North Union’s Drake Price (34) attempts to pick up yardage against Clear Fork, while Dalton Rowland (56) throws a block. NU will travel to Ontario this evening.
(Photo submitted)
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North Union has had its ups and downs this football season, sporting a 2-2 record through four weeks of play.
The Cats have struggled at home, but have found their success on the road. Hopefully that trend continues as the Cats go on the road once more to take on the second Mid Ohio Athletic Conference newcomer, Ontario. The Warriors will take a 2-2 record into tonight’s game, having beaten the likes of Lexington and Cardington-Lincoln.
Never the less, Nick Hajjar says Week 5 brings “another tough challenge” for his Wildcats.
“Their head coach used to be the head coach at Galion, so he is very familiar with our conference and us,” he said. “We have four games on them (game film) and they play hard.”
That hard play will come in the form of a spread offense with “a dual-threat type of kid” at quarterback said Hajjar.
“They have played with two backs at times, but in the upper 90s if not 100 percent of the time, out of the shotgun,” he said. “With that, there is always the threat the quarterback will run, so we’ve got to be on our keys this week.”
The anchor of the Warriors’ spread will be “a couple of big guys up front who can hold their blocks,” said the NU coach.
The Warriors will also utilize multiple weapons at skill positions.
“They’ve got a slew of skill guys who are a mix of tall and fast,” he said. “They’ve just got a bunch of different weapons that can hurt you.”
The Warriors will utilize a 3-4 defense that likes to put the pressure on with its outside linebackers.
“I think they want to be a 3-4 defense, but it will look like a 5-2 because the two outside linebackers will walk up,” said Hajjar. “I expect them in our wing T sets to bring the safeties down to try and pack the box. It is just going to be very tight.”
The packed box could cause problems for NU’s running game, much like last week against Clear Fork.
That isn’t going to stop the Cats from sticking to what they know.
“Just because there are bodies in there doesn’t mean we can’t run,” said Hajjar. “It comes down to fundamentals at the end of the day… can we block them?”
If the Cats do find themselves struggling with the run, they have proven that an air attack is an option for them to get into the end zone.
Anthony Padovano went to the air 39 times to tally 220 yards and two touchdowns on 15 completions. Hajjar knows that in order to stay competitive later in the season, the Wildcats will need to throw the ball along with the run to win ball games.
“I thought there were some good moments throwing the ball (last week),” said Hajjar. “There are still some things we need to work on, but that is anytime you throw the ball 39 times. I think the kids got a little confidence throwing the ball, so we are going to have to throw it if teams are going to continue to pack the box.”
The Cats struggled containing Clear Fork’s offense, giving up 335 total yards and 220 yards on the ground. Hajjar points to the yardage on the Colts’ ability to break tackles and gain additional yards after first contact.
“(It) doesn’t matter what offense they are running, we’ve got to be better tacklers,” he said. “There were certain times that we were in position to make plays and contain some of the yardage that was gained after first contact. We are working hard on that.”
If the Cats can keep the trend of road success alive, look for them to improve to 3-2.