Fairbanks quarterback Ethan Kise fires the ball to receiver Braylon Green during last week’s game against Triad. The Panthers will travel to Mechanicsburg tonight for a clash of Ohio Heritage Conference unbeaten teams. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
A huge Ohio Heritage Conference North Division football game will take place a few miles down the road in Champaign County tonight.
The 4-0 Fairbanks Panthers will make the short trip on Route 4 to face Mechanicsburg, which also stands at 4-0.
“They are a multiple, power run type of team,” said FHS head coach Patrick Cotter. “It’s a very disciplined offense and they’re very good at running the same plays.”
Although the Indians can pick up huge amounts of yardage on the ground, quarterback Aaron Conley can, as Cotter described it, “throw the rock.”
He recently set a school record for passing yardage in a single game.
Keith Bebout is the quarterback’s go-to receiver.
The Indians’ skill position players operate behind an offensive line that Cotter says is “tough and nasty.
“They are very aggressive,” said the Panther boss.
“Mechanicsburg is a very fundamental team and so are we,” he said. “This is a game that’s going to come down to matching fundamentals against fundamentals.
“Both teams are aggressive and will go toe-to-toe with each other.”
Mechanicsburg will show both 44 and 43 defensive alignments.
“Once again, they are very aggressive on that side of the ball,” said Cotter. “Jake Hurst is a two-time All-Ohio linebacker.
“Their front seven or eight players are very strong and their secondary doesn’t get beat deep very often.”
The Indians’ defense isn’t fancy, Cotter said.
“They just go out and beat you.”
The Panther head coach said his team must keep moving the pigskin against Mechanicsburg’s stout defense.
“We just have to keep on doing what we’ve done so far this season,” he said. “We have to keep moving the sticks and stay on schedule.
“We’ve got a good ground game and our line has been blocking very well this season,” said the Panther boss.
Although Cotter respects every opponent on the Panthers’ schedule, he was asked if he considers Friday’s contest “THE GAME” of the 2020 campaign.
“Not really, because all of our games are important,” he said. “We’re still the young kids in the OHC and we really haven’t yet built up a main rivalry. We consider every OHC opponent a big rival.
“There have been some good rivalry games in the conference over the years, such as Triad and West Liberty and West Jefferson and Mechanicsburg.”
Cotter, however, knows everyone on the slate has wanted to give the Panthers their best game.
“Right now, everybody wants to kick the crap out of us,” he laughed.
While the Panthers should be in for a big tussle, Cotter said this is the type of game he enjoys.
“This is going to be a slugfest and both teams will have to be on their toes,” he said.
“This is going to be a fantastic OHC North game,” Cotter added. “It could depend on whether the ball bounces your way.”