North Union quarterback Preston Crabtree puts the ball in the air against Indian Lake. He threw for 134 yards against the Lakers. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
North Union’s football team has a really big challenge on its hands on Friday.
The Wildcats will reach the midway point of the COVID-shortened season at Graham.
The Falcons are coming into Week 3 with a 2-0 record and mountains of momentum after winning 33-32 in overtime against Benjamin Logan.
“When you watch film they are a team with a lot of confidence,” said NU head coach Nick Hajjar. “They’ve got a really good quarterback and a lot of their skill people are back.
“They have 15 seniors and you can tell they have played together over time and it will be a tough challenge.”
Under center for the Falcons is Brady King.
He is leading the Central Buckeye Conference in passing yards with 346. A total of 276 of those yards came in last week’s contest and he’s thrown four touchdowns. The Falcon QB also rushed for 57 yards, making him a playmaker who Hajjar has keyed in on during practice.
“We’ve got to eliminate the big play,” he added. “Their QB can make every throw.
“It is going to be our toughest challenge yet,” he said. “They put a lot of pressure on you by putting the ball downfield and also mixing in some quick game.”
The Cats’ strong point during the first two weeks of the season has been their solid defensive play.
North Union shut out Indian Lake last week and held Jonathan Alder for three quarters before giving up a TD.
Hajjar said his defense has just been playing as a unit.
“I think the kids are listening to the game plan, trying to execute to the best of their ability and playing together,” he said. “That is what a good defense does. They run to the ball and cover for each other.”
While the Wildcat defense has been working like a well-oiled machine, NU’s offense has had its ups and downs.
“I think we’ve got to be consistent,” Hajjar said. “We need to eliminate turnovers and penalties… things that just kill drives.
“ Sometimes that is easier said than done,” he said. “We move the football up and down the field and one of those two things will sputter us out. That is a conscious thing we’ve got to work on.”
Hajjar said he has seen greatness out of the offense, but it’s come in small doses.
Some of that greatness last week came from Trevor Moran, who tallied 125 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Preston Crabtree also had a solid game in the win over Indian Lake going 11-17 for 134 yards.
Hajjar now wants to see his Cats to “put it all together for four quarters.”
The game is set for a 7 p.m. kick-off Friday at Graham High School.