Huskies continue to open eyes
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CADIZ -- The Harrison Central Huskies have won two in a row coming into Friday night's contest with the River View Black Bears and are looking to finish strong after a disappointing start to the 2017 season.
"If we are able to finish out with a couple more wins, it would be nothing but a tribute to our senior class," Harrison Central coach Justin Kropka said. "They've done everything we've asked them to do."
The Huskies (3-5) defeated Oak Glen last week, 48-29, after shutting out Edison the week before.
"It was nice to win our homecoming game and come back with a nice performance the next week," Kropka said. "We've been able to keep the ship afloat because of our seniors."
The Black Bears (0-8) come in having been shut out each of the previous two weeks and a total of four times this season, but Kropka is not taking anything for granted.
"Actually this game worries me a little," he said. "It's a tough matchup for us. They do some things that are going to give us fits. They run a wing-T style offense, which is okay if you prepare for it. We went over some of that in the summer during two a days, but due to injuries a lot of our guys aren't playing the same positions that they were at that time. Hopefully we can stay disciplined because if you're not careful, the wing-T will get you. They are big and physical, and their record doesn't match their talent level I don't think."
For the Huskies, senior DeJaun Caldwell has stepped up in the roll of quarterback and completed 26-of-54 passes for 388 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He's rushed for another 554 yards and eight scores on 59 carries, averaging 9.4 yards per.
"That's a credit to (assistant coach) Mike Valesko," Kropka said. "He told me we should play him at quarterback in case we needed him to play there this year. Luckily we got him reps at quarterback each of the last two seasons. He's done a nice job for us, and every week he gets a little bit better. Quarterback is a tough position. He's taking steps forward every week."
The Huskies also have the No. 2 running back in the Herald-Star/Daily Times coverage area in junior Ty West, who's 969 yards and 14 touchdowns trail only Madonna standout Donavan Kirby. West is also a pass-catching threat out of the backfield, hauling in eight balls for 141 yards and a score.
Harrison Central's leading receiver is senior Caden Arbaugh, who has 12 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown.
The Huskies offense overall is putting up 25 points per game and gets 193.5 of its 260.3 yards of offense on the ground. Defensively Harrison Central has given up 32.3 points and 293.6 yards.
River View comes in averaging just 5.6 points and giving up 34.9.
Notes:
Friday's matchup is not the only contest between the schools this week as the No. 11 seed Harrison Central's boys soccer team will travel to face the No.1 seed River View boys on Saturday in the OHSAA Division II, Region 7 East sectional tournament.
"That's what we said in the coaches office, it's all River View-Harrison this week," Kropka said. "Maybe it's the start of a little rivalry with them. It's a weird schedule coincidence."