Brooke faces toughest test yet with trip to University
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MORGANTOWN -- The Brooke football team looks to remain undefeated, however, getting to 3-0 will not be easy.
Brooke dug deep last week to defeat Indian Creek, 21-7, Thursday night on Paul "Bud" Billiard Field inside Brooke Memorial Stadium.
"I think what sticks out in my mind the most is how proud I am of our kids," Brooke (2-0) head coach Mac McLean said. "They showed a lot of character. We lost Braelyn early in the game, and there were times where they could have crumbled or their heads could have gone down and they could have let the game slip away, but that didn't happen. A large part of that is due to our defense and Hunter Mozingo who came on in a backup role."
The Bruins will look to remain perfect on the season as Brooke travels to take on University at 7 p.m. Friday night on the road.
Braelyn Sperringer, the Bruins' starting quarterback, was injured against the Redskins, and the junior will be out this week against the Hawks.
"Braelyn is going to have an extended absence," McLean said.
While Brooke enters the game coming off of a win, University enters the game coming off a shocking 78-14 loss to Parkersburg South last Friday night on the road.
"That was a shocker when I heard that," McLean said. "I watched the film, and it was like out of the Twilight Zone where everything that could go wrong. I know they are missing one of their best players in Noah Braham. He's a running back and a linebacker. He is a big loss.
"I have been on the opposite side of lopsided losses. Coach Kelley has been doing this a long time, and I know he is going to have kids ready to go Friday night."
University head coach John Kelley is a graduate of Oak Glen.
"Their big thing is the splash play," McLean said about the Hawks. "They like to throw the deep ball. They have wide receivers who can go get the ball. They can score from any place on the field. Their quarterback has a good arm."
The home team will have the size advantage.
"They are a lot bigger than we are," McLean said. "They have some exceptionally big guys on the offensive and defensive lines. We are down some linemen. We are going to have to dig into our backups. Their lines are going to present a big challenge for us."
The Hawks like to mix things up on the defensive side of the ball.
"Defensively, they have shown multiple fronts," McLean said. "They have shown a 3 front when teams go to the spread. They have also packed the box. They are strong. They are physical. They have a good linebackers even with one who is out. They are physical. They are well coached. They are going to have a pretty good idea of what we are trying to do against them."
Brooke defeated Ripley, 49-6, in Week 1 on the road, while University opened the season by defeating John Marshall, 16-14, on the road.
"It is the old cliche but we are going to have to protect the ball," McLean said. "We can't have turnovers. Our quarterback is going to have to make the right reads. I have confidence in our coaches, and I have confidence in our quarterback."