Elkmont’s football team is off to its best start since 2008 entering Friday’s game against No. 10 Deshler. While most of the players on this 5-1 team are the same that were on the team that lost eight games a year ago, there is one glaring difference.
“I think they are a year older and a year stronger,” said Elkmont head coach Sean Holt. “They’ve had another year in our Wing-T system. We’ve added to it and got comfortable with it. The Wing-T is all about hard work. You have to be physical and that’s the way we play.”
A big reason Elkmont is in contention to host an area playoff contest is the running game. Through six games this season, the Red Devils are averaging 285 yards per game on the ground. And, while Elkmont is loaded with talented running backs, look no further than an experienced offensive line for the reason.“It’s made a big difference,” Holt said about having experience. “They’ve all stuck with it. They’ve played the big boys in Region 8 the last few years and that helps.”
Tackles Travis Riggs and Eli Vining, guards Kody Clark and Brent Stovall and center Hunter Brazeal are opening the holes for Elkmont’s running backs. “I feel like we can run over more people this year,” said Vining. “It’s more of a power-based offense, so it’s more on us this year. This is the first year that we’ve studied the offense all year, so we know it really well. I think when we get into a game, once we figure out what we’re going to do, we run them over.”
The flip side is the extra attention opponents are giving to stop the run game. Fortunately for Elkmont, quarterback Jordan Nelson is taking advantage of those opportunities. Nelson has thrown the ball only 32 times, but has completed 66 percent of his passes, averages 17 yards per completion and has four touchdowns to just one interception. “Teams are stacking the box and we’ve still accomplished what we want to do,” said Holt. “Last week, we threw it six times, but we were effective. The last three weeks, we haven’t thrown it a lot. But we’ve been successful when we have. Jordan Nelson has been really successful through the air.”
Elkmont has four players capable of carrying the load in Elkmont’s Wing-T offense, led by Mike Tucker with 546 yards and five touchdowns. All four backs have at least 250 yards and are averaging at least 5.5 yards per carry. “There is a lot of punishment in how we run the ball,” said Holt. “They can really get beat up so we swap them out. They can all play three positions. We run it to try to keep the other team honest by being able to run either direction with any of the backs. The offense is meant to keep the defense off-balance.”
Elkmont and its talented running game face their toughest task tonight against a Deshler team riding a five-game winning streak, including a 40-20 win over Wilson last week. “They’re big, fast and deep,” said Holt about Deshler. “Those guys are playing one-way, so they can sub. They can bring in one of their defensive players on offense. They are very deep as far as their roster. That takes a toll.”
A win would move Elkmont into a three-way tie with Deshler and Wilson in Class 4A Region 8, while a loss would put the Red Devils in sole possession of third place. “We wanted to make the playoffs,” said Holt about their goals entering the season. “Hosting a playoff game would be a great goal for us now. But to get in the playoffs is the goal. Even if we don’t win (against Deshler), we’re still in good shape.”
Source: Athens News Courier
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