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CADIZ -- Harrison Central is set to face Beaver Local for just the third time this century. Despite the Beavers joining the Buckeye 8 in 2013, this is only the second time since -- the first coming last year -- the two teams have squared off. Last year the Beavers rolled 48-14 at home.
The previous meeting was back in 2001 with a similar result -- Beavers 41, Huskies 0. If head coach Anthony Hayes and his Huskies hope to reverse that trend, they will need to slow down a high-powered and diverse offense that is averaging 50 points during its four-game win streak.
"They are more of a spread, air-raid type team with tremendous speed and athleticism," Hayes complimented. "They have one of the fastest kids in the state of Ohio, and their quarterback is pretty good. This is probably the best skilled team we've seen this year, no question."
On the ground, the Beavers look to the speedy Caleb White (5-11, 180) to rack up yards in bunches.
White is the state runner-up in the 200-mete dash and came in third in the 100, giving the Beavers a potent home-run threat every time he touches the ball.
Quarterback Austin Cline is coming off a 255-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 62-0 victory against rival Oak Glen.
His favorite target in that game, Caden Foster, caught four passes for 102 yards and two scores.
While this version of the Beavers is vastly different offensively to the three-back, option teams of the past, one hallmark of a Beaver Local football team still holds true -- a big, physical offense line.
"They are still really good up front with big, physical kids who are athletic," Hayes said. "They ask them to get in space, block screens, and Coach (Mike) McKenzie has done a tremendous job with that program. We have a tall test ahead of us."
The Huskies are looking to bounce back following last week's disappointing loss to rival St. Clairsville,
43-0. It wasn't Harrison's first loss, but it was the first time the offense was unable to produce points.
Running back Mykel Quito was held to 35 yards on 13 carries (2.7 yards per carry) while quarterback Hayden Cassidy's 89-yard performance was the first time he'd thrown for less than 188 yards all season.
Only the short passing game worked as his 10 completions averaged less than four yards per catch.
"Have to give credit where it's due because (St. Clairsville) did a nice job game planning us," Hayes said. "We didn't help ourselves any with fumbles and missed plays. We weren't very fundamentally
sound and if you do that against a good team, chances are, you won't be very successful."
Cassidy's night was further compounded by not having his favorite target, Tre Rex in the lineup. Rex
had 18 receptions for 460 yards and eight touchdowns through five games, but did not suit up vs. St. Clairsville.
Hayes is hoping to have him back this week.
"When you don't have one of the better receivers in the area in the lineup, it's tough to make up for,"
Hayes said. "But the younger guys stepped in and gave us their best effort.
"Ultimately, we're better with Tre in the lineup."
Along with St. Clairsville, both Beaver and Harrison are 4-2 and are trailing unbeaten Edison (6-0) in the OVAC Class 4-A standings.
If Harrison wants to push past and get one step closer to the top, it will need a better offensive showing than last week. Whether that's featuring the run more or the pass, is entirely dependent on the looks
Beaver's defense is giving.
"I don't count 50-50 run pass as balance," Hayes said. "Being able to do what you want, whether it's if you want to throw or run, that's balance. Some nights, your opponent is better than you against the run, and vice versa.
"Obviously, more often than not, the team that runs the most ends up winning. But in the real world, you have to be able to do whatever the defense gives you."