Panther running back Mason Cushman (6) is tackled after a short gain in this file photo. Also pictured for FHS is Wyatt Damron (2). Fairbanks will travel to Triad on Friday.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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A long-time, backyard rivalry will highlight the local high school football scene on Friday night.
The Fairbanks Panthers (5-3) will make the short trek to Triad to face a Cardinal squad that sports an identical record going into the next-to-last week of the regular season.
Panther head coach Patrick Cotter said his defensive unit will see “a little bit of everything” from the Cardinals.
“They are in mostly a spread, but they’ve also thrown in two backs here and there,” he said. “I really like (Triad running back) Dylan Rice. He does a nice job.
“They’ve got a good quarterback in Jordan Simonelli and a guy – Isaiah Bruce – who is a nice receiver,” said Cotter. “Their offensive line does a good job up front.”
The Panther boss said his defense must be ready for anything.
“We’ve got to stop their running game and watch for their receivers on the edge,” he said. “We will have to be on our toes and be sound against their different formations.”
Triad coach Joe Cardinal said Fairbanks’ linebackers in the 4-3 alignment are “the best we’ve seen all season.
“They are aggressive and play well in space.
“We have to be strong with our blocking assignments,” said the Cardinals’ coach. “We will have to recognize their blitzes and Dylan has to have a good game for us.”
Cardinal said he’s also concerned about the Panthers’ diverse offense.
“Sometimes, we’ll see five wide-outs and another time we will see a single back,” he said. “Their quarterback, Jacob Nicol, does a good job of getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers.
“(Mason) Cushman is a good running back and (Tyler) Beem is a very good receiver,” said Cardinal. “Fairbanks has so many different pass route combinations and we will have to be disciplined and not blow any coverage.”
The biggest assignment for the Cardinal defense will be putting pressure on Nicol.
“We have to make him get the ball out of his hands quicker than he really wants to,” said Cardinal, who added he hopes that disrupts what he calls Fairbanks’ “high octane offense.”
“Triad brings its linebackers on defense,” said Cotter. “They’ve got a couple of active linebackers and Riley Louck is very good on the line.
“Their front seven isn’t super flashy, but they are very good at bringing pressure,” he said.
With that being said, it will be vital for the FHS offensive line to keep Nicol clean.
“We also have to be consistent on offense,” said Cotter. “We lacked a little of that last week against West Liberty.”
Both the Panthers and Cardinals are coming off losses.
Despite the setback at West Liberty, the Panthers are still in line for a possible playoff berth.
They are currently ranked eighth in Region 23 of Division VI.
“I think we’re in decent shape for the playoffs,” said Cotter. “All we have to do the next two games is go out and do our job.”
Fairbanks will wrap up the regular season on Oct. 26 at home against state-ranked Mechanicsburg.
The Cardinals have lost their last two games, but have not been mathematically eliminated from the post-season. Triad is 14th in Division VII’s Region 28.
The top eight teams in each region at the end of the regular season will earn a playoff berth.
“The guys are still upbeat because we’re still in the playoff hunt,” said Cardinal.
“It’s been tough to lose the last two weeks (against West Liberty and Mechanicsburg), but we’re still good mentally,” he said. “We know that each game is meaningful.”
Triad will conclude the regular season on Oct. 26 with a home game against West Jefferson.