Football Xtra

Indian Creek looks to bounce back hosting Utica

WINTERSVILLE -- The Indian Creek football team is looking to get off to a good start this week against Utica.

The battle of the Redskins is set to kick off at 7 p.m. Friday night on Homecoming at Kettlewell Stadium.

Indian Creek enters the game coming off a 41-8 loss to Weir last Friday at Jimmy Carey Stadium.

"One of the things we didn't do was we did not get off to a good start," Indian Creek (1-3) head coach Andrew Connor said. "Things kind of snowballed on us in the first half."

Utica on the other hand enters the game with a record of 3-1, including a come from behind victory 17-16 victory against Licking Heights last week on the road.

The Redskins of Licking County went just 3-7 last year, but Utica returned a lot of players this season.

"They have a lot of kids back," Connor said.

Utica defeated Indian Creek, 41-20, in Week 5 last season on the road.

"They like to run the football on the early downs," Connor said. "They do a good job of scheming. They like to pull people.

"Their quarterback – No. 22 – likes to roll out. He can run or throw the football. He's a dual-threat athlete. He can run. He can beat you with his legs. He is a very versatile athlete.

"Their tailback is very quick. He can get to the outside.

"They have decent size up front. They are balanced offensively."

Utica can throw the football.

"They it more to their receivers," Connor said. "They do have two big tight ends."

After falling to Centerburg (34-7) in Week 1, Utica has defeated Loudonville (49-7), Fredericktown (34-20) and Licking Heights.

"Defensively, they run an odd stack," Connor said. "They run a 3-4-4. They are a big. They have a good nose guard. They have good linebackers. They can run and get to the football."

The visiting Redskins will blitz on occasion, however, they do not blitz as much as some of the other teams Indian Creek has faced so far this season.

"It is a big game," Connor said. "It's Homecoming. There is going to be a lot of people coming back to watch this game. We want to give our best effort. That is part of the deal. We want to give our best effort.

"The kids have been very focused at practice. It is process. It's important that we come up with a good game plan and that we execute that game plan."

Indian Creek lost a player to injury with 36.7 seconds left in last week's loss to Weir. The player ended up being taken off the field in an ambulance.

"He's trying to get through it," Connor said. "It's tough when you get hit like that. He's taking it day by day. It's always tough when you see one of your teammates get injured like that.

"In football, you always here you are one play away, and it is tough when you see it happen. The kids are very close. This is a close knit group. It takes a toll. You never want to see a kid get hurt like that."

Indian Creek is going to need to play well in all three phases to come away with a victory Friday night.

"We are going to have to make some big plays on offense and on defense," Connor said. "We have to be more consistent.

"We have to create big plays. We have to play hard-nosed and physical football on both sides of the ball."