In this file photo, NU’s Trevyn Feasel, right, runs past a diving Graham tackler on his way to the outside edge. Feasel has tallied nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards for the Cats this season. (Photo submitted)
The Wildcats of North Union will roll into Week 9 of the regular season sitting in a good spot to win a Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division title.
The Cats, who are coming off a tight 14-12 win over Northwestern last week, stand at 3-0 in the league and will host a struggling 0-8 Urbana on Friday.
With the regular season coming to a close, NU head coach Nick Hajjar said there are things his Wildcats want to achieve.
“We always talk about focusing on the process and that is what we are trying to do,” he said. “There is still the goal on winning a league title and we control our own path with that.”
To win a championship, NU will have to face an offense that Hajjar calls “uncommon” on the high school level.
“They are a triple-option offense and it is scary if it gets going,” he said. “You see it at the highest of levels at some of the military schools playing the Power Five schools.
“If that offense gets rolling or you turn the ball over, it is an offense that requires you to disciplined and it’s hard to get ready for it in a week.”
The option offense is run by QB Logan Johnson, who leads the Climbers in rushing yards with 382.
Urbana also has a trio of backs who have carried the ball with success.
Trevor Stewart leads the team in touches with 94 attempts and 370 yards.
Aaron Norris has rushed for 227 and Rayvon Rogan has tallied 220.
The tricky offense is not the only thing weighing on Hajjar’s mind.
The Climbers also have a tendency to blitz on a regular bsis and have 16 sacks this season.
“They are attack-oriented in a 3-3 stack that loves to put pressure on the line by bringing backers,” said Hajjar. “They come from anywhere.”
The NU boss said his offensive line and the CBC’s eighth-best running back, Trevor Moran, will have to play with discipline.
“You can tell each week they (Urbana) are getting better,” he said. “We are working hard to make sure we are sound with our keys and assignments.”
Sound work has been paying off for the Cats during the second half of the season.
Moran has worked his way inside the top 10 of running backs with 841 yards and Trevyn Feasel has tallied 937 all-purpose yards.
Quarerback Preston Crabtree has maintained a 62.2% completion rating, while throwing for 790 yards.
Hajjar said his team faced early adversity this season, but he’s been happy with the response.
“The kids have come a long way,” he said. “When you hit some adversity – and we did for three weeks – you have some decisions to make.
“Do you wallow in it or do you keep fighting? Credit to the kids because they have kept fighting.”
That fighting spirit has allowed the Cats to rise to the eighth spot in the Division V Region 18 computer ratings.
That puts NU on the bubble for a playoff berth, but Hajjar’s mind is locked in on this week.
“All we can control is this week,” he said.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at North Union High School.