Football Xtra

Golden Bears look to build off getting their first win

NEW MANCHESTER -- The Oak Glen football team is looking to win its second straight game as winless Robert C. Byrd comes to town.

The Golden Bears and Eagles are set to kick off at 7 p.m. Friday night up at the Bears Den.

Oak Glen enters the game coming off of a 42-0 victory against Berkeley Springs Saturday on the road. The victory was the Golden Bears first of the season.

"I am really happy for the kids," Oak Glen (1-4) head coach Doug Taylor said. "They put in a lot of hard work in the summer, and there has been a couple alterations this season. We lost our starting quarterback.

"They kept working hard. We have gotten better on both sides of the ball. Last week was a reward for all their hard work.

"Now that we have gotten the goose egg off our back, we're going to try and win two in a row."

The Golden Bears ran for 283 yards and four touchdowns in their win against the Indians.

"It was torrential downpour the whole game," Taylor said. "You had muddy field conditions. Both teams had to play in it.

"We rushed for about 300 yards. We lost some yards with fumbles, but our net rushing was around 265 yards.

"We pretty much just ran the ball. You couldn't throw it. We couldn't throw it, and they couldn't throw it.

"You had to run the ball, and we were able to get our running game going. We were able to run the ball effectively. The kids did a good job with their footwork in the muddy conditions. I was pleased about that."

Neither team completed a pass.

On the other side, The Eagles enter this week with a record of 0-4, and Robert C. Byrd was shut out by Bridgeport, 56-0, last Friday night at home.

"Robert C. Byrd's offense is generic," Taylor said. "They play an old school style of football. They are big on the offensive line. They average about 240 up front. Their fullback is around 230, and their tailback is 195.

"They are physical. They want to run north and south. We are going to have to deal with our size inequality, so they do not roll us up."

Keyser (28-0), Fairmont Senior (62-34) and Preston (20-14) have also defeated Robert C. Byrd this season.

"Defensively, they are about 265 up front," Taylor said. "They run an odd front with two high safeties. They like to blitz. Against Bridgeport, they played a true under front. They do run multiple fronts.

"We are going to focus on changing our scheme. We are going to try and do some different things to handle their size."

Special teams played a key role in Oak Glen's victory against Berkley Springs as Logan Murray returned the opening kick off 97 yards for a touchdown giving the boys from Hancock County the early lead and momentum.

"They are all right," Taylor said. "They have some speed and some athleticism. We are going to have to focus on who we punt the ball to and who we want returning the ball.

"I think our special teams match up against anybody. You look at field position. We opened the game with that kickoff return. That set the tone for the game. Logan Murray took it back about 90 yards for a touchdown.

"We focus a lot on special teams, and it pays off in game situations."

Against the Indians, Aiden Flowers finished with a team-high 116 yards on he ground, including a 21-yard touchdown run, Anthony Burt tallied 93 yards, including a 6-yard score, and Ethan Haenke collected 58 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown run. Finally, Devin Jusczak delivered a 31-yard touchdown on his only carry of the game.

Gregg Sauers scored Oak Glen's other touchdown when he returned a fumble 4 yards for a score.

"Once again, we have to run the football," Taylor said. "We have to stay ahead of the sticks. We have to be in manageable situations like we were against Toronto. We were in a gray area, it was a positive area. We went for it on 4th-and-1.

"Defensively, we have to tackle well. They have a power running game. They can get to the perimeter. We are going to have to tackle in space. We have to be gap sound.

"We are pretty healthy. It is nice to be playing at home again after a four-hour trip."

Oak Glen will once again be without starting quarterback Wesley Molish.

"We are still without Molish," Taylor said. "I have talked to him a few times. He's going to be undergoing some more test. We don't know when or if he will be back this season. It is just a case of wait and see."

The Eagles defeated the Golden Bears, 57-23, last season at home.