Trevyn Feasel of North Union makes a cut upfield as an Indian Lake defender attempts to tackle him. The Wildcats will host Graham for their Homecoming game this week. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The Wildcats of North Union were able to win a tough fourth-quarter battle last week over the defending division champion Indian Lake.
NU head coach Nick Hajjar said it was exactly what his crew needed to open the second half of the schedule.
“We challenged the kids to refocus and respond,” he said. “I think we took a step in the right direction.”
The Wildcats now hope to use their momentum to face another 1-0 team, Graham, in the Mad River Division.
“Graham is playing with a lot of confidence after a big win over Benjamin Logan,” Hajjar said. “It was a high-scoring affair.
“They are just like us at 3-3 (overall) and 1-0 in the division, so it is going to be another battle.”
In order for NU to get past the Falcons, the defense will have to contend with a tough passing attack.
“They do somethings offensively that will challenge you,” said Hajjar. “They use a bunch of formations and a lot of spread stuff.”
The Falcons’ spread will rely on a solid, “dual-threat quarterback,” according to Hajjar.
Brady King will be under center for Graham and has the numbers to prove why he is there.
He has tallied more than 1,000 yards passing with14 touchdowns and only two picks, putting him as the second-best QB in the league.
He has also tallied more than 500 yards on the ground.
Hajjar said King’s effectiveness is something his team will have to watch out for during the Wildcats’ Homecoming game.
“He is really good,” the coach said. “He is very efficient with what he does.”
No quarterback would be efficient without effective wide-outs. Graham has several. Running back Zack Vanscoy has caught 24 passes out of the backfield for 288 yards and five TDs to lead the team. Ryan Turner is close behind with 27 catches for 335 yards and four touchdowns, while Hunter Collier has tallied 18 receptions for 201 yards and three TDs.
Even with all the prep work done for the Wildcats, Hajjar said no one ever knows what is going to happen as they take on an unknown opponent.
“We are on edge because we don’t have the familiarity of the coaching staffs you are going against and the players we are going against,” he said.
With the Cats trying to keep their divisional record clean in a new conference, Hajjar said that unfamiliarity has to be meet with in-game adjustments.
“This year more than ever, the in-game adjustments, especially in the division, are going to be crucial,” he said.
With an important win against a solid opponent last week, the Cats hope that momentum carry them into week two of the division schedule.
“I hope (last week’s win) gets the ball rolling in the right direction,” Hajjar said. “That is the goal and hopefully we can feed on that this week.
“We’ve got be smart and (Graham) are going to come in with a lot of momentum as well.”
The Wildcats will also crown a Homecoming king and queen prior to the start of the game that is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kick-off.
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