athens High
School coach Ryan Adams. “Our team plays knowing that they have a job to do, and they are going to do everything they can to get it done.”
All four Athens-area teams are gearing up for this weekend, and are looking to prepare mentally as well as physically.
“We’re going to watch the film and break down the film and see what they’re trying to do,” Alexander High School coach Sean Arno said. “The game plan this week is to be a little more diverse in our attack and keep doing the same thing with our kids.”
Athens
The Bulldogs face one of their more formidable opponents today when they take on Warren High School. Ryan Adams said the defensive game plan this week will be something “different.”
“Not too many teams in the state or in the country are going to throw it 40 times and run it 15, and so it’s definitely a different creature that we’re going after,” he said.
Warren’s distinct aerial assault could present challenges for Athens, a team not used to defending the pass heavily.
“They have nice athletes that are tall and a quarterback that can get the ball to them,” Adams said. “We’ve already spent a lot of time watching film on Warren, and they certainly do have a very nice passing game.”
Alexander
This weekend, the Spartans face Unioto High School. With a brand-new starting cast at skill positions, Arno will adjust his play calling.
“We’ve been adding a few wrinkles (offensively) each week, and that’s what we’re doing now,” he said.
With many of their main starters from last season gone, Alexander will look to use all of its offensive weapons against the Sherman Tanks to catch them off guard.
“We’re running several different backs, and we’re going to spread the ball around a little bit, and that’s good and that’s what you need to do,” Arno said.
Nelsonville-York
The Buckeyes have been used to success, as they have won the TVC-Ohio the past few years. But at times, even they have been caught off guard early in the season.
This week, Nelsonville-York takes on Berne Union with hopes to build on its 2-0 start.
“Traditionally, Berne Union has played us very well in the past, and it’s not a game that we want to take lightly,” coach Dave Boston said. “Our kids understand that we’ve dropped our guns a time or two against them.”
Trimble
After a 0-2 start, Trimble will host South Gallia this weekend. With a loss to defending TVC-Hocking champion Wahama last week, the Tomcats have stumbled out of the gates this season, as well.
Trimble defeated South Gallia last season 56-22 for its first win of the 2010 campaign.
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