Dalton Wilson (60) of North Union puts pressure on Liberty-Benton’s quarterback during last week’s playoff contest. The Wildcat defense has only given up 14 points during the Division V playoffs. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
After the North Union football team’s upset win over Liberty-Benton last week, head coach Nick Hajjar said the Wildcats are in new territory.
They have never been this deep in the playoffs before and with COVID hitting this fall season to start, anything is possible.
This week the Wildcats will face the well-rested No. 5 seed Pemberville Eastwood.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday at Eastwood.
The Eagles got a pass last week when their contest against Oak Harbor was canceled. The Rockets had to forfeit the contest, moving Eastwood one round deeper in the playoffs.
Hajjar and his Cats realize though all games going forward are going to be tough contests.
“When you get to this level, all the teams are good,” he said.
The Eagles have the credentials to back it up.
In their only playoff game, Eastwood toppled No. 21 seeded Waynedale 35-0.
The Eagles picked up the majority of their yardage, 242, on the ground against Waynedale.
They tallied 319 yards in total.
The majority of those rushing yards came from sophomore running back Bryce Koprowski-Kistner.
He tallied 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns during the win.
Senior running back Emmet Getz also added 69 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.
Eastwood utilizes the Wing T, which is the same offense as the Wildcats.
Hajjar said every body has their own idea of how the offense should be run.
“They are going to impose their will running the ball,” he said. “They are who they are and they do a good job of running their version (of the offense).”
Hajjar, though, doesn’t want his defense getting sucked into the run game.
The Eagles have senior Jared McNulty under center. In Eastwood’s win over Waynedale, he threw a pair of TD passes of 23 and 24 yards to Ethan Kwiatkowski.
“After running the ball, they will mix in some play action and throw the ball on us,” Hajjar said.
The Wildcats, though, have been playing tough defense during the post season.
With three playoff games under their belts, they have only yielding 14 points.
Going into last week’s contest, the Cats knew Liberty-Benton was going to put the ball in the air.
NU capitalized on the passing game, picking off three passes. One of those thefts went for a pick six.
Eastwood is not the first Wing T program the Wildcats will have seen during the playoffs.
Genoa Area also brought a heavy running game in the second round of post-season. NU’s defense only gave up one TD during that contest..
Hajjar said he can’t put his finger on what his defense is doing, adding “they are just playing as a team.
“The guys are really buying into the game plans,” he said. “We talk about mastering your role on every snap and they are doing a good job right now.”
Hajjar, knowing what Eastwood wants to do this week, understands the importance of staying on schedule.
“First down will be vital,” he said. “The Wing T prides itself on the moving the ball on first down. So we’ve got to get them into some passing downs.”
The same can be said for the Wildcats and their Wing T.
North Union will have to get through a packed box to find offensive success.
“They like to put four-to-six guys up front,” Hajjar said. “They have some guys up front who run to the ball and make it easier for the second-level defenders.”
The Cats, though, have running backs that can make things happen against the defense..
Trevor Moran rushed for 134 yards on 27 carries for three TDs last week.
The Wildcats also used four other running backs to pick up the remaining 88 yards on the ground.
If the run game slows, the Cats have shown the ability to throw the ball. Quarterback Preston Crabtree went 7-10 for 116 yards last week against Liberty-Benton.