Creek set to clash with Cambridge
Redskins, Bobcats meet in opener for ninth-straight year
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CAMBRIDGE -- Indian Creek's season will open the way it has for the better part of a decade -- against Cambridge.
The Redskins, looking to start what veteran coach Andrew Connor and company hope is a bounce-back season, will meet the Bobcats on the road tonight in what is the ninth-consecutive season-opening meeting between the schools.
"It's a familiar opponent and a tough opener for us every year," Connor said. "Coach (Ray) Leek does a great job with his team. We've established a good rivalry with them to start off the season, and both of us being in the Buckeye 8 (Conference) has added to that the last couple years.
"It's a good, challenging, opener for both teams."
The series is currently deadlocked at 4-4. Creek won four of the first five meetings before the Bobcats were victorious in each of the last three meetings.
"They like to spread you out and throw the ball," Connor said. "They did that last year and they did that in both of their scrimmages. They have good wide receivers that will put pressure on you down the field. And, they can set up their run game based on that."
Cambridge went 8-4 a season ago, advancing to the second round of the Division IV playoffs after their win over Creek at Kettlewell Stadium sparked the start of a 7-3 regular season. They lost just a handful of seniors, mostly on the line, and return a lot of experience from that group.
The Redskins' hopes for a return to the playoffs for the first time in a couple of seasons are high entering the season with a program-record 57 players on the initial roster, some 25 of whom are returning lettermen.
Connor, starting year No. 21, has been happy with the way the end of the preseason has gone to get ready for tonight.
"The kids have worked really hard," he said. "Starting with a familiar opponent helps some, you know who you're getting ready for and what to expect.
"The kids have been focused and want to start fresh. It's a new season, we're ready to put last season behind us. The kids are a year older, most of the kids that are starting this year, started last year, so they're excited to show what they accomplished over the offseason and through the summer."
Playing tonight, on a Thursday, in the opener is a little different, but a change Connor likes because his charges are itching to get on the field.
"That first week you're practicing in a game week, it always seems like it takes forever to get to Friday," Connor said. "You've had two-a-days and been practicing all summer. You're really itching to get out on the field in front of the crowd and show what you can do. Having a little bit of short week and not having to wait until Friday is nice.
"The kids are excited and everybody is geared up for the first game."